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| The e-Servicer |
Monthly communication from United Servicers Association |
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Greetings!
We're just passed the April 18 IRS tax deadline and May is just around the corner. They say April showers bring May flowers and while that's nice for your yard, what about the greening of your business? Are you continuing to give your business new ideas and growing profits?
It's been nearly 3 months since the wildly successful 2011 ASTI convention. As noted in articles in this newsletter, people are still excited about the event and how the ASTI has contributed to improving their business. This is a good time for you to look at your "To Do" list from the ASTI. If you haven't implemented any of your great ideas, pick just one item from the list and follow it through to completion. Your business will flourish and grow if you give it the attention it needs.
We all know learning is a lifelong process and USA is continuing in its mission to provide you with the best service education in the industry. We are presenting two FREE webinars in May and encourage you to participate in the webinars. More information and online registration is included in the newsletter.
Here's hoping your spring marketing efforts deliver May through September customers.
Sincerely,
e-Servicer Newsletter Team
United Servicers Association |
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The 2011 Appliance Service Training Institute ASTI
What attendees are saying about the ASTI
United Servicers Association (USA) held their annual convention, the Appliance Service Training Institute (ASTI),  in San Diego, CA on February 8-12, 2011. Here is what attendees are saying:
John Feguson - This is one of the better, and more useful events of the year.
Joel Anaya - It was a great event.
Barbara Dunn - Excellent leadership.
Kerry McKerracher - I wish I had started attending when I returned to independent servicing 5 years ago. I will certainly never miss an ASTI again if I can help it. I've already told two of my competitors.
Michael Maack - First time attendee, was very impressed with the presentations as well as the choices of information. As a new appliance repair company, I was anxious to get back and begin implementation of some of the ideas.
Ernest Johnson - This was so good for our company and my son to hear from our peers and not just his dad. Thank you.
Kirby Hills - My first convention and I felt it was well worth the time and money to attend. Thanks to all the volunteers for their hard work and effort.
Krystle Freelove - Loved the wisdom from the older generation and the innovation, enthusiasm and passion from the younger generation.
Lou Bennett - I really enjoyed the camaraderie and the classes. Every time I attend these conventions I always walk away learning something.
Frank Apodaca - Had a great learning lesson, now I can see the light. Thanks ASTI!
Mark Loeescher pictured here with his prize for completing the ASTI post event survey. A 32" Toshiba TV was donated by Max Boren of Smitty's Appliance and Tire in Manchester, IA. Many Thanks to Max Boren for his generousity.
Jim Webb - For over 20 years as a service company member and, more recently, as a Reliable Parts Inc. representative, I have found the USA conventions to be both enjoyable and informative. The February convention and ASTI training was outstanding, not only because of the scale and diversity of the training classes, but the San Diego location made it even more appealing. From a company perspective our booth placement was stellar and the setup allowed us to fully network with all the attendees.
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Cody Appliance Share their ASTI Experience
By Patty Cody
Thank you so very much for the undeniably successful ASTI convention in February. It was evident that many hands worked tirelessly to put on such a well-run event. This was my second year at the ASTI and my husband's first, as I was so impressed and empowered and inspired after my first ASTI that I made sure my husband was in attendance this year.
We have run our own appliance repair business, Cody's Appliance Repair, for over 20 years. First in California, and after its sale we started again in Idaho 13 years ago. When we came from California, we had solid ideas about pricing, hiring, customer service skills, etc., but since that time our company has grown from a mom-and-pop shop to a larger company. We also live in a much less dense demographic now with a definite difference in shopping, spending, and repairing habits, as compared to California. But as we had been successful from day one in Idaho, we were content to do the same things year after year after year because it had always worked for us in the past. Well, the world has changed and I realized that we too had to make some radical changes to our company to survive this new world we live in.
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YourWorkStuff.com Provides Free Job Leads
By Tom O'Brien Yourhomestuff.com
YourWorkStuff.com , a new USA member, offers a new approach to online lead generation. Many lead generation websites charge service professionals for each lead, regardless if the lead results in a job. With YourWorkStuff the leads are free. Service professionals only pay a fee (typically 3% to 5% of total job cost) if they are awarded the job by the homeowner.
YourWorkStuff ran a successful pilot in Massachusetts and Connecticut in 2010, with over 1000 job leads sent to its member companies. Its national rollout begins in April as it opens up homeowner membership to Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware in succession over the next few months.
"Our objective was to create a website that provided convenience to both the homeowner and service provider, making it easy for homeowners to initiate jobs, and equally easy for service professionals to respond to those jobs, without nickel and diming the pros for leads that don't pan out." said Tom O'Brien, YourWorkStuff's VP of Member Services."It seems most sites out there are designed strictly for the homeowner. We thought we could build a better system that was a win-win for the homeowner and servicer."
Servicers interested in learning more or signing up for free leads from YourWorkStuff can check out their website at www.yourworkstuff.com
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This is a $3,500 Refrigerator
By Jeremy Hill, Aril 18, 2011, Gadgetell
If refrigerators had feelings, they'd be crying ice cubes right now. The Samsung RF4289 is the ultimate fridge for the ultimate price. Starting this May, this refrigerator will be available in stores for $3,499. It comes in 36-inch and 33-inch wide models and has more technology than you ever thought was necessary in a refrigerator.
