Been in the business since 82 (goodness has it been that long?) for the same company. Worked for them during my high school years. Came back and worked summers and during breaks of my college career. Became the companies full time Copier Dork in 1987, so that I could marry my sweetheart.
Work for an indie Konica Minolta dealership in a rural area of Nebraska. A town of less than 7,000 people and the biggest city for at least 75 miles. Gods country I suppose. I love it here and cannot imagine living anywhere else.
I am the only tech with approx. 250 machines in my field population. Most of them under per click contract. I have switched to only supporting console machines and avoid working on anything that sits on a desk. I have complete control of: my customer base, parts/supplies inventory, scheduling, billing, contracts, etc etc
I operate out of a small full line office supply company (paper, furniture, machines, etc). My owner handles all copier sales, I do everything else. Because we are so isolated from the world that most of you operate in, I have had to design nearly every phase of my department from the ground up.
Some days it is glorious, some days it is hell. I am nearly completely independent of anyone's oversight and the true master of my day. However I have to handle every situation on my own (good and bad). Nobody is going to fix it but me, and I do not have anyone to assist with troublesome machines or customers. Imagine the mess I face everytime I try to take a day off. That is truly the hardest part of the process.
I do miss the days of true repair, dirty hands, and hands on troubleshooting. Today's environment of: replace this assy, swap that board, throw in an new unit, etc have made us all nothing more than "parts swapping monkeys". Hardly any one reads a wiring diagram anymore, routes scanner cables, or knows how a spring clutch works. It has made our jobs easier in a way, but I have lost alot of the satisfaction I used to feel for "a job well done".
Like many of you I have seen very dramatic changes in the industry, and our job requirements have changed to match the ebb and flow of the technology.
I have heard every snide customer comment, and experienced my share of ID10T situations. It is hard. You truly need to have thick skin, keep your head down, your mouth shut, and your ears closed. I have developed close relationships with my customers. A small community. So you have connections with nearly everyone in some way. My customers have become very loyal to me, and I very very rarely lose one to the competition, regardless of price. I have always been in it for the long haul, so fairness and understanding have been my hallmarks.
In the end, if has been a challenging career but more importantly it has allowed my wife and I to raise and provide for our family.
If I can ever be of help to you on Konica Minolta equipment, please do not hesitate to ask. I have belonged to several forums over the years. I have selflessly helped alot of techs, and I have received my share of advice from others. However, I have grown to have zero tolerance for the trolls. Thus, I am cautious of offering advise or posting new threads.
Trevor
Work for an indie Konica Minolta dealership in a rural area of Nebraska. A town of less than 7,000 people and the biggest city for at least 75 miles. Gods country I suppose. I love it here and cannot imagine living anywhere else.
I am the only tech with approx. 250 machines in my field population. Most of them under per click contract. I have switched to only supporting console machines and avoid working on anything that sits on a desk. I have complete control of: my customer base, parts/supplies inventory, scheduling, billing, contracts, etc etc
I operate out of a small full line office supply company (paper, furniture, machines, etc). My owner handles all copier sales, I do everything else. Because we are so isolated from the world that most of you operate in, I have had to design nearly every phase of my department from the ground up.
Some days it is glorious, some days it is hell. I am nearly completely independent of anyone's oversight and the true master of my day. However I have to handle every situation on my own (good and bad). Nobody is going to fix it but me, and I do not have anyone to assist with troublesome machines or customers. Imagine the mess I face everytime I try to take a day off. That is truly the hardest part of the process.
I do miss the days of true repair, dirty hands, and hands on troubleshooting. Today's environment of: replace this assy, swap that board, throw in an new unit, etc have made us all nothing more than "parts swapping monkeys". Hardly any one reads a wiring diagram anymore, routes scanner cables, or knows how a spring clutch works. It has made our jobs easier in a way, but I have lost alot of the satisfaction I used to feel for "a job well done".
Like many of you I have seen very dramatic changes in the industry, and our job requirements have changed to match the ebb and flow of the technology.
I have heard every snide customer comment, and experienced my share of ID10T situations. It is hard. You truly need to have thick skin, keep your head down, your mouth shut, and your ears closed. I have developed close relationships with my customers. A small community. So you have connections with nearly everyone in some way. My customers have become very loyal to me, and I very very rarely lose one to the competition, regardless of price. I have always been in it for the long haul, so fairness and understanding have been my hallmarks.
In the end, if has been a challenging career but more importantly it has allowed my wife and I to raise and provide for our family.
If I can ever be of help to you on Konica Minolta equipment, please do not hesitate to ask. I have belonged to several forums over the years. I have selflessly helped alot of techs, and I have received my share of advice from others. However, I have grown to have zero tolerance for the trolls. Thus, I am cautious of offering advise or posting new threads.
Trevor
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