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| The e-Servicer |
Monthly communication from United Servicers Association |
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Greetings! ,
"Tis the Season to be Jolly!" 
As the holidays approach, this can be a very tough attitude to adopt. By now we've been hearing all the same Christmas carols for well over a month, struggling to cross the last items off our shopping lists, and beginning to feel the financial strains and stress of loaded holiday schedules. As great as this time of year can be, it can also begin to feel like the last straw.
Don't fret. The added pressure of the holiday season can offer up an unexpected gift. When viewed in the right light, the challenges you face during this season can be a boon to your business. For an athlete, any flaws in their performance become more pronounced when they are tired. It's at that point a good coach can easily identify the weakness, so it can be trained out before the next competition. It's only by acknowledging and tackling challenges an athlete gets stronger and performs better in the next competition.
If the holiday season is causing some cracks in your business model, now is the time to take note of them so you can begin to train them out of your business practices in the New Year. The goal should be to finish the year as strong as possible. So if the holiday season is causing some humbugs, embrace the challenges, and bring them to the ASTI in February - we'll help you train through them. Think of it as a Christmas present for your business.
Be sure not to let the holiday pressure get to you. Next time that annoying Christmas carol comes on, try singing along instead of fighting it. You might get caught up in the holiday spirit, and if at first it doesn't work, have another eggnog. Even Scrooge grew to love the season.
Cheers, and Happy Holidays
eServicer Newsletter Team
United Servicers Association |
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To Register
Only $399* for four days - over 187 hours
of service training.
Visit www.asti.us for the latest details and full descriptions of the training sessions offered.
*See your Parts Distributor for a discount coupon.
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What are you doing for your staff this holiday season?
By Paul Mac Donald, USA Executive Director
 In a recent ChatUSA discussion, we asked our members this question. While most employers view this as a chance to celebrate the holiday season and reward their team for a year of hard work, many are afraid of a Griswold-esque confrontation with expectant or ungrateful staff. What's worse is that for every generous suggestion there seems to be a downside. Whether you see this as a chance to embrace the spirit of giving, or feel haunted by ghosts of Christmas past, here's a breakdown of the commentary we received, along with some advice. Parties and Events The Upside: The holidays are an excellent opportunity for a staff get-together. It can be a great way for technicians and office staff to spend some time bonding, which can be valuable when a large portion of your staff spends their time on the road. A dinner away from the office can be opened up to spouses and significant others, and this can be a valuable chance for an employer to thank staff in person and give recognition for top performers and special initiative. _________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Frigidaire Affinity Front Load Washer Won't Start:
E68 Error Code
By Scott Brown, Samurai Appliance Repair Man, www.Appliantology.org
 You may or may not see a fault code with this problem. Here's an example of how this problem typically appears to a customer and how they may describe it to you during a service call:
After shutting the door and pushing start on the washer, you can hear the door locking mechanism engage and a quick check of the door shows that the door is indeed locked. Once the door locks, the typical "hum" that is heard at the beginning of the cycle is heard and you can also hear what I assume is relays or a relay engaging but you never hear water flowing and within about 10-15 seconds the cycle stops and the door unlocks. No error codes are displayed.
In situations like this, it's always a good idea to put the washer control console into service mode and see if there are any error codes that may be stored there. Here's how:
READING ERROR CODES:
1. Wake the washer by pressing any button.
2. Wait 5 seconds.
3. Press and HOLD the Start/Pause and Cancel buttons simultaneously.
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Legally Speaking: Email Marketing - The Rules
By Bob Goldberg, Schoenberg, Finkel, Newman, & Rosenberg, LLC
Bob.goldberg@sfnr.com
 Bob Goldberg serves as General Counsel for several trade associations and is a partner in the law firm of Schoenberg, Finkel, Newman, & Rosenberg, LLC. Bob is a popular industry speaker presenting legal issues with wit and wisdom and will be the opening speaker for the USA 2012 ASTI Convention on February 15.
The Internet has made communications easy and inexpensive. However, like its predecessor facsimile, there are laws in place regulating unsolicited emails. Failure to know and understand these regulations can result in liability to individuals and businesses that object to your messages arriving in their electronic mail box. The liability is absolute-no defense--so knowing the do and don'ts is essential.
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USA's Year Long Gifts to You!
Your USA membership is the gift that continues to give you benefits all year long. Two important benefits of your membership are the USA On-line Service Library and ChatUSA. Have you unwrapped these two gifts yet?
 USA Service Library is an on-line service document sharing website exclusive to USA members.Utilizing the latest internet sharing technology, USA members can access thousands of OEM service manuals on-line and also upload missing service manuals to the library. Your technicians will be able to access OEM service manuals and bulletins from their laptops right in the customer's home. There are no additional shipping or mailing fees to gain access to the Service Library or DVD's to keep track of. USA Members must register at www.usaservicelibrary.com with a different username and password than for their profiles at the USA website.
