News

Reflections on CES and the Impact of New Technology on the Aftermarket Services Industry

Every year the Consumer Electronics Show is a wonderland of
technological achievement that sometimes defies belief. From a tiny wearable
drone that takes video selfies to self-driving luxury cars, the offerings at
CES 2015 did not disappoint.
Robert Coolidge
President & CEO
This year’s show also proved you can’t sound the death knell
just yet for television innovation. Manufacturers like LG and Samsung showed
off Laser, OLED, 4k and even 8k technology that delivers more vibrant displays than
real life. Curved screens and 3D displays with no need to wear special glasses
are also taking TV viewing to the next level and beyond.
This marks a significant opportunity for manufacturers to
reset their pricing strategies to match the innovation value they are
delivering to the market. The good news for the CE service repair industry is
that these ultra high def products are now at a price point that encourages
repair versus replacement.
Evolving technology – especially the rise of smart devices –
is also certain to shake up the service industry. Identifying repair needs before
a consumer electronic device or major appliance fails is just one possibility.
For the first time in many years, the future seems a little brighter for field
service networks and independent dealers for both CE and appliances.
The launch of exciting new display technology has the potential
to help revitalize the service industry, as well as the CE industry at large.
Still, the days are long gone when a servicer could rely solely on TV repair to
stay relevant.  As the major
manufacturers continue to diversify and seek to “own the home” with smart
devices and interactive products, they will be looking for service partners
that can manage more than just CE products.
In addition, servicers must consider other creative ways to
drive business with consumer customers directly. Offering extended warranties
or product accessories in home are a couple of options. The diversification
mantra currently echoing throughout the service industry should be louder than
ever.
Under the gun to control costs, some manufacturers have been
forced to lower warranty rates for field service repair companies. Faced with
decreased margins and labor rates and fluctuating parts costs, many servicers
are going out of business, which may leave fewer service professionals to support
products aftermarket.
Manufacturers and their service networks have what at times
seems like a reluctant symbiotic relationship. But manufacturers must realize
that when they pay a subpar labor rate or impose other perceived hardships on their
service providers, their brands will ultimately suffer.  At the end of the day, it’s the servicer who
is face to face with the consumers in their homes. If they’re treated well,
they can be a manufacturer’s most vocal supporter. Likewise, they can influence
a negative perception that can spread far and wide as consumers are quick to
take to social media.

With myriad brand choices, word of mouth remains a powerful
persuasion tool. Manufacturers have a responsibility to their brand and the
products they market to ensure service networks – and others in the aftermarket
supply chain like parts suppliers – remain healthy, prosperous and continue to
grow and evolve collectively.

Scott Cameron Promoted to SVP

Encompass is pleased to announce the promotion of Scott Cameron to the position of Senior Vice President of Operations and Service Solutions. He has been with Encompass since 1983, starting out as a delivery driver. Over the decades, he has steadily earned positions of increasing responsibility and now leads Encompass’ entire distribution operation – including the company’s three distribution facilities in Georgia, Nevada and Florida. In 2014, he was tapped to lead Encompass’ Service Solutions group, which provides extensive high-tech repair and reverse logistics offerings and is based at the company’s Georgia headquarters location.

Dedicated to Enhancing the Customer Experience

January 14, 2015
A New Year’s Message to Our Valued Customers
On behalf of the Encompass team, I am extending our sincere appreciation for your business and support. With our company growing at an exciting rate marked by record-setting performance in 2014, we wanted to let you know about some recent developments intended to help enhance your overall customer experience:
Warehouse Improvement Project – We completed renovation of our Lawrenceville, GA headquarters/distribution and repair facility, which included installation of an automated conveyor system and wireless connectivity to substantially increase productivity, workflow efficiency and shipping capacity. The upgrade also included massive expansion of bin locations due to increased volume. Encompass showcases the revamped facility in our new company video; please click here to view the video.
New Call System – With implementation of a new call center management system, our call capacity, volume and service levels are at an all-time high. To further enhance support, we added an online contact form system for customers to quickly submit questions and comments. Based on the topic, forms are then routed to personnel with the applicable expertise to best assist.
New Website Tool – To assist customers in conveniently finding parts most commonly ordered at the same time on encompassparts.com, we added a “Frequently Bought Together” section on the parts information page. This information also appears when items are added to the shopping cart, and is visible when a specific part is most typically purchased in a group with other parts per our system logic.
Expanded Parts Management – Encompass became a master parts distributor for Panasonic in 2014 to help streamline the procurement process. As more major manufacturers realize the benefits of outsourcing parts management to Encompass, we will continue to expand this service to offer our customers access to multiple brands from one simplified source.
Growing Appliance Line – We increased access and inventory positions for every major appliance line we carry, and expect to add new brands in the future to provide greater availability and convenience to our customers.
Service Solutions Software – To more efficiently manage our in-house board repair service, reverse logistics, advance exchange and other service offerings, we are in the process of implementing a new software platform. This system will better manage the entire workflow process, providing increased efficiencies and visibility.
While 2014 was a busy, successful year at Encompass, we’re now focused on the future and seeking innovative new ways to continue improving our service and value. As always, we appreciate your partnership and the opportunity to serve you.
All the best in 2015,
Encompass President & CEO

