The vent about your customers thread

[mike_belben]

If I have to trouble shoot something with a jerk getting anywhere near me it,s over. I used to put up with this even on my own property.  Those days are long gone.

I made the decision over this event, that from now on,  around here where every neighbor will stop in to 'lend a hand' if they see me under something, i will only work on this stuff when its brought to my place.  The gate is always shut and my pitbull checks em at the door.  Ive got a 7yr old helper thats worth 5 elmers. Better lookin too. 

[kiko]

As a general rule, I hate customers.  The machines can be aggravating sometime, but the customer just exaggerates the issue with no clue what goes into the diagnosis or repair.  Since the customer can tell me how to fix it then why do they  need me.  Trying to resurrect a machine that had a single issue when it was parked five years ago always always cost more than just buying one that is currently in operational order.  I got called out this afternoon, yes on Sunday, 90 miles one way to machine. Removed the fuel pressure regulator on a 3126B and cleaned the debris that had the seat hung open.  Next they are gonna complain about the the $ (3x reg rate) for such a simple repair, but that will not keep me from pencil whipping them. I have been holding back on commenting on this thread cause I could just go on and on.  I get called names that are forbidden on this forum, but I am forced to be this way.

[mike_belben]

Let it out man, just let it out. 

[Ianab]

The machines can be aggravating sometime, but the customer just exaggerates the issue with no clue what goes into the diagnosis or repair

My day job is computer work, desktops and small network stuff, so I can totally relate to that. 

"Stupid computer just doesn't work" IS NOT a fault description... Well sometimes it can be,  like if the power supply is blown. , But otherwise there will be some message, or what were they doing when it crashed or reset. I have most of my regular clients pretty well trained now. "What were you doing?" "What was the message you got?" "Can we make the fault occur again?" 

Some accurate fault description makes my life easier, and their bill smaller. The "good" customers now realise what the common faults are, and what I told them to do last time. Downside of that is when they do call, it's usually a curly one:D

[quilbilly]

Have you tried turning it off and then on again?

[hacknchop]

Try running your business without customers,customer appreciation can be a little hard under some circumstances but my patience goes a long way when it comes to paying customers.

[Jim_Rogers]

Recently, I changed my outgoing message on my answer machine to say, "Sawmill is closed" "not taking any orders, not doing any road/onsite jobs"
If you placed an order, I'm working on it.

A while ago, when I was away on a business trip, selling tools, I got two messages on my machine.
One lady said, she understood that the sawmill was closed and that I wasn't doing any on site milling jobs but could I come over to her house and cut down her tree?

The second guy wanted a piece of wood 2" thick, 24" wide and 4' long out of white oak. And wanted to know if I had anything like that "kicking around."

Some people can't seem to get it that I'm closed to new business.

Jim Rogers

[kiko]

In my line of work, as time goes by the demand has gone up and up.  I would estimate I turn down 90% of the work that is offered to me.  People tell me that is a good problem to have and that I should just hire more help.  At least around here help that can do this job are not out there . So this job has made me mean and grumpy . 

[kiko]

Ironic.  Between this post and the last one I heard Waylon singing about being lonesome on'ry and mean.

[mike_belben]

My boys middle name is waylon.  First name hank.  And he can actually sing gospel really good if no one is watching.

Fingers crossed he makes it out of the belben rut.

[Ianab]

Have you tried turning it off and then on again?

Exactly. If that doesn't work, then they call me...  :D

[Resonator]

My boys middle name is waylon.  First name hank.  And he can actually sing gospel really good if no one is watching.

Fingers crossed he makes it out of the belben rut

Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks.
Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such.  ;D

[Don P]

I was complaining to Grandad about my job one time, I hated it but it paid pretty well all things considered. "Son, you've gotten yourself stuck in a fur lined rut."

[Hilltop366]

I have heard a well paying job that you dislike as "green handcuffs"

[GullyBog]

Are the cuffs greener on the other side of the bars?

[Hilltop366]

 :D
I don't know but it is got to be better than chrome bracelets.

[moodnacreek]

If I have to trouble shoot something with a jerk getting anywhere near me it,s over. I used to put up with this even on my own property.  Those days are long gone.

I made the decision over this event, that from now on,  around here where every neighbor will stop in to 'lend a hand' if they see me under something, i will only work on this stuff when its brought to my place.  The gate is always shut and my pitbull checks em at the door.  Ive got a 7yr old helper thats worth 5 elmers. Better lookin too.

I learned alot watching older men work on tractors etc. Early on a man told me not to blank with a man's lively hood. If you sit there or run tools [and shut up] and let him talk if he will you can learn. I had an offer to learn from a real expert on hammering saws but it's just to far from home. You don't get these opertunities by pushing your way around.

[mike_belben]

Larry bertlemann taught me how to shape surfboards in hawaii.  I had no idea who he was.  But he and his homeboys completely changed surfing and skateboarding in the early 1970s.


I just walked into a ratty old glass shop one day and said i wanna learn to shape.  I'll do anything you say.  He said you buy the beer.  


I kept my eyes and ears open and he poured out the knowledge on me just to relive his own glory days.

[mike_belben]

If I have to trouble shoot something with a jerk getting anywhere near me it,s over. I used to put up with this even on my own property.  Those days are long gone.

I made the decision over this event, that from now on,  around here where every neighbor will stop in to 'lend a hand' if they see me under something, i will only work on this stuff when its brought to my place.  The gate is always shut and my pitbull checks em at the door.  Ive got a 7yr old helper thats worth 5 elmers. Better lookin too.

I had an offer to learn from a real expert on hammering saws but it's just to far from home. You don't get these opertunities by pushing your way around.

Coincidentally, ebay just suggested an auction to me called saw mill circular blade repair kit in the antique saws category.  It looks like a lifetime collection of specialized antique saw specific tools to me.  I wouldnt know what half of em are but figured someone on here might be tickled to have em.

[kiko]

The cat loader loader that the customer decided that I just had to check out this Sunday , did not even get used until this morning.  Called me and said that they thought I had fixed the loader Sunday. Now after I worked on it , it won't do anything.  No power in the cab and won't spin the starter. I suggested that maybe they should turn the master switch on because I had turn if off when I finished working on it.  " This machine don't have a master switch!"  Now they know where the master switch is.    Customers ...

[Bruno of NH]

Big Bob has a master switch 
It gets turned off every night. 
I bet some folks would know how to get it started 😊

[mike_belben]

While we are on the subject, everyone make sure youre master switches are completely interrupting the ground side.  When a master switch that is shutting down the positive leg fails and grounds out internally it makes a really good glowplug/toaster/halogen bulb/ignitor

[Corley5]

That old IH still sitting in the same spot ???

[sawguy21]

kiko, I'm still laughing. Off topic but when my wife was ill we needed an ambulance. It showed up, she was placed in it and it wouldn't start. They brought a second one and she was transfered and off to the hospital. While waiting for a tow the mechanic phoned and told them to switch over to the house battery, the driver didn't know he could do that.

[mike_belben]

That old IH still sitting in the same spot ???

No, its been moved, but with the boom in the exact odd position he burped it down to.  Meaning he didnt fix squat.