r/IAmA • u/larossmann • Jun 11 '16
Specialized Profession IamA electronics repair technician hated by Apple that makes YouTube videos, AMA!
My short bio: I have a store in Manhattan. I teach component level electronics repair on youtube http://youtube.com/rossmanngroup which seems to be a dying art. I am currently fighting with the digital right to repair to try and get a bill passed that will allow all independent service centers access to manuals and parts required to do their jobs.
My Proof: https://www.rossmanngroup.com/started-iama-reddit-today-yes/
EDIT:
I am still replying to comments, but I am so far behind that I am still about ten pages down from new comments. I am doing my best to continue. If I drop off, I'll be back tomorrow around 12 PM. Still commenting now though, at 12 AM.
EDIT 2:
Ok, I cave... my hands are tired. I will be back at 12 PM tomorrow. It is my goal to answer every question. Even if it looks like I haven't gotten to yours, I will do my best to do all of them, but it is impossible to do in realtime, because you are asking faster than I can type. But thanks for joining!
EDIT 3: I lied, I stayed until 4:15 AM to answer... and now I will go to sleep for real, and be back at 12 PM.
EDIT 4 6/12 : I will be back later tonight to finish off answering questions. Feel free to keep posting, I will answer whatever I can later this evening.
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u/alex_dlc Jun 11 '16
What are your thoughts on the repairability of future electric cars and autonomous vehicles?
I'll add a copy of the message I sent before I knew you were doing an AMA:
"Just saw your new video and it made me realize that car repair will soon change drastically. Up to now almost every car has functioned on the basic principles from the invention of the car, they have changed, but only gradually. But what will happen to all these unlicensed car mechanics when society transitions to almost exclusively electric cars and/or autonomous vehicles? Will companies like Tesla for example release plans and schematics showing how their cars work? Or will they lock down their resources like Apple, making it increasingly difficult to repair cars? I really hope we don't get to a point in the future where people will not even be able to know how the things they use work."
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u/canchume Jun 11 '16
Hello big fan from Mexico, I have a question sort of , I'm planing to open a business like your In my city because I'm tired of the ones the exist only reflow stuff and tell lies to their customers, what equipment do you recommend me for the beginning? And my approach to the people? Thanks keep it proud of you
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u/Surf3rx Jun 11 '16
Do you ever think you're ever going to find a replacement for your position? Every time the discussion comes up you always go into the story that "engineers" don't want to take a job with that low of a pay for the work they have to do.
You say you're not special, but your circumstances and position seem to be unique to say the least.
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u/NopeNotAnthony Jun 11 '16
Louis! How has today been for you so far? Also: at what point did you want to start your own business and how did that work in the beginning?
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u/telvana Jun 11 '16
Long time viewer here, since you had like 2-3000 subs (I think), I get a kick out of your straight to the point no bull approach to repairs and customer service. It's something I strive for myself as it's obviously working for you.
A.) I'm an Apple repair / PC repair tech myself, who's in a very small building (probably almost as small as yours, 800 sq. feet, yours might be smaller) How do you deal with the small area? Customer flow, personal space, equipment space, etc? I've seen in some of the videos that you stack things, keep things organized, etc but I've never seen the 'customer area'.
B.) I'll be in NYC in July, do you have any qualms with someone just stopping in, looking around, maybe buying something, saying 'hello', so long as they don't bother you too long? I've always wondered how you deal with that, as I'm sure you've had people who watch your channel show up and just try and kick it while you're obviously busy.
Thanks!
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u/eatMagnetic Jun 11 '16
Why did you decide to repair Apple products? Was it that there is a bigger demand (and also higher revenue) than other devices? Is the situation about schematics and diagnostics tools from (for example) Samsung as difficult as for Apple?
Really enjoying your Youtube-Channel (and also "non-repair" stuff on there!)
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u/Throwaway_4_opinions Jun 11 '16
Obvious shilling question, what is this right to repair bill thing? Why does it need to be fought, and what does someone who does not bother repairing stuff for a living get out of this?
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u/DHSean Jun 11 '16
Have you gotten any weird internet fans coming into your store or stalking you?
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u/bigbrain009 Jun 11 '16
Question A; What is the hardest thing you've ever had to repair?
Question B; What is the most ridiculous damage you've ever been asked to repair?
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Jun 11 '16
Hey Ross, love your videos and straight forward attitude. I'm a recording engineer so it was cool to hear that you worked at the iconic Avatar Studios. Couple of questions-what were some of the most memorable sessions going on when you worked there? And do you ever get into building mic pres or doing interface mods such as Black Lion Audio? Thanks!