CE Tech Tips — January 2015

CE Professional Tech Tip Sharing
January 2015
**NOTICE**
Due the danger and complexity of electronics repair, the following shared
technical tips are intended for professional reference only. Please refer to
manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy,
reliability or safety of this information.
Dell Plasma TV, W5001CHD
Reason for Service: 
Dead
Solution:  Replaced 4 Zeners on Y-Mail LJ41-03078A.  ZD5018, 5019, 5021, 5022.  All part # 755-UDZSTE-1733B.
Hitachi TV, 60SDX88b
Reason for Service: No video, audio red LED flashing
Solution: Reseat sub
Deflection  PCB
Ilo TV, LCT32HA36
Reason for Service: Backlight flashes then set goes dead
Solution: Found 3 bad caps
in the power supply, all 1000uF/35V. 
Replaced.
JVC TV, AV36850
Reason for Service: Dead
Solution:  Replaced C926, 1000uF/16V
Philips TV, 
50PFP5332D/37
Reason for Service: 
Dead
Solution:  Replaced 3 caps, C601 and 609, both 470uF/25V and C036,
100uF/50V
RCA TV, ITC222
Reason for Service: No high voltage, power supply chirps 3 times and shuts
down
Solution: Replace flyback.
If drawing number on fly is 107 56 Xxx, use 259296.  If not, use 265409.  Also replaced TI-010, 2SC5588, #259899 and
DI-012,  BYW34V, #244834.
Samsung TV, HP-S7178WX/XAC
Reason for Service: 
Set powers up then shuts down with all 3 LEDs
blinking
Solution: Found a bad cap on
the ballast, 47uF/450V.  Replaced the
ballast.
Sanyo LCD TV, DP26648
Reason for Service: Dead, fuse Ok.
Solution: Replaced Q601 and
Q602. Part # FQPF16N25C
Sony TV, KF-xxWE610
Reason for service: Shutdown with 6 blinks.
Solution: Replaced MCZ3001DB
on G1 board.
Sony TV, LA3
Reason for Service: 
Dead set with 6 blinks.
Solution:  Replaced IC1607 on the G board, check thermal fuse on
optical block also. Brightness  is
changing every second or so.
Solution: Check power supply
for bad caps.  1000uF/16V.
Toshiba TV, 
42LX196
Reason for Service: 
Dead set, blinks 3 times.
Solution: Problem not the
Seine board, but the power regulator IC Q820 on the power supply board was bad.
SRX2039, #23135094

Staying Focused for 2015

A new year always brings a fresh start in life, as well as
in business. It’s a great time for your team to get rejuvenated and re-energized
to aggressively tackle your goals for the coming year. Anticipating the year
ahead and adjusting goals as necessary should be part of your strategy now if
not done already.
Robert Coolidge
President & CEO
While your organization must respond to vacillating market
conditions and trends, you should have set foundational goals to help give you
focus and achieve success over the long term. Whether your plans for the
coming year include attracting more C.O.D. business, opening new stores or
launching several product lines, having a clear, defined focus is
essential. If you’re haphazardly running down too many different paths in an
attempt to drive sales, you will have a tough time. The old saying about being
a jack of all trades and master of none can have a severely negative impact on
business profitability.
Narrow your objectives and stick to your core competencies.
Identify 3-5 highly-specific goals and determine how they will be measured.
Then, ensure you fully communicate your strategic vision to your entire team.
All of your employee resources will play a vital role in helping you
achieve your business goals for the year. You want to cultivate a team that understands the company’s priorities and will put their best effort into ensuring they are successfully achieved.
In the end, we all simply want to grow our businesses. With
a clearly-defined plan understood  and executed by your entire
organization, you have a much better shot at winning in the marketplace.  

Inventory Scheduled for Friday, Dec. 12

Encompass
will be performing a full physical inventory on Friday, December 12. Customers may still place
orders on this date as usual via encompassparts.com or through our call center, and
all other departments are operating as normal.
Urgent
overnight orders will still ship on Dec.12. Fulfillment for all other orders will resume on
the next business day, Monday, December 15.

Great Deals for Cyber Monday!

Deals Good Through December 15 While Supplies Last!


