Pet Peeves

[dll932]

YA. I have one of those too. Basically the old car, still around, but drivable. If i needed to I could stuff some of the old stuff we had in our four vans, from back in the day into it and continue. But most do not have the luxury.

But the most important point is, the psychological damage from losing your front line unit to some scum bag.

Okay, I have a concealed carry, and I do pack a .308, and am x-mil. I can do the job if needed, but if you are in that group which does bring your own protection, will you use it, knowing the stuff the authorities are going to put you thru? That is another whole different game. Yes, if I really absolutely feel that this is the time and the day and now is the moment when I need to really blow some dirt bag away, I will... Just be ready for the consequences of your actions. Is it worth it? Or just run and hope for the best? Not an easy call to make. I sincerely hope you are never faced with that choice, or have to make it.

It all comes down to what you want, and how much risk you are going to take.

As far as gated neighborhoods, that can be another can of worms. Just because they have money doesn't mean they are not idiots, or scum bags. How did most of them get the wealth? Think about it. We have several communities around here which are not on the map, really old money, and full of cops. One has a population of 984 people and 125 cops. They are not on any map, and "listed" as another local community. Don't ever drive down one of those tree lined roads without a very good reason to be there at any time, especially night. You will have lots of company fast. Most of the roads, except the state highway thru the middle of it are all private roads, and so signed as such.

The world is getting more dangerous as days pass and the economy is not picking up. People will do a lot of desperate things to get any kind of money. How much is brass worth as scrap value? How much do you carry in your van? How much is your tool inventory worth? How much it is like mine, old tools which are not replaceable anymore because they are not made, or worse your own home rolled stuff?

Do you have an insurance inventory, with photos of all your tools and service kits to prove you had it? If you can't prove you had something and it was stolen, without adequate proof of that fact, the insurance company will just blow you off. Which is why I have such a complete photo set of my van, inside, showing all the interior cabinets, and how they are placed, and photos of all my equipment, pinning kits, service kits, and other parts, spread out on the drive, each piece carefully documented as to when we bought it, and the current estimated value. Inventory is estimated by our current Quickbooks inventory sheets as to what is out there and what is down here in the bunker. The difference between what we have left (read that down here) and what is shown on the perpetual inventory, is what is on the van.

There is a lot to think about when taking calls from the public. As for me, I will stay with my commercial accounts, and take the odd public calls when I know what is going on and where it is, and only in the day time.

Sinifar

PS... -- WHY do you think the van is in the garage, locked, the garage is locked and the alarm is on when it is parked? Just protecting my source of income.

Sini

I know a couple of 'smiths who pulled guns on idiots who were hassling them on jobs and they took off. After explaining, the cops let them be.

I have taken a lot of money from the wealthy and generally have found them pretty easy to deal with. If you prove you aren't just selling them a bill of goods and that they can trust you, they're usually quite willing to part with their money. If it's a real fancy house, just be real careful not to mark anything up or you won't hear the end of it. Maybe 25 years ago I went into the house of a woman who was wealthy and ended up putting TWO deadbolts on all her exterior doors (at her insistence) and walked out with a $1500 check and a tip.

The inventory is a real good idea!

[MatrixBlackRock]

If it's a real fancy house, just be real careful not to mark anything up or you won't hear the end of it.

I'll give you a good residential tip, more so if you are dealing with a female. wear booties, as soon as the client answers the door and give you permission to enter, pull out your disposable booties and cover up your work shoes, if you need to go back outside to the truck, take them off and if needed grab another pair to wear before entering the home.

It's part psychological and part CYA, the customer appreciates you showing a concern for their home and it may save you from picking up the tab for a carpet cleaning guy.

Wayne

[nick08037]

If it's a real fancy house, just be real careful not to mark anything up or you won't hear the end of it.

I'll give you a good residential tip, more so if you are dealing with a female. wear booties, as soon as the client answers the door and give you permission to enter, pull out your disposable booties and cover up your work shoes, if you need to go back outside to the truck, take them off and if needed grab another pair to wear before entering the home.

