Triage tools for appliance repair service calls are all the rage today. Whether based on a frequent parts replacement database or more sophisticated database queries and constructs using AI, there's lots of talk about these products.

Team Samurai weighs in on this topic to discuss the proper and improper use of these tools. In the hands of a skilled tech, they can be a time saver. But triage tools cannot make a skilled tech out of PCMs. Lots of nuances to this topic so listen in.

Link to the "Errors, Omissions, and Dummy Directions" video mentioned in this episode: https://appliantology.org/blogs/entry/1259-video-errors-omissions-and-dummy-directions-in-service-manuals/

Learn real appliance tech skills at Master Samurai Tech Online Appliance Repair School: https://mastersamuraitech.com/online-appliance-repair-courses/

Get service manuals, continuing training, and peer-to-peer tech support at Appliantology.org: https://appliantology.org/blogs/entry/1027-tech-memberships-at-appliantology/

In this Live Dojo, the assembled brethren from Appliantology Monday Morning Quarterbacked a problem a tech was facing on a Whirlpool refrigerator and failed to fix. Turned out the problem was a loading down of the DC power supply caused by a wet evaporator fan motor. We talked about how he could have identified this as an issue and some general SOPs to follow when faced with this issue.

Learn real appliance tech skills at Master Samurai Tech Online Appliance Repair School: https://mastersamuraitech.com/online-appliance-repair-courses/

Get service manuals, continuing training, and peer-to-peer tech support at Appliantology.org: https://appliantology.org/blogs/entry/1027-tech-memberships-at-appliantology/

Special guest, Justin Duby, with Just-in Time Appliance Repair in Grantspass, OR, joins us to talk about his experience selling new appliances and offer tips and advice for anyone thinking of adding this to their appliance service business.

Also, at the end of the show, we give an update on the developing Facebook data-selling debacle that's unfolding. More info on this in my blog post at Appliantology.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/95TRIFr2iO4

 

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

* We compare and contrast three online training options with the Master Samurai Tech Academy. Oh yeah, we're naming names!

* The Master Samurai Tech Bushido (code of honor)


https://www.youtube.com/embed/a56pNudvUzo

 

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

The Samurai and Mrs. Samurai share some highlights from the inaugural Appliantology Peer Group meeting. One of the topics discussed was the idea of doing electronic control board repairs as part of an appliance repair business.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/EsN33ri1_2o

 

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

Samurai Appliance Repair Man and Mrs. Samurai suss out various angles and facets in a sensational recent news story where a Sears contractor tech attacked a customer. Lots of interesting lessons from this story for both customers and in-home service professionals.

Link to the news story: http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/19/repairman-arrested-homeowner-attack/

https://www.youtube.com/embed/fP66yYGK1Ss

 

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

The Samurai and Mrs. Samurai give you some straight talk about the bidness of appliance repair and other topics:


* Customer relations and strategic market targeting

* Culture of dumbass among some techs

* Free Appliance repair expos like in the HVAC industry

* Upcoming Appliantology Peer Group web meeting


https://www.youtube.com/embed/IlDQ_h_9b5E

 

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/f4FlP7BrlsE

 

All of Team Samurai comes together to explain the exciting new tech membership programs at the web's premier tech support resource, Appliantology.org.

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/7XnsCtMg5Hg

 

This is an update to our last podcast episode giving some new, verified information on one of the big things we talked about: access to GE technical information for independent servicers.

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-cyuCToMm2c

 

In this epic episode:

* Wrap up of the 2018 Annual Service Training Institute (ASTI) held in St. Petersburg, FL

* Technical and business training at the ASTI

* Travel tips to avoid getting sick

* Fun facts to know and tell about how social media manipulates you and gives you brain damage


You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://youtu.be/cUi7TI7CHLI

 

In this special episode, we explore the question of size of the Samurai's ego. Turns out that it's so massive that we needed a whole episode devoted to it. Yes, size does matter!

Also:
- Upcoming ASTI in St. Petersburg
- Tech training challenges
- Three stumbling blocks to becoming a better tech
- What makes Appliantology so great?
- MST Alumnus program

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://youtu.be/amL4HPgl-Qw

 


* Industry News:


* Employment numbers for the appliance repair industry

* Whirlpool lawsuit against Samsung because Samsung is kicking Whirlpool's corporate *ss on front load washers

* Samsung opening a new, state-of-the-art $380 million manufacturing facility in South Carolina

* Kenmore appliances on Amazon


* Appliantology monthly workshops: https://appliantology.org/calendar/event/822-webinar-appliantology-workshop-using-appliantology-as-your-indispensable-appliance-repair-information-tool/


* Refrigerator sealed system repairs: what you really need to know https://appliantology.org/blogs/entry/999-sealed-system-repairs-the-mystique-the-reality/


* Top Kendo Master at Appliantology each month wins $100! https://appliantology.org/blogs/entry/1000-the-top-kendo-master-each-month-wins-100/


* Oven and Range repair training course- just in time for cooking season https://mastersamuraitech.com/online-appliance-repair-courses/oven-range-repair-training-course/


You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://youtu.be/XvGHkrP3V-g

 

- Industry news: Consumer right to repair laws coming to a state near you. Consumers will have the right to purchase appliance service manuals from the manufacturer. What does it mean for you as a professional appliance repair technician?

