How do you educate a customer???

[Skinsfan]

Well this should be interesting to say the least..........I have a contract that I take care of (goverment, county level) that has a group men that work for the county that maintain and watch the equipment. I come in when there is a problem or for seasonal overhauls.

They have huge problems with just throwing stuff in hand, overiding controls, sticking screwdriver in valves to override them, and the list just goes on and on. I have tried to tell them(managers) what is happening to their equipment and they seem to care untill I get back to the site and it is just the same or worse.


At what point do you give up????? I thought to myself my company is making a fortune of this, but it is not right. I feel it is my responsibilty to the customer to try and correct this, but no matter how attempts I make nothing changes. Have you ever encountered this? If so how or were you able to change things?:confused::confused::confused::confused::co nfused:

[lipsoffurry]

My 2 cents...Document everything and attempt to explain proper procedures. If they are a time and material customer, keep putting money towards the bottom line and don't fret about spending taxpayer's money.

[Skinsfan]

My 2 cents...Document everything and attempt to explain proper procedures. If they are a time and material customer, keep putting money towards the bottom line and don't fret about spending taxpayer's money.


I have been doing that for the last 2 yrs with no change, just wanted to know if anyone had a great idea. I feel so frustrated at times because they wont listen. But thanks for the input. And yes it is a Time and Material contract.

[dgruber]

Do not stress!!
Be thankful!!!
Government at it's best!
You will survive!!
Been there and done that! Tried the educate? Leave some behind and move on!
They have to write off the budget,wasteful but politics.

[adrianf]

Like you're being frustrated the employees of these agencies that start out caring get worn down over time and either quit or just stop fighting. Fix it charge them fix it again charge them again. There are so many things in this world that need correcting that one needs to put his energy where it will make the greatest impact. Besides they're probably union protected with little motivation to change. I am speaking from first hand experience regarding school district maintenance personnel not quality pipe fitters or sheetmetal workers.

[mrhvacmechanic]

Shure its confusing. You go out and you make an attempt to do the job the way you feel is proper. There's nothing wrong with doing that, but here's what I do:
First, I think about the customer I'm dealing with,their experience and there knowledge. Do they have any??? Is it less or more than mine??

Second, I listen to all they have to say and dont interupt them while their talking.

Third, Now I tell them how it is supposed to work!

Fourth, If they disagree and think they know it better, why argue!

Fifth, If they know better, why did they call my company in to fix it in the first place!!

Don't forget what my office will do: They'll side for the customer, not me and the customer is always right!!

Hope this helps?LOL!

[theycallmethefireman]

Hey I have recently gone to work for a state run institution. Within the first month I saw how tax dollars were wasted and it is not any in the HVAC field. Government work is a totally different breed of folks.

I left my old job as a HVAC/ Commercial Refr. tech to go here, the biggest attraction was the time off and the benefits the state can offer. As with the part of getting worn down, I sure hope it does not happen to me. Part of me likes the job and part of me dont like it, I am not in a van riding from job to job now, I am on a leash so to speak in one spot.

Anyway, good luck with the educating part.

[snipe70e]

Over thirty years ago I worked for San Jose State. The most kick back job I ever had. I kept my buildings working and did not worry about what the other guys did or did not do. But they did not do much.
Those of us who worked ended uup leaving. Those who could not hold a job else where stayed. And why did I leave such a soft job? Money! My gross pay went up 52%. That is why gov workers don't work hard. It is not the unions it is the supervisors that do not care, and if one does the one above him will not want to take on the work.

[retired1]

You can talk until you are blue in the face and it will not help. The bottom line is they do not own the equipment and do not care.

One suggestion is to place an auto-changeover 'stat in the return duct and wire that to operate the unit. Leave the 24v wired to the hot and common on the existing thermostat. This will allow the indicators to operate when they play with it. There you have it: Placebo Thermostats.