Thanks Geekzone!

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buckthesystem

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#106525 25-Jul-2012 18:47

Please forgive me if I'm breaking any rules here but I just wanted to say thanks to Geekzone and CoffeeBaron in particular.

I've been suffering from slow internet since moving to my new apartment and hadn't had much luck finding a solution till I came across a discussion on home wiring here on Geekzone. I joined Geekzone to get in contact with CoffeeBaron who was recommended on the thread. Thanks to him I'm back up to full speed, more than double what I was on previously. If you're suffering from slow connections get your wiring checked! Thanks CoffeBaron and thanks Geekzone!

nakedmolerat

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#661968 25-Jul-2012 18:53

you are welcome

coffeebaron

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#662026 25-Jul-2012 21:11

Cheers for the feedback! You were the second person with double the speed of your broadband today :)

And for those who haven't, check out this topic:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=96226

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#662027 25-Jul-2012 21:14

buckthesystem: Please forgive me if I'm breaking any rules here but I just wanted to say thanks to Geekzone and CoffeeBaron in particular.

You aren't breaking any rules, your post is great - good to get positive feedback not only about companies but individuals as well!

freitasm

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#662038 25-Jul-2012 21:24

Thanks for the feedback!

DeroyBoy

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#662057 25-Jul-2012 22:02

I also had coffeebaron over today and now have double the speed I previously had.

I am so pleased I read about this on Geekzone and would also like to thank coffeebaron (Fraser) for the great job he did.

linw

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#662411 26-Jul-2012 14:28

Talk about a coffeebaron fanzone!!

There should be a coffeebaron in every town.

DonGould

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#662446 26-Jul-2012 15:30

linw: There should be a coffeebaron in every town.

It's an interesting point actually... I've often thought about setting up a small web site to do just that. Provide details of a good local guy in each area who can do this stuff with some prices so we can point people to them.

D

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chevrolux

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#662572 26-Jul-2012 19:23

DonGould:
linw: There should be a coffeebaron in every town.

It's an interesting point actually... I've often thought about setting up a small web site to do just that. Provide details of a good local guy in each area who can do this stuff with some prices so we can point people to them.

D

Go ahead and do it! Obviously it is coffeebarons core business but there are plenty of us that like doing cashies every now and again.

DonGould

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#662589 26-Jul-2012 19:41

chevrolux:
DonGould:
linw: There should be a coffeebaron in every town.

It's an interesting point actually... I've often thought about setting up a small web site to do just that. Provide details of a good local guy in each area who can do this stuff with some prices so we can point people to them.

D

Go ahead and do it! Obviously it is coffeebarons core business but there are plenty of us that like doing cashies every now and again.

So what are you suggesting? We set up a site that the folk have to be posters on GZ and it's just open to ppl who have some proven skill? What sort of scope would you see in the idea?

It would be simple enough for me to set up a domain name and throw a simple directory/web site on.

But should it just be a page off GZ with a forum for people to post requests for service?

Or should we have a form to mailing list and then when ppl post a request it's just mailed to a members only mailing list that a few of us just keep an eye on to make sure that the requests are followed up?

Do you think the site should have some DIY advice? I would think that we want some photos of the work to be done, with some idea of the issues and how long it takes to work though issues so customers can make up their own mind to give it a go, but such info often results in people being better informed and willing to pay someone to do the job for them?

Should folk who do the work be required to demonstrate they have tools for the job? For example, should they be required to have one of those flash ADSL testers that Steve posted links to recently? Or is a basic understanding and self assessment ok?

If you were going to be part of such site, would you be interested in paying a fee to be a member, like a co-op and then invest in some marketing? For example, if the co-op provided you with 30 flyers for every job you did, would you spend, or be interested to spend 10 minutes just dropping a "Hey we just sorted your neighbour" flyer in the box?

Following on that theme, if you could get $50 for the job, would you chip in $15 to have the co-op just pay the local 'letter box droppers' to do a follow up drop?

What about vendor support? What do you think about the idea of approaching ISPs to support some marketing in the area each time?

What about VDSL? Would you be interested in checking if the site is a VDSL area and if it is then the co-op does some marketing at the same time? eg, per the idea above, rather than just dropping a "Hey we just fixed your neighbour" you drop a "hey, you're in VDSL land and we just fixed your neighbour"?

Ok I think that about sums up the random thoughts that were running around my head on this question for a while.

