Any old-time fixit/repair guys left? (rental, income, living)

[Voebe]

I was so sad when my TV/radio repair guy retired. And I know there are occasional places that focus on particular things, fixing a vacuum cleaner or a typewriter.

But does anyone know a more general type of fix-it person that covers almost anything - radio, small kitchen appliance, lamp, whatever?

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by Voebe

I was so sad when my TV/radio repair guy retired. And I know there are occasional places that focus on particular things, fixing a vacuum cleaner or a typewriter.

But does anyone know a more general type of fix-it person that covers almost anything - radio, small kitchen appliance, lamp, whatever?

It would be really hard for someone to make it doing small jobs given the wealth of info now available on line. That, and the cost of labor vs new, would make the old time repairman a really tough racket in which to survive.

[jimj]

The bigger problem is replacement cost. It's cheaper to toss out the broken item in most cases than it is to fix it. Granted, the item your tossing out depending on when it was made is probably way better quality than the replacement but that's where we are today.

As was said before, lots and lots of Youtube videos on how to fix almost anything. As a handyman I think it's just fantastic that these videos exist! Beats having to carry around tons of manuals or look through index's of old...

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by Burning Madolf

It would be really hard for someone to make it doing small jobs given the wealth of info now available on line. That, and the cost of labor vs new, would make the old time repairman a really tough racket in which to survive.

In my experience, it's not necessarily someone needing to make a living. The wonderful audio-visual repair guy I used to go to told me that his income came from his rental properties.

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by Voebe

In my experience, it's not necessarily someone needing to make a living. The wonderful audio-visual repair guy I used to go to told me that his income came from his rental properties.

So you're looking for someone who doesn't need to make money? A hobbyist maybe what you need.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by Burning Madolf

So you're looking for someone who doesn't need to make money? A hobbyist maybe what you need.

No, I'm looking for someone competent.

It's just coincidental that the days sometimes it's someone who's retired.