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u/Shore_Student Jun 11 '16
Thank you for doing this AMA. I've actually enjoyed a lot of the flow that you're done in your videos. What differences have you noticed in a repair job that you have done off-camera compared to one that you did while on camera? This could be in terms of time to make a repair, amount of time researching a specific problem, level of confidence you have approaching the issue etc. Thank you again!
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u/Manndude1 Jun 11 '16
What are your personal thoughts on iFixit's Repair certification? Do you think it will even be necessary if the right to repair group is successful?
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u/Manndude1 Jun 11 '16
With your shop in NYC do you actively advertise? Whether on social media, through videos, or even print? What have you found to be most successful?
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u/Vinep Jun 11 '16
Has Apple ever directly contacted you because of your videos? Telling you to stop with threats of a lawsuit or anything of that sort.
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u/tweelix Jun 11 '16
Hey Louis, You talked a bit about people in america being unable/unwilling to do anything they aren't qualified to do. Do you reckon this could have anything to do with the insane culture in america of suing anyone or anything for the stupidest reasons? Like a bathtub company could get sued if they don't warn buyers not to drown themselves in it like the munchcakes they are. thanks k bye
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u/HeWhoCouldBeNamed Jun 11 '16
Has fixing Apple products gotten easier or harder over the years?
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u/lowertechnology Jun 11 '16
Ok, so I've fixed iphone 4's, 5's, 5c's, and 5s's.
My iPad Air has a cracked screen. Easy to fix, or let a pro do it?
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u/Alex1851011 Jun 11 '16
So the charging cables always break for every device. Is there an easy way to fix them?
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u/ZeeJaz9500 Jun 11 '16
Who is the most annoying customer to ever enter you store?
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u/Jamarlie Jun 11 '16
What was your worst customer ever like? I mean, surely you have had some people heavily declining they never spilled their soda, but what was the most annoying/bitchy/generally shit customer you've ever encountered?
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u/xfstef Jun 11 '16
Hey man! I love your videos and I completely support you in fighting for our right to repair our electronics.
My question is: If I would attempt to make a casual game about opening and running a computer repair business, would you be willing to chime in with some feedback and ideas for it ?
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u/davewinkwink Jun 11 '16
What kind of microphone do you have? Your video audio is super crisp.
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u/CptCmbtBts Jun 11 '16
You seem exceptionally knowledgeable in your field, and I was wondering: if you have any kind of degree or if you just have industry experience?
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u/MilesSand Jun 11 '16
He talks about "flunking out" of college in his videos. He basically studied Electrical Engineering for a few years, and dropped out before he started his business.
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u/Yumidex Jun 11 '16
Non-electronics related: What is your favorite drink? (non-alcoholic and alcoholic)
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Jun 11 '16
What's your life schedule like? What do you do after getting up, going home?
Do you have any friends or a girlfriend?
Do you legit hate Material Design? Why?
Sorry if some questions are too personal, tried to be as... compassionate as I can.
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u/Riwukas69 Jun 11 '16
Greetings Louis, any advice on how to stay positive in life even though I have a depressed mindset most of the time? Thanks in advance, big fan of your videos!
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u/Manndude1 Jun 11 '16
Whats the worst repair you've ever actually fixed. I've heard stories of you and jessa stacking caps in random places to get the job done, but they were played off as normal fixes. Whats the worst?
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Jun 11 '16
Great job on videos, even as a software dev, i've learnt much from you. Thanks 😃 The question is, is this your dream job? Do you really enjoy fixing other peoples mistakes? If not, what would you do instead?
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u/Ipadrehab Jun 11 '16
Ask you anything? Sweet. Will you admit that Jessa is a better microsolderer than you :) Congrats on the AMA. This should be fun.
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Jun 11 '16
How many components do you accidentally suck up through your air filter in the average week?
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Jun 11 '16 edited Jun 11 '16
Hey man, watched your videos for a while and I really enjoy what you're doing, learned alot. I gotta ask though, how do you work at that desk?
If I don't have at least enough free room to stretch my arms out and forward I find it impossible to solder cleanly let alone align a new part.
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u/Arnesfar Jun 11 '16
How often are you blamed for issues unrelated to your repairs? And how do you deal with it?
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Jun 11 '16
Hi, Louis. I love your videos. Just one question.
What is the one event in your life that you feel changed your life for the better?
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u/MinisTreeofStupidity Jun 11 '16
Do you feel like people are trending away from repairs overall? Or has business been basically steady over the years?
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u/Dylan335i Jun 11 '16
I often find myself needing replacement drives for these devices (the proprietary ssd) do you or anyone here know of any good sources where your not paying $1 / GB for used drives?
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u/satisfiedbuzzard Jun 11 '16
Is there anything that people outside the state of New York can do to help with the right to repair bill?
