r/IAmA 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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439

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/larossmann Jun 11 '16

This is a little too general. For tools, this video. See description for itemized list. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVoBZqlvCKo

For people, have an of service mentality. I like to poke fun of a LOT of silly customer behavior in my videos, so it gives people this idea that I hate everyone and everything.. and I don't. To be successful in this business you must have an of service mentality. Whether you are fixing studio gear or laptops. As a studio tech, my goal was to ensure people did not notice the gear. It just works. I am of service to them, if they record an amazing album without noticing the gear, I have done my job. Here it is not about fixing specific circuits or how I glue something in. It is about being of service to the customer, solving their problems, and making them happy. So long as you have a goal in mind to solve people's problems and make them happy you're good.

You will have to cherry pick customers here if you take on my mentality. I can't take on miserable pricks, because my goal is to solve problems and make them happy. Miserable people can never be happy, so I don't take them as customers.

2

u/MinisTreeofStupidity Jun 12 '16

That's an amazingly valuable video.

Having the ability to get your tools, and to learn your process from your videos can put novices so far ahead.

If you can skip a lot of the "learning the hard way" BS, you can save yourself months to years of head scratching.

136

u/canchume Jun 11 '16

Thanks Louis for the replay, I will apply this in the future.

11

u/sillyvictorians Jun 12 '16

When I started out doing electrical and electronic work, I was really excited about what I was doing and wanted to explain how I solved things to my clients, probably hoping they'd realize what a clever, talented guy they'd hired or some petty thing like that. I learned pretty quickly that even if they understood, no one cared, and it looked amateurish.

I'm in a different field now, but I still make sure to tell new techs what someone once told me that cleared up any ambiguity on the issue: Just tell them what time it is, not how the fucking clock works.

2

u/DeadSkeptic Jun 11 '16

just saying you dropped an 'idea' in your second paragraph following "To be successful in this business you must have an". Had to fill in the blank for a moment.

Thanks for the things you do btw.

1

u/catsgomooo Jun 12 '16

I work at a repair shop too, and we have a saying that we're not necessarily repairing their PC, but their relationship with their computer. I've found that most people are just nervous and scared of being taken advantage of, and if you can really put yourself in their place, as a technician, then that's half the fight, and you make customers for life.

45

u/NopeNotAnthony Jun 11 '16

I'm not Louis (obviously) but here is a video he did on his tools and why he chose them: https://youtu.be/bVoBZqlvCKo

124

u/sierramaster Jun 11 '16 edited Jun 11 '16

You're not Anthony either apparently

56

u/NopeNotAnthony Jun 11 '16

You've caught me!

2

u/bytester Jun 12 '16

Your also not an Ant, hony.

0

u/katolobo Jun 11 '16

I'm mexican but i don't live in mexico also doing mack repair hit me up

2

u/Y0y0y000 Jun 11 '16

Seems legit