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Worst repair week I've had in 15 years started last Tuesday in Portland
Had a Leica M3 come in with a stuck shutter, a Canon AE-1 with a broken advance lever, and a Rolleiflex with fungus all on the same day - my bench was totally full by noon. I tried to rush the Leica shutter clean and ended up snapping a curtain spring, which set me back two days and cost me $45 in parts to fix my own mistake. Do you have a rule for when to just say no to a repair job or do you take everything that walks in the door?
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the_eric6d ago
A buddy of mine used to take everything and it nearly put him out of business twice.
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kimw575d ago
Started fixing cameras at my kitchen table back in the 80s with a pot of coffee and a prayer. Learned pretty quick that saying no sometimes is cheaper than fixing a mistake like that Leica spring. @the_eric had it right, my old mentor used to say the same thing about taking on every job that comes through the door.
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nancy_wood5d ago
Isn't it funny how knowing when to say no applies to so much more than just fixing cameras? I've seen it with people who try to please everyone at work or in their personal lives, and they end up burning out or making a mess they have to clean up later. There's a real skill in recognizing which opportunities are actually worth your time versus which ones just look shiny from the outside. From what I've watched over the years, the folks who are picky about what they take on tend to last longer in whatever they're doing. Your mileage may vary, but that lesson has held up pretty well in my book.
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