A-1Appliance.com takes a giant leap toward helping consumers everywhere diagnose and fix their own appliances.
In addition to A-1's online catalog of appliance parts, free access to online repair manuals, a live chat feature and a model to parts database has been implemented.
http://a-1appliance.com">A-1Appliance.com, one of the first companies selling appliance parts online, offers more help to people everywhere by adding free online repair manuals, a live chat feature and a model-to-parts database to it's online catalog of appliance parts. All of these features are available at the click of a mouse from the site's front page: http://a-1appliance.com">http://A-1Appliance.com. Web surfers can visit the site armed only with an appliance problem and leave with a repair solution and parts on the way to their door via UPS or FedEx.
In 1979, Hugh O'Neal opened an appliance parts company in Huntsville, Alabama. He started out with little money, big dreams and a huge commitment to old-fashioned hard work. Business was good and before long the company found itself with 10 branch locations. What next? The internet!
In 1996 A-1 put a small page on the web. There was an email address and a forum- very simple. They quickly discovered that there were a lot of people looking for parts and repair help on the internet and the "simple" approach just wasn't good enough. Pictures of common parts were added (which grew into a http://a-1catalog.com">catalog), then a newsletter, and a forum. Still, much was lacking.
The next step was a little risky. Instead of selling repair manuals (A-1 still sells them by the way), why not offer them free? That's the spirit of the internet... but we all know nothing is free. To make this happen, A-1 invested in E.B. Publications "Cheap & Easy" manual series for the rights to publish the manuals, in their entirety, so all do-it-yourself web surfers could get the information without having to buy a book. The free manuals (covering refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, dryers, and washing machines) can be seen here:
A-1 also installed a "live chat" feature on the website which allows visitors to contact them (during business hours) without having to call or wait for an emailed reply.
The biggest news, however, is the model-to-parts database. The amount of work and cost for a project this massive will probably never be appreciated by anyone outside the industry. It is a monumental task, but A-1 Appliance Parts believes it is worthwhile. The database allows you to type in the model number of your appliance and order from a list of parts specific to your appliance. Currently, most major brands are included in the database (GE, Hotpoint, RCA, Frigidaire, Kelvinator, Gibson, Tappan, Whirlpool, Kitchenaid, Roper, Maytag, Magic Chef, Admiral, Norge, Litton, Fedders, etc.). You can access the database through the main page:
http://a-1appliance.com">A-1Appliance.com or through http://AppliancePartsWorldWide.com">http://AppliancePartsWorldWide.com
A-1 Appliance Parts is still building on inventory, trust, and service with a customer-centered focus. If you want to see what others have to say about A-1's approach to the niche market of appliance parts on the internet, just point your browser here: http://a-1appliance.com/about.html">http://a-1appliance.com/about.html
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