Maintain your appliance!

Your car needs an oil change every 3000 miles or so. Your computer needs to be defragmented once in a while. You should check your credit report annually. All these things have one thing in common. Maintenance. Your appliances should be maintained as well. But, most of my customers have no clue of what to do. You're rarely told by the salesman, and the owners manual is usually vague at best. So, that's what this post is about.

Dishwashers - Not cleaning well? Leaving white film on dishes? It might be a bigger problem, but have you cleaned it recently? Occasionally? Ever? Use Dishwasher Magic. You can pick it up at our Parts Store. Do not use with dishes in dishwasher. Take the cap off. Find a place on the bottom rack, usually in your silverware rack, to place the bottle upside down. Start `er up. It’s that simple. Please read the directions on the bottle before using this product.

Washers - Washer Magic is a liquid you can use for top loaders to help disinfect and clean your washer. For Front Loaders, Affresh is the best out there. It’s like an Alka-Seltzer tablet that’ll disintegrate during the wash. As I said before, please read all instructions before using this product.

Dryers - Clean the lint trap. Period. Every time. If the lint trap is cracked or broken, get a new one at our Parts Store. Check the vent on the back of the dryer. Is it crushed, cracked, or even connected? Check the velocity of the air coming from the exhaust vent on the outside of your house. Is it weak, not hot (even thought the dryer heats), or not even coming out? If you answer yes to any of these questions, it might be time to give us a call.

Refrigerators - Change your filter! This can be a "flood" of a lesson if you wait too long. Sediment builds up inside the filter over time and the water pressure may cause the filter o-ring to rupture. The fins on your coils may also need to be cleaned. They're located differently on different models. Due to electrical, freon, and water lines, we suggest allowing a professional to clean your coils.

Stoves - Keep it clean. Use CeramaBryte for ceramic cooktops. There are many products available to clean the oven's interior.

Garbage Disposals - You can use Plink. Little caplets that you drop down into the disposal and grind up to disinfect and clean the interior.

There are many cleaners out there. These are the ones we recommend. Some cleaners may work better in different scenarios. Read the instructions before using any product. All of the products listed, along with several others not mentioned, can be purchased at our Parts Store. Thank you for your time and I hope this has been helpful.

Fix It Yourself - Continued...

Ok, so I don't blame anyone who tries to fix it themselves. But, does it save you money in the long run? The odds aren't in your favor.

A week after writing the previous article, we had a customer who had an appliance problem. He bought several parts from our store that added up to be over $130. The parts did not fix the problem. Since the parts were electrical, they were also non-returnable. Although he knew this prior to purchasing the parts, he was trying to save himself some money. Finally, he decided to pay the Service Call and have our techs diagnose his problem.

Within minutes, the tech had found the problem, and it had nothing to do with the appliance. The customer had a small electrical problem within the plug in the wall. Now that the customer had to pay a Service Call, he was close to $200. This is just a classic case of how a Service Call can save you money. He chose to repair the problem himself, and the cost of the Service Call with his repair was about $75. A lot better than $200, huh?

Our technicians are trained and professional. Put the liability on us. We guarantee our work and our parts. If you'd like to fix it yourself, you can visit our Parts Store in Murfreesboro, TN. We're located at 855 W College St, Suite W. We're in the Maple Leaf Village complex across from the skating rink. If you're in need of directions, please visit our website, www.marsboro.com.

Can I fix it myself? Won't I save money?

Yes. We are people, just like you. So, it is possible for you to fix it. And, if done correctly and safely, you and your appliance may live to see another day. However, we are professionals. The flip side to that question is --- No.

A lot of the time I go out on a Service Call and meet people who have attempted to fix what they thought was wrong. So, they've spent a couple of hours or more diagnosing and disassembling the appliance, then they've paid for the part (which is most likely Non-Returnable), and then installed the part and reassembled the machine to find out it's not the problem. I've seen this scenario many times.

"Well, if my dryer isn't drying, isn't it the element?" Maybe, but there are SEVERAL other components less expensive than the element that might be the cause.

"My washer makes a noise. I think it's the belt." Could be, but most of the time, it's not.

The point is: We can save you money. By letting us repair your appliance, we are liable for your appliance. Our parts come with a one year warranty. Our technicians are trained to repair other possible problems that you might overlook. We don't just fix the problem, we repair your appliance and, most of the time, can perform preventative maintenance at no extra cost.

The next time you have an appliance problem, let us offer you Service Beyond. Going back to the original question; We can order almost any part for any residential appliance. So, if you can fix it yourself, bring your model number, part number, or even the part down to our Parts Store and we'll be able to find the part you need. Our Parts House is located at 855 W. College St, Suite W, Murfreesboro, TN, 37129 in the Maple Leaf Village complex.

Economy Falls, Service Rises

The typical thing that most service companies come to understand is that repairs are always needed.  Whether the economy is booming or in a recession a service company is always needed somewhere at sometime.  When the economy booms people have more options as they should and tend to buy new instead of repairing.  But when the economy tanks and people struggle to pay the bills the last thing they want to do is fork over cash for something new when they can get it fixed for a fourth of the cost.  