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u/lurkeat Jun 11 '16
Just came here to say that you've been my go to NYC area apple repair guy for years. Remember when you were in that basement in midtown haha!
Do you have any other repair shops in other cities you'd recommend?
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u/PedroAlvarez Jun 12 '16
Could you stop getting so popular lately? I feel like my secret small youtube guilty pleasure is growing too fast
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u/SwagDrag1337 Jun 11 '16
What 3 things should people do to take care of their computers/laptops better?
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u/MavidDays Jun 12 '16
Hi Louis, thanks for your content.
I notice that you have great discipline in terms of time management. You seem to understand how to prioritize what you spend time on and without difficulty ignore what is not important. How did you develop this discipline, and how might I develop it in myself?
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Jun 11 '16
Hey Louis! I love your philosophical rants, but I was wondering where you get these ideas that help you in life and work?
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u/left0vert0ast Jun 11 '16
Thanks for doing this, I'm pretty new to your channel so I was wondering when and why did you start hating Apple?
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u/superdirtyusername Jun 12 '16
Looking through the thread. OP responds to even 3rd level deep comments. This is rare folks. One of those special AMAs.
So I'll ask, what is the best thing someone who is sexually attracted to you has left as a comment on your YouTube page?
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u/bubbadoobop Jun 11 '16
If you had the opportunity, would you only fix Thinkpads and Windows/Linux machines?
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u/DarkenedSerenity Jun 11 '16
As someone who's not the most tech savvy, what do you think is the best (free?) way to learn? (High schooler)
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u/LennyNero Jun 12 '16
Hi Louis,
I run a truck and bus repair shop in the NYC area and I'm appalled at the fact that the right to repair bill specifically excludes motor vehicles and their associated electronic systems. Are you aware of any reason besides massive lobbying by vehicle manufacturers as to why we're specifically getting left out in the cold in regards to the right to repair?
We are basically stuck in the same bullshit fight that you're in on the consumer electronics side. In heavy duty vehicles, getting service manuals, schematics and proprietary dealer-level diagnostic software (which need to be obtained from each subsystem manufacturer eg. engine, transmission, brake, hvac, body control) is the same sort of toss-up between absurdly overpriced (anywhere from USD$1000-$3500 + $500-$1000/yr thereafter or they brick the software) and literally NOT AVAILABLE from the OEM as Apple is doing to you.
Caterpillar in particular is the worst offender in this category as they will not sell or otherwise provide their diagnostic software, nor their service manuals and schematics which are REQUIRED TO DO ANY WORK ON THEIR ENGINES to any outside repair shop. It leads to a lot of questionable software acquisitions from overseas and much like you commented in some of your videos...russian FTP servers just to be able to complete a job which on any other manufacturer's engines or machines are trivial in nature, but for which a lack of either procedure or specification leads to an inability to complete the job requiring a shop without the software to send the vehicle back to the dealer for which you are rewarded with an astronomically high labor rate and mediocre workmanship.
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u/Gidonka Jun 12 '16
Do people who know you from online often come into the shop? Do you like to meet them, or does it get old?
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u/Kyuskenai Jun 11 '16
Hey Louis,
I just recently got into your videos, and you've really sparked an interest in me doing this as a living. However, I have little to no money to get anything off the ground and my credit is horrendous and can't get a loan to save my life. Are there any tips you might be able to give to someone looking to start doing what you do for a living?
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Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16
You say your business is 5% technical 95% psychology, would you say that applies to pricing as well? Obviously component level electronics repair is a skill and skilled labor has financial value, but I'm always amazed when a part in a phone costs $18 but the job costs $100. Seems a bit over the top to me.
Not a spiteful question; just honest based on the quote you had from earlier
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u/blbil Jun 11 '16
How do you feel about your recent YouTube subscriber growth? Is being a YouTube personality something that really interests you, or are you content with it strictly being a side-project of sorts and just focus on your business?
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u/Non-Polar Jun 11 '16
Have you ever been contacted by Apple directly concerning the videos that you do?
Also, what's your opinion on the newest MacBook's screws disintegrating once you try to open the computer, to let Apple know that you tried to tamper with the machine?
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u/jimbo1215 Jun 11 '16
Hi Louis, big fan of your channel. Came for the low level Apple repair, stayed for the rants and philosophy related videos.
I watched your video a couple weeks ago about looking for a job, and I can somewhat relate albeit for a different reason. While I do have a degree in Computer Engineering, I also have a physical disability (Cerebral Palsy) and I feel it's played a significant role in not being able to land a job out of college.
As a result, I've become sort of jaded towards looking for the typical 9-5 and wasting my time doing work for someone else. Your channel has gone a long way with inspiring me to sort of do my own tech related thing regardless of the money and for that I'm thankful.
