G.C. (fire and water restoration) calls last week and needs 1900 sq. ft. of floor sanded….tomorrow… wife tells him we’re scheduled out 3 mos….sorry.
Next day I show up to sand some new floors, but the painters are still set up (that G.C. never called to postpone) so back home I go. Called the wife…told her looks like I got a week off!! She tells me about the fire restoration guy. I stop by the site to look at the job. Roofs getting shingled…no power to the house…100 amp temp. box in the front yard, 150 ft. from the house. I tell the G.C. “It’s your lucky day, I can start tomorrow”. He’s freakin’ thrilled, (floor finishers in my market are few). I advise him that I’ll need a 30 amp breaker at the house.
I reminded him again… “… mini sub panel containing a dedicated 30 amp breaker….I’ll tie into that breaker to pull power for the sanders.”
Next day I show up to find 2 100 ft. 10g. extension cords running from the temp. box to the house. No panel box, no breaker, just bare pig tails at the end of 200 ft. of extension cord. I call his secretary and tell her that I don’t have the right power. Have him call my cell. I sit around for an hour returning calls and drinking coffee. I call her again…tell her the boss has 15 mins. to return my call or I’m going home. I’m home 30 mins. later.
Today, 5 days after I was willing to sand his floors, he shows up on a job I’m doing. He starts yelling at me thru the window: “Get yer a$$ over to that house and start sanding those F#[*ing floors!!”….. “There’s nothing wrong with that power line you idiot!!”…”That power was installed by a licensed electrician.” All this while the owner was in the kitchen with her kids……
Ditch
Replies
So, what happened next?
Cloud,
I used to be a real hot-head, ex-jar. I can still carry a Hummell up 2 flights of stairs by myself. But I'm pretty relaxed at 42. 10-15 years ago I would have been charged with assault.... Anyway...I stepped outside and told him I would be happy to discuss the situation away from my job. Then I called my wife (she handles all the phone and billing business)....and she called him and ripped him a new A$$.
Nothing like having your butt chewed out by a woman.Ditch
After being around three generations of SCPO & SMAJ, I learned early on that the loudest way to yel is to whisper. But, I'm also a mean old coot. I'd found the crew newbie (or the one who is reliable but can't seem to figure out which side of the sandpaper is "out") and sent them down to the rental shop for a drum sander.
"Denver Pyle" is going to show up and ask "Hey's there's no plug?" (This wastes the bozo's time; "Denver" is likely used to hearing abuse on the job, anyway.) Goofus gets a replacement plug. (Maybe "Denver" gets an impromptu demonstration of how not to learn basic electricity--note, not one assault; no bruised knuckles; newbie learns electricty can hurt: all good.) Ok, so now "Denver" tries to plug the 220 snader into the 110 plug, "Hey, this plug is wrong . . . " (More fun, possible repeat performance from before.) Ok, so the rental shop has only got 110 sanders; "Denver" plugs in and sets to cutting--out go all of the lights. Repeat. (Even better, if "Denver" has sandpaper on backwards . . . )
Worst thing that happens, is bozo tell people you hire hands dumber than dirt (he's already called you a bunch of bad things before cussing you out in front of the gentle ears); not a great loss. Your "real" customers will know better (I'm always suspicious of anybody trashing someone else I know to be good.)
Best thing that happens, is some other trade trapped into working for the bozo gets to post a BT thread . . .
(Did I mention that I'm a vindictive, mean, old, coot?)
That sounds like a fun one! I'm afraid I would've had to beat some manners into that guy. ( away from my customers of course) So I guess your not going to refinish any flooring for him are you.
Greg
G,
I'll work for him anytime. My rule with G.C.s: Payment up front in cash for the first 3 jobs. Then....if we get along after that, I'll do 30 days net, -5%/ 10 days. This goes for all G.C.s.
Ditch
I hope this guy is looking for new teeth and a new pair of the big Ba!!s that he has, that I hope you KICKED in, to come to your jobsite with the customer home and talk to you like that. ;-)
To bad it wasn't 20 years ago because a guy like that would've gotton his A$$ kicked.
Other than that, did you enjoy the rest of your day?
Joe Carola
Twenty years ago, the jacka$$ wouldn't have sounded off that way because he'd have known what he'd have gotten if he did.
Today, the meanest thing you can do is say, "My lawyer can beat up your lawyer, Naah-na-na-naah-naah!"
Sheesh. LOL but ironically.Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
Twenty years ago, the jacka$$ wouldn't have sounded off that way because he'd have known what he'd have gotten if he did.
Today, the meanest thing you can do is say, "My lawyer can beat up your lawyer, Naah-na-na-naah-naah!"
Your absolutely right.
I would just love to ask a guy like that what would even make him think that he could even do something like that, and think that he's right and think that he should be able to get away with it and if he really thought that he would get a good responce in return.