At MARS not only do you get a cheaper repair then most service companies.  But a guaranteed warranty on the work done is always provided.  No one here is in the business of taking your money, but only providing well deserved service for a customer who seeks a cheaper alternative than forking out their entire budget for something new.  

Research has shown MARS to be on average $10 to $30 cheaper on just the Service Call & $25 to $50 cheaper on the Labor Rates.  Also MARS holds a one year warranty on all parts unlike other service companies that only provide anywhere from a 30 day to 90 day warranty.  MARS is truly local providing the quickest service we can and if a call back is needed we can be there for you.  

So in the current times we wake up to everyday don't hesitate on a repair and call MARS for the service you deserve.  CALL TODAY!  615-890-4334.  

MARS CLOSED FOR FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS IN 2008

Well we are closed on most holidays.  Being that MARS is a small family owned business we tend to make the most of our busy lives and enjoy the holidays.  We know this creates inconveniences for some of our customers, but we all need our time.  The following days will be taken off for the holidays.

LABOR DAY - MONDAY SEPT. 1st

THANKSGIVING - THURSDAY NOV. 27th

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY - THURSDAY DEC. 25th through SUNDAY DEC. 28th

NEW YEARS DAY 2009 - THURSDAY JAN. 1st

As always if you call during the holidays please leave a message and we will return your call.  It may not be an immediate return, but we will not forget about you.  Just leave a message and we'll usually return your call within 24 hours.

We hope everyone has a happy holiday and fall season in 2008.

 

Sometimes Waiting Pays Off

Today we're talking about your appliance problems and what to do when trying to get them repaired.  Well for one hopefully you've found your Appliance Tech or Company that you like.  If not then call MARS for we are a BBB member and have an outstanding record with our customers.  In fact we have many returning customers on a daily basis.  Our phone # is 615-890-4334 and operations will be glad to give you the spectrum of the whole operation and how we work and what it costs.

So with that out of the way we move on to the patience factor.  All companies are not the same. In fact only 5 Appliance Companies in all of Middle Tennessee are registered with the BBB. And we are the only company that advertises the BBB logo in our ADS.  Why is this important? Because by becoming a member with the BBB, the company is telling it's customers that they are trusted not only by an accredited agency but by customers all around.  The BBB will not list any companies that have violations or repeat issues with customers on its site or let that company use its logo.  Other online venues to research are Angie's List.  Another very prominent agency that recognizes good service.  By being a member of the BBB you can rest assured that your wishes will be followed when it comes to the repair of your appliance.

Now with good service comes a good following.  Busy companies with the BBB are a good sign. Say you call and want service TODAY! and the company is with the BBB or has a very good track record with your friends or co-workers.  What do you do?  You wait for service that you can trust and depend on. Watch out for the scammers of the service industry for they not only taint the industry with bad press but take your money and run.  Last thing you want is to not only be hindered by your broken appliance but to get into a thicker situation because you couldn't wait a day or even two.

Things can be done like putting ice in your refrigerator to keep the milk cold or a cooler full of ice to keep the ice cream hard.  Go to the laundromat and wash a thing of clothes or two.  Wash your dishes by hand if you can't have the automatic one working.  Eat foods that don't need to be cooked or go out to eat and grab some food if your stove is out.  

So I promise if you wait then your worries won't grow, they'll only be fixed.  

CALL MARS and get set up today for your appointment.  Ask us about our BBB membership and we'll be happy to explain to you our status compared to others.  When it comes to service there's no other appliance company on this planet that can match ours. 

Technicians Are Human Too!

Technicians in today's world are trained and put through EPA Testing along with extensive training through major companies such as Whirlpool, GE, Electrolux, etc.  With today's world market of appliances they change everyday.  Just like your cell phones or television sets or even your cars, appliances change too.  Therefore even the most experienced and professionally trained technician can sometimes get stumped by the ever changing technology.

I wish everything was robotic and people knew the problem right away, but sometimes it might take a few times to get to the root of the problem.  For example the most advanced appliances may have one to up to five computer boards built into it.  This can cause an issue when testing the appliance for the root of the problem, if a computer shorts out it can show all kinds of misleading codes and send the technician down the the wrong path.  So sometimes it may take a couple of trips before the technician solves the problem.  But when it is solved this same problem doesn't occur again because of the experience from that one job.  But like I said the experience may not ever be needed again because of the rapid change in the industry.

Appliance Technicians are just like the local doctor and sometimes even the most experienced physicians in the world have a hard time solving the root of the problem.  So with this blog we ask all the customers of the world and of course Tennessee to be patient with your appliance tech, for he will figure it out if you give him a chance.  Whether it's right away or the 3rd or even 4th trip out.  Trust me they don't do it on purpose.  The last thing a technician wants to do is to keep coming back.  What that shows is determination to get it fixed and that's what you want in a technician.  You hired them to fix the problem and the one's that are determined, do just that. 

As for MARS TECHS we are most determined.  But sometimes one trip just isn't enough.  Rest assure though that trip charges will not accrue with extra visits and they never should. If a Tech can't figure it out on the 1st trip then it's on his time to figure out on the second or third trip. And that's what we have always offered at MARS.  We are 95% on top of it when it comes to the first trip, but if we have to come back and dig deeper for the problem we are 100% sure we'll get it fixed.  That's a promise to you. 

CALL TODAY for your MARS TECH.