WHY is it that when some electronic item goes wrong it takes a month of Sundays to find someone to fix it?

In this throwaway society people cast away hundreds of pounds worth of equipment like an old coat. I haven't the heart. I grow attached to it.

In the last few months I've had trouble getting my Sky box fixed and my telly mended. Now its the turn of my camcorder. I bought an up-until-now reliable Viewcam eight years ago, but the heads have started to play up.

After contacting companies in a bid to find a cleaner, and discovering the big ones were only accessed by exasperating call centres, I eventually obtained one, but it's still bunged.

As a last resort I tried to contact the manufacturers for some advice, but it was another soul destroying attempt at trying to reach life as we know it.

When I eventually did I was advised to call the number that had advised me to ring that one. The customer care chappy was no help.

I asked him if I should throw the camera in the bin and never buy another Sharp implement, but he couldn't care less. Other firms I tried to get hold of were either non-existent or out.

Doesn't anyone do repair work any more? It's so annoying, or is it just me?