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Nothing like lighting the torch

I once had this old guy standing right over my shoulder jiggling the change in his pocket. I was changing out an evap coil. When it came time to light up the torch.... I used at first a little extra oxygen...pop..pop...then alot of acetylene... It lit... BOOOOOMMMM... Huge flame....

The guy jumped back and headed straight for the bathroom...hehehehe

Doesn't work every time.... but funny as hell when it does

ga/oh man has the right idea= bet that really work's !!!

'Had a little old lady this week who was watching so closely, every time I moved, I bumped into her. Finally told her "I need some room to work". Then she moved a few feet away.(snapping her gum all the time I was there.) Grrrrrrr
'

ME: Once i had a very elderly couple follow me down in the dungeon of a basement and set up two lawn chairs about 8 feet away from me . They didnt say a word for the entire time i serviced thier 50 year old furnace. I felt like i was 'in' thier T.V. !! Started to bother me after awhile...so, i turned my back to them .

I tend to take Irish's position too, but I used to work with a guy that stopped what he was doing, faced the HO and talked. Sooner or later they caught on that they were paying for his time.

I do not mind when they watch,hell I tell them to pull up a chair!What I do mind is when they tell you how to fix it.I have told that type"If you know more about fixing this than I do I can leave if you want."I found that if they are just to close if you come right out & tell them to back up a little & give you some more room to work most all people will.

Newcooler: Move to the head of the class! Unless your on a "flat rate" call, I'm like you, i.e. talk about whatever pleases them @ whatever your street rate is.

The "irish-one" has a valid point. It's their money. I once worked in a facility where the owner was up everyones a$$. He had an electrician come in and followed him around asking "why" for every step. Electrician would answer every question, in GREAT DETAIL, electrician also billed by the hours he spent on the job. Business owner probably remembers more about the bill than what "Sparky" told him about electricity. Last I heard they still work together and owner just says "Hi, where can I find the shut-off for that machine?"

Money talks and so can I. $75/hour will buy you a conversation about whatever I'm doing.

Depends on the situation. If the HO is polite, and asks if I mind if they watch, then most times I don't mind. But if it's some old fella that just stands there watching and jiggling the change in his pocket, then it drives me nuts. Had a little old lady this week who was watching so closely, every time I moved, I bumped into her. Finally told her "I need some room to work". Then she moved a few feet away.(snapping her gum all the time I was there.) Grrrrrrr!

ps. only push reset once

really now, have you taken the vehicle to the shop... signs all over, only authorized personell only. If he distracts you in the middle of a crucial repair and it blows cause you were distracted. who's at fault. hello homeowners(if they have it). insert mag lite(4 battery style).If it's huffin & puffin, i'm goin.
"INCOMING."

I carry some ipecac in my toolbox. I just take some and vomit all over them.

Fart, show some crack, or just put up with it.

Bottom line: It's their home, their unit, and THEIR money. If "looking over your shoulder" amounts to just that, I don't see the problem. I do believe it varies with the individual as to how much this interferes with their work, and like mentioned earlier, how much concentration is required. If I can't talk and chew gum at the same time, AND change out a motor, etc. then there are bigger issues at work here. Think of it this way, in a positive manner. After watching you do your work, they may just have a greater appreciation for what you do and what you charge to do it! Let's not make a snap judgement and try to figure out how to get the guy out of his own basement! How many times would you have liked to watch the guy "repairing" your car when you back in for the same problem the 3rd or 4th time!!??

The way i do it is buy a 3 "d" flashlight and ask them to hold it steady "so you can see" ten minutes and they remember they have something they have to do. Works everytime!

Okay, dice,you can pick on me.----- What would Dale Carneige do in a situation like this.

" This is a critical part of the installation. I have to devote my full concentration to this part of the job. You do want me to devote my full concentration to your installation don't you???"

Originally posted by hvacfella


What are some tactful ways to tell a HO to 'please take a hike' ??? Or..perhaps you believe since they are paying the bill that its ok (??)

The way i understand is the answer to that question is how the whole 9mm thread got started

It gets bad sometimes. On friday I had this home owner, he was a nice guy. He wanted me to show him how to change the filters and where the breakers were. I was in a hole back in the back of his house. I crawled out showed him then went back. It was a long crawl. Its part of the job!

three ideas;
1)ask them to go listen for the sound of air moving in the ductwork elsewhere or some other off the wall task, or ask them to fetch you a tool or two and keep doing it till they get the point ?

2) carry something really rotten smelling in a sealed bowl and peel the lid when they show up ??

3) tell them you need to go uot to the van for a minute, then come back, keep doing it until they get the point ???

Just put them to work? lol

Originally posted by The Penguin
drink lots of coffee so you have bad coffe breath

Ah jeez Penguin. Bad coffee breath? I drink coffee by the gallons, now you've got me wonderin if that's how I backed that customer up all over his house the other day

I kept trying to discuss his furnace with him, but he just kept backing away from me. I think he backed down the basement stairs. I just left the bill on the table.



[Edited by midhvac on 01-15-2005 at 09:30 PM]