My experience with Tech Central ‘repair man’ Paul Morris (May - September 2023)
“I can fix anything!” Paul says to me on a phone conversation in August.
These are just a timeline of events, interactions between Paul and myself. You can make your own mind up.
However… If, in the unlikely event that you get to the end of this lengthy review, you may begin to understand why I will categorically never recommend, or use this ‘repair man’ ever again.
- 24th May: I take my (low electro acoustic output) Takemine guitar to Paul’s house for repair in the genuine hope that he will bring it back to a full electric sound. As I enter, I’m stunned at the vast sea of electrical equipment before me in his lounge room that Paul has been busying himself to fix.
- 25th May: Paul posts an Instagram video on his page promoting the idea that he will one day fix my guitar. He also insinuates I have not checked the battery or lead. Which I actually did have the foresight to do (plus told him I had done this the day previous over the phone).
- 10th July: after now a month and a half obviously I’m wondering if and when my guitar will be fixed, and after he’s messaged me that various parts have been ordered, arrived and fitted, I tell him I’d like my guitar back please, whether it’s fixed or not.
- Paul does not tell me I can have my guitar back because new components ‘should arrive this week’. Paul says he’ll ‘advise when they do’.
- 19 July: I again tell Paul I’d like my guitar back please. Paul tells me he’ll ‘advise on result’.
- 26 July: Oh no! I make the dreadful error of texting Paul at 7:33pm on a Wednesday to say (again) that I’d please like to have my guitar back. Paul replies, “Ill reply during work hrs Alex .. I do deserve some down time.” Ok Paul. Thus far I feel I’ve been extremely polite and patient through everything. I deserve my guitar.
- A few minutes after the ‘downtime’ text, Paul actually calls me. Paul seems irritated, almost angry in his tone with me. He’s trying to explain to me how his customers ‘need educating’. He tells me how his phone never stops ringing with customers asking him when they can have their equipment back. I suggest to him that perhaps he’s taken on too much workload. Paul doesn’t like this. Paul gets more angry. Paul explains to me in detail, that he is caring for someone in NSW with muscular dystrophy and that he needs to keep his phone turned on just incase he needs to help this person. I’m obviously not quite sure why he has told me this information or what it’s got to do with my guitar. Paul goes on to explain to me (with extra ferocity) how he sometimes teaches gymnastics to people in the evenings, which is another reason why he doesn’t have time for people like me. I’m so sorry that texted Paul outside of standard work hours. Paul says it’s ‘not fair’ on him that people never, ever cease calling and texting. I gently suggest to Paul that perhaps he could acquire a second mobile phone; one for work matters and one as his personal phone. That way, Paul could turn the work related phone off whenever he doesn’t want to be bothered by customers. Paul just tells me that this idea could never work. He simply says (more than a few times) “people need to be educated”. I (again gently) ask Paul if he thinks he can eventually fix my guitar. Paul responds proudly and without a beat, “I can fix anything”. I think ok great, Paul must be a technical genius!
- 14th August: Paul hasn’t felt like making any contact until this day when he tells me he is ‘reassembling’ some things and ‘will advise how it goes’. Then it’s (again) well over another week of pure radio silence.
- 25th August: understandably I’m still wondering when (or if ever) I might get my guitar back. I sit tight and try not to text Paul. Especially not outside of standard work hours.
- 28th August: I’m astonished that Paul has replied. He says “time to call it on this one Alex… too many hrs to persevere on this repair.” Then he informs me that he’ll need $70 from me as a ‘diag fee’. Zero apology. So I’m thinking, well at least for $70 it will put an end to this really frustrating and miserable saga, even if it’s not actually fixed. So, on the day I arrange to pick my guitar up we agree on a time for collection/payment. Paul knows full well I’m arriving at 4:00pm. So I walk up to his flat and the door is already open. I just about see Paul beyond the absolute sea of musical/electronic equipment before me. I say ‘hello’, Paul says, ‘come in’. Now, before I’ve even had the chance to say another word, Paul blurts out, “who are you? Why are you here? People usually state their name and reason for visit!” I’m thinking, ok well you haven’t even given me the chance to say a sentence yet. I promptly and clearly state my name and reason for visit. Amazingly Paul then thinks I’m interested in finding out why he couldn’t fix my guitar. But I’m not. I pay him, check my guitar, pick it up, say thank you and swiftly leave.
- Incase you didn’t read it on the website, Paul has been a programmer for 37 years. Yes Paul is a real person, I haven’t made him up.