32″-60″
Universal TV Stand
Was $64.95
Now $59.89
 

 

40″-70″
Universal TV
Stand
Was $89.99
Now $79.89
 

Cooktop
 Cleaner
Was $7.59
Now $5.99
 
  

Stainless
 Wipes
Were $6.99
Now $4.00


Docking 
Speaker
Was $49.99
Now $34.95
 


  

Philips Music System
Was $69.95
Now $54.99

 

 

Philips Wireless
Portable Speaker
Was $59.95
Now $44.99

 
 

Black Otterbox 
for iPhone 6 
Was $59.99
Now $29.95

 
 

Black Otterbox  
for iPhone 6 Plus
Was $59.99
Now $29.95

800.432.8542

CE Tech Tips — December 2014

CE Professional Tech Tip Sharing
December 2014
**NOTICE**
Due the danger and complexity of electronics repair, the following shared
technical tips are intended for professional reference only. Please refer to
manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy,
reliability or safety of this information.
Hitachi TV, 46UX12B
Reason for Service: 
No sound from read speakers.
Solution: IC-4614
defective.  Check PCB for 4 unknown
diodes not listed in manual.  Replace the
4 leaky diodes.
Hitachi TV, 
65XWX20B
Reason for Service: 
No video, audio or OSD.  Turning up screens, you will see some.
Solution:  Check video mute AC protect and H BLK, found Q445
shorted.  Replaced.
Magnavox TV, 
27MS4504AC
Reason for Service: 
Set shuts down.
Solution: Screen control
very touchy, try adjusting that. Check for bad solder on the vert IC, and make
sure it has it’s B+
Mitsubishi DLP TV, WD-62327
Reason for Service: 
Dead, Red light error 34.
Solution:  Check for 5V at J-9 connector pin 1 and 2 on the engine
driver board.  If missing, replace the
power board #930B921001.
Panasonic TV, TH42PX60U
Reason for Service: 
Dead, 10 blink error code.
Solution: Replace PA board,
#TXNPA1BJTUE 
RCA TV, MM101CC
Reason for Service: 
No audio coming out of speakers, but had audio on
fixed level.  Audio going into U11702,
but not coming out.
Solution:  Replacing U11702 and Q11701 fixed the set.
Samsung TV, HLR5678WX/XAA
Reason for Service: 
Video seems to shake or flicker. After several
minutes, picture gets too bright.
Solution:  Check for bulged caps on the power board.  Replace as necessary.
Samsung TV, LNT4661FX/Xaa
Reason for Service: The video and OCD is too dark.
Solution: Replacing the
T-Con fixed the set.
Sanyo TV, CLT2054
Reason for Service: Brightness is changing every second or so.
Solution: Check power supply
for bad caps.  1000uF/16V.
Toshiba TV, 37AV502U
Reason for Service: Dead
Solution:  Found two 150V zeners in the power supply bad.

Suggested Selling is Win-Win for Customers and E-Tailers

When online shopping, you’ve
probably seen suggestions for other purchases that complement the item you’re
viewing. These recommendations often come under the headings of “Customers who
bought X, also bought Y” and “Also Recommended.”  If you’re looking at a book on an e-commerce
site, you’re likely to also see a list of other books from that same author or within
the same genre. If you’re searching for a golf club, you may also get
information on head covers and a variety of other clubs that make up a related set.

It may seem that this type of cross
selling only benefits the e-tailer, but it can also be extremely useful to a
customer. For field servicers searching for parts to take on a repair, it could
help minimize ordering errors – saving time and costly multiple return trips.
For example, a servicer searching for a clothes dryer blower casing could also
be shown a blower cover most commonly purchased at the same time by other
buyers. The servicer could then easily place orders for both parts together with
a reasonable degree of certainty that the parts are accurate and compatible
with the unit being repaired.
Robert Coolidge
President & CEO
Consumers can benefit from
getting a list of accessories that they may not have known accompany a particular
product. Or, they could view an AC adapter most commonly purchased with a certain
laptop model or a battery ordered most often with a remote control.
It’s not 100% guaranteed that all
the parts on a suggested list are indeed compatible, so it’s always best to
verify prior to purchase. Still, the IT logic behind creation of recommended
lists is usually relying on specific historical data to generate the most
accurate groupings.
Encompass recently implemented Frequently Bought Together lists on our
e-commerce website, encompassparts.com.
Through a proprietary IT system of filtering and aggregating comprehensive
customer purchase data, we auto-generate convenient lists of associated
items.  Now when certain criteria are
met, the Frequently Bought Together list
appears on the part information page under a special Frequently Bought Together tab, as well as when an item is added to
the shopping cart.
Backed by extensive purchase history,
we help servicers forecast the parts needed for a repair, thus increasing the
probability of single trip resolutions. This in turn can enhance their customer
service quality and strengthen support for the manufacturer brands they represent.

Suggested selling can be a
win-win opportunity that helps increase sales, while also assisting customers with
improving order accuracy, speeding the repair process and finding additional accessories
to complement their products.