No, I don’t tell other repairers what to do or what parts to use when I’ve not been engaged to repair a piece of equipment. 

We don’t offer remote technical assistance as a general rule anyway, read this FAQ for more on why, but let’s do a quick quiz in the meantime. Is it because I don’t like helping people, or because:

1. I already help via more words, articles, videos and contributions over 15 years than probably any other reputable source.
2. Remotely assisting with equipment I haven’t seen or diagnosed makes no sense and is not a service we offer.
3. My work is already copied for commercial gain without attribution or remuneration; helping other technicians doesn’t help me.
4. “Can you tell my technician” is often code for “Can you tell me” with me being an owner or technician trying to ‘steal’ my help for their benefit.
5. All of the above.

If you answered e) all of the above, you are correct!

In all seriousness, I’ve lost track of how many times people have told me ‘their technician’ asked them to contact me, only to discover that these enquirers are technicians or hi-fi store owners trying to make a quick buck with my help.

I get nothing from these interactions, so helping people who ask this and the related “Can you help me fix my equipment“, who often come across as ‘entitled’ and frequently attempt to misuse our advisory service, is not high on my list of priorities!

Whilst one can never be sure who is who, not offering remote technical assistance broadly covers most possibilities.