So, here's the plan!

[Ray Stafford]

This grew from an idea I floated on the forum Facebook page.

Lots of engineers seem to have a problem when they get called to a breakdown, diagnose the fault, and then quote the customer.

The customer uses the information from the quote, and hubby/neighbour/bloke-down-the-pub sources the part "much cheaper" and fits it illegaly.

So here's the plan:

We place a post on the open forum, something like this:

Hi All.

Just a quick note to confirm that production has now ceased on the AP/45-HX sub-PCB. As you all know, this was a staple sub-assembly for all the PCB manufacturers supplying the gas boiler market, but as I understand it, the AP/45 series could not be upgraded to comply with the ErP standard.

A new family of sub-boards has already been launched, but by definition, they are not backwardly compatible. This is no problem for new appliances, which are incorporating ErP tech as a matter of course, all of which feature next generation sub-boards. However, it will cause a problem for repairing a whole range of existing models from a wide range of manufacturers whose electronic controls relied on the AP/45-HX architecture. Effectively, it puts a whole generation of boiler beyond economic repair, unless the engineer is able to source an AP/45 board from depleting existing stocks. It might make sense if you are scrapping a boiler to pull the PCB and detach the sub-board from it, and keep it in the van.

Of course, it a complete load of old twaddle.

The point of this is that when engineers get called to diagnose a fault, they can tell the customer that its the AP/45-HX sub-board that has gone. The customer will google "AP/45-HX" and since there is no such real board, the only response they will find is this thread, and a load of engineers bemoaning the death of the trusty old AP/45-HX boards that we all know and love, and discussing the fact that they wouldn't part with their last remaining stock for less than £xxxx per board.

We may need the mods to delete posts from any genuine engineers who are not in the loop.

Or am I being too machiavellian?

I should add that I am absolutely not recommending ripping off the general public. The only point of this idea is to protect the genuine engineer from being abused when diagnosing faults.

 

[dancinplumba]

loving it Ray

 

[Dotty]

You are an evil genius.

 

[Ray Stafford]

You are an evil genius.

Thats quite the nicest thing anyone has said about me in years!

 

[Dotty]

Right, everyone that's in sign up below.

 

[dancinplumba]

You are an evil genius.

oh yes

 

[dancinplumba]

yes yes yes yes please

 

[dancinplumba]

got 3 of them boards left

 

[Phil]

I've never heard such naughtiness, I like it!

 

[julesverne]

Im in only got 4 left.

 

[newcastle phill]

Ohh ill be ok.

Williams sold me 40 for a great price before midnight why just the other day.

Guess ill pick all the work up..

 

[ShaunCorbs]

The only prob I see is what happens if they phone the manufacturer up and asked them are they still having the parts or they ask another engy to have a look

Or anther point your only as bad as bg in short selling and telling people parts are no longer available etc

And what happens if some engys go the step further and relaying on what you said to sell new boilers etc

and everything comes out in the end what would your customers think if this ever came to light (vw comes to mind)

And tbh I'm quit descusted about some of the replays and posters

And is this going to stop non gsr people touching boilers/ gas appliance no

My opinion

 

[AWheating]

I'm in.

I also have some spare boards for sale at £500 🙂

 

[AWheating]

The only prob I see is what happens if they phone the manufacturer up and asked them are they still having the parts or they ask another engy to have a look

Or anther point your only as bad as bg in short selling and telling people parts are no longer available etc

And what happens if some engys go the step further and relaying on what you said to sell new boilers etc

and everything comes out in the end what would your customers think if this ever came to light (vw comes to mind)

And tbh I'm quit descusted about some of the replays and posters

And is this going to stop non gsr people touching boilers/ gas appliance no

My opinion

If an engineer is willing to rip off his/her customer they will, a forum post won't make any difference or won't make somebody evil.

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

It's not the way I work and I would wonder what Dan the site owner would think as this could harm the good reputation of this forum if it ever got out.

 

[hammers4spanner]

Am not sure it would work you have so many forums on gas and plumbing now , however I'm not saying i won't do it so I'm in.

 

[jonnyswamp]

Geniousness at it's most evil, :devil2:
Obviously wouldn't work for long and would get us all a bad name on here, but for a bit of Sunday night devilment.........hilarious
Take the post as it was intended, in jest

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If an engineer is willing to rip off his/her customer they will, a forum post won't make any difference or won't make somebody evil.

No but it opens the option/ makes the customer think if part are no more best to get a new boiler

 

[Ray Stafford]

The only prob I see is what happens if they phone the manufacturer up and asked them are they still having the parts or they ask another engy to have a look

Or anther point your only as bad as bg in short selling and telling people parts are no longer available etc

And what happens if some engys go the step further and relaying on what you said to sell new boilers etc

and everything comes out in the end what would your customers think if this ever came to light (vw comes to mind)

And tbh I'm quit descusted about some of the replays and posters

And is this going to stop non gsr people touching boilers/ gas appliance no

My opinion

It's not the way I work and I would wonder what Dan the site owner would think as this could harm the good reputation of this forum if it ever got out.

In fairness, I did say in my opening post that I was not condoning ripping of the public.

However, I guess this does come into the category of "not sounding so clever in the cold light of day" and its not hard to find ways that it could be abused or misinterpreted.

So I withdraw the plan.

I still think its funny though. 🙂

 

[Nostrum]

I hope it was a wind up Ray!

 

[Ray Stafford]

I hope it was a wind up Ray!

More a bit of Jack Daniels fueled devilment Sam. It followed a facebook thread where a guy had done the diagnosis, only to have householder's relative source and fit the part.

See my post #19

 

[ShaunCorbs]

More a bit of Jack Daniels fueled devilment Sam. It followed a facebook thread where a guy had done the diagnosis, only to have householder's relative source and fit the part.

See my post #19

Wouldn't it be easier in telling the customer it's an internal part what's gone and its x amount to replace

 

[newcastle phill]

The point was just to see how many posted online lol

 

[oz-plumber]

Thats quite the nicest thing anyone has said about me in years!

Oh Ray, I'm sure we could continue with the 'niceties' if you wish.

Let's all continue this thread with pleasantries about Ray.

Leo and Lame should start.

The rest of us could follow

 

[mfgs]

I don't really see the problem if they take my diagnosis and get someone else in to do the work. I charge to diagnose faults so my time is covered. If they want to offer that out to the lowest bidder then they aren't the sort of customer I want anyway. The idea just seems like a way of conning people and potentially getting yourself a bad reputation for misdiagnosis etc.