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| The e-Servicer |
Monthly communication from United Servicers Association |
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Greetings! ,
January is a great month. It's an opportunity for a fresh start, where we begin to picture all the changes we want to make in order to have an exceptional year. It's full of brilliant plans and high hopes. In this maelstrom of positive momentum, it's important to secure those plans and balance them with real strategies and actionable goals.
This is a fantastic time to map out your strategies to increase sales, improve your service, and drive your profits. The Appliance Service Training Institute (ASTI) is less than a month away. So as you lay out your plans for 2012, begin to think of the challenges you'll be facing this year. Consider what workshops you'll be attending, and how they can help you achieve the success you want this year.
It can be tough to make the types of changes that transform your business and get you where you want to be. We're here to support you, and through the education received in our seminars, training opportunities, and the wealth of experience brought to ASTI every year, we hope to supply you with all the tools you need to make your resolutions a reality.
We're looking forward to seeing you in San Antonio in February.
Until then, Happy New Year!
eServicer Newsletter Team
United Servicers Association
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Only 4 Weeks Until the ASTI
There is Still Room
Only $449* for four days - over 187 hours
of service and management training.
Visit www.asti.us for the latest details and full descriptions of the training sessions offered.
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An Inside Look at the Whirlpool Vertical Modular Washer (VMW)
By Scott Brown, Samurai Appliance Repair Man, www.Appliantology.org
I'm getting my notes and photos together from an excellent United Servicers Association regional training in Albany, NY. If you're not taking advantage of the regional training, you're short-changing yourself! The training opportunities are one of the biggest reasons I'm a USA member and the upcoming ASTI in San Antonio is an event not to be missed.
Anyway, Whirlpool Corporation was one of the manufacturers participating in the training conference. Dave Shertzer, from Whirlpool, was the instructor and held a great training session on the Whirlpool VM washer. This is a very easy machine to work on; tears down in about 10 minutes, 15 minutes if you're one-armed, one-legged, or one-eyed. What I'm going to do here is give you a look inside the machine from the tear down we did in class and pass along some training tips from the class and other seasoned veterans of hand-to-appliance combat with this beast.
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USA's Long Island Chapter News
The Long Island chapter of United Servicers Association held their annual holiday dinner on December 14. 1st Source Servall generously supported the event and Dryer Vent Wizard sponsored the cocktail hour. John Ryley, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Suffolk County and Bob Dougherty, owner of Fleet Appliance and USA Director, were each awarded plaques recognizing their continuous efforts to help grow the organization.
Left to Right: John Ryley, Chapter President; Peter Onorio, owner of Pete's Appliance Service and USA Director, Bob Dougherty
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Do your website visitors come...and quickly go?
By Jeff Haden, www.cbsnews.com
 (MoneyWatch) A reader asks:
"Some of my web pages have high bounce rates. I made a number of changes but nothing has made a difference. What should I do?"
Bounce rate measures the number of visitors who leave a website after looking at just one page or only staying for a few seconds. Bounce rate is like a "Whoa, not for me!" metric.
Many business owners focus on "improving" the pages with high bounce rates by revamping the page design, changing the page's (or site's) navigation structure, or rewriting copy in an attempt to decrease the bounce rate. But often that doesn't work.
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ASTI Hotel Rooms Filling Up!
The ASTI is shaping up to be a stellar event and we know you don't want to miss out on the great education and networking. Be sure and register online for the ASTI and make your hotel reservations at the El Tropicano Riverwalk NOW!
Our negotiated hotel rate of $115 will end on Thursday, February 9. After February 9, the room rate will increase if there are any rooms left in our room block. You can make your reservations online or by calling the hotel at 877-214-9768 and mentioning the ASTI.
Don't delay - make your reservations TODAY! Just click the link below to make your hotel reservations online:
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CES 2012: Get Ready for an Invasion of "Smart" Electronics
By Caitlin McGarry, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Your home electronics will soon be smarter than you, if a Sunday preview of the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show is any indication.
The key word at the CES Unveiled press event was "smart." There were smart kitchen cooktops, smart toys, smart cameras and an in-vehicle accessories company that exhorts consumers to "drive smarter" with "social networking for the road."
Mind-blowing new technology and radically different products aren't expected at this year's show, which officially opens Tuesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center and is expected to attract 140,000 attendees from around the globe.
Instead, the world's largest consumer electronics companies are expected to unveil smarter products that build on existing technology -- more tablets, more 3-D TVs and more Internet-connected everything.
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Appliance Parts Recycling Program Expands
By www.dealerscope.com
An appliance recycling program that saw success in Chicago is expanding nationwide.
