John Thomas Electrical
Repairs the gear other shops decline, from old record players to warranty jobs.
The strong theme is rescuing appliances that manufacturers or other shops have given up on, often by sourcing parts locally or from specialist suppliers. Several people mention Fiona by name for working out a fault before they'd even left the counter, and Brian comes up repeatedly for vehicle electrics and tricky diagnostics. There's a smaller but consistent group of complaints about poor updates when a repair waits on parts, and one or two about unexpected costs at pickup. Most of these are older or warranty-related jobs, not the quick counter repairs the shop is loved for. For anything with a hard deadline, confirm they actually have the part on hand, or expect to chase an update.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (163 total)
“coffee machine was fixed in 4 days”
“my much loved radio”
“Fiona at the front counter was very knowledgeable”
“their beautiful German Shepherd”
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
How they stack up
Context from 322 appliance repairs in Ballarat
Credentials & background
Sourced from 3 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About John Thomas Electrical
This is the repair shop people across western Victoria use when the manufacturer says a device is too old or too hard to fix. They are the authorised repairer for Kenwood and Samsung in the region, so warranty work lands here too. Brian runs the show on the floor, and Fiona at the front counter often pins a fault before the customer has left the shop. The team is broad enough to handle everything from a 1970 record player to a modern coffee machine. Reviews keep pointing to the same thing: they source obscure parts, repair what other shops decline, and charge what local customers call fair. There's a workshop dog that greets people, which comes up enough to feel like part of the experience, not a gimmick. They also handle smaller custom jobs like making a TV cable while you wait. People drive from Geelong and further, and plenty say they've been customers for decades. For honest diagnosis of odd small appliances, this is the local benchmark.
Best for complex appliance repairs other shops decline, warranty work for Samsung and Kenwood, and honest no-charge diagnosis on small fixes.
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about John Thomas Electrical
Can John Thomas repair appliances that other shops won't touch?+
Yes, that's the most common reason customers bring their gear here. Reviews mention fixed record players, overseas electrical items, a photo frame, and a projector other shops had written off. One reviewer said they repair things that are 'ordinarily impossible' to service.
What brands do they handle?+
They are an authorised repairer for Kenwood in Western Victoria and an agent for Samsung. Reviewers also mention repairs on KitchenAid, Breville, Dyson, Bose, Garmin, and Sunbeam products.
How fast is a typical repair?+
Speed varies by part availability. Some customers report a coffee machine fixed in four days or a TV repaired in three hours. Jobs waiting on parts can stall, so ask about stock before leaving your appliance.