Because that's the point of "Diagnosis"

[Betweenshades]

Background- to avoid any confusion, my repair shop also sells Satellite TV and TV parts online. I'm in charge of the parts store and writing the estimates for our repair customers. I also do the in-store IT, but that's not important to the story.

So.

When you bring a TV to me that doesn't work, we have to diagnose it. Diagnose means we have to figure out what's wrong, not using our apparent psychic powers to tell you whether or not it's worthy of repair. Additionally, as we explain when you drop off the TV, just because we see that Part A needs to be replaced, it doesn't mean that there's something else wrong with your TV that we CAN'T see until Part A is installed. Like the popped backlight in your screen.

It also means it's not our shop's fault that you're an idiot for paying $500 for a TV that won't even turn on. Calling ME a "f***ing bitch" won't solve anything and makes you look like the twit you are. It also doesn't affect me as much as you think it does.

Peace out.

[MoonCat]

But... but can't you just place your hand on top of it and intone "YOU ARE HEALED!!!"

[El Pollo Guerrera]

You need to put up this picture...



... with a note saying that he does not work there.

[Legal Eagle]

you should tell them whats wrong, and how to fix it themselves so they can go to ebay and buy the parts cheap, otherwise you're not doing your job!

[Mytical]

Now you know all you have to do is 1) Look at it. You are so good that just by looking on the outside you know what is wrong with it. 2) Will it fixed. Just by thinking about it being fixed it gets fixed. That is how it works...right? You have magic powers?

[Caractacus_Potts]

you should tell them whats wrong, and how to fix it themselves so they can go to ebay and buy the parts cheap, otherwise you're not doing your job!

That's actually how I used to fix my car when I was a broke teenager. Go to garage and get free estimate to determine what is wrong. Get Chilton's book from library to learn how to fix. Go to cheap junkyard to get used part.

I am so glad those days are behind me and I apologize to any mechanics out there who have people waste their time diagnosing a problem and have no intention of actually paying them to fix the problem.

[Seshat]

Places my husband used to work when he repaired stuff would do it differently: the estimate cost some nominal fee.
On the other hand, the 'estimate' would be pretty accurate. Because my husband used to actually fix the damn thing before he'd present the estimate.

Then on the relatively rare occasions when a customer decided not to get the item fixed, he'd ask if they wanted it back. If they did, he'd un-repair it. If not, they'd get it signed over to the shop and it would be sold as a refurbished <whatever>.

[Captain Trips]

Places my husband used to work when he repaired stuff would do it differently: the estimate cost some nominal fee.
On the other hand, the 'estimate' would be pretty accurate. Because my husband used to actually fix the damn thing before he'd present the estimate.

That may have been good for business, but I don't think it's quite legit. As I understand it, the law forbids them from doing any work UNTIL the client agrees to the estimate. What if something else breaks while "unfixing" it? And if I have rejected an estimate, I expect to be able to drive off the lot immediately. To keep the car any longer after that is an "illegal possession" situation. Also, they tie up someone doing the unauthorized repair work and won't get paid for it if the client rejects the estimate.

I do hope they've stopped this practice.

[Betweenshades]

Go to garage and get free estimate to determine what is wrong. Get Chilton's book from library to learn how to fix. Go to cheap junkyard to get used part.

This is why we charge for diag :P