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1
Shaman
2021 Dec 18, 8:33pm
Shaman
2021 Dec 18, 8:33pm
Everything requires maintenance.
The more complex the job, the more it pays.
The fewer women holding a certain job title, the more it pays.
Anything with a lot of the big “D”s in it, is going to pay better. (Difficult, Dirty, Dangerous)
The more complex the job, the more it pays.
The fewer women holding a certain job title, the more it pays.
Anything with a lot of the big “D”s in it, is going to pay better. (Difficult, Dirty, Dangerous)
2
WookieMan
2021 Dec 18, 11:06pm
WookieMan
2021 Dec 18, 11:06pm
It's been a problem for a while. Not just Covid induced. The housing bust gave us a halt of 5-10 years of on the job training for trades. Framing, electric, plumbing, hvac, etc. We're dealing with that gap period now as boomers are putting the tools down and few got any experience during that time. We now have government paying people to sit on their asses making the problem worse. And millennials were all spoon fed college or bust.
I know alcoholic plumbers who forget to bill people making $300-400k/yr. Net. If you can do trades, use a phone, set up an LLC and have an accountant, you can make a fuck ton of money.
I know alcoholic plumbers who forget to bill people making $300-400k/yr. Net. If you can do trades, use a phone, set up an LLC and have an accountant, you can make a fuck ton of money.
4
Patrick
2021 Dec 19, 8:29pm
Patrick
2021 Dec 19, 8:29pm
HunterTits says
These memes are great except when they fail in getting all the details correct, so then they end up looking kinda stupid.
Should read "in a saturated market"
These memes are great except when they fail in getting all the details correct, so then they end up looking kinda stupid.
Should read "in a saturated market"
5
TheAntiPanicanLearingCenter
2021 Dec 19, 8:39pm
TheAntiPanicanLearingCenter
2021 Dec 19, 8:39pm
Ceffer says
That was a pimp school, man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pjsIW7Hsi8&source=patrick.net
Do you have to go to trade school to learn how to become a pimp?
That was a pimp school, man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pjsIW7Hsi8&source=patrick.net
6
komputodo
2021 Dec 19, 8:44pm
komputodo
2021 Dec 19, 8:44pm
Ceffer says
No...just read this book. Learn how to whip a ho with a coat hanger.
Do you have to go to trade school to learn how to become a pimp?
No...just read this book. Learn how to whip a ho with a coat hanger.
7
SunnyvaleCA
2021 Dec 19, 9:46pm
I think you need to specialize in something. A general maintenance person at an apartment complex will still probably have to call someone for anything more than basic plumbing, roofing, or electrical. Therefore, the full time job might very well be suitable for a $10/hour under-the-table illegal alien (language skills allowing).
Appliances are getting more complicated all the time. I fixed my 1980s washing machine several times with just some handiness (and the internet). But modern systems are far more complicated. Thus the need to specialize if you are going to handle them.
Appliances are getting more complicated all the time. I fixed my 1980s washing machine several times with just some handiness (and the internet). But modern systems are far more complicated. Thus the need to specialize if you are going to handle them.
8
joshuatrio
2021 Dec 20, 10:06am
joshuatrio
2021 Dec 20, 10:06am
SunnyvaleCA says
YouTube solves this
Appliances are getting more complicated all the time. I fixed my 1980s washing machine several times with just some handiness (and the internet). But modern systems are far more complicated. Thus the need to specialize if you are going to handle them.
YouTube solves this
9
Ceffer
2021 Dec 20, 10:59am
Ceffer
2021 Dec 20, 10:59am
Yes, Bad Tube is still good for computer gaming and home repairs info.
10
rocketjoe79
2021 Dec 20, 7:59pm
rocketjoe79
2021 Dec 20, 7:59pm
Examples of Industrial Jobs in demand:
Electricians
Electronics
Machine programmers
Machinists
Welders
Millwrights
Pipefitters
Pump repair
Industrial Automation
Remember that Tom Cruise Movie "Oblivion"? He was a robot repairman! <<--- Future Job need
Electricians
Electronics
Machine programmers
Machinists
Welders
Millwrights
Pipefitters
Pump repair
Industrial Automation
Remember that Tom Cruise Movie "Oblivion"? He was a robot repairman! <<--- Future Job need
11
Shaman
2021 Dec 20, 8:13pm
Shaman
2021 Dec 20, 8:13pm
rocketjoe79 says
I am six of those.
Examples of Industrial Jobs in demand:
Electricians
Electronics
Machine programmers
Machinists
Welders
Millwrights
Pipefitters
Pump repair
Industrial Automation
I am six of those.
