[Qcwa] keep the code or not or why I am chucking it in after 37 years

[Gregory W. Moore]

GM Doug,
 There can be only one word to describe your comments, Senior Chief, and 
that is "BRAVO ZULU".
You have described the problems and frustrations perfectly, and better 
than I could ever have composed.

73 es tnx de Greg Moore WA3IVX /NNN0BVN and former RM1, USN  (darn it, I 
should have stayed in and retired)

Doug M wrote:

>Sorry to see you leaving...I,  like you have had frustrations as a ham at
>times. But I come back to it in some form eventually.
>I worked for an old established amateur radio dealer as his service tech
>after I retired from the Navy as an electronics maintenance tech (CTMCS).
>The new owners saw no value in having a service shop and went bankrupt in a
>few years. I really love the personal satisfaction that comes from fixing a
>dog. Or finding that electrolytic capacitor across the country to resurrect
>a 1950s Heathkit. I had my own part time business fixing ham gear for a
>while and even put a small ad in the classified section of an amateur
>national publication. It was the old timers who drove me out of the ham
>service business. The Heathkit rig with the bad electrolytic only took me
>about 2 hours of telephoning to find and I charged the guy my actual cost of
>$12.50 including shipping (not the 35% markup all businesses charge as a
>minimum on parts). The fellow showed up to pick up his rig and called me
>every name in the book and made references to my ancestry and my mother
>being a female dog! He slammed the Heathkit manual down and showed me the
>prices in the parts list and said..."there, they only cost
>$1.50...see!!!!!!" I wonder if he has found a nickel Coca-Cola lately?  It
>took me 45 minutes to calm him down to the point of paying the bill and he
>left saying he was going to get on the air and bad mouth me to everyone.
>Also the hams who ship something across county UPS ground and call the local
>police three days later to complain I must have stolen their rig. No effort
>to contact by me phone, email or FAX and I had never heard of the guy, or
>even knew he shipped a radio in for repair. Similar experieces with the UPS
>guy delivering a 2 meter FM radio when the hams wife called the police
>claiming I had taken a deposit and cashed it. The police officer was there
>when I opened the package and there was only a note saying "please fix" and
>their return address. No sysmptoms and no deposit. Not satisfied with the
>police report, she called the Better Business Bureau and said she wanted me
>to send her $15 for her telephone expenses. Supposedly her husband who had
>been a ham for over 40 years wouldn't talk to me on the phone himself. I
>have only been a licensed ham for 45 years, and am proud to be a life member
>of QCWA and also a member of the OOTC, but gentlemen, I think it is time we
>stop criticizing the new comers to ham radio and spend a little time looking
>at our own group. Have you had an automotive tune up done lately? They sure
>know how to charge you. So quit complaining about 45 minutes labor and $ 20
>for parts to fix your all mode rig. And be honest when you take it to a
>shop...admit you tried fixing it, left a mess of solder splashes, etc and
>then powered it up and let the magic smoke out of some devices. I use a
>lighted bench magnifying glass myself to solder anymore, especially those 80
>pin surface mount devices. But not giving the repair guy the full story,
>such as you tried tweaking the coils in a PLL synthesizer loop, only adds to
>the time it takes to fix your rig.
>I do appreciate those who give me the full story about a rig brought in for
>service, and who don't mind paying up front for an estimate fee which gets
>credited toward the time to fix the rig. I charged 1/2 hour minimum. Yet I
>still end up with "no replies" to calls, letters, email, etc., and have to
>keep the rig around taking up shelf space for a year or so, just in case the
>guy decides to get it fixed after all. The newcomers bring in a rig, admit
>they don't know everything and will pay their bills without flinching and
>cussing.
>I still fix ham rigs as a sideline these days, but only for friends or hams
>really down on their luck, such as in nursing homes, hospitals, etc. I can't
>waste the time listening to every old ham's stories of how it used to be.
>Also, I wonder how many autombile repair shops let you walk in and use their
>tools and diagnostic equipment for free when ever you feel like it. I have
>invested a lot in tech manuals, tools, test equipment and yes, I will say
>"no" to a total stranger walking in and saying he wants to sweep align his
>rig for free!
>Hopefully this will lead to some introspection and start a new bit of
>activity on this reflector.
>I now work as a marine electronics repair tech and can let the sales people
>deal with the customers. It is great charging  twice what I charged hams and
>seldom having an irate boat owner screaming at me like hams do all too
>often. Remember, please, its not the repair guys fault your rig need help!
>He did not design, build, or operate it!
>73
>Doug K7ABX
>
>
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>  
>

-- 
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
                                                   --Edmund Burke

Greg Moore NNN0BVN PA
U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)
Official Pennsylvania Area Website:
http://pages.prodigy.net/nnn0fbk/mars.htm
Official Northeast Area Website: 
http://www.navymars.org/northeast/index.htm
Navy-Marine Corps MARS: Proudly Serving Those Who Serve."
E-Mail (MARS) nnn0bvn@navymars.org
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