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Sometimes I wonder if I'm in the same business...

I've been doing this for over two years. I'm probably at around 1500 installs. I can easily take home over $300 per day on a 10 hour work day. Lately though I've been averaging about half that simply because I hate working in the winter. I'll take as FEW jobs as possible as long as my retailer is happy... Until the winter breaks. Then it's back to business and $400 days. Though... there have been significant pay cuts since last year, so we'll see.

I used to think to myself that anyone in the world could do this job. It's so freakin easy, you just can't be afraid of work. It's not hard work, it's not dangerous work. It's just... work. Don't run from it, do it, and it will pay. But MAN. After training about 5 techs over the last two years, I've come to discover that people have some serious issues.

There was this one dude who couldn't even MOUNT a SD MAST after four weeks of field training with three different field techs. I personally trained him for two weeks, and showed him exactly what to do step by step to mount a mast... But some people just lack the mechanical experience to handle tools. To each his own I suppose...

ZandarKoad said:

Sometimes I wonder if I'm in the same business...

I've been doing this for over two years. I'm probably at around 1500 installs. I can easily take home over $300 per day on a 10 hour work day. Lately though I've been averaging about half that simply because I hate working in the winter. I'll take as FEW jobs as possible as long as my retailer is happy... Until the winter breaks. Then it's back to business and $400 days. Though... there have been significant pay cuts since last year, so we'll see.

I used to think to myself that anyone in the world could do this job. It's so freakin easy, you just can't be afraid of work. It's not hard work, it's not dangerous work. It's just... work. Don't run from it, do it, and it will pay. But MAN. After training about 5 techs over the last two years, I've come to discover that people have some serious issues.

There was this one dude who couldn't even MOUNT a SD MAST after four weeks of field training with three different field techs. I personally trained him for two weeks, and showed him exactly what to do step by step to mount a mast... But some people just lack the mechanical experience to handle tools. To each his own I suppose...

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I understand the point you are making..But this business is changing..Oh and BTW we are a retailer and a DNS comntractor..Just to let you know I would do retail jobs all day long...The DNS jobs are really getting to be a pain..For example..I was on a job for 90 mins before I could do any work...The w/o had the wrong EQ, the wrong programming and of course the rate the cust was going to pay was NOT even close to what the sales partner quoted..So what am I to do but wait around and try to save the job...This is why doing contract work for Dish sucks..
I would be in hog sh*t heaven If worked exclusively for a retailer that had the sales volume ot keep my busy 5 days a week..But we just don't have the outside sales people doing cold calls and canvassing neighborhoods..Don't ask, I hate selling..Can't stand the rejection....
Now onto the the new tech issue..That is so true..what you wrote..On my end you can throw in the fact that younger people, under 30 have a less than stellar work ethic..They think it's going to be easy. Then the first couple of tough ones come their way and they start whining like sheep on shearing day...

dishcomm said:

I understand the point you are making..But this business is changing..Oh and BTW we are a retailer and a DNS comntractor..Just to let you know I would do retail jobs all day long...The DNS jobs are really getting to be a pain..For example..I was on a job for 90 mins before I could do any work...The w/o had the wrong EQ, the wrong programming and of course the rate the cust was going to pay was NOT even close to what the sales partner quoted..So what am I to do but wait around and try to save the job...This is why doing contract work for Dish sucks..
I would be in hog sh*t heaven If worked exclusively for a retailer that had the sales volume ot keep my busy 5 days a week..But we just don't have the outside sales people doing cold calls and canvassing neighborhoods..Don't ask, I hate selling..Can't stand the rejection....
Now onto the the new tech issue..That is so true..what you wrote..On my end you can throw in the fact that younger people, under 30 have a less than stellar work ethic..They think it's going to be easy. Then the first couple of tough ones come their way and they start whining like sheep on shearing day...

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We do DNS fufilment too... (About 98% of my work is DNS fufillment.) when the work order has the wrong equipment I do it wrong anyway (like the work order tells me). I've convinced myself that it's in the customer's best interest (and it IS, REALLY! ):

Lets say they wanted DVR, but the work order only has 2 322's listed. And they ALSO wanted international programming from 61.5, but the work order just has one D500 on it. Well, I assure them that there is no problem whatsoever. CSR's make mistakes from time to time, and they'll get everything they want in due time. I let them know I ONLY have the equipment the work order CALLS FOR, and that I can get them hooked up TODAY, all four TVs, with all the american programming, so they can at least enjoy SOME TV. Then I tell them to call Dish themselves and explain that they did not get what they asked for. I leave them a copy of the work order too so they see what I'm talking about. Every customer has at least three days (it might be up to 30 days) to completely change their mind about anything on their account and still get all the promos. So they can add a DVR reciever and a 61.5 dish to their account and they will NOT be charged for a service call. So EVERYONE is happy, except for maybe DISH, because they have to pay for TWO truck rolls. BUT: THEY screwed up in the FIRST place by having a bogus W/O. So Dish can go ahead and get pissed at that sales partner. I DID the W/O. I kept my efficiency up. I kept the customer happy.