12
rocketjoe79
2021 Dec 22, 5:26pm
rocketjoe79
2021 Dec 22, 5:26pm
Shaman says
Time to Mentor some Young'uns!
rocketjoe79 saysExamples of Industrial Jobs in demand:
Electricians
Electronics
Machine programmers
Machinists
Welders
Millwrights
Pipefitters
Pump repair
Industrial Automation
I am six of those.
Time to Mentor some Young'uns!
13
MolotovCocktail
2026 Jan 17, 2:13pm
https://x.com/jonbrooks/status/2012561744451731707
MolotovCocktail
2026 Jan 17, 2:13pm
Everyone keeps saying “go into the trades.”
I get it — but here’s my real experience:
Called a local company to fix an icemaker on a 2007 fridge that still runs great.
Tech shows up.
Takes a picture.
Can’t fix it.
Charges $99 just for showing up.
Then quotes me $1,300 to replace the icemaker.
So I do what everyone can do now:
I ChatGPT the model number.
In 2 seconds:
• Exact replacement part
• Direct phone number
• Cost: $300
Installation?
2 screws.
10 minutes.
I’ll do it myself.
Same thing happened with my pool heater:
Repair guy quoted $2,000.
I bought the part directly and fixed it myself for under $200.
The problem isn’t the trades.
It’s that information asymmetry is gone —
and some businesses haven’t realized it yet.
https://x.com/jonbrooks/status/2012561744451731707
14
FortWayneHatesRealtors
2026 Jan 17, 5:55pm
But that’s you man. I can fix most things too. But my wife she’ll be calling service. Old people too, they’ll call.
Sure you can YouTube basic maintenance and repairs, most people still go with calling a professional. They don’t got the tools or know how, and everyone learns quickly that if job isn’t going straight forward they’ll just mess it up even more.
Anyone with a brain cell can change brake pads, most people don’t do it. It’s the DDD factor.
Sure you can YouTube basic maintenance and repairs, most people still go with calling a professional. They don’t got the tools or know how, and everyone learns quickly that if job isn’t going straight forward they’ll just mess it up even more.
Anyone with a brain cell can change brake pads, most people don’t do it. It’s the DDD factor.
15
HeadSet
2026 Jan 17, 7:26pm
HeadSet
2026 Jan 17, 7:26pm
MolotovCocktail says
Just today the dishwasher stopped working with a "FTD" code. I did not know about ChatGPT so I did an old fashioned google search. Found a repair parts place that had an exploded diagram. FTD was "failure to drain" and I noticed a drain sensor switch on the exploded parts diagram. This part was easily accessible just under the front toe-kick panel and was removable by a simple twist and pull, plus pulling out the wire connector. I removed the drain sensor switch, took it apart and cleaned out a lot of dirt, then reassemble it and reinstalled. Total time was 10 minutes and the dishwasher now works perfectly. A repairman would easily have charged $200 for labor and a new switch. As you say, the information asymmetry is gone.
Same thing happened with my pool heater:
Repair guy quoted $2,000.
I bought the part directly and fixed it myself for under $200.
Just today the dishwasher stopped working with a "FTD" code. I did not know about ChatGPT so I did an old fashioned google search. Found a repair parts place that had an exploded diagram. FTD was "failure to drain" and I noticed a drain sensor switch on the exploded parts diagram. This part was easily accessible just under the front toe-kick panel and was removable by a simple twist and pull, plus pulling out the wire connector. I removed the drain sensor switch, took it apart and cleaned out a lot of dirt, then reassemble it and reinstalled. Total time was 10 minutes and the dishwasher now works perfectly. A repairman would easily have charged $200 for labor and a new switch. As you say, the information asymmetry is gone.
Problem #1 is that Wawa's and McD's and Aldis are paying $15-16/hr + $250-500 signing bonuses to HS Students (not Grads, Students) to do menial jobs, but a lot of these big professionally run complexes still think they can get a 10-year maintenance guy to work F/T for $18/hr with no to little benefits.
Immigrants aren't going to solve this problem; for starters, Mexican/Guatemalan farmers can't troubleshoot modern HVAC systems. They can use electric tape on a frayed fan cord, but diagnosing a 2-year old Carrier is beyond their abilities.
2022 will be the all time high for people turning 65 and eligible for Soc Sec. Maintenance involves a bit of stooping and schleping and many don't want to do it into their 60s.
Instead, the 30-40 year old guys who are a bit handy are charging a fortune to landlords and homeowners to take care of things, doing far better in business for themselves than they could as F/T employees. $18/hr versus charging $50 to show up and $30/hr to fix leaky faucets, clean airducts, etc.