Pet Peeves

[billdeserthills]

One of my business pet peeves is the lack of an actual address. I especially hate it when people try to make it seem like there is an address, because I am going to find out there isn't one.
I had an appointment recently and after following his instructions twice I noticed his address on my instructions did not match any of the numbers I was seeing around me. I finally called
him, I like to do that after I'm already pissed off because by then it would be obvious, even to a blind donkey, that no address numbers actually exist for this home at all. Then he did it,
he admitted there were no address numbers but if I would calm down, he would instruct me on how to get there. Honestly, before this point I was already done with this call, that seems
to be what happens whenever this topic comes up, which is a few times every year. Then he told me he already got into the things he wanted open, but he would still like a key made.I
carefully explained that I was done wasting time looking for him and I was going home now. He made some insulting noises and I hung up and went home.

Thing is I usually figure that I'm in the right, but that doesn't seem like the sanest choice this time

[Jburgett2nd]

It seems to me that when you ask person an address and it doesn't have a street number or some other special circumstance that they would tell you that right off. I guess some people just don't think.

[Sinifar]

After 50 years in the biz, I have never taken any call without some kind of "address"... whether it is 123 Main St. the third house behind, or under a rock on Hopewell Ave.

This is intolerable. You could be getting groomed or set up for a major robbery. Where would the office send the cops if you were overdue? Out here in the Lakes District, there are lots of odd ball places, but ALL have some kind of address. Some are way down a dead end, tree lined and curvy road, with the mailbox at the start of the thing. But know that even if it is a "W234 N1550 Curry Lane" type of address, that is a grid point address we use out here. IT IS still a physical address which the cops and hopefully the fire department can find.

I had mentioned in an earlier post about having a code word you can call back to the office if there is trouble. Do you have that in place? Why NOT?

Unless you are wearing full body armor, and carrying a M16, I would not go out to ANY place which did not have a physical address. Just what I need to really ruin my day - a booby trap.

If the jerk won't give you a physical address, then it is a dead call, and gets filed in the round file under "File 13". That is the end of it. There isn't enough money in the world for me to risk one of our road units and all that it carries along with a very trained tech to send out on a call like that.

Think of how much you could lose by bring ambushed. How long would it take for you to get back on your feet and back into business if you lose the whole road unit, inventory it carries, tools, and the whole 9 yards? AND let's not forget losing a very well trained and experienced tech. How could you replace that?

No address, no service call. Period.

Sinifar

[dll932]

There is a wealthy community here (Gates Mills, Ohio) where some of the streets just don't have house numbers. It's a pain for servicemen but the money's there-these are the people with the black Amex cards and the Bentleys.

[GWiens2001]

Think what Bill is saying is that he is being given a fictitious address. He is trying to find the number which does not exist.

Gordon

[jeffmoss26]

There is a wealthy community here (Gates Mills, Ohio) where some of the streets just don't have house numbers. It's a pain for servicemen but the money's there-these are the people with the black Amex cards and the Bentleys.

Amen to that!

[billdeserthills]

Think what Bill is saying is that he is being given a fictitious address. He is trying to find the number which does not exist.

Gordon

I think the number they give is a real address, it just isn't posted anywhere

But to answer Your question Sinifar, I have a 2nd van that just sits and gathers dust. It is fully outfitted with tools and inventory. I took the insurance off it
cause I have been driving my new van.

[Sinifar]

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

[billdeserthills]

I hear You Sinifar, but I bet your daily carry is actually a .380, a .308 would be hard to conceal. You definately have to be careful with the insurance company & your tools. The best most insurance companies will do is usually $5,000, which isn't gonna cover my inventory and tools.

[MatrixBlackRock]

Okay, I have a concealed carry, and I do pack a .308, and am x-mil. Sini

That must be fun to conceal.

Wayne

[cledry]

You guys are in the wrong place if you don't think the economy is picking up. We have a hard time keeping up with the work. Almost every business here is booming. You would almost have to try to fail in order not to succeed here in Central Florida. We had 1 year of bad economy, the last year Bush was in office and since then we are back to the boom days almost.

[billdeserthills]

You guys are in the wrong place if you don't think the economy is picking up. We have a hard time keeping up with the work. Almost every business here is booming. You would almost have to try to fail in order not to succeed here in Central Florida. We had 1 year of bad economy, the last year Bush was in office and since then we are back to the boom days almost.

Yee Haw,
I'm moving next door to Your shop!!
Come On Big Money!!

[MatrixBlackRock]

we are back to the boom days almost.

Send some of that recovery down here, cause right now the SFL economy for the middle class, is still suffering from a sucking chest wound.

Wayne

[Sinifar]

Sheesh, one small typo and everybody climbs on it! Sorry about that!

sinifar

[Squelchtone]

Sheesh, one small typo and everybody climbs on it! Sorry about that!

sinifar

We knew what you meant

I carry a .380 PPK/s myself



Think I'll start an EDC thread...

Squelchtone