That's friggin' hilarious! I'd just suggested to somebody YESTERDAY that it'd be in Parts Town's best interest to have a forum for techs. They've been innovative in so many other ways (Parts Spin for example). I use Parts Town several times a day.

So happens they JUST got into the service sector recently by acquiring FESCO (Knoxville TN). A former co-worker who was integral in setting up the Nashville's branch of FESCO told me that. He also tried to explain to my feeble-minded ears how manufacturers were unhappy about that deal for having something to do with their (Parts Town's) new advantage in parts pricing thanks to that acquisition.

I'll go check it out.

 

Looks like a lot of nubies, though...

Looks like they grabbed some techs, told them to bring in their tech training manuals or merely their expertise, then told them to MAKE UP QUESTIONS for what they know. THEN...the tech sitting in the chair at the same table answered that conjured up question with an expert answer....with some collaboration, of course.

The ASK.COM version of what we do. Kinda hilarious!

 

?!$&@!!@&$
That's all I gotta say!
I guess that shoots my idea down eh Ectofix?

 

Ectofix ! Wow! You let em have it! Damn! A bit harsh eh?
Granted they look like they stole my idea, but let's see what they do with it! Good move on their part though.....way to thing ahead. I think if enough people join in the bs and fluff that is in there now will go away.

 

AH...I got carried away after mastering too many brews (or maybe they mastered me?).

Looks like they put the FESCO guys to work in trying to "prime" their forum with some dialog. Looks artificial.

 

Parts town has had a service dept for a long time. Now they are growing it. From what I understand they have around 50 techs spread throughout the Midwest besides Fesco. I Was in a training recently with a few of there techs and heard this.

 

I didn't know that. Thanks. When reading some articles about that acquisition, I'd only seen how their business had proliferated since 2003 with online parts sales. Their very existence was presented by our company to us techs (in a competing service & parts company) around 2007 regarding availability of their online manuals. I've since been on their site almost DAILY...just for the manuals.

* * * * *

A quick Parts Town story...from a conversation just a few hours ago:

I went to Chili's for my every other Friday night carry-out order (it's you'alls Thursday today, but it's MY Friday).

(Uh...back to work at 3am Sunday. Hmph...)

An old acquaintance was there as the new store manager. We talked awhile. I'd done repairs at that same place years ago. I told him where I'm at now - and that I'm NOT doing field work anymore. He spoke of the current service company they use and the exorbitant prices they charge.

Now, mind you...I'd not mentioned Parts Town to him beforehand.

So then he said that he's learned to get that company to look at the equipment, tell him what's wrong and what parts are needed to fix it - then tells them "Thanks" and orders the parts from Parts Town.

I'm sure you guys still in the field already knew this. For me, it just confirmed what I'd already thought in this internet-sales driven market that's taken off in the past decade.

 

When I'm on the roof of my largest restaurant customer, I can see PartsTown. I laugh when I call in an order from the kitchen, drive over there, and give the warehouse guy my order number and they're like "did you just call this in from the parking lot?"

 

Interesting. Obviously we could tell there is a need for it. I would say that there still is. This isn't really anything other than a webpage with a few questions on it.

Parts town really does have a big market share, but lets analyze what they're doing here a little.

First of all. It appears they are trying to Make a community driven knowledge base. This isn't really a forum for discussion, but who really contributes first gets the most points.

I really don't know if they set up those answers or not. There really is no place for suggestions and if you're looking for a manufacturer on a phone, good luck! The terms and conditions didn't even show up on my phone.

There is absolutely no organization. Like I said its driven from the standpoint of a knowledgebase/social place. Not a forum that is built by the community and run by the community.

Lastly, but probably the most important, is liability. I know from a community driven standpoint it is expressed that we are not reps but just techs that want to help other techs and the odd knowledgeable kitchen manager out. But I can see most of the guys on this website being joe from who knows where asking questions on how to fix his three phase oven.

 

Wow, so they're your competition.

I wouldn't order from them if they're running service.

 

Along with you, someone else brought up the same topic over there by stating:

"Just wondering if users of TechTown and customers of PartsTown understand that PT Holdings, llc has service companies that are direct competitors of you? What, if any thoughts, do you have on the topic?"

 

We buy parts from our direct competitors all the time. They also buy from us.

I think the most important thing to remember is the customer probably knows of most service companies in the area. If he needs his equipment badly, he will call the other guys as well.

If you can get equipment fixed fast, and on the first visit, then you'll be the hero.

 

It's just NOT working over there. It's turned into an eTundra Q & A for equipment owners. All the techs at the place they'd dubbed "A Community for Techs, By Techs"...have appeared to have bowed out.

I'm now just laughing at the questions now for their entertainment value:

Q: "Hello. I'm Such-n-such and my ice machine model is XXXXX. How much freon do I put in the compressor?"
A: "Dear Such-n-such, model XXXXX is an ice bin."

-and-

Q: "Why won't the compressor start up on model SDXXXXA ice machine."

That's IT? Just..."WHY?" I want to tell them that maybe the hoota-hanger got caught in the thing-a-ma-jig and that's because it takes thirteen pancakes to shingle a DOG HOUSE!

-or-

Q: "Hi! I'm moving to Europe. My mixer is 110v and they have 240v. Do I need to change the ENGINE or something?"

Yes. SOMETHING. You got it.

*
*
*

I realize that each question is from someone in dire need of help, but...REALLY?!

 

Yep.

I was on there for a few months, but the DIY was out of hand, and there where only a handful of knowledgeable people.

I haven't been there for a least a month.

 

You guys know there's no place like home.... :yes:

 

I feel another episode of Bake WhoaBeGone coming...

 

compressor won't start on ice machine

Why won't the compressor startup on model SD0452A?

Answer from Mike19

Hi, this is Mike from Parts Town. I emailed Manitowoc and they say if the power switch is off the compressor won't run, so definitely check that.

Otherwise we do have a compressor in stock, it is part number 000005841 and you can order it by clicking here.

 

Lol

I need a pilot assembly for my heat pump.

https://techtown.partstown.com/message/1949#1949

 

If he wants it bad enough, I'll sell him one. :grin2:

 

Repair Clinic list that as a "York Heat Pump Pilot"

 

We buy tons of parts from parts town. We have got a 25% discount on just about anything they sell so it definitely works better for us! We have tried GCS (ecolab) and Heritage. Neither have done as well as parts towns service for OEM parts.

 

"The fan blade isn't spinning, how much for a new fan blade?"

 

That one made me laugh good.

 

Sorry, just made that up.

 

A new fan and motor