What is it with some people?

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69conv said:
Not everyone who comes thru your door is a customer, sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is send someone to your competitor and let them put THEM out of business. Having said that it costs about $1000 to create a new customer and they are worth about $1,000,000. in lifetime income from their friends and relatives.
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we get about 2-3 average a year that I won't work for.
One of them, as soon as I walked in the door she demanded I tell her everything I was going to do with the computer and why before I did it.
normally I'd be fine with that if they are paying the time, but when she said that if she ever had a problem with it after that she was going to make me come back and fix it.
(everything she didn't know how to do would have been the fault of my work for the rest of her life and I knew it)

You know how computers are and how people can be.
I smiled, got up and left without saying a word.
 
TrailBeast said:
Alright Frankie, is this woman your sister or something. :D
To answer your question, it would cost me the fuel and time, so figure a 25 mile round trip and about an hour or so total. (20 min each way and probably 20 to recover everything)
Normally it would be coming up on 80 bucks. (If it were a std paid service call)

Then next time she needed something and stomped her feet and threatened us she would expect me to do it again, and probably even tell her friends she found somebody they could get to fix things for nothing if