Boycott Toshiba

Perhaps a Toshiba distributor would sell it. I use Fox International, but I'm not sure they do copiers as such...

Mark Z.

I don't disagree with the sentiment, but you will find yourself boycotting lots of manufacturers. Other divisions of Toshiba have different policies. Will you boycott any company that has a division with a policy that you don't like?

Leonard

would

Corporate

Good ! I don't think that the Manufactures should be selling manuals to end users. I guess you could say I am protecting my Trade.

Try a request over at alt.binaries.e-book.technical. The folks there are usually very accomodating; if someone has it (and it's been transcribed into digital format) they'll post it for you.

If you know someone in the repair business, have them order it for you I've done that in the past for my equipment

You gave up too easily. Bounce the issue back to the TABS product manager and let him know that the dealers to which he referred you don't have the manual available.

I agree 100%, and I used to do service work myself. Regrettably, it is the policy for most companies to refuse service manuals to ANY end user no matter how qualified they may be. IMO this should be regarded as and end run around anti-monopoly laws as it clearly limits service work to a small handfull of repair facilities. After all if you can purchase a repair manual for an automobile you should be able to purchase one for electronic appliances.(The potential for self-harm servicing an automobile is much greater than that of a home appliance.) It'd be my recommendation that in the future before purchasing ANY electronic device research thoroughly if they will sell you a manual with the unit. If not, tell 'em to piss up a rope.

Try this link and see if any there can help you out on that manual.

Sign up as a repair tech and they should answer any questions no problem.

Did you check with these guys?

or this site?

Try to purchase a service manual for any HP Printer, or Compaq Computer, Not just teles do this. Many times this is done to protect the end user, not make it difficult for them to attempt doing their own service.< >Authorized service companies make their respective livings, and that of their employees doing business repairing these products. They pay a subscription to many of the manufacturers directly for the service literature so they are able to competently service your product.<

Not highly technical, just disassembly instructions and parts lists (ouch, they are expensive, even for an ancient computer) but it is helpful if you have never taken apart a laptop before.

I've found that even companies that *do* sell service manuals want way too much for them if you only have one or two units to repair. It's much more effective to use good old fashioned troubleshooting than to waste time trying to hunt down a manual.

I seriously doubt end users buying manuals is a risk to your trade. The people who manage to fix the item with a manual would probably not consider taking it to a shop in the first place.

What is the problem with purchasing the manual via their distribution = channel in your locality? I hardly ever get stuff like this from the main corporate site= unless it is free and downloadable. Their redirecting you to their authorized site = locally shows that at least this corporate tech support is unwilling to "go around left end"= to circumvent and compete with their channel partner for distribution. I guess = business ethics aren't completely dead after all......but close though....good luck in your = quest.

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Joe Brophy CountryTech Computer email: snipped-for-privacy@spiretech.com

True! But then maybe after they have totally screwd it up they take it to a shop for the _Free Estimate_. Thats why in 35 years of service I have never given a Free Estimate.

kip

More and more manufacturers are adopting this policy. If you refuse to purchase from companies who refuse to provide tech info to you, you'll soon find yourself without any of the luxury items you currently enjoy. I suppose you could become Amish and live a contented life w/o the infernal modern machines that need repairing. ;)

I understand and agree with your gripe, though. Things are no better for those who were authorized and are no longer, or for those who are fully versed in electronics repair, in some cases been in the biz for many years, yet are not authorized service centers for certain lines. Some manu's even refuse to sell certain items (e.g., tools) to their own authorized service centers! That's supposed to be a huge hint that even the most qualified tech shouldn't screw around with the factory settings.

I remember a time when manu's actually included the schematics in the retail box with the products! Radio Shack included schematics with their stuff long after the TV manu's ceased this practice. I haven't bought any Rat Shack products in eons, so they may no longer include the diagrams -- anyone care to enlighten me? The last major kitchen appliances I bought included wiring/parts diagrams, but that was 5+ years ago, so this may no longer be the industry standard.

My experience suggests the most cooperative brands for the non-authorized end user to deal with are Fisher, NEC, Pioneer and Sony.

Paper manuals are always going to cost you more than microfiche because it costs THEM more to produce than fiche. A paper VCR manual is likely to cost you upwards of $50.00, whereas the fiche for the same model may run as low as $6.00! You can usually inveigle most manu's to part with service literature. You have to jump through hoops (e.g., a multitude of voicemail options and runarounds), flatter the rep and sometimes virtually beg, but they usually cave. If they won't sell directly, they'll often have lists of shops or websites which may be helpful. For those who absolutely insist on selling only to authorized service centers, try visiting an authorized service center -- you'd be surprised how many are willing to xerox pages from their manuals (for a fee), especially if you speak the lingo and know what you're doing. Consumer electronics techs are a dying breed and it's amusing to see the old boys' eyes light up when they meet a "new guy" who knows the biz. =)

would

Corporate

He is not talking about repairing consumer electronics but a copier machine. Copier machines all pretty much require someone who is trained on repairing them to even understand the service manual. The service manual does not go into what any given adjustment or circuit actually does. Sometimes they will go into the adjustments, but that is usually a separate manual beyond the service manual on business equipment.

There is a good reason why business product divisions do not sell service manuals to anyone except trained and authorized servicers.

Fair enough. Without looking up his model #, I incorrectly assumed he was referring to one of the all-in-one SOHO rigs that seem so popular nowadays.

What a load of BS. I've serviced copiers over the years and the service manuals are written to clarify adjustments and setting inre repairs. Anyone with any basic training in electronics can take a copier service manual and fix anything that's broken on them.