Every decade or so, I manage to make a complete fool of myself. Yesterday was the day.
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I tore out nasty shower walls and installed new ¼â€ Corian panels for a customer last month. I had to return yesterday to install some custom window trim and finish caulking after the tub reglaze guys did their thing. I asked the customer if the plumber had returned to install the longer screws in the escutcheon covering the new valve he installed. He had not. In twenty minutes of trying, I could only get in one of the two screws. Apparently he roughed in the valve too deep.
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This is really irritating me. This guy has had a month to make this call-back and because he hasn’t, this customer could sit on the fifteen hundred bucks she owes me that I planned to collect today. A guy I subbed for once had customers hold his seven thousand dollar balance due over a 1†piece of tile. I can’t say I blame them, but it does happen.
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Since it’s Saturday, the lady at the plumber’s answering service asks what is my emergency when I call. I tell her I’m about to experience a blockage of fifteen hundred dollars due to their irresponsibility. She is not amused, but forwards my number to my plumber. He calls right back, apologizes for the delay and agrees to come right over. He understands my frustration at possibly having my payment delayed through no fault of my own. This is why I hired a pro, right?
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I continue stewing while working and Gary shows up soon. I am really glad to see him and tell him so. He steps onto the tarp protecting the tub, squats down, and without even removing the screw from the hole says “There it is.†And screws the damn thing in!
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I couldn’t believe my eyes. I battled with that damn screw for twenty minutes and couldn’t get it to start and he screws it in on the first try? I can’t rebuild a motor, but I’ve made a nice living as a remodeler for thirty years, so I must have some mechanical aptitude. Too bad my mechanical ability is not as good as my ability to jump to conclusions. I’ve tied my panties in a knot and blamed others for my mistake.
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I immediately issue an apology and offer Gary payment for his time. He graciously declines and says, “I wanted an excuse to get out of the house anyway.†“You can keep these†he says smiling, and hands me the longer screws.
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The customer was delighted and I collected my money. Thanks, Gary.
Kowboy
Replies
hahaha - that was a good read!
I'm impressed.
You only make a fool of yourself once a decade or so?........
I'm waaayy ahead of the curve..
Bing
"You only make a fool of yourself once a decade or so?........"
Bing187:
Of course I do it more often, but I'm talking the whoppers here. Like in 2000 when my horrific swearing rampage in my shop was overheard in the showroom by an eventual customer, the disciplinarian for the Toledo Public Schools. I had to cover my eyes when I apologized to her; I could have died more easily.
Kowboy
LOL.
I had a similar issue working on my last van, I was swapping out the alternater and it was a royal nightmare just getting to it; let alone getting bolts loose and such.
And then it happened, the mounting bolt dropped back in the deep dark void of the other engine related doohickies and whatnots...no damm way could I get thr bolt back..magnets, mirrors, chinese finger cuffs and bubble gum on duct tape would not get the bolt back, OR the new Alt ON.
So she gets towed to the shop, I came over behind the wrecker, stopped for gas in DW's car and a coffee...I get to the shop and the van isn't being worked on, it's sitting in the lot.
I embarrasedly ask the owner if maybe please he could get it going today? The wife would like to go home in her car and take care of bizness...
He says "It's done"
I'm like "WTF?" "Already?, how'd ya get that dang bolt outta there?"
He says" oh, we just used another one, it's still in there somewhere"
Damm.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"
Jed Clampitt
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Edited 8/23/2009 12:25 pm ET by Sphere
I had just purchased my '94 F-150, when it broke down on the road. I had it towed to my mechanic. He showed me the little button on the dashboard that switches over to the other gas tank (which was full). I had run out of gas in that tank. DUH!View Image bakersfieldremodel.com
Ok, while we're fessing up.
I had a riding mower that had a funky carb or other minor malfunction..so while I was mowing I would raise the hood and try to adjust the screws on the carb ( yeah, I was Mensa) and the damm thing would die every time I even touched a screw.
well, it had a kill switch under the seat, and as I stood and leaned over the engine, the seat would raise and kill the spark..LOL.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
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I've got one involving a kill switch, but I haven't healed enough emotionally to be able to tell it yet. Suffice it to say, Let the mechanic know about the hidden kill switch when you drop it off, or it could be an expensive proposition!View Image bakersfieldremodel.com
I worked in a honda motorcycle shop in the early/mid 70'sI can't tell you how many times a new rider would returnis new motorcycle because it would not startYep you guessed it. The kill switch was on or he did not turn on the gas
hahaha! That's the best yet!
I had just purchased my '94 F-150, when it broke down on the road. I had it towed to my mechanic. He showed me the little button on the dashboard that switches over to the other gas tank (which was full). I had run out of gas in that tank. DUH
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And here I thought I was the only one who had ever done that!
Why didn't you do what I always do. Turn it upside and shake it. The bolt will just fall out..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
I once fiddled with 4" escutcheon screws for half an hour; I had no one but myself to blame. Sure, I cursed Delta for the "ridiculous design" of stabbing blindly at a tiny orifice until things somehow align (reminds me of another "first time"). Once I got it I realized that pro plumbers probably develop a feel for it, and my hat's off to them.
Many moons back I had bought a Datsun wagon and drove it 1000 highway miles in fourth gear before I'd got it home and later realized that cars were being built with 5 speeds.
be humbled
Great story. It's nice to see that it brought out the best in people (you).
This could be (perhaps with a bit of embellishment) a "Great Moments" story in FHB. Send it in....
Scott.
My sister had just gotten her "new" car, a Toyota Celica I think. Anyway an early sporty job, and none of us had ever had a car that 1)you had to push the clutch all the way down to start the car, or 2)the steering wheel locked when you took out the key.
She couldn't move the wheel, and even a call to the 24 HR help line to the Auto Association did not stop that car from having a tow truck called - he had the grace not to laugh.
I was the one who couldn't start the clutch car, and that all I had driven for years .....
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
Just so everyone knows.......when you run a Ford Explorer into a tree bec you're trying to miss the deer, then you call your friend with the F350 to tow the mess home in the morning bec it won't start no mo'...there's a little red button on the passenger side footwell, just under the dash. Push it before trying to drag the vehicle two miles with the steering locked up.Yes, it says so right there in the manual in your glove compartment.
One of my first manual trans cars was a 91 Toyota Tercel... I bought it and was at a stop light for about 4-5 cycles of the light because I had stalled it and it would not start.It was the darn clutch pedal not pushed in all the way trick!I was freakin out thinking the new (to me) car I just bought was a lemon...JT
Toyota trucks back then had a clutch start cancel button on the dash. You could park a dead truck with the starter in gear.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
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