Having an audience while you work

Dave_16

I have no problem.....

I simply tell them there's an additional $50.00 teachers fee, if it's a gas furnace I pull out a lighter or matches and start testing the gas line, that usually makes them run, and if they are persistent I start asking them questions about their profession, and then the old do you want to pay me to talk or work.....time is money, that usually shuts them up. Look all you want just don't bother me, if you do I tend to get nasty.....and i don't care

bob young

great stories steve & mark. ya can't make that kinda stuff up.

Frank_17

am I crazy?

> I'm curious what other pros think about

> homeowners who look over your shoulder while you

> work. My feelings on this vary greatly, depending

> on the situation and the homeowner. If I'm doing

> a simple plumbing call, I don't mind being

> watched as much. But if I'm on a heating call, it

> bothers me very much, probably due to the fact

> that I have much less heating experience than

> plumbing experience. Also, it depends on the

> homeowner. Elderly widows who are just lonely and

> want someone to talk to, I don't have a problem

> with. I also don't mind homeowners who are

> genuinely interested in how their system works

> and is maintained. The types of homeowners that

> bother me include those who watch tradesmen like

> a hawk, like they think you are going to rip them

> off or something. Also, ones who crowd you so

> close that you constantly have to dodge them or

> ask them to move. You think they'd get the hint

> after the second or third time. Finally, there

> are the ones who ask a million questions when

> you're in the middle of something that requires

> intense exertion or concentration, and then they

> try to question or argue with your answers.

> Anyway, feel free to share any stories about

> annoying customers. In case anyone misconstrues

> this thread, I'm not trying to get into a

> homeowner-bashing mode (indeed, there are lots of

> great customers out there). I'm simply curious

> how other tradesmen deal with these types of

> situations.

Frank_17

am I crazy?

I like the calls where there is an odd problem that only happens "once in a blue moon".I had this lady tell me a long lenghthy story of how the boiler would go off on resetbut only when "it was 15 degrees out and when she was doing laundry, thta's the only time it does it" she insisted. then she asked me if she was crazy. I siad I don't know , I'm only here to fix the boiler.