It's part psychological and part CYA, the customer appreciates you showing a concern for their home and it may save you from picking up the tab for a carpet cleaning guy.

Wayne

when I did alarm work we had tarps for use in some homes, put them down in work areas and hallways, especially on large jobs during inclement weather, same goes for always bringing your own vacuum cleaner and using it, we believed in the leave no trace practice, yes we had the tyvek booties too

[GWiens2001]

when I did alarm work we had tarps for use in some homes, put them down in work areas and hallways, especially on large jobs during inclement weather, same goes for always bringing your own vacuum cleaner and using it, we believed in the leave no trace practice, yes we had the tyvek booties too

Plus it reduces evidence when you bludgeon non-paying customers to death and then hide the bodies.

recalling Lethal Weapon... "Just checking to see if I was standing on a drop-cloth, Mr. Rudd"

Gordon

[dll932]

If it's a real fancy house, just be real careful not to mark anything up or you won't hear the end of it.

I'll give you a good residential tip, more so if you are dealing with a female. wear booties, as soon as the client answers the door and give you permission to enter, pull out your disposable booties and cover up your work shoes, if you need to go back outside to the truck, take them off and if needed grab another pair to wear before entering the home.

It's part psychological and part CYA, the customer appreciates you showing a concern for their home and it may save you from picking up the tab for a carpet cleaning guy.

Wayne

Quite right. Especially during winter with boots that are hard to remove.

[nick08037]

when I did alarm work we had tarps for use in some homes, put them down in work areas and hallways, especially on large jobs during inclement weather, same goes for always bringing your own vacuum cleaner and using it, we believed in the leave no trace practice, yes we had the tyvek booties too

Plus it reduces evidence when you bludgeon non-paying customers to death and then hide the bodies. :twisted:

recalling Lethal Weapon... "Just checking to see if I was standing on a drop-cloth, Mr. Rudd"

Gordon

since I live very near the jersey pine barrens, I often joke about not going for a ride with anyone when they have a shovel in the back seat

[Sinifar]

Never thought of "removing" my boots. I wear high top industrial safety boots. Okay, I keep a good shine on them, it again looks professional, but know that the slip resistant lugs can pick up a lot of debris. So I usually stomp them off before entering someplace, industrial or not. BUT I am not wearing some goofy shoe cover. And forget taking them off. What could you step on and get a really serious injury if you ran back out to the truck for something? Dropped a tool? Especially something sharp? Ever stand on shavings -- metal especially or wood? Standard shop practice calls for good solid foot ware and protection from hot chips, and other hazards of the job.

Booties are so goofy, and maybe in a medical location it might fit, but not on the normal job. Besides it would ruin the high gloss on them.....yup, I have industrial boots which are polished. It makes for a nice uniform look. Clean, lettered shirts / jackets and dark pants make for a professional look.

High top industrial safety boots have several features which plant people like, as in the steel toe, the slip resistant lugs, and the ankle protecting high sides -- which protects you from injury due to brushing a pallet, product, or any other thing projecting out into an aisle in a plant.

My safety and getting this job done, and onto the next one is more important than the small mess one might leave behind.

Hasn't changed in 45 years, and is not going to change now.

Sinifar

[MatrixBlackRock]

High top industrial safety boots have several features which plant people like, as in the steel toe, the slip resistant lugs, and the ankle protecting high sides -- which protects you from injury due to brushing a pallet, product, or any other thing projecting out into an aisle in a plant.

My safety and getting this job done, and onto the next one is more important than the small mess one might leave behind.

Hasn't changed in 45 years, and is not going to change now.

Sinifar

Keep in mind you never know who's home you might be working in and who might be listening when they get on the air and make a negative comment about your company or lack of manners.

The attached MP3 is an over the air comment by a friend of mine Joyce Kaufman, a conservative talker who hosts a noon to three talk show here in SFL on AM 850 WFTL.

http://www.matrixblackrock.com/Assets/JKATT.mp3

BTW by OSHA rules and company policy AT&T technicians are required to wear ANSI rated safety shoes and are also required to cover them with company provided booties when working in a residence.

Wayne