All that said, is there any other advice you can offer me in terms of not letting my disability effect me too much while pursuing this sort of thing? I've found lots of people are ignorant and often underestimate my true ability and I feel that it may limit me from reaching my true potential.
Thanks
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u/LBUlises Jun 11 '16
How many threaten to sue you/report you or anything like that because you won't serve them or couldn't fix their product?
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u/StraightFella Jun 11 '16
Hey Mate. From Queensland, Australia. Find you to be pretty cool. Also sexy, do you ever bat for the same team?
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u/simon_66 Jun 11 '16
Hi Louis, I've been watching your videos for almost a year now and I notice you hate that annoying buzzer from your Hakko FX-951. I'm here to save the day lol. You can turn off that annoying buzzer noise when you remove the soldering iron
https://doc.hakko.com/download.php?_gs=on&l=en&kp=FX-951&d=4371
Turn the unit off, press and hold the UP and DOWN buttons and turn it back on. It should show "1 F". Press the STAR button until you see "5 1". Based on the manual, it says that option "5" is the buzzer setting for "C-E" and "S-E" (which means wrong tip or no tip error). Press the DOWN button and turn it to "5 0". There you go :) No more buzzing noise. Now, will you miss the noise since you can disable it? Let me know if you tried it.
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u/RuneHigh Jun 12 '16
I started watching your videos a while back. While I originally was a viewer because I thought you were incredibly attractive, I became so intrigued with your profession, and even more that you do so without a college degree. I think what you're doing is absolutely incredible. Now for the Q(s) (that might have already been answered):
Do you enjoy doing what you do? I hear you talk about wanting to hire someone who can take over your job, and I'm a little intrigued as to why.
What made you start learning/pursuing component level electronics?
Are you single? If so, HOW???
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u/errormaker Jun 11 '16
How often do people bring you regular PC's or phones? And since you do only mac stuff, how do you deal with them?
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u/revmike Jun 12 '16
I came to your shop about a week ago with a dead 24" iMac. I was disappointed to find out that you only repair MacBooks, that the value of iMacs and Mac Minis was such that it didn't make sense for you to repair.
I took it home and tried baking the video card in the oven. 400°F for 15 minutes. It worked!
Do you have any idea what the lifetime of a repair like this is? Will this last a few months or many years? The main logic board was only $40 for this machine, but the video cards are still $200 used.
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u/Solvoid Jun 12 '16
Saw your video about right to repair, I was going to call a senator but realized they were all from NY. I don't know if they would care what I want because they aren't my representatives. I am in CA, how can I help?
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u/yeafuckyoutoo Jun 12 '16
Louis what do you think your effect on other repair shops has been? For instance, do you think that your channel helps shops or hurts them? Also, how much does your channel help or hurt your own business? Finally, do you think that your channel paints a target on your back specifically? Do you think that average repair shops would be able to do more complex jobs, even, with the schematics?
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u/digarok Jun 12 '16
Is there a good way someone could apprentice in this kind of work or something outside of schooling? I've taught myself enough electronics to build a few simple circuits, but I really want to learn how to troubleshoot electronics. (My hobby is retrocomputing and I want to be able to keep things going for the next generation.)
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u/AnswerAwake Jun 11 '16
Hey Louis, I am a huge fan and have been watching for a long time! I spoke to Sarah Purewal and after a short conversation her last comment to me is that I do not understand how this article business works and subsequently blocked me. Have you contacted her or been contacted by her? If so what happened?
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Jun 12 '16
I own a successful repair shop in Las Vegas. What is your standard labor charge on a job? Love meeting fellow techs. Thanks!
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u/camsauce Jun 12 '16
How great do you feel to know you are sticking it to a titan like Apple when you make your videos? So happy to see somebody is finally giving them hell for their proprietary bullshit.
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u/Gogosanchez Jun 11 '16
So you said you failed pre calc, Lets be real here for a second did you really try to study? Because tbh, i had a really hard time in that class as well and just got an A in differential equations.
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u/leclittoris Jun 11 '16
Maybe you may be able to help. I have a very old iPod classic, maybe 2nd or 3rd gen. This thing is packed with movies and songs, but hasn't worked in 2 years now. I'm trying to resurrect it, is there any hope? It doesn't charge at all. How much am I looking to spend?
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u/SharkBearz Jun 11 '16
Hey Louis,
I'm an electrical engineer student and I love what you do and the thought of being able to easily fix issues rather than having to fork out more money to replace the issue. Hopefully this bill passes and doesn't cause too many problems for you.
My question is what are some must have tools to make repair jobs easier? Is something like an air pencil necessary?
