Although it would be fun to charge those rates, I'd take a total tarring-and-feathering for it on KLOV.
Although it would be fun to charge those rates, I'd take a total tarring-and-feathering for it on KLOV.
Alex...
FYI - You could set up a Google Phone account for FREE. It includes voicemail and you don't even have to make it "ring" anywhere if you don't want to.
FYI - You could set up a Google Phone account for FREE. It includes voicemail and you don't even have to make it "ring" anywhere if you don't want to.
There's only one problem with voicemail......people will then bitch about Alex not returning their call....as opposed to not returning their e-mails. I can't imagine the amount of "tech" questions Alex must get. I know my phone rings off the hook....and I only (mostly) deal with locals. I can't fathom, if I had a "web presence".
Edward
Wow. That's all I can say.
mike200mph
Member
Just wanted to say WOW, I have dealt with Alex a few years back on some space invaders boards and his work is beyond excellent. I will be sending him more pcb's to repair in the future. Alex, YOU are a true asset to the arcade game repair world and keep up the good work and remember you can't please everyone.
Just my 2 cents
Mike
West Islip, NY
Just my 2 cents
Mike
West Islip, NY
Exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Burt6666
Well-known member
+1 I've dealt with Alex in the past.Excellent work,sometimes took awhile for e-mails but what the hell?? He's got a life beyond arcade repair...cut him some slack.
ScumBum
Well-known member
Alex knows what hes doing , not having a phone service and doing things his way has saved him from having to deal with customers like this .
i have delt with Eldorado since i have been in the hobby (2 years) and spent a lot money with them But the person who was doing the old (B+W) boards is not doing them any more, they do repair the new stuff alot, so now i deal with Alex, he is working on my 2nd batch of board repairs and has done a great job for me and his price's are fair, and the e mail ,i know he will get back to me in time so, not a issue with me
Last edited:
mrbill2084
Well-known member
Although it would be fun to charge those rates, I'd take a total tarring-and-feathering for it on KLOV.
No one would complain if you charged a special rate for those special people who need special help...
+1 for Alex
Dealt twice with Alex. 3rd time if you count a warranty issue (my fault - my PS). I made a point of paying for return shipping because he took the time out to make sure.
Email and cell-phones have given everyone a sense of "answer me now" mentality. Alex has said an answering service is not a solution that will help him. Imagine him sitting down to 10 messages/day that say "I have a question, call me @ 777 555 1234".
Alex - if you read this - just update your website to say "a couple of weeks" instead of a week on responses. Problem solved. Those in a bigger hurry can move on.
Dealt twice with Alex. 3rd time if you count a warranty issue (my fault - my PS). I made a point of paying for return shipping because he took the time out to make sure.
Email and cell-phones have given everyone a sense of "answer me now" mentality. Alex has said an answering service is not a solution that will help him. Imagine him sitting down to 10 messages/day that say "I have a question, call me @ 777 555 1234".
Alex - if you read this - just update your website to say "a couple of weeks" instead of a week on responses. Problem solved. Those in a bigger hurry can move on.
Now that you've got that all that straight, why don't you post whatever deal you were offering up to Alex to the group and see what responses you get.
+1 for Alex
How true. On a related note, a friend who does repairs tells me all the time about people calling in looking for repair advice over the phone... for free. Time is money.
We've used Alex many times in the past and his work is always top-notch.
Gary
How true. On a related note, a friend who does repairs tells me all the time about people calling in looking for repair advice over the phone... for free. Time is money.
We've used Alex many times in the past and his work is always top-notch.
Gary
I easily blow 5 hours a week on the phone with free tech advice.....I know, that's not a ton of time...but it does add up.
Edward
Riptor
Well-known member
Free tech advice is what this message board is for, not a business web site.
Edward,
It does add up in a hurry. 5 hours per week X 50 weeks (assuming 2 weeks vacation) and you've racked up 250 hours in a year. Divide it out by a 50 hour work week and you have 5 weeks of work at the "volunteer" pay rate
Gary
claymax
Member
He fixed my Missile Command board and did a good job. I remember reading on his website about he operates so understood about the way he runs his business. After an initial contact he told me how far out things were and what I could expect cost and time wise. I found him easy, pleasant and personable to deal with. You just have to understand this isn't his main gig.
There's a reason people wait a bit longer and get Alex to work on their boards.
There's a reason people wait a bit longer and get Alex to work on their boards.
Edward,
It does add up in a hurry. 5 hours per week X 50 weeks (assuming 2 weeks vacation) and you've racked up 250 hours in a year. Divide it out by a 50 hour work week and you have 5 weeks of work at the "volunteer" pay rate
Gary
Thanks Gary!...for painfully spelling it out
Oh, and vacation....yeah, I remember those....
Edward
bit_slicer
New member
Let me second what Alex was saying. The notion that there's a bajillion dollars to be made fixing boards is just fantasy. Those I know who do fix boards via mail order are in it because we enjoy it (most times ) and not to get rich. Most times I spend way more time and effort on a board than I could be making working overtime at my real job. 95% of the time a board repair isn't a cut-and-dry obvious problem, and requires thought and investigation. That's fun to me! But it does take time. Being victorious against a bad board and getting them working again is just such a rush it's unbelievable. I'm rambling but my point is that most of us don't make very much fixing boards, and as such it takes a backseat to life's other issues.
Three weeks without contact? That might be a little long for me. I try to respond within 24 hrs, but understand that a real life, job, kids, etc sometimes get in the way and it's difficult to answer emails from the hospital emergency room.
But 'calling him out' on the newsgroup and making a stink isn't going to curry you any favor either. Personally I would've made every effort to contact him in a pleasant and positive way instead of trying to rake him over the coals.
I also agree about the phone service calls and phone messages and such. As much as I enjoy helping folks with technical problems, giving them phone access to me just isn't worth the hassle. Coming up with dedicated consistent hours to answer phone calls, having the specific information at my fingertips to fix a problem real-time, and then the stress of dealing with impatient or unreasonable customers over the phone, ehhh no thanks. I'll take PM or email any day.
Oh yeah, and Eldorado sucks!!!
) and not to get rich. Most times I spend way more time and effort on a board than I could be making working overtime at my real job. 95% of the time a board repair isn't a cut-and-dry obvious problem, and requires thought and investigation. That's fun to me! But it does take time. Being victorious against a bad board and getting them working again is just such a rush it's unbelievable. I'm rambling but my point is that most of us don't make very much fixing boards, and as such it takes a backseat to life's other issues.Three weeks without contact? That might be a little long for me. I try to respond within 24 hrs, but understand that a real life, job, kids, etc sometimes get in the way and it's difficult to answer emails from the hospital emergency room.
But 'calling him out' on the newsgroup and making a stink isn't going to curry you any favor either. Personally I would've made every effort to contact him in a pleasant and positive way instead of trying to rake him over the coals.
I also agree about the phone service calls and phone messages and such. As much as I enjoy helping folks with technical problems, giving them phone access to me just isn't worth the hassle. Coming up with dedicated consistent hours to answer phone calls, having the specific information at my fingertips to fix a problem real-time, and then the stress of dealing with impatient or unreasonable customers over the phone, ehhh no thanks.
I'll take PM or email any day.Oh yeah, and Eldorado sucks!!!
Last edited:
havok69
Active member
I guess the n00b doesn't get the fact that it's not a full time business...