Let's be honest here. If this was just a fridge with LED lighting and 28 cubic feet of space, we probably wouldn't be taking about this. However, the RF4289 has an eight inch LCD touchscreen right above the ice dispenser. Not impressed yet? Well this fridge also has a Wi-Fi connection going into it. The screen is like a built-in tablet by offering apps such as Epicurious, Weather Bug and Twitter. Why anyone will need to check Twitter on their refrigerator is beyond my understanding. The Pandora free radio app makes more sense. There are two speakers built into the fridge which is great for when you're preparing a dish.
Another neat feature is a new drawer called Flex Zone which lets you divide everything in the drawer. The Flex Zone also has its own temperature controls.
Can you see yourself throwing down $3,500 for this appliance?
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Successful Internet Marketing Using Free Classified Ads
with the Right Key Words
By : Mark Maupin, Right Now Marketing
 Business owners and entrepreneurs know that success breeds success. When you surround yourself by successful people and do what they do, you increase your chances of being successful. What are the successful business owners doing today to market themselves? If you ask them, the majority will say they are using the internet.
The internet is a powerful marketing tool that is free to use for posting classified ads. Remember the small classifieds from the newspaper? These cost money and they are no longer an effective way to advertise. Newspapers are quickly losing popularity now that so much is available on the internet. You can post a one-page classified ad on the internet free; it would cost you a small fortune to do this in the newspaper.
click on " show all meetings"
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USA Continues FREE Business Management Training
Register for one or both one hour sessions
May 4th or 18th
Free internet Marketing with Classified Ads
with Mark Maupin of Right Now Marketing
Learn how to take advantage of the internet using free classified ads strategically placed on the internet that will increase your placement in search engine results from Google, Bing, Yahoo and so many more.
May 11th or 25th
How to Calculate Your Cost of Doing Business
with Paul Mac Donald of United Servicers Association
How can you set your service rates to deliver profits if you don't know what it's costing your technicians to knock on the customer's door? Learn how to use the CODB calculator from USA to calculate the hourly cost to run your business.
These USA business management sessions are open to all service companies but you must register to attend and space is limited. To reserve your spot, register today by clicking on the button below.
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"I am thankful to USA for the lessons I have learned"
Manny Ortega,
Ortega's Appliance
My story starts out like most appliance service technicians. I was working for an appliance service company and even though I was making a living, I felt like I would be able to start my own company and make my services better than the other companies in my area.
In 1993 I opened Ortega's Appliance Service. I was confident that I had the talent to run my own business, set my own hours and make plenty of money. By 1995, my business was surviving but not really going anywhere. I was working long hours, barely making ends meet and becoming frustrated.
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ASTI 2012
FEB 15 -18, 2012
San Antonio, TX
Save the Date! Details soon on |
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Help Your Kitchen Go Green
Sustain Your Life, Sustain Your Appliances
In a world filled with sustainable living ideas, it is difficult to think past recycle bins of bottles and cans. Why not live a green lifestyle and actually seeing some green growing in your pocket, too? This month, make an effort to break old habits and take a step away from energy-waste to energy-smart.
"By maintaining your appliances regularly, you can extend the life of your investment and save energy," said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance Corp.® "The harder an appliance has to work to do its job, the more energy it consumes in the process, which puts a strain on the appliance, the environment and on your energy bills."
Follow these simple tips from Mr. Appliance Corp. to make your appliances not only benefit planet earth, but also your pocketbook.
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Where to Turn When the Appliance Warranty Expires
The New York Times March 16, 2011
I'm going to tell you the tale of my refrigerator breakdown and recovery. Now, I'm not devoting a column to this because I believe you are all so fascinated by the life of my appliances. But rather, I learned some valuable lessons on the way, and I thought my mistakes and discoveries might help others.
It all started when I opened our refrigerator on Monday as I usually do on a school morning - half asleep - and took out the milk. It dawned on me that the milk felt warmer than usual, but I didn't really think much about it.
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Were you at the 2011 ASTI in
San Diego?
 | | ASTI2011 Photo Album |
Click the flickr link below to view and download your event picture
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Jennifer's Warranty Tips
Tip #13 Dacor Preferred Servicers Request for Authorization
Are you a Dacor "Preferred" Servicer and still sending your customers back to Dacor to get an authorization number before scheduling an appointment for them?
Don't risk losing the customer to your competition...
 As a Dacor Preferred Servicer, you have the ability to request an authorization number for your customers through Dacor's website and pre-order parts at no charge so that your technician can repair the appliance in one trip.
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A Little Bit of Humor
Can You Read This?
AOCDRNDICG TO RSCHEEARCH AT CMABRIGDE UINERVTISY, IT DSENO'T MTAETR WAHT OERDR THE LTTERES IN A WROD ARE, THE OLNY IPROAMTNT TIHNG IS TAHT THE FRSIT AND LSAT LTTEER BE IN THE RGHIT PCLAE. TIHS IS BCUSEAE THE HUAMN MNID DEOS NOT RAED ERVEY LTETER BY ISTLEF, BUT THE WROD AS A WLOHE. IF YOU CAN RAED TIHS, PSOT IT TO YUOR WLAL. OLNY 55% OF PLEPOE CAN
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The Original Blue Book Available
You can still order the traditional technician pocket version of the printed Blue Book from USA
 | | Order the Updated Version Today |
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About USA
USA's mission is to develop and provide services and programs intended to assist members in building strong businesses in North America's competitive environment.
Among these services are:
- Educational Programs
- Manufacturer Relations
- Management, Marketing and Operational Programs
- Peer Group Formation & Facilitation
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Contact Us
United Servicers Association
One Presidential Way
Woburn, MA 01801
1-800-683-2558
VISIT OUR WEB SITE www.unitedservicers.com |
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