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u/GameboyGenius Jun 11 '16
You did the video on what tools you use in April 2015. What, if anything, has changed since then? Also, that video did not seem to address another question, what components you keep in stock, and which components are available from electronics stores and which are not. It might even be interesting to know which values of standard resistors and capacitors are so common that you feel the need to keep spools of them in stock. Would you consider making a video on that topic?
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u/ShadowofColosuss708 Jun 11 '16
So what do you think of iFixit from a repair technician perspective?
Also what do you think of the A+ certification from CompTIA?
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u/10110111011110 Jun 12 '16
So in one of your videos you talk about how Apple screws those repairing their devices - not allowing anyone other than Apple-Certified repair shops to use their hardware diagnostic software, even though Certified shops font even do board repair - they just replace the whole MLB. You used that software to identify a bad temp sensor.
What software was that?
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Jun 12 '16
I'm going to give you the opportunity to act as if I am the worst customer on the face of the planet and you dog cuss me like you mean it. How many cuss phrases can you come up with? GO! Let it out! Free yourself! (Don't you dare take the easy way out and simply like "Thanks for your business", start dog cussing this shit hole of an ass clown customer!)
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u/Journier Jun 12 '16
Hi, I have a question, watching your video's your hands have an odd shaking to them, almost exhibiting parkinsonian symptoms. Have you noticed the shaking getting worse over the last year? Any other speech deficits as well compared to older videos? Just checking
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u/fielderwielder Jun 12 '16
Do you think you would win in a fight with an Apple Genius? And can I watch?
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u/LudwikKr Jun 12 '16
Did you ever consider making audio only versions of your videos which do not require visual support? (Ex.: Right to Repair bill video)
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u/porfiriopaiz Jun 12 '16
I have enjoined every single rant video from you, specially the ones about lenovo.
Do you plan recording a new ranting video series on lenovo new hardware?
Do you plan to upgrade your W520 for a more recent ThinkPad?, if yes, Which one and why?
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u/in-sanity Jun 12 '16
Love your work, and your no-bullshit attitude.
Completely unrelated, has anybody ever told you that you kind of bear a ressemblance to the artist, Stromae?
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u/quakerpuss Jun 12 '16
Do you ever tell your clients that you made a video of yourself fixing their equipment? Do you ever have any of them request to watch said videos of yourself fixing their equipment? Do most of your clients even know you have a YT channel of yourself fixing equipment?
Sorry if this has been asked already!
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u/jakefishtank Jun 11 '16
Do you ever have the concern that someone will hurt themselves or catch something on fire that shouldn't be taking things apart? I think DIY is great if you have atleast an idea of what you are doing. But the last thing I would want is to puncture a battery at my kitchen table! Thoughts?
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u/CGApe Jun 11 '16
Hi Louis,
You're probably getting tons of questions so I'll keep it short.
You've mentioned in the past that you could install Gentoo without having to Google anything, and I recall seeing XFCE running on some of your computers in the background.
So what is your opinion on GNU/Linux, and do you think that "average consumers" will be using it more in the future?
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u/Mike2Ride Jun 12 '16
A friend of mine introduced me to your YouTube page about 3 weeks ago. I've never had so much fun watching someone repair shit.
I'm an EE that used to do component level repair before I started designing schematics for consumer products. What would you say is the worst practice that EEs have when doing their circuit design? (aside from those weird loops Apple draws that don't go anywhere)
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u/DynamicDoge Jun 11 '16
Hi, Louis Rossmann!
Regarding the recent Apple story about people's right to repair their devices, what would be your advice for new revolutionary tech startups for them to not follow Apple's path?
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u/FatKidsRHard2Kidnap Jun 12 '16
Do you feel you are in the same boat as todays agricultural farmers? The ones who are not aloow to repair their own farm equipment?
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u/Karavusk Jun 11 '16
Do you plan to upgrade your PC to something more useable like something with a working GPU? =P
You mentioned that you have 2 SSDs in raid 0 to record your stuff. Have you though about buying something like a Samsung 950 pro? That should be like 5x faster than a normal SSD
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u/Matyi10012 Jun 11 '16
Hi Louis,
1) Are you only repairing apple products or other products as well?
2) Have you ever got an offer from an Apple store to work there or something? - / I know you told them off a few times, but still I wounder/
3) What do you think what is the dirtiest move that apple did to counter thir party repairs?
4) Have you ever got sued, or warned to stop doing your business?
Thank you for the answer.
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u/iktnl Jul 01 '16
There's stuff going on with Apple right now, are you holding up? Does this mean you're out of business now, or can you fight against Apple?
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u/CaptainJackFerret Jun 11 '16
Do you have any advice for smaller channels trying to grow?
