Some of the most memorable calls
One of the things I've always liked about this job, and will miss the most when I change my career path, is the service calls.
Of course, most are of the mundane, fix it type of stuff, but I can't imagine what the day-to-day would have been like over the last 10 years without the thrill and intrigue of getting to see Humans in their natural habitats, not to mention getting regularly led to small, windowless rooms in the basements of perfect strangers (whether they call them 'dens', T.V. rooms or whatever).
There are, I've found, some common categories of service call customer:
1)The rent to own customer- usually the house is furnished with the cheapest furniture possible, and trashed....and amid the squalor sits a 52" big screen. Don't count on selling a repair to this guy, he's in debt up to his eyeballs and doesn't own a thing. Most of these customers simply can't afford the maintenance on their "bling" and even if they approve a repair will write a bad check.....Like I won't be able to tell the State Atourney what their whereabouts are.
2)The "Old Money" customer- These reside in neighborhoods ending in the word "brook", and are perhaps the most demanding of patience, simply because they have none of their own. Don't count on them not to call every day,andcancel the repair before the parts arrive, even if it is only 3 days since you started the repair. Don't get me wrong though, wealth does not always equal 'jerk'.
3)The "New Money" customer- These are some of the easiest to deal with, they usually have crawled up from the bottom of the stack, own their own businesses and fully understand that things don't always go as planned, gotta love 'em.
4)The Little Old Lady- These dwell in homes often swarming with cats.
They love company and will often invite you to dinner, offer you cookies and tell you fascinating anecdotes about children and grandchildren, as well as their past lives... by the time you leave you almost want to give them the repair for free, and though I often discount the fix, I can't help but feel terribly sad when it hits me that they're so lonley that they've spent the better part of an hour pouring out their heart and kindness to a perfect stranger.
5)The High-Tech countryboy- These are often the most fun. They dwell in homes decorated with mounted bass and deer antlers. They always understand the value of hard work and will often offer to help, or loan tools. "That looks better than ever, Wanna' beer?" is not an altogether uncommon quote (I always say, "thanks" but decline because I consider it unprofessional).
6)The obsessive-compulsive- Put on your surgical booties! These dwell in homes with white carpet and perfect driveways. No matter how hard you try, something will be amiss after you finish this call, whether it's a picture that appears a "little reddish, but only on channel 8", a speck of dust errantly left on the screen or, God Forbid, an oil drop on the driveway. The best way to avoid trouble is to look for the brilliantly white driveway and toenail clipper manicured lawn as you pull up.....and park on the street.
7)The Jerry Springer Reject- These are the ones that your momma warned you about. They live in houses that are totally trashed and rarely leave the couch, even to answer the door. Decor consists of broken lamps and tattered flea market finds. Don't be the least bit suprised if there's a gun, a collection of empty beer cans or a bong on the coffee table. Just be cool, calm, and collected....then tell them you can't fix the TV because your company can't get the parts, give them the phone number of your rival and back slowly away! These
are notoriously combative customers and will often fight loudly amongst themselves while you are trying to check the T.V.. The biggest givaways that you might be dealing with one of these are:
1)The broken down cars littering the mudpit front yard - along with other junk and trash.
2)Neighbors peeking out through their blinds as you pull into the driveway.
3)Yelling and fighting going on from the other side of the front door before you ring the bell, followed by silence or a loud "Who the hell's out there" afterwards.
Thankfully these are few and far between.
Of course this is a pretty broad and stereotyping collection of observations.
I've always liked fixing things, but it's the customers I've enjoyed the most and will miss the most. I genuinely love people(which is probably why I could never live in a cubicle and use my EE degree), and I can't imagine a job that could have offered so many opportunities to meet and converse with as many as I have, right in their own living rooms. Oh well, Thanks to free trade, and easy credit....nothing lasts forever.
G'nite
Of course, most are of the mundane, fix it type of stuff, but I can't imagine what the day-to-day would have been like over the last 10 years without the thrill and intrigue of getting to see Humans in their natural habitats, not to mention getting regularly led to small, windowless rooms in the basements of perfect strangers (whether they call them 'dens', T.V. rooms or whatever).
There are, I've found, some common categories of service call customer:
1)The rent to own customer- usually the house is furnished with the cheapest furniture possible, and trashed....and amid the squalor sits a 52" big screen. Don't count on selling a repair to this guy, he's in debt up to his eyeballs and doesn't own a thing. Most of these customers simply can't afford the maintenance on their "bling" and even if they approve a repair will write a bad check.....Like I won't be able to tell the State Atourney what their whereabouts are.
2)The "Old Money" customer- These reside in neighborhoods ending in the word "brook", and are perhaps the most demanding of patience, simply because they have none of their own. Don't count on them not to call every day,andcancel the repair before the parts arrive, even if it is only 3 days since you started the repair. Don't get me wrong though, wealth does not always equal 'jerk'.
3)The "New Money" customer- These are some of the easiest to deal with, they usually have crawled up from the bottom of the stack, own their own businesses and fully understand that things don't always go as planned, gotta love 'em.
4)The Little Old Lady- These dwell in homes often swarming with cats.
They love company and will often invite you to dinner, offer you cookies and tell you fascinating anecdotes about children and grandchildren, as well as their past lives... by the time you leave you almost want to give them the repair for free, and though I often discount the fix, I can't help but feel terribly sad when it hits me that they're so lonley that they've spent the better part of an hour pouring out their heart and kindness to a perfect stranger.
5)The High-Tech countryboy- These are often the most fun. They dwell in homes decorated with mounted bass and deer antlers. They always understand the value of hard work and will often offer to help, or loan tools. "That looks better than ever, Wanna' beer?" is not an altogether uncommon quote (I always say, "thanks" but decline because I consider it unprofessional).
6)The obsessive-compulsive- Put on your surgical booties! These dwell in homes with white carpet and perfect driveways. No matter how hard you try, something will be amiss after you finish this call, whether it's a picture that appears a "little reddish, but only on channel 8", a speck of dust errantly left on the screen or, God Forbid, an oil drop on the driveway. The best way to avoid trouble is to look for the brilliantly white driveway and toenail clipper manicured lawn as you pull up.....and park on the street.
7)The Jerry Springer Reject- These are the ones that your momma warned you about. They live in houses that are totally trashed and rarely leave the couch, even to answer the door. Decor consists of broken lamps and tattered flea market finds. Don't be the least bit suprised if there's a gun, a collection of empty beer cans or a bong on the coffee table. Just be cool, calm, and collected....then tell them you can't fix the TV because your company can't get the parts, give them the phone number of your rival and back slowly away! These
are notoriously combative customers and will often fight loudly amongst themselves while you are trying to check the T.V.. The biggest givaways that you might be dealing with one of these are:
1)The broken down cars littering the mudpit front yard - along with other junk and trash.
2)Neighbors peeking out through their blinds as you pull into the driveway.
3)Yelling and fighting going on from the other side of the front door before you ring the bell, followed by silence or a loud "Who the hell's out there" afterwards.
Thankfully these are few and far between.
Of course this is a pretty broad and stereotyping collection of observations.
I've always liked fixing things, but it's the customers I've enjoyed the most and will miss the most. I genuinely love people(which is probably why I could never live in a cubicle and use my EE degree), and I can't imagine a job that could have offered so many opportunities to meet and converse with as many as I have, right in their own living rooms. Oh well, Thanks to free trade, and easy credit....nothing lasts forever.
G'nite
posted by Solderjunkie | 9:08 PM
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