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good laugh w/ a customer yesterday

Edward A. (Ed) Carey_3
Edward A. (Ed) Carey_3 Member Posts: 236
in THE MAIN WALL
As we look at the posts on a site like this, we admire the photos of good work, and the neatness, (not just the function) of that work.

When one cleans the area of his work and leaves it better than when he entered, (no mater how nasty that environment was) he is showing pride in what he does.

Aside from the technical aspects of our work, cleaning up behind ones self is the difference between a true craftsman, and a handyman.

Regardless of all of the electronic gadgets that you have, and all of the technical knowledge and training you posses, the homeowner only sees the outside of the HVAC unit when you leave.

So, when the customer sees the area very clean when you are leaving, it is definitely noticed by them. I can assure you that their perception of you will be as a true craftsman.

Comments

  • tim smith
    tim smith Member Posts: 2,807
    Good laugh w/ a cusotmer yesterday

    Old customer, have worked for years, called in for a service repair on her boiler, she asked if it would be David, ( our long time mechanic, ie 30+yrs). I said no, it would be one of our other mechanics. She said she wants to make sure he know's something about these older systems. I said no mrs....., he actually washes cars for a living but likes to play around with boilers. got a good little chuckle out of the elderly lady, Tim
    A lot of our service clients have seen David or my partner or myself over the years so they get stuck in they ways also, not a bad thing.
  • Brad White
    Brad White Member Posts: 2,399
    Sometimes, Tim

    that oblique request for a particular person speaks louder as a compliment than many of us get.

    Music comes with the lyrics if you listen for it.

    Good for you and for Dave.

    I bet he does 'detailing' too. :)
    "If you do not know the answer, say, "I do not know the answer", and you will be correct!"



    -Ernie White, my Dad
  • Joe@buderus_2
    Joe@buderus_2 Member Posts: 302
    \"Young Tech\"

    The person I buy my oil from is a second generation local guy. He told me a story that I always remembered and found true. The "son" went to clean the boiler, because the father was getting along in age and doing the "office" thing the son now did most of the cleanings. The customer called the father and said the young service man didn't "clean" the boiler. The next day the son went back to the site and cleaned the boiler again. Again Mrs. Jones called and asked when her boiler was going to be cleaned? Father asked son - son states "I scrubbed the boiler, what is she talking about?". Next day Father and son go to Mrs. Jones house, boiler is clean as as could be. Mrs. Jones said "look at the boiler it is dusty and doesn't shine!". Son did not whip down the jacket of the boiler so Mrs.Jones considered it "not clean". Father ALWAYS wiped down the jacket of the boiler and clean up the area. To this day "son" insist that his techs clean the jacket of the boiler, leave no parts and if there is any "junk" piled on or around the boiler - move it. Visual impression means alot. Anytime I touch a heating system - five minutes of "clean up" has resulted in numerous compliments.
  • Edward A. (Ed) Carey_3
    Edward A. (Ed) Carey_3 Member Posts: 236
    Yepper

    Joe,

    That is definitely true.


    Ed Carey
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0


    Gosh, it is even worse for me. I want to wipe down the boiler and clean and sweep around the boiler before the tech gets there so they will know it is looked after and not treat it as just another sevice call.
    I think it is a "sickness" or something. :-)
    Mike
  • Joe Billow_6
    Joe Billow_6 Member Posts: 69


    Kinda like the lady who clean her house before the maid comes. I agree that leaving a clean boiler/mech area is part of a service.
  • J.C.A._3
    J.C.A._3 Member Posts: 2,980
    Absoloutely!

    There is no doubt that one of the biggest "remembrance of any service" REMAINS like the old timers taught me...Leave the area cleaner than when you got there.

    I have done this since my first job, and still take the time to do it...as it makes a HUGE impression on the customer, every time.A bottle of Simple Green goes a long way !

    I won't regale you with the tales of a few years back..and the service person who WAXED the jacket of the boiler before leaving.(He knows who he is...and if he has any cajoles', will out himself) Chris
  • Norm Harvey
    Norm Harvey Member Posts: 684


    My fathrer taught me the very same thing.

    In fact, the same degreaser we use to clean the nozzle assembly & electrodes doubles as our boiler jacket cleaner. The stuff makes boilers look like brand new!

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • J.C.A._3
    J.C.A._3 Member Posts: 2,980
    Norm,

    Don't hit the yellow "efficiency stickers" with that stuff....it make the ink run and you'll not be able to show the customer how you got it to run better than the factory!

    How's things pal? Chris
  • burnerman_2
    burnerman_2 Member Posts: 297
    THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT

    AS YOU MAY GUESS EVEN OLD TECH'S HAVE TO RETIRE AND EVEN DARE I SAY DIE MY TEACHER AND MENTOR WAS A GREAT TECH KEPT A LOT OF OLD SYSTEMS WORKING PAST THIER LIFE SPAN BUT SOMETIMES THATS A BAD THING THEY WERE INEFFIENT AND HARHD TO SERVICE GE KAWANNEE EVEN A FEW OLD LENNOX ONE GUY IS SOO PROUD OF THE 50 YEAR OLD FURNACE ANY WAY I WAS GREEN WENT ON A CLEANING THE GUY INSISTED ON DON I ASKED IS HE GOOD 'YES; WELL DO YOU THINK HE'D MAKE A GOOD TEACHER 'YES ' WELL THEN LETS FIND OUT THANK GOD IT RAN ALL WINTER SO OLD TECH'S NEED TO TRAIN NEW TECH'C ROYBOY OH PS I HAD A VO-TECH BOY RIDE WITH ME THIS WEEK AND THEWRE IS A FUTURE TRY IT AND TEACH A YOUNGSTER
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