 ChatUSA - our email chat forum puts you in touch with other USA members to get answers to business and technical questions, share important issues and stay connected to your service peers. Just post a comment or question and your fellow USA members will respond with solutions and suggestions. Being in business for yourself can be challenging and lonely at times; here's a tool that is as close as your computer. It's easy to register for ChatUSA. To subscribe for this benefit, log into your USA profile and choose ChatUSA from the e-list options on the top of your profile or email administration@unitedservicers.com and we'll take care of your signup.
Visit www.unitedservicers.com for more information.
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The 5 Basic Manners You Need to Know in Business
By Tom Searcy, www.cbsnews.com
I stand up when a lady arrives at or leaves a table. I know, that is nostalgic and even possibly risky as it might be perceived as sexist. However, it is one of a set of manners I was taught as a child that I still follow. Holding doors, taking hats off indoors, pulling out chairs and lowering voices all seem to be quaint throwback ideas that are dying rapid and unceremonious deaths.
Because of diversity training, political correctness and the changing mores of society, I think the clarity of what are considered to be "good manners" has become murky. The basic guideline of "treat others as you would wish to be treated" is less of the clear path to follow as individualism changes the interpretation.
Manners are still important and can be differentiating, often times in the negative. When you make a mistake, it sticks out and is memorable. For that reason, there are certain things that you must get right.
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Twelve Days of Christmas (For Your Home) and the Top 5 Holiday Tips You Haven't Thought Of
By Mr. Appliance
The tree's up and decorations are out ...but what about those holiday preparation and cleanup tips that aren't on your to-do list?
It's a busy time of year for Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric® and Mr. Rooter® Plumbing. In celebration of the holiday season, they came up with their version of the 12 Days of Christmas.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my service professional fixed for me:
- Twelve tangled lights
- Eleven frozen pipes
- Ten dishwashers spraying
- Nine power cords fraying
- Eight drips a leaking
- Seven ovens overheating
- Six breakers blowing
- Five toilets overflowing
- Four fridges not cooling
- Three light bulbs bursting
- Two drains clogging
- And one service call to fix it all.
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How NOT to Fire Someone: 5 Common Mistakes
By Amy Levin-Epstein, www.cbsnews.com
Unless you're a natural bully, firing someone is never fun. It is, of course, a necessary part of being a manager, and it's a skill that can be honed. The worst mistake, according to experts? Going through the motions like a robot. "Act like a human being. One day it may be you on the other side of the desk and you'd appreciate being handled like one," says executive coach John M. McKee, a former executive with companies like DIRECTV, who oversaw the hiring (and firing) of some 3,000 workers before founding his own Los Angeles career coaching practice.
Here are 5 common firing missteps, from McKee and two other executives. Avoid them, and you'll become as proficient as possible in the skill of laying someone off with respect:
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Internet Sales Tax Fight Returns to Congress
 eBay is preparing to amplify its attack on a proposed law that would usher in sales taxes on Internet shopping, CNET has learned. The online auctioneer plans to tell a congressional panel considering the legislation tomorrow that the measure would merely consolidate the market power of Amazon.com and the largest big box retailers while putting eBay's small sellers out of business. Traditional retailers and Amazon have seen their e-commerce share jump from 39 to 48 percent in three years, according to this eBay graphic. |
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'Tis the Season
- " Auld Lang Syne"
- Canada's Guy Lombardo made this song a New Ye
 ar's hit back in 1929.
- In 46 BC, Julius Caesar gave January an extra day, making it 31 days instead of 30.
- The coldest NYC New Year's Eve ever was in 1917 at a frosty -17 degrees.
 - 12% of people actually achieve their New Year's resolution. (we should resolve to do better this year).
- 40% of 18- to 25-year-olds say they've passed out
 before midnight on New Year's Eve. ONE IN EIGHT say they've dumped somone on New Year's Eve. Jerks.
- 2 billion candy canes will be sold in the 4 weeks before Christmas and Hanukkah.
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Jennifer's Warranty Tips
Tip #21 Obtaining Contract Repair Authorization
Getting a repair authorization from a contract company can sometimes be quite a feat!
Along with the model and serial number, the authorization representative usually wants to know the size, color, manufactured or purchase date, location of the unit in the home, functions, options, cycles, motor speeds, horsepower, why each individual replacement part is needed and/or failed, how the repair was diagnosed, every recipe ever cooked or piece of clothing ever washed or dried in the machine. (I'm kidding - but only about the recipes and clothes.)
I've been on the phone with a contract company for as long as forty-five minutes trying to answer all of their questions so that approval can be obtained only to have to call back and repeat the process for another appliance diagnosis.
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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
3105 North Ashland Avenue, Ste 199
Chicago, IL 60657
1-800-683-2558
FEBRUARY 15-18, 2012
ASTI REGISTRATION
NOW OPEN!!
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