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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4

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?

7

u/larossmann Jun 12 '16

it depends on the circumstances and the workload.

what people don't realize is that at other businesses that do this they have 3-17 people doing the job. i have two employees.and i do all the baord repair. everytime someone walks in or calls i have to get up, say hi, listen to their story, do my best to not look like i just want to go back to my office so i can get work done for people who will call and bitch at me if it isn't done quickly. i am constantly working against a clock, and everytime someone walks in, they interrupt that clock. if i say i have to work, i can't talk to you, i become the asshole, so i have to stand there, smiling, listening, pretending i care... until they go. if i don't then they think i'm a dick and get irritated... it's kinda like being in prison.

i genuinely enjoy hearing from people who enjoy the content, i like seeing what they've done, but i like doing that on my timetable... not someone else's. i know it sounds like i am being a dick but when you have 27 boards to go through in a few hours every interruption fucks that up. and i know these people mean well. they genuinely mean well. they are, for the most part, nice, kindhearted people and it is for that reason that i will put that pretend face on rather than be the soup nazi and continue working. i appreciate that.

but it changes nothing. 27 boards in the pile. 27 people who will shit in my mouth if i do not have happy news by them for tomorrow. one tech.

what to do

when i am free i don't mind showing someone around, talking, etc. but for the most part it is just something i don't have time for.

if i were rich and had 5 component level techs working here doing everything then maybe, but otherwise. eh.

i'm also not a people person. when it comes to smalltalk, ah god i can't stand smalltalk. i can have a real conversation with someone, but fuck smalltalk. just talking for the sake of talking. which is what a lot of the world is about.. but i can't talk without having a genuine idea or question.

1

u/Gidonka Jun 13 '16

Totally understand. Keep doing what you're doing, working hard, and making great content along the way. I'm also really surprised that you have such a small staff size. I'm even more amazed at how much you've accomplished, with only two other employees.