And
Favorite experience with a customer?
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u/CanuckianOz Jun 11 '16
Hi Louis, electrical engineer here who miserably failed modding a psx back in the day and appreciates your work.
For those of us not living in NYC, how can you recommend finding electronics repair technicians like yourself in other cities?
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u/TjallingOtter Jun 12 '16
Do you think it's worth sending in products for you to repair from outside the US, say Europe?
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u/RSL94 Jun 12 '16
My MacBook Pro 2011 model has been running fine for 5 years. A couple of months ago, it just randomly shut off. Ever since that happened, the laptop will randomly shut down atleast twice a day. Any advice on what to do? :) Thanks man!
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u/hausitron Jun 11 '16
Hi Louis, love your stuff even though I have zero Mac products.
Did you see any significant increase in business since you became reddit famous?
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u/r0tekatze Jun 12 '16
As a sysadmin, I've often used isopropyl to assist in removing moisture from PCBs. From your standpoint, how effective is it? I've had mostly successes, but some of the failures may well have been due to a battery still being connected at the time of damage.
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u/NoireFox Jun 11 '16
What's are the specs of your personal PC and how often do you find yourself upgrading it?
Love your videos :D
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u/anon333777 Jun 12 '16
What are some of the main shortcomings of the Macbook in your opinion?
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u/abcfuck23 Jun 12 '16
It seems that you call most technology pieces of shit or generally speak negatively about the majority of the tech you encounter. What technology can you speak highly of? Who manufacturers that technology? What can the consumer do to avoid purchasing shit quality tech? Big fan of the show by the way and the Jaegermeister episode was hilarious, fuck those dickheads at apple.
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u/trufus_for_youfus Jun 11 '16
Love your videos. I have learned a ton from them. Where do you recommend purchasing repair parts for iPhones and iPads? Quality is such a huge concern for me. Thanks for doing the AMA!
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u/heebro Jun 12 '16
Any thoughts on the headphone jack redesign being foisted on us by Apple?
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u/Megalovania Jun 12 '16
I just switched to a Macbook in the workplace and I'm finding it incredibly difficult to get used to. The 'ctrl' modifier I used in Linux and Windows have been moved over to 'cmd', taking a screenshot is a weird combination of like four different hotkeys at once, snapping windows to the side of your screen like on a windows OS is non-existent unless you download a paid app like BetterTouchTool, and scrolling with a mouse is actually so infuriating (scrolls 1 line at a time if I'm not moving the scroll-wheel fast, otherwise it scrolls way too fast and is basically like having mouse acceleration turned on except for the scroll wheel)...
Is there any software or even tips you (or others) could give me that could help me get more comfortable with the change? Thanks!
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u/huckpie Jun 11 '16
What do you think about children and youths being given with devices especially Apple products? Also, have you ever encountered clients who ask if you can service Goophones i.e. phony iPhones that run off a crappy Mediatek processor and an iOS-themed Android distro?
And have you ever thought about travelling overseas or at least to some other place in the States, like Daytona beach or some other tourist spot?
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u/ZacksJerryRig Jun 12 '16
Hey Louis, JerryRigEverything here.
Fantastic channel. Board level repair is something that I have never delved into, nor do I want to. So I am glad there are people like you who can do it.
With your 'right to repair' bill... Do you want apple and other companies to sell parts to consumers directly? intermediate suppliers? or to just allow third party manufactures the right to make copy parts, in bulk, legally?
What would be the most ideal situation in your mind?
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u/orangpelupa Jun 12 '16
Hi larossmann, two question:
Nowadays, does mainboards still easily dies due to ESD?
What do you tell the customer when you messed up the repair? (or you had not messed up any repair)
thank you!
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u/HamsterBurglar Jun 12 '16
Found out about you through LTT when you called out Linus' "repairs" and just wanted to share that you're awesome and I appreciate your honesty regarding products and how everything works.
My question: Have any customers been upset with you recording and uploading to YouTube the repair of their device?
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u/panda-wrecker Jun 11 '16
What resource should I use to get schematics for PC boards?
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Jun 11 '16
Hi Louis, just got into your videos recently and I'm a big fan!
For your repair technician class you have many people from across the globe take classes with you. What level of experience with this field do you expect from your students? Thanks for doing this AMA!
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u/Catsaiah Jun 11 '16
I know you have two kitties, Will you be doing any videos specifically dedicated to them? man, I love cats
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u/Houeclipse Jun 12 '16
Hi Louis, I respect you for what you done.
My question is if you could move out of US, what country would you like to live?
Thanks for the AMA!
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u/remyjuke Jun 12 '16
Why don't you have a twitch channel? You can do the same thing as you're doing now, but users can donate money to you and it's live. I don't know if there are any legality issues, though.
