Radio today (Jan-Mar 1939)

MORE PROFITS IN SERVICING Radio Today conducts first nation-wide survey of repair costs and profits. To help radio servicemen operate their businesses on a paying basis and increase the net profits, Radio Today is making the first survey of service operating costs and income ever undertaken on a national basis. The questionnaire shown below is a sample of that being mailed to servicemen everywhere. The form is based upon the ideas of many leading men in the service industry. And those servicemen who have not previously requested a questionnaire may send the coupon at the bottom of this page to Radio Today. While the listings may seem rather involved, it was decided that all the items should be included so that each participant in the survey would be sure of including all the necessary data. From the information received, Radio Today will compile averages of expenses and profits, operating costs per hour and per service call. These figures will be announced in future issues, together with suggestions on how to overcome weaknesses. In addition to averages, we shall show the extremes, so that each serviceman can see how his own costs and profits compare with others. Each serviceman sending in a completely filled in questionnaire will receive an individual analysis of his own figures. The figures shown for a sample shop are those for a one-man shop operating in a New England city. For a detailed analysis of your own operating figures, be sure to participate in Radio Today's survey of operating expenses and profits. RADIO TODAY'S SURVEY OF RADIO REPAIR COSTS AND PROFITS (Confidential — will be used only for compilation of averages) Do you sell sets, appliances, etc.? Yes No If so, what per cent of your business do these sales represent? % If you are a dealer, is your service department operated for a profit or as a convenience in conducting your sales? Profit Convenience How long have you been in the radio service business? Years If you have any business other than radio service, charge only the proper percentage of the costs to the service department. (Example: If the service department consumes half of your electricity, then charge only half of your electric bill in the space provided below) OPERATING EXPENSES FOR ONE YEAR PERIOD Sample Item shop 1. Rent (yearly) $120 2. Telephone (yearly) 24 3. Electricity and gas (yearly) 36 4. Heat, if not included in rent 5. Car depreciation for year ISO 6. Garage rent (yearly) 15 7. Gasoline and oil 60 8. Car repairs 35 9. Tires for car 10 1 0. Auto license 3 11. Auto insurance (Pub. liabil., etc.) 44 1 2. Workmen's compensation 13. Social security, unemployment insurance 14. Advertising expenses incl. postage 50 Your figures (Chargeable to service shop) Sample Item shop 15. Depreciation of store fixtures if owned by you (lamps, signs, etc.) $ 6 16. Delivery and shipping charges (express, parcel post, etc.) 36 17. Salary of office help 18. Cost of service manuals, books, magazines 20 19. Depreciation of service equipment (25% of cost) . 125 20. Tools and shop supplies 5 21. Bad debts 20 22. Other expenses 10 Your figures TOTAL ANNUAL EXPENSES $769 WAGES PAID 23. Non-technical wages (helper, chauffeurs for servicemen, etc.) 24. Salesmen's wages and commissions, if any (for service department only) . 25. Technical wages (servicemen and technicians only, do not include owner) State number of servicemen employed. 26. Owner's salary (state nature of owner's duties so that we can properly classify this item) $1927 Duties HOURS WORKED AND HOURS SOLD 27. Total number of hours worked per week by all servicemen including owner solely for service 54 hrs. 28. Percentage of servicemen's time chargeable to customer for work performed 25% (This is your productive time, or time sold to customer) INCOME FROM CUSTOMERS Sample Item shop 29. Dollars paid by customers for tubes (yearly) . . . .$ 600 30. Dollars paid by customers for parts, antennas. . 516 31. Dollars paid by customers for labor 2,092 32. Income from set dept. for "free servicing" and installation of sets sold $ 33. Approximate no. of calls made, for which you were paid (omit free repeat calls) 700 Your figures TOTAL INCOME FROM CUSTOMERS $3,208 $ COST OF TUBES AND PARTS Sample Item shop 34. Net value of new tubes in stock at beginning of year $145 35. Net value of new tubes in stock at end of year.. 145 36. Net value of tubes purchased during year 244 37. Net value of new parts in stock at beginning of year 363 38. Net value of new parts in stock at end of year. . . 415 39. Net value of parts purchased during year 293 hrs. Your figures This information will be treated with utmost confidence — you will not be identified with the figures in any manner. These figures will be used to compile average figures for the radio service industry. MAIL IT NOW VINTON K. ULRICH, Service Editor, Radio Today, 480 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y. I wish to participate in Radio Today's survey of costs and profits in radio servicing. Please send me a questionnaire so that I may send you figures pertaining to my costs. Name Co St. and No City State