observations from work (minor ranting, just trying to destress a little)

[Cougar_ml]

So in the past month I've been told at least half a dozen times by customers that it's become extremely difficult to get any type of work done on their properties.

Today one told me he contacted 6 different roofers/companies to take care of a small hole/leak in his roof.  Out of those 6 a couple said they could come out, but never showed up.  The earliest he could get any of the work done by one of them wouldn't be for at least 2-3 months (in Washington in the rainy season)

Another has his propane tank sitting at well below 10% on the gauge, and no idea when the delivery truck will make it out to his area.

Another, he said he does real estate, said he's having a really hard time getting anyone that will do work as well.

 

Pretty much all of my new customers (and I've gotten quite a few recently) comment how nice it is to have someone actually show up, and are amazed that I actually show up at the time I tell them.  I've been maybe 10 minutes late a few times, but usually within 5 minutes of the time I say, and most commonly it's a couple minutes early.

 

Personally, I have a friend of the family that's called me a couple times saying he'll come over to get some logs we cut for him to use for the supports for a log patio/veranda/whatever the heck it's called where it's an oddly shaped roof over a concrete floor with no walls designed for people to hang out under, but he ends up not showing up, and not calling to say he isn't showing up.  He normally does concrete work, so no idea what his schedule is like, but he could at least send a text message.

 

So seriously, what the heck is wrong with people these days?  I mean, I'm technically a millennial, but I can set alarms and reminders on my smart phone that tell me I have to wake up and go do something, though more commonly all my jobs just get written down on a notepad I keep in my pocket.  I can also figure out that jobs usually take a certain amount of time, and then time for travel, and schedule multiple jobs accordingly (and if I don't know if I will actually make it at say 1pm, I make sure the customer knows "it will be between 1 and 3pm, and if anything changes I'll let you know")

 

 

On the plus side though, I've also been having more customers have me do work on their generators while they aren't even home.  I am given gate codes and stuff like that, and sometimes it just weirds me out for complete strangers I've only talked to on the phone to give me access to their property.  I guess either I sound trustworthy over the phone or people are desperate.

[Batesmotel]

It took 8 weeks for me to get some gutters replaced. The old crew he had pre-Covid have largely moved on to better jobs so he is working with fewer guys. And he is having a hard time getting the aluminum sheets he forms the seamless gutters from. 
 

Around here a lot of laborers and construction workers (cooks, waiters, janitors etc included) got training and better jobs during the shutdown. 

There was a delay in getting my house painted not because of a lack of paint but because of a shortage of 5 gallon paint buckets. They can’t get the plastic to make the buckets fast enough. 
 

Same problem through the entire industry. 

[Historian]

We have been waiting on some higher end Cisco products for 9 months.  Due to the way our budget works we will have to ask for that money again in January.

For close to three years now a component issue has derailed at least three product time lines where i work.   Servers that were once custom made and cost $40,000 are now $55,000 and we're seeing extending wait times.

[gwalchmai]

I need some landscaping work done, but it's so hard to get it done I'm able to indulge my inner procrastinator and put it off.

Also, what is so hard about writing up an estimate and emailing it to a homeowner? Guys want to make verbal "bids" based on eyeballing the property and pulling numbers out of their butts. I'm aware that prices can change, but the job spec is the same. Just write in a clause saying price quotes are only good for a few weeks or whatever. 

[pipedreams]

It has always been a problem only it has gotten worse lately.  I have two water systems, a deep well I use for outdoors only starting acting up.  I didn't have a clue where to start.  Not a lot people that service that area around here.  I lucked out, young guy that learned the business from his grandfather and took over after serving in the Marines.  He was right on time, zeroed in on the problem right away, showed me the problem and had it fixed shortly.  Talked to him a bit, he had leaned the business working with his grandfather since he was a teen.  One man operation keeps busy with several appointments every day, grandmother handles the phone and billing for him.

There are still some good ones out there.

[Huaco Kid]

6 hours ago, Cougar_ml said:

Pretty much all of my new customers (and I've gotten quite a few recently) comment how nice it is to have someone actually show up, and are amazed that I actually show up at the time I tell them.  I've been maybe 10 minutes late a few times, but usually within 5 minutes of the time I say, and most commonly it's a couple minutes early.

 

So seriously, what the heck is wrong with people these days?  I mean, I'm technically a millennial, but I can set alarms and reminders on my smart phone that tell me I have to wake up and go do something, though more commonly all my jobs just get written down on a notepad I keep in my pocket.  I can also figure out that jobs usually take a certain amount of time, and then time for travel, and schedule multiple jobs accordingly (and if I don't know if I will actually make it at say 1pm, I make sure the customer knows "it will be between 1 and 3pm, and if anything changes I'll let you know")

 

My company sends me a service order that says, "be at XX site (Anywhere, USA), on XX day, to do XX work".  I'm very meticulous at that.  It's what I do.

"Do or Do Not.  There is no try."

 

My wife got our heating oil topped off.  It was available and came the same day.  She mentioned that it cost twice as much as last year.  I just said, "Let's go Brandon!"  She replied, "yeahhhhhhhh...." (guess who she voted for)

(now that the kids are gone,  a tank of oil will last us two winters,  so we've got leeway) (and there's still piles of coal back in the woods.)

[Walt Longmire]

I really dislike depending on other people because they are often.... undependable.