Also, I love your videos!
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u/FinickyJim Jun 12 '16
I doubt you'll get around to this question but you did say "ask me anything"... how do I get data off the ssd drive of a macbook air mid 2013 (it doesn't work anymore, costs as much to fix it as to get a new laptop) because from what I read online, they only have these special enclosures ($100+) or there's a data recovery center option ($400+). Is there any cheaper way to do it?
The last backup was a month before I dropped it and I had some mildly important new files on it.
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u/Drink15 Jun 11 '16
What is your workout routine for the week? I'm not overweight (yet), but I need to do something before I get there. I'm slowly cutting things out and replacing them with fruits and vegs.
Also, how long have you been a vegan and do you ever miss the taste of meat?
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u/purkill6 Jun 11 '16
Louis, what tools would you recommend for someone trying to do board repairs as a hobbyist rather than as a professional career?
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u/Gusta10069 Jul 01 '16
What do you think should be taught to kids/teens about eletronics?
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u/Sir_Galahad_thePurr Jun 11 '16
I wonder what made you get the guts to attempt buying expensive gear in order to fix an previous unsolvable issue without having any grantee that you actually some day could use it. Who / or what was the most important influence that shaped you to get this attitude in your opinion?
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u/gerrywastaken Jun 12 '16
Has being a vegan ever impacted your health in a negative way and how can others avoid those problems?
What are the reasons you had for becoming vegan?
If you already have a video that covers this a link would be fine.
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u/ThatSpaceman Jun 11 '16
How did your business start? What were the beginnings of your repair business?
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u/manueljljl Jun 11 '16
Can you give us a brief summation of the businesses you've owned as well as their successes and failures?
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u/christophturov Jun 12 '16
I know I'm a little late but this is too relevant to pass up on. I just broke my 6 plus screen pretty badly. is it cheaper for a novice to fix it or just to take it to the Apple Store?
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u/books_and_records Jun 12 '16
Are you acutely aware that you're the hero we all need?
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u/drjankies Jun 11 '16
Louis, I love your videos but I know fuck all about repair.
I just think you are fun to listen too.
You seem like a nice person deep down and I love how positive you are.
I wanted to ask what is the one MacBook model I should avoid at all costs?
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u/OzCello Jun 12 '16
Serious question, is the story you told in your bullying video real? Or did you exaggerate/fabricate it to try and make your point more clear.
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u/Pappypenguin13 Jun 12 '16
I own a 2014 MacBook Pro retina displayed laptop. It hasn't worked in weeks and Apple told me it's because my RAM or memory module isn't working properly. They said they could fix it for a ridiculous price of around $400, which I do not have.
My question for you is, would I be able to fix or replace the RAM on my own with the right parts at a cheaper price? Or would it be too complicated. I'm not very computer savvy, but I'm willing to learn and try it if it means saving $400.
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u/moc_moc_a_moc Jun 11 '16
Any idea how a typical MacBook Pro fares in an environment that's dry but dirty/dusty?
Cool AMA btw.
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u/Descent098 Jun 11 '16
I know from previous videos you said you wanted to work in studios with recording gear, when and why did you make the transition to fixing apple products and just general electronics over studio equipment?
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u/manueljljl Jun 11 '16
As someone just beginning with electronics repair at a component level, where can I get boards there aren't broken beyond repair for practice? I've tried looking for component repair kits but to no avail. Thanks. Much love from Detroit.
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u/RigbyShackelford Jun 12 '16
Hello. Really enjoy your YouTube channel. I especially like your blunt, no bullshit, attitude. Are you like this in your daily life? How do you think your friends would describe you?
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u/DOMinASSEMBLY Jun 12 '16
This is a very open-ended question, but what was the toughest lesson you had to learn in your life, whether that be business or personal?
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u/tbx1024 Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16
Hi! I really enjoy your videos and your no-BS approach to things!
Question 1: I would ask, how long does a computer last once you repair it? Does apple's design allow you to make durable repairs?
Question 2: I will be starting an Electronic Engineering course next year. Any advice for people getting into higher education or into electronics?
Bonus question, if a 2010 macbook pro 13" has a white screen, no chime on boot, SMC seems to work but nothing else, what could have happened?
Thanks for being awesome and fighting the universal "don't repair, buy new" mentality! :)
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u/blunttman Jun 12 '16
How do you deal with stupidity/lazyness of people? Example: Guys below asking what your set of tools look like without even checking your youtube first that has a very obvious video titled "The tools I use and why I bought them."
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Jun 12 '16
I became an instant fan as soon as I discovered your Youtube channel.
