A customer passed away

Jackchips

I've been out of business since 1985 and when I see the death of someone I did work for I still say to my wife "Lost another customer today".

Like family-you bet.

ScottMP

our lives and theirs

I got the news yesterday that a long customer of mine had passed away to a brain tumor. He was 49.

He had bought a old summer home right on the water and I got the contract to install heat in the old home. I learned alot about how to design a heating system for a house that has no wind break except for the Atlantic ocean.

Yea I lost my shirt.

This guy was arrogant and difficult, but I came back each time and corrected the problems. I climbed under the house in a one foot crawl space in the middle of January and insulated, thawed, added anit-freeze.

We became friends. I don't think he had many.

I would mention his name in town and people would roll their eyes.

I would come and work and then we would talk. Alot of times the conversation would turn to personnal things.

I found out he had a brain tumor. He was going to fight it all the way, and for a while he did.

Yesterday I got the news he lost. He died in his home with his father next to him. I will attend his funeral today.

I would cringe each time the pager would show his number. Many times its was a frivolous call ( pager violation I call it ). And yet I cryed when I learn of his passing.

Its strange how we are involved in our customers lives.

I think it was David Yates who posted about this a few months back. This is the realtionship "my plumber" has on customers. Many times we are a part of the family, albeit the one who lives in the basement.

Scott

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chuck shaw

i know how you feel

Scott,

The customer I lost, several years ago, was a sweet little old lady, who had a "plumbing problem" every couple of months. As a child, her family ran a "mom and pop" shop within easy walking distance of my house. We also went to the same church.

She was one of my first customers when I started up.

Every time I went to her house, she would have coffee and some type of snack. She only had one or two real plumbing problems over the course of 3 or 4 years. When I went to visiting hours, no one in her family knew who I was. A few people from church knew me. But I don't think anyone knew why I was there.

Some customers touch you as people, not just as another accout to service.

Chuck

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hot_rod

Just like Mr. Goodwrench

Only better! I feel your pain brother. Give us your tired, weak, unpopular, grouchy, unreasonable & iracable customers that no one in their right minds would put up with - not for very long anyway - and we'll endure their insane ways.

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Brian (Tankless) Wood

You guys give plumbers

a good name, thanks.

Scott, that man left this place knowing that someone saw past the "grouch". He probably got immense inward pleasure from your visits. Those relationships are very special, we become better people because of them.

I have one customer who has more money than God, and is the grouchiest, whiniest,(sp) tightfisted, and hugely obese old Jewish lady you ever met. And always followed getting the bill with "Whaaaaaat, how much!!!" then promptly pays up, and like clockwork, calls me next week to "help her" with something else around the house. So far, a big gas tankless for her monster spa/tub, a recirc system for hot water (she doesn't like to wait), hose-bibs, carbon filters for her fish & plants, carbon/UV filter for the "other house", more hose bibs & on & on. She likes company.

As it turns out, she went to school with my ex mom in law, and now they are back in touch after over 50 yrs. Funny how stuff turns out, eh? Now, it's like visiting my Mom.

Don't you love it when things work out that way.

Brian in 70 degree Swampland.

J.C.A.

Like Chuck....

I've been the questioned attendee at quite a few remembrance services . (usually,the hopefully clean uniform gives it away, but sometimes you just gotta go ).
The thing that really amazes me is how many family members don't really care about the uniform part , they are just happy that you felt that in your heart , you lost someone that touched you .I feel that in itself is reason enough to drop a "job" for a brief period. For longtime customers , it goes without saying .

Godspeed David, and Scott thanks for taking the time to do the thing you felt important for all of us . Chris

DanHolohan

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DanHolohan

Joe_30

It goes both ways. I am 6 years older than my plumbing buddy who has looked over my piping work, sat and stared at it, took home pictures of it, declared it beautiful, and has as well given me good stories and good advice. ( I did it right, but only he knew the mysteries of wiring it). Well, the man has health issues. My wife and I worry about him, like him a lot, and you know, its as you wrote it. But, I think he is going to make it because he thinks it through and sees everything, and works on it. Homeowners adopt craftsmen, too.