- The Ten Step Tango troubleshooting procedure: Troubleshooting techniques for any appliance brand or type. If you aren't already registered at the site, click here to sign up for the free TST course.

- Tech training webinars at MasterSamuraiTech.com and Appliantology.org

- Monitoring the training progress of your technician who is enrolled at the Master Samurai Tech Academy.

Online appliance repair training: Master Samurai Tech
Professional appliance technician support: Appliantology.org

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://youtu.be/3sFRrYGMeM4

 

In this long-awaited episode, the Samurai and Mrs. Samurai recap the recent Annual Service Training Institute. Some of the links referenced in the podcast:

- Photos from ASTI 2017

- MST Ten-Step Tango Troubleshooting Procedure

- Understanding "Loading Down" in Appliance DC Power Supplies

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://youtu.be/yh5l7Qf1bZk

 

Introducing the mysterious Son of Samurai (yes, the actual spawn of Samurai), the man behind the scenes running Appliantology.org and MasterSamuraiTech.com. He's also a certified Master Samurai Tech and the Samurai's service call partner. In this episode we talked about:

- Son of Samurai, who he is and what he does to keep our websites running
- Behind the scenes at Appliantology
- Common user questions at Appliantology
- What it takes to be a professional appliance repair technician today
- Getting the most out of your Professional Appliantologist membership at Appliantology.org

Subscribe to this podcast at http://mstradio.com
Subscribe to our newsletter at http://mst.buzz

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://youtu.be/xCqKdgQkz-o

 

Special 4th of July episode:

- Industry News: Haeir buys GE Appliances; new Wolf induction cooktop; Italian appliance manufacturer, SMEG, gaining market share
- Firing your customer; identifying and harpooning "land sharks." Link to article discussed in the vodcast: https://www.groovehq.com/support/how-to-fire-a-bad-customer
- Current thinking on responding to negative reviews
- Dealing with unreasonable customers
- Master Samurai Tech news

Learn more about managing an appliance repair business and your customers in our online business course.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Android and listen to past episodes at http://mstradio.com

Subscribe to our newsletter at http://mst.buzz

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

* Memorial Day 10% tuition discount

* Two new FREE and fun courses:
- Internetology: Basic Internet for Everyone
- Appliantology 101: Your Guide to the Ultimate Appliance Repair Information Tool

* Weekly tech training webinars and recap of the most recent one

* Circuit Fu - bringing back the lost art of appliance repair

* The MST newsletter is chock full of appliance repair goodies, subscribe now at MST.buzz



https://www.youtube.com/embed/3f-IsPPI4K0

 

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Android and listen to past episodes at mstradio.com

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below or subscribe on iTunes/Android:

Another all-new vodcast episode of Master Samurai Tech Radio! In this killa episode:

- Weekly tech training webinars, aka., Office Hours, for MST Academy students and Professional Appliantologist members at Appliantology.org.
- Webinar recordings available for both students and PA members.
- Open Q&A Office Hours- a great time to ask questions about a schematic or tech sheet that you're having troubles understanding.
- Live Tech Help at Appliantology.org!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/aLIz0prWwdA

 

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Android and listen to past episodes at http://mstradio.com


You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below or subscribe on iTunes/Android:

In this long-awaited episode:
- Mr. Appliance tech training website powered by Master Samurai Tech
- ASTI 2016 recap and discussion
- Industry news - trends in the evolving appliance repair profession
- Tech training webinars at Appliantology.org and MasterSamuraiTech.com
- Bidness Talk: "Where can I hire good techs?"
- Tool Talk: Information tools for more effective appliance repair service calls

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Android and listen to past episodes at http://mstradio.com

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1GB42_rKtR0

 

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below or subscribe on iTunes/Android:

In this year-end vodcast, Samurai Appliance Repair Man and the Mrs. Samurai do some reminiscing about all the great students we’ve worked with during 2015, the new features we’ve added to the Samurai Tech Academy's state-of-the-art online appliance repair training courses and we describe even more improvements coming in 2016!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9j6rupkIzfU

 

New features already in place:

- Midterm exam with open answers in Core: challenging, enlightening, empowering.
- Weekly live webinar “Office Hours” with the Samurai for students: powerful presentations and illuminating Q&A.

Exciting announcement: even though we’ve increased the features and benefits of the Academy, the tuition is NOT increasing! Instead, we have changed to a continuing access fee model. When you enroll in a course, you receive full access for 1 year (2 years if you purchase a bundle), then you can opt to continue paying a very small monthly fee for access after that time period. (Note: this does not affect students who have already enrolled.)

More flexibility in 2016: we are changing the nature of the quizzes - they will no longer be “blocking” - leaving it up to each student to personalize their learning experience.

Oh, one more thing… In our enthusiasm to describe all the exciting goings-on at Master Samurai Tech, we forgot to mention our year-end tuition special! D’OH! Use coupon code SUPERTECH2016 at get a 10% tuition discount off any Samurai Tech Academy course or course bundle! This coupon is good through January 6, 2016.

Merry Christmas!

You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below or subscribe on iTunes/Android: