Wuppertal: Ralf Gross saves washing machines from the scrap press

Ralf Gross repaired used washing machines.A business model that still works today.

In a back yard workshop, three washing machines rotate about WDR4's music.They are fed from a shopping cart that is loaded to the edge with dirty clothes."We have to hear how the shock absorbers work," explains Ralf Gross this test run.The workshop with various storage rooms runs over spare parts: countless pumps, engines and hoses.And whenever you think you have seen everything, there is another room.Not only the interior of countless washing machines, but also dryers, dishwashers and herds rests here.More than 100 expanded ceramic fields are lined up on a shelf as if it were records.

The WARLING MAGINGS HASTING HASTING HASTING HASHING HASING on Westkotter Straße in Barmen since 1979.The father of Ralf Gross has sold used washing machines since 1973."My parents were actually caretakers," reports the 54-year-old.When the community washing machine of a house was discarded, Horst-Dieter Gross took the chance and repaired the device-and sold.He noticed how great the demand for used devices was.Daughter Regine Scharf (56), who also works in family business today, recalls: "Back then, new devices were still really expensive."And so grew up from the caretaker to the repairer and seller.In 2006 son Ralf took over the business.

The trade in - 95 percent - used devices is also useful from the aspect of sustainability, emphasizes Ralf Gross."We have already saved countless washing machines from the scrap press," he says.Customers today would tend to throw away a defective machine.Sometimes it is big that has to make the suggestion after the inspection of the device to put a repair."I'm thinking in the long term," says Gross.Good advice is important for such a small shop.The customer, whose machine could be saved surprisingly, remember that - and come back.

Since the pandemic, used kitchen appliances and washing machines have been particularly in demand.Usually there are 60 to 70 devices in the approximately 50 square meter shop - at the moment there are more 40.Large reports: "Because the people in pandemic were more at home, more was washed and washed.So more devices also break."In addition, new devices are currently not easy to get due to the chip delivery problems.

Unfortunately, it is generally the case, says Gross, that washing machines have a shorter life today than before."That does the whole electronics.It is more susceptible to damage."In the past, a good branded machine kept 15 to 25 years."Today washing machines are brought to me that are still in the guarantee."

What has changed over the years: customers have become more demanding.Large remembers: “Customers used to come and said: 'I need a washing machine. Was können Sie mir empfehlen?‘" Heute hingegen seien die Verbraucher viel informierter und kommen mit einer Liste von Wünschen in den Laden.Regine Scharf added: “And we also have to ask more questions." Die Küchen würden beispielsweise immer höher, es sei nicht mehr selbstverständlich, dass die Geräte auch passen.Advice is therefore becoming increasingly important.

The business people notice that some customers prefer to rely on cheap new devices.In the past, ten to 15 devices were brought to the man a day.Today only a fraction of it is sold daily.At the same time, fortunately, the repair company remains relatively stable.

Ralf Gross drives out personally and looks at the customers for the right.Support seven employees.Even big '83-year-old mother is still in the shop regularly.“She is really looking forward to it." Da wird dann auch deutlich: Im Geschäft ist auch der persönliche Kontakt ein Verkaufsargument.And so some regular customers come back to Westkotter Straße again and again.