Absentee customers.

[Mike]

Now i just did a job this week a back fly teo sest covers and a dash cover on a proline walk around. 30'
The colustlmer was up my azz the shole time shole insas installing.
Inhad ti ask hom to move several time as i had to get were he was standing.  Then today i figured an easy da mKing a new canvas for a portable gazebo i guy brought to me last week.
I forgot but today he is in wisconsin  till the 1st.
And ive also got one guy to do a mooring cover on a flats boat gone durring the same timline.

[Mojo]

I hated working on a project with the customer right there. My solar screen installs always involved the help of the customer and it drove me completely nuts. I used to get nervous drilling holes into the side of a 1/2 million dollar bus but it was even worse with the customer standing over my shoulder watching.

I love my current work. They send me the measurements, I make the toppers or awnings, they pay me via Paypal, I ship them out and that is that. Nice clean deal.

I once seen a sign at a business that said - " Our labor rate is $ 75.00 per hour. It is $ 125 if you want to watch ". :)

Chris

[Mike]

That. Great way to work chris!
Funny thing ive seen so mNy ill fitting canvas's  over that fit like a fent draped with wrinkles. Ut they accelt that   "it came on the boat tha way" and they wanted the boat so it sas ok but if i make a simple
Cover. Boy it had to be not to tight not to loose no erinkles at all.
I had a guy  oncerned if i used enought stalles installing hydem on a seat he wanted  more

[scarab29]

If the owner is up in my face while i'm working , I ask jokingly if he remembers our labor rates. Similar to the post above , If the customer watches it's double , if he wants to help it's triple. Of course there's our regular rae where I'll do a real nice job for you if you leave it and let me do my work !!

[byhammerandhand]

A favorite clause:

•   Will perform the work specified independent of customer's supervision, being responsible only for satisfactory completion of the work.

[SHHR]

It amazes me those who'll stand there and make suggestions while you're working. I told a guy once if he knows so $#@#ing much about this work why isn't he doing it himself and saving the money. They usually shut up and leave after that.
Kyle

[byhammerandhand]

I love this article, and the "Waiter's Rule"

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2006-04-14-ceos-waiter-rule_x.htm

[Darren Henry]

I told a guy once if he knows so $#@#ing much about this work why isn't he doing it himself and saving the money.

I used to hand them tools when I had my own shop. Saint Pat never the drove the rats that fast. LOL.

Chris has raised the bar on this whole e-whorld thing . When emailing pictures became affordable; my friend Jerry (caretaker on Lake of the Woods)  cut his payment time from 2 months to 2 weeks. He'd call customers and say ??" a tree fell on the old outhouse in last night's storm." They would then call family/friends who were in the area to look before they authorized the needed work. Then they would wait to hear from same before they mailed a cheque after he was finished. Now he sends them an e-pic "yup, that's a tree on your outhouse" followed by "there's the firewood piled up there and the new roof there. " "Please deposit $xx to the camp account."