(Their monthly bill may be higher, but no one is going to blame that on me. I just did my job. If they want to cancel after they learn of DVR fees, then fine. Let them issue me a DE-INSTALL work order. $$$)

I did NOT wait around for an hour + trying to get ahold of a CSR and let them discuss new charges with the customer... That's one of the golden rules of installing. NEVER let a customer talk to a CSR when your onsite BEFORE you've closed out the work order. AFTER you've closed the work order, you can let them talk just so long as it's on the CUSTOMER'S phone. So you can just leave while their talking. :up

The first rule of DNS fufilment is: YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT PRICES. The second rule of DNS fufilment is: YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT PRICES! You can accomplish this by claiming total ignorance. For the first two years I didn't have to fake it. I honestly didn't know that the work order lists the type of programming they ordered. Now that I know... I try not to look. I just tell the customer that "They (referring to Dish) don't tell me what you order or how much your bill is. They just tell me what equipment to install. You can talk to them directly about your cost per month. It's a privacy thing." Or something along those lines... Usually works. Sometimes they want to call Dish then right away when your half way done with the install... which is a bad thing. If they start to get pissed and look like they MIGHT cancel, then I'll call on my cell phone IMMEDIATELY and activate the account through the automated system. BOOM. JOB'S DONE. PAY DAY. If they want to cancel I still get paid. I leave the system in-place and tell them that Dish will send out pre-paid shipping boxes to retrieve the equipment.

Edit: I can't sell worth crap either, especially when I hate the product I'm selling. I think 99% of homes in America should take every last one of their precious TVs and put a sledge hammer right through them. There is nothing "positive" about watching TV except for ONE thing: it gives you pleasure. I don't hold that in high esteem. Life is too short, and the stakes are too high.

ZandarKoad said:

We do DNS fufilment too... (About 98% of my work is DNS fufillment.) when the work order has the wrong equipment I do it wrong anyway (like the work order tells me). I've convinced myself that it's in the customer's best interest (and it IS, REALLY! ):

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The rsp I used to work for had a 7 day rule. If you had to do an upgrade within 7 days, you were getting paid exactly the same as if it were the first day. This bit me ONCE on an ahole customer who ordered a 4 TV set up, but only had 2 TV's. I had the work order modified to be only 2 TVs because I didn't want to face being charged back for them not getting the other 2 tvs for 6 months and not remembering how to hook them up. After getting porked by this customer, I walked off of every job where the site was not ready, even service calls. Screw 'em. The customer expects me to have the proper tools and equipment, and I expect them to have a clean, safe work envoirnment for me, and to have all the equipment they are required to provide.

Also, I don't appreciate getting bitched at by morons about not bringing their free DVD player that I have nothing to do with.

chadzx11 said:

...Also, I don't appreciate getting bitched at by morons about not bringing their free DVD player that I have nothing to do with.

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umm, since when did Dish ever give away free DVD players?

Slamminc11 said:

umm, since when did Dish ever give away free DVD players?

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Dish does not..Some ads of sales partners indicate a free DVD player to the cutomer..The problem is the cust thinks the tech is supposed to have the DVD player(valued at probably less than $30) in hand..This is the worst type of customer..Not only do they not bother to read the ENTIRE ad before ordering, this type of customer is one of these entitlement jerks who thinks everything is free of charge...
I actually walked off one of these jobs..The customer wanted their free DVD player..The cust insisted that "they" said I was to bring it...I was in no mood to hear his bull sh*t so I said that we provide the satellite service not the DVD player..The customer kept insisting.. So I told the cust that they had to settle their dispute with the retailer..So I just called my dispatch, told them the cust was beligerent and I left...F-'em.

Who to install?

All of this being stated and me on the consumer end reading it, how the heck do you find a good installer?

I am in NJ (Central Mercer County) and really want to get a everything done properly. I would not normally have an issue with hooking everything up, its just I have a problem with heights and sloped roofs .

Can you guys point me in a good direction or am I at the whim of Dish?

AVITWeb said:

All of this being stated and me on the consumer end reading it, how the heck do you find a good installer?

I am in NJ (Central Mercer County) and really want to get a everything done properly. I would not normally have an issue with hooking everything up, its just I have a problem with heights and sloped roofs .

Can you guys point me in a good direction or am I at the whim of Dish?

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Or the whim of the installer. Flip a coin.

AVITWeb said:

All of this being stated and me on the consumer end reading it, how the heck do you find a good installer?

I am in NJ (Central Mercer County) and really want to get a everything done properly. I would not normally have an issue with hooking everything up, its just I have a problem with heights and sloped roofs .

Can you guys point me in a good direction or am I at the whim of Dish?

Click to expand...

I am sure there are local contractors willing to come out to your home and do a good job at the price agreed upon..

...Sir, I would do this job for you tomorrow but you are a 10 hr drive from here..Probably not a real smart move for me as I would use up what I charge you to pay for gas to get there....
I hope you are able to find someone reliable..
Fear not. There are a lot of us out there....

Sorry to drag this one up from the depths of wherever they go to when they fall off the radar .. but ....

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone (via PM?) who works in the Tulsa call-center.

I've been thinking about possibly applying for a position here (Yeah Yeah I know a lot of you are going to tell me that its a sucky job .. but I have my reasons.) and would be interested in speaking with anyone that may be able to answer a few questions about the work environment etc.

Please send me a PM if you think you may be able to help.



Thanks.