Electronics repair in other cultures

Jim.... I live in Toronto, a very multi-cultural city and people here from lesser developed countries will pay to get something fixed rather than trow away and buy new. We have lots of independent electronic repair shops here owned by people from these countries and they seem to be flourishing. Shops are usually very small, off the beaten track, and the techs are very good at their work and often very creative in making repairs. They always have bins of products that they cannibalize for parts. Forget OEM or new parts, their goal is to make it work. Interesting in that most of the long established main stream repair shops are long gone. Regards Lee

I have a mate who emigrated from Ethiopia, very creative at repair, will use his tongue as a voltmeter, very good using taping to isolate a fault etc.

Thats all part of the more efficient & competitive business model for repair shops thats taking over, but its odd how many are still trying to stick, unsuccessfully, to the old model. They seem to think 'repairs are uneconomical' rather than ask themselves why, and what they can do about it.

NT

I used to repair small electric appliances and pocket radios and made a living. Couldn't do it now.

I could replace an element in a popup toaster in under 5 minutes - a skill without use nowadays.