Stop watching me....Don't you have something better to do?

[stickboy1375]

Something else that kills me, is when the customer asks for details they don't understand. I'll give you an explanation, but don't ask me 2-5 times for it

I love explainging something and they just yes me to death, knowing damn well they didnt understand a word I just said. :grin:


* Iwires next post, I hate cry babies *

 

[76nemo]

I love explainging something and they just yes me to death, knowing damn well they didnt understand a word I just said. :grin:


* Iwires next post, I hate cry babies *

I had a service call for a gas fired furnace months ago from a plumbing buddy, and a gas tech.. The gas tech said it was an electrical problem. I hooked up three different DMM's in sequence to show it wasn't an electrical problem. The problem was the gas valve that I proved, think I got an apology??? I just got an "oops" from the gas tech..

 

[stickboy1375]

I had a service call for a gas fired furnace months ago from a plumbing buddy, and a gas tech.. The gas tech said it was an electrical problem. I hooked up three different DMM's in sequence to show it wasn't an electrical problem. The problem was the gas valve that I proved, think I got an apology??? I just got an "oops" from the gas tech..

Yep, I had a pretty good argument with a kid from a generator company, too make a long story short, after finally listening to me and putting all the controls he ripped out of the ATS it worked like a charm.

 

[76nemo]

Are we allowed to bill for idiocy??????

 

[TOOL_5150]

There's no such thing as overpricing.

You know when your overpriced, when the customer says "thank you, I am going to call around for some more quotes"

There isnt anything wrong with making money. I state the price - its up to the customer to accept it or deny it. Nothing is making them take my high bid.

~Matt

 

[cowboyjwc]

I get sorta chatty when a customer is watching. I honestly don't mind people looking over my shoulder. I know it drives some guys totally nuts, but it never really has bothered me. They're paying me to chat with them, so I don't much care. What does bother me is when they're in my way. I tend to zip around like a ferret on crack when I work, so everyone tends to be in my way. That's irritating.

I was kind of like Marc.

One time I was working for this elderly lady that I had worked for several times before and I would almost knock her down at least once a trip. On this trip I was putting a switch back in and I accidentally hit the side of the box and POW. Her eyes got big and she backed up and told me she'd be in the kitchen if I needed her. Never tried that trick again, but I did keep it in the back of my mind.

 

[cowboyjwc]

I agree if I were in your shoes... but at the end of the year, my pay is the same, so is my speed.

What is it they say? I only have two speeds and if you don't like this one you're really going to hate the other one.

 

[ishium 80439]

I generally don't mind when people watch me. If they a genuinely curious about the procedure I am happy to explain some of what goes into what we do. It gives me the opportunity to overload them with information that they couldn't possibly absorb all at once. It makes it seem more magical and vast and scary :smile: . If they are following me around because they don't trust me and want to make sure that I am working every second that I am there, that kind of aggravates me but it does give me a chance to put their mind at ease.

One customer comes to mind that bordered on creepy. We did a service upgrade and he stood and watched us the whole day. I don't think that he moved from his spot except when we went to lunch. I tried in the beginning to engage him in conversation, but after multiple two word responses I realized he didn't want to chat so we basically ignored him for 7 or so hours while he was standing about 5 feet behind us. It was odd.

 

[roger3829]

Service Call. Installing wiring for a GDO today...Customer watching the whole time.

I tend to work faster when that happens. :wink:

Sometimes when they are hovering (smothering) I get a bit annoyed. How about you?

Had a customer watch me the entire time i put up a ceiling fan. It took over an hour and a half just to install the box. Cut ceiling, fan brace bar, 4 BX cables. What a PITA!! Plaster and lathe ceiling. No fun at all.

Another hour to assemble the fan.

Glad he was there to see how long it actually took.

 

[LarryFine]

On this trip I was putting a switch back in and I accidentally hit the side of the box and POW.

I hate stuffing boxes hot. I'm more comfortable replacing a switch energized than I am putting it back in the box. Weird? :-?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Service Call. Installing wiring for a GDO today...Customer watching the whole time.

I tend to work faster when that happens. :wink:

Sometimes when they are hovering (smothering) I get a bit annoyed. How about you?

Perhaps if you didn't keep flexing your muscles she wouldn't be following you.

 

[code_compliant]

I'm happy to read the responses to how you all feel about people watching you work.

Beginning in the trade I didn't care for people watching. Now I don't care. It's a chance to show off a skill that even my wife doesn't really care about.

Did a service changeout one year on Christmas eve day. Not something I would normally do but I didn't have anywhere to be and customer didn't mind. When I started the guy actually pulled up a chair and sat down behind me in the dark basement. Later in conversation I came to find out he didn't exactly have anything to do over the holidays and this may have been the most excitement he'd seen in a while.

 

[220/221]

It depends on the situation.

Sometimes I enjoy educating those who want to learn. I remember this guy who brought his 12 year old out to look at the damaged bus/main breaker in his service. I explained the 120/240 single phase system briefly to the kid and he actually understood it more than a lot of guys I've worked with. I was impressed.

If it is a serious job I simply tell them that I have a one track mind and I can't concentrate and talk with them at the same time.

Years ago, two owners of a Chinese restaurant were breathing down my neck so I shorted out a hot wire to the JB to get them to back off. Worked like a charm.

 

[steelersman]

Service Call. Installing wiring for a GDO today...Customer watching the whole time.

I tend to work faster when that happens. :wink:

Sometimes when they are hovering (smothering) I get a bit annoyed. How about you?

what is a GDO?

 

[480sparky]

what is a GDO?

Garage Door Opener/Operator.

 

[steelersman]

Garage Door Opener/Operator.

oh ok. Duh!! I should have known that.

 

[dduffee260]

It does not bother me one bit for someone to watch me work. Then again now days I basically push a pencil about 75% of the time.

 

[Brady Electric]

Stop watching me...Don't you have something better to do

Stop watching me...Don't you have something better to do

When I was a helper in 1973 I was changing a kitchen light over a table and a little old lady watched every move I made and told me her late husband was an electrician and insisted on telling me how to work.
I touched the hot and neutral together on purpose and made it spark, she went into the other room and didn't come out until I was done.
I thought it was funny back then but I wouldn't do it again.
Watching doesn't bother me anymore and I welcome anyone trying to learn something as long as they don't get in the way. After all I don't have anything to hide.
Semper Fi Buddy

 

[bth0mas20]

last week a guy watched me the whole 3 hrs I was working at his house. He never said anything bad about my work. He wouldnt stop asking me questions about electrcial theory (while working in a panel) and how three phase and single phase worked. I finally just put all my tools down and took my tool belt off. Then grabbed a piece of cardboard and drew out sine waves and one lines for three phase and single phase. After filling his head with so much info for about 5 mins straight he had nothing to say after that. He claimed to be an engineer.

He is also the guy that told me he added up all the breakers in his panel and it was about 800 amps and his main is only 200 amps so he thinks he need a service upgrade.

 

[SmithBuilt]

He is also the guy that told me he added up all the breakers in his panel and it was about 800 amps and his main is only 200 amps so he thinks he need a service upgrade.

He opened the door..... I see $$$.