Appliance parts remanufacturer CoreCentric Solutions will be collecting used appliance parts and reusing them. For the pilot program in Chicago, CoreCentric set up recycling containers at six locations of distributor Automatic Appliance Parts.
"It's a win-win program for everyone. Automatic Appliance Parts has a greener disposal option, while we have a continuous inventory of parts and components that we can remanufacture for the servicer community, our customers and partners," explains CoreCentric Solutions President and CEO, Badal Wadia.
"Many of the recycled items were from older appliances, and the parts might not be available if CoreCentric Solutions didn't collect and rebuild them. Remanufactured parts provide more service opportunities, while helping the economy and environment," adds Jeff Flinn, Automatic Appliance Parts Vice President.
The Core Collection program is now at 14 D&L Parts Company locations in North and South Carolina. In January, Dey Distributing will add the recycling program to its 14 locations throughout the North Central United States.
CoreCentric Solutions will be one of many exhibitors at the ASTI Convention trade show, February 15-18. Register today for the ASTI and meet with value-added vendors to help boost your business in 2012.
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BSH to Add New Dishwasher Platform
BSH Home Appliances Corporation will be adding a new dishwasher platform at its facility in New Bern, N.C. The platform, which will be implemented over the next four years, is expected to create 100 new jobs.
Thanks to a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation, BSH employees will be trained on the new dishwasher line through courses at a local community college. The $260,000 grant will also go toward the purchase of equipment.
"Continuing to support the county that our factories have resided in for 14-years now is a true honor," said Stefan Koss, chief financial officer of BSH Home Appliances Corporation. "We are excited to be playing an active role hiring employees today and training the workers of tomorrow."
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Electrolux Expected to Save More than Expected from Staff Cuts
* Annual savings of 680 mln SEK, 180 mln more than thought
* Initial cost 630 mln SEK, 130 mln more than first thought
* Cuts due to global slowdown, higher raw material costs
STOCKHOLM, DEC 20 - World no.2 home appliance maker Electrolux said a recent plan to cut jobs in the face of an economic slowdown and rising raw material prices would lead to larger annual savings than first predicted, albeit at a higher initial cost.
Echoing remedies announced by the world's biggest appliances maker Whirlpool in October, Electrolux unveiled in November, as part of a wider efficiency programme, plans to cut overheads in all regions by reducing staff.
It said on Tuesday it was booking 630 million Swedish crowns ($91 million) costs for the staff cuts in the fourth quarter, and now expected savings of 680 million per year.
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USA Service Library - Content is Growing Daily
 By now you've probably heard about the he USA Service Library. But did you know that the content is becoming more extensive as information is downloaded to the library? The library continues to grow as servicers share their information. This online service document sharing website is exclusive to USA members. Utilizing the latest internet sharing technology, USA members can access thousands of OEM service manuals online and also upload missing service manuals to the library, making it even more comprehensive. This helpful tool is FREE to current USA members. Service library registration is separate from your USA website login and it takes just a few minutes to register. Once you have registered and we verify your membership is current, you will be sent an email allowing full access to this valuable resource. Click the link below and register today! 
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Kitchen Prevention
By Mr. Appliance
Important Safety Resolutions to Start the New Year Off Right!
New year, new opportunities indicates weekly trips to the gym, carrots instead of candy and an opportunity to break bad habits. How about a resolution that goes beyond 2012 and keeps your children and home safe for years to come? This year, make it a priority to childproof your kitchen and clean beyond the countertops to keep your family happy and healthy all year long. "Your kitchen never gets a day off," said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance Corp. "Between hot appliances and sharp cooking utensils, kids can often be in danger of hurting themselves. Fortunately, homeowners can prevent most accidents by making a few simple adjustments and educating their children about kitchen safety."
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Jennifer's Warranty Tips
Tip #22 New Year - New Rules and a Correction from 2011
Frigidaire:
- Frigidaire is only allowing one stock repair for all dealers per appliance.
"If you are a Frigidaire factory authorized service center, check your serial #'s for repair history before you replace parts in the appliance you are working on." If the appliance has already had a stock repair within 18 months of the manufacturer's date you will want to give the dealer a repair estimate before you repair the unit. My suggestion would be to attempt to get the serial # from the dealer prior to servicing the appliance so that you can check the stock repair history first..
(Frigidaire's Warranty Claims Department (888-842-3660) may make an exception to the 18-month manufacture date rule on an appliance that is within 24 months of the manufacture date and has never had prior service.)
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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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