Just love to here the answers from people like that when they are so wrong.
He's probably some little spoiled brat that's used to getting his way his whole pathetic life. If you went up tio him and argued back with him and pointed at him and touched his shoulder with your finger, he would probably SUE you anyway.
It would be nice if you could get away with it to just give him a back hand across the mouth and tell him he's not man enough to punch for disrespecting everyone including the homeowner and the kids.
Joe Carola
You have my permision to kill him. The way I would have handled it would be to give him an indifferent look and say. Go over there and practice falling down, I'll get to you in a minute. What a goof your right about the woman butt chewing. There's something about that that hurts worse.
Who Dares Wins.
Kudos to your wife, you flooring guys have it made<G> EliphIno!
that pretty little thing?
I'm shocked.
she seemed so....reserved ......when I met her...
.....what with telling bob why his kitchen looked like crap and all......
Sometimes it sucks growing up just a bit huh? Good old days got things fixed real quick like. Now ya get sued and thrown in jail.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
sometimes its what you dont say or do that tells it all. I think you did right. The guy is a real jerk.
Darkworks: No Guns No Butter squilla and the bling bling.
Hey 'Bro!,
Got your voice mail the other day....have been meaning to get in touch....sanding the floors in the old Fulton Bldg. (now Rennassiance Hotel). Maybe you can stop down.
that pretty little thing?
I'm shocked.
Jeff,
My wife is still the hottest late 30 something in 3 states, yet she's a city girl from Price Hill in Cinti. (also spent 18 years as a flight attendant) and she won't take any crap. She once climbed a 40 to demand a late check from a G.C.
Remember, wives don't think of it as your money....they think of it as their money.Ditch
when ya gonna be there?
Just give me a buzz.
I'm gonna be spending about 3 more weeks on a job on the Chatham College grounds......far end of Oakland......tip of Shadyside/ Squirrel Hill. Off of 5th....
So I'm close to downtown and have easy access. Maybe lunch? Maybe stop by as ya clean up for the day. Let me know.
U still got the cell?
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
1.Don't know about your state but here one way to lose your licsense is to have someone file a complaint about not having good moral character,if that doesn't wake the guy up he desevre everthing he is going to get
2.Do you really want to work for a guy like that.
3.does he have a boss,the old s**t flows downs hill sometimes goes a long way
Hey ditch,
Your wife may have found a new career. I have some phone #'s to some people who need a good a$$ chewing. What does she charge?
WAHD
>What does she charge?
Shoes, clothes, groceries, books, ....
Guys sounds like a real piece of work to me...handling things that way.
But let me ask a question....what didn't you accept about the power set up? If they ran wire and set it in a subpanel box with a 30 amp breaker, and ran 10 guage, would that have made the difference? Or did you want to see some 4/0 triplex to the sub panel?
Not trying to give ya grief...just trying to learn...
But let me ask a question....what didn't you accept about the power set up? If they ran wire and set it in a subpanel box with a 30 amp breaker, and ran 10 guage, would that have made the difference?
That would have made all the difference. A simple sub panel with a 30 amp breaker. I have to know that I have reliable amperage.
My machines pull 13.8 amps each at peak load, and I run two machines bolted together. The motor manufacturer insists that not more than 100 ft. of extension line be used and that the first 50 ft. (from the panel or 240v oulet) be 10g. The sander cords are 50 ft. and are 12g. The way the G.C. set me up, without a sub panel, I would be pulling from 200 ft. of 12g. wire (stranded) and then 50 ft. of 10g wire, then the power cords which are 12g. I've never done that and at $1400.00 per drive unit I'm not gonna try it.
Maybe you or someone else can tell me how much amp drop will occur over 200 ft. thru 12g wire.Ditch
According to my calcs, assuming two sanders running at the same time at full load (2x13.8=27.6 amps, which is worst case of course), 200 ft of 12AWG wire at 240 volts is going to give you almost 22 volts drop. Not good. You want to stay under 3% drop if you can (3% of 240v = 7.2v), so for that distance at that current I'd like to see #6 wire. Since the sanders probably aren't running right at full load amps, #8 wire might be OK.
my best friend is a hardwood flooring guy and he is just as picky as you are.
i went to fire reno job last week to install new kitchen cabinets and couintertop, and guess what? no drywall on the cabinet wall, just afew bits of old plaster and insulation sticking out, told the gc no way and went home, two days later he calls, has new drywall and so on
2 sheets of drywall thats all, whats the matter with these guys?
I had to read this again. It still makes me chuckle when I think about the GC yelling at you through the window.
Who Dares Wins.
Those types are all the same. I think we all know why he yelled through the window and didn't ask for him to come outside for a chat. DanT
LMAO You got that right.
Who Dares Wins.
Edited 6/15/2003 12:16:33 AM ET by Gunner