How Long Servicing Office Equipment

[Electrictoner]

My kids don't want my job

I find this poll of great interest for number crunchers. look at the low numbers of newbies
I rarely come across anyone servicing below 30 y.o. of are anywhere.....most people I know are like the poll shows near retirement in next 5-15 years The part that suck is companies are going to have to pay more for people in this job in the future but We wont see that kind of $$ now. no matter how good they make machines they will always break.
Billy

[ddude]

...companies are going to have to pay more for people in this job in the future but We wont see that kind of $$ now.

Don't count on that-most of the OEMs are gearing up on assembly -replacement parts, customers can do the PMs, if a machine is a problem it will be cycled out of the office, replaced with a comparable model. Just like Television repair, our job of copier repair is quickly becoming a 'replace-instead-of-repair' type of industry....

[montana]

only 24 years

[cccjjn]

Started out in the industry repairing IBM Selectric Typewriters back in the late 80s.

[HenryT2]

Started late 1975, working on both manual and electric typewriters, adding machines, calculators, duplicators , etc.
Then into shredders, colators, dot-matrix printers, copiers, computers, electronic calculators, etc.
Remington, Olympia, IBM, Olivette, Hermes ( found a set of diodes a few years ago and laughed as I threw them away ), Corona, Smith Corona, Gestetner, Standard, Apeco, Toshiba, Copy Stat, Mita, Cannon. Really too many to talk about.
Now working only on Kyocera's.
BUT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO RETIRING ONE DAY. If I live long enough that is.

I hope all you tech's have a great day...it doesn't matter how long you have been doing this, it only matters that you care enough to do a good job.

[GRMTGSK]

I just stared few days ago

[logrady2331]

26 years and counting, but you gotta' take in to account the three times I tried to get out. Mechanic work was too dirty, being an electrician too cold or too hot (remember you're installing, from scratch, the stuff that runs the HVAC and lights) and I suck at professional fishing. I am really to stupid to do anything else.

[stig]

I've been in this industry now for 29 years..I spent 10 years delivering and installing copiers/printers and workin in the warehouse/parts store and now been servicing for 19 years with 4 different dealers.

[charm5496]

we have quite a bit of experience on the forum here...very impressive

Been turning the screwdriver for 15 years now and have a really long way to go before I hit retirement age...30 years plus by the time I get there and the way the US government is throwing away our money I will probably never get to retire!!!

[MikeyP]

I think i could be in the lead here ,although havn't checked all threads,38 years working for Rank Xerox ,Gestetner,as engineer,sales,supervisiory,and director and now back on tools ,hey ho !!

[ddude]

I think i could be in the lead here ,although havn't checked all threads,38 years working for Rank Xerox ,Gestetner,as engineer,sales,supervisiory,and director and now back on tools ,hey ho !!

Uh-oh, sales- for every year in sales you must deduct THREE years of servicing (it takes that long for your brain to begin functioning....)

[countrytech]

Uh-oh, sales- for every year in sales you must deduct THREE years of servicing (it takes that long for your brain to begin functioning....)

I tend to agree with that ha ha. Can we find the oldest tech still active in the field, with the longest term in the industry? I am still trying to keep the customers happy by getting the toner on the paper in the correct amounts, and except for 3 years, have been fixing typewriters and then copiers since 1965. That was when there was still an apprenticeship system in our country. I turned 62 last October, still work in the field, and cover approx 1,500 kms per week. Must really be time to hang up the screwdriver. However where else can you get the same satisfaction, of happy customers and good copies.

[JR2ALTA]

Must really be time to hang up the screwdriver. However where else can you get the same satisfaction, of happy customers and good copies.

helluva prospective! God bless

[ddude]

However where else can you get the same satisfaction, of happy customers and good copies.

This is the part I love about field service-you are a hero four or five times a day, you work with technical issues, using tools, and you must utilize deductive reasoning. It is a great job!!


However, I don't think that I would recommend it today..........

[ptrflrs]

13 years in the field, 13 years and very close to 400,000 miles later with zero accidents and looking for work in the shop setting up machines and doing refurbs...