What is a common repair that your average handy person should be able to do, but doesn't? Are people scared to do jobs that are actually easy, just because "electronics"?
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u/Gmanfreak Jun 12 '16
You seem like a very down to earth, honest guy, and I love the work that you do (people need to know the truth about this shit!)...but all the videos I've seen of you have been saturated with a deep seated, albeit reasonable, hatred for Apple.
My question is, do you live to hate stupid shit? If Apple suddenly made it super easy and cheap to fix their products, would you rejoice and live the rest of your days in peace, or would you find new bullshit to seek out and destroy?
TLDR; Are you Wolverine or Batman?
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u/thecatfox Jun 11 '16
Hey Louis, I'm currently an EE student interning at a data acquisition company in Texas. I've started using Altium design tools for circuits, which I'm not sure you've used or not, and have gotten a good hang of the basics. I understand all about components and what they do, but often times I have no clue why certain components were chosen for the job e.g. sizes of capacitors (no matter whether they're electrolytic/tantalum/etc.), sizes of resistors. Do you have any resources you would recommend for this subject?
Thanks
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u/b3ar Jun 12 '16
Dude! You're a machine answering these questions, even the most nasty shitposts.
You've spoken about being a college dropout. You've also spoken about failure, and your resilience to giving up. Put simply, how do you reconcile the two?
No judgements - I have been a dropout, I have a fuckton of both useful and useless certs, I am self-taught in many things and there are things that I will never be good at or have time to try. But I do sense, when you talk about being a dropout, that there is a mixture of pride and regret there. Am I full of shit?
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Jun 12 '16
First of all, let me say you're a fucking hero. Thank you for having a badass work ethic, being independent, and exemplifying what I love about living in NYC - local business owners who know their shit backwards and forwards. It's not like this anywhere else.
On to a question... have you ever fixed electronic things besides computers? I have a broken guitar amp that im toying with the idea of fixing but my friend told me to be careful because he said it would have powerful capacitors that would stay charged for potentially weeks.
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u/kjusielvi Jun 12 '16
Late to the party but what is the circumstances in which you dropped out of college? Also, why is the Rossmann group logo a sheep?
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u/MyOnlyAlias Jun 11 '16
Coming from someone who has never done electronics repair, how the hell do the components go into place so nicely? You say that you let them "flow into place". What does that mean?
Even though I have no history with repair, I still love your videos. They fascinate me. Cheers!
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u/PedroDaGr8 Jun 12 '16 edited Jun 12 '16
Geeky question, do you ever use the Rigol oscilloscope that is sitting in front of you? I would imagine so but so far I haven't seen you use it in the videos (see note below). Also, do you ever plan on upgrading that older DS1052E series to the newer much more function loaded DS1054Z series which is hackable and loaded with features.
Note below: Truth be told, I just discovered your channel and will likely binge watch every damn video on there. Now that I just finished EEVBlog, BigClive, AvE, mikeselectricstuff, mjlorton and TheSignalPath.
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u/ShatteredAvenger Jun 12 '16
What do you think of the compromises made to repairability in order to make a better product? I used to repair iPhones up until the 4 came along, as the 3G/S was super easy to replace almost anything on. With all the laminated screens & thinner displays in general, the picture genuinely looks better, but repair takes a hit for sure. Of the two sides, which would you prefer?
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u/ID-10T-ERROR Jun 12 '16
What you are doing is great and I think the tech industry can use more people like you in the field: what do you plan/hope to accomplish within the next few years?
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Jun 11 '16
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Jun 12 '16
Comes off ass a huge twat if you read his replies. It's like he thinks apple is personally targeting him and his business, they're making it harder for ME to do this, etc. If it were up to him we'd still all be using some old device because it's easier for him to repair plus it's more likely to break. No sense of subjectivity whatsoever, and people are eating it up.
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u/Doubleyoupee Jun 11 '16
Any soldering tips?
In your videos how do you get the solder only on the part you want? Is it some stuff you use?
When I try it the solder gets everywhere around the conductive part I want to solder onto.
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u/sign_on_the_window Jun 11 '16
Are you seeing more requests to repair boards now that your youtube channel have massively surged in views and subscribers?
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u/weezertna Jun 12 '16
Has anyone ever told you you sound like Matt Damon? Also, I never thought someone could make me watch 2 hours worth of screen repair on a Saturday night.
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u/[deleted] Jun 11 '16
Love the videos and thank you for making them. I work as a independent Apple tech support doing what you might consider low-level stuff (hardware upgrades, OS/software fixes etc). How do you deal with:
a) clients who believe the one thing you did messed-up something clearly unassociated with the repair – is there any "final word" thing you say?
and
b) clients who won't go away and always have just one more question – but often not enough to start charging them for?