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chevrolux

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#662667 26-Jul-2012 22:13

It would be simple enough for me to set up a domain name and throw a simple directory/web site on.

But should it just be a page off GZ with a forum for people to post requests for service?

Or should we have a form to mailing list and then when ppl post a request it's just mailed to a members only mailing list that a few of us just keep an eye on to make sure that the requests are followed up?

I think it would be great if it was a page off GZ as this is such a large community and people come here looking for tech advice. So maybe with some pleases we could get a link at the top of the page.

Do you think the site should have some DIY advice? I would think that we want some photos of the work to be done, with some idea of the issues and how long it takes to work though issues so customers can make up their own mind to give it a go, but such info often results in people being better informed and willing to pay someone to do the job for them?

Should definitely have a good DIY section. I don't think it should stop at just broadband and data cabling. It needs to cover the whole hog from phone wiring through to AV cabling.

Should folk who do the work be required to demonstrate they have tools for the job? For example, should they be required to have one of those flash ADSL testers that Steve posted links to recently? Or is a basic understanding and self assessment ok?

Any installer that wants be to part of this would just need to show good experience in their field of work, perhaps with references. For instance, I would happily give advice on network cabling and DSL issues, but I wouldn't give advice on home audio systems as I don't have much experience in that area. One of those flash ADSL testers is really not a requirement. I have used them and they are great but I can figure out the problem just as fast by looking at jackpoints/cabling rather than using a dynatel.

If you were going to be part of such site, would you be interested in paying a fee to be a member, like a co-op and then invest in some marketing? For example, if the co-op provided you with 30 flyers for every job you did, would you spend, or be interested to spend 10 minutes just dropping a "Hey we just sorted your neighbour" flyer in the box?

Following on that theme, if you could get $50 for the job, would you chip in $15 to have the co-op just pay the local 'letter box droppers' to do a follow up drop?

What about vendor support? What do you think about the idea of approaching ISPs to support some marketing in the area each time?

What about VDSL? Would you be interested in checking if the site is a VDSL area and if it is then the co-op does some marketing at the same time? eg, per the idea above, rather than just dropping a "Hey we just fixed your neighbour" you drop a "hey, you're in VDSL land and we just fixed your neighbour"?

If I was part of such a site I would happily chip in for the running cost if it is something I would benefit from.
For me personally, this would be more about helping people out and getting a bit of beer money from it rather than making a bunch of cash. My job keeps me busy enough so I wouldn't want the weekends filled with perky work.
When you start talking about pamphlet drops and the like I think that is getting a little serious and potentially in the realm of being seen by the IRD and making it not worth doing.

DonGould

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#662681 26-Jul-2012 22:55

chevrolux: If I was part of such a site I would happily chip in for the running cost if it is something I would benefit from.

Ya the cost of running a site is fairly low and I'd suggest a hat round for a couple of dollars for what I'm thinking really would cover site costs and we could also just look for sponsorship from vendors which really could cover costs I'd have thought.

chevrolux: For me personally, this would be more about helping people out and getting a bit of beer money from it rather than making a bunch of cash. My job keeps me busy enough so I wouldn't want the weekends filled with perky work.

Ya... that was exactly my thinking behind having a mailing list so that people could just mail back "I'll sort this one..." and have a private list to keep track of who one might follow up with for each area if everyone's a bit quiet on it (ie busy weekend blar blar).

My thinking was that one of the things we might want to present on the site is that many of the techs who do this work do do it as a perk and may be very skilled but not commited to being there 8am the next business morning type thing and that if that's the sort of service they want then take lucky dip with a big provider.

chevrolux: When you start talking about pamphlet drops and the like I think that is getting a little serious and potentially in the realm of being seen by the IRD and making it not worth doing.

ya also a comment I really expected. For some guys like CB, I'd think they'd be all over marketing to drum up more business. I'd think vendors would also be all over marketing, which is why I suggested that there would need to be options for different folk.

I also wondered if some employers might get upset if people start doing the 'real jobs' as perk jobs.

I am kinda surprised that Chorus haven't done something along these lines as it's really an issue with their network that's impacting their customers, both the wholesale ones and their customers customers, the retail end users.

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#662725 27-Jul-2012 07:35

Come on folks... Do you need to hijack every single thread you post Don? This is the last warning.

If you have an idea then CREATE YOUR OWN THREAD.