I have successfully hired Mark at Micro-Oven Medic (M.O.M) several times since 2003 to 2017. Each time he fixed an appliance, it stayed fixed for a long time, until I bought a new one. Mark has always been pleasantly informative as he worked quickly on my appliance so I could use it that very hour. He charges less than any repairman I have hired. (For example: One place that I called charges $89 for a service call. That's almost $100 to drive from there to here, just to say, "I'm here." Plus a "diagnostic," plus labor and parts.)
Since I had lost Mark's number, I found him online. I found myself suddenly reading someone's blurb criticizing Mark and making up hurtful names for him in the hearing of their family. This upset me because I knew very well, it wasn't the Mark I had hired over the years.
Knowing this, I immediately called him and hired him again. So glad I did. I needed him to come out and disconnect a dishwasher. His fee has always been affordable, so it didn't even occur to me to ask what he charges now. We set a time. Then he called to say that he could be early, if that was okay. He was dressed in professional clean, crisp clothes with name tag. He has been doing this for 36 years. He disconnected my dishwasher quickly and safely, while he informed me about dishwasher brands and their efficiencies.
I am a senior, and don't use my dishwasher. He was done so quickly, that I asked him to look at my 30-year-old microwave (a double built-into-the-wall, over-the-oven unit). I told him I heard a "pop" the last time I used it two years ago. He suspected a blown fuse, and gave me a price of $45 plus parts, and said it would take about 1/2 hour. I said, "Great."
He had to slide out the whole double-built-in microwave/oven unit in order to replace it with two new parts. He needed to support one end of the heavy unit on something sturdy about two feet high. I offered an old wooden side table. He didn't want to scratch it, so he asked for a towel to cover it. As he worked, he alerted me about "self-cleaning oven" safety issues, saying it was important to wait a full 24-hours for the oven to cool down after the clean cycle was done before wiping off the gray ash with a moist rag. He said if you don't wait, you could crack the glass window. I appreciated the information even though I didn't plan to use the self-clean setting. (I would pass on his safety tip to others.)
And speaking of moist rags, whenever Mark has had to mop up any water on the floor, he has asked me politely if I could dispose of it. (Of course, no big deal.) I have never had to clean up a mess. And if he leaves a tool behind, I call him to let him know.
He completed the two jobs in one hour. He gave me a senior discount. I didn't even have to ask. My service call was only $50. Labor $45, and parts extra totaling $108. Affordable, friendly, clean, no mess.
As for that hurtful review I had clicked on earlier, I remind any readers to consider what we already know about bullying: bullying begins in the home, and is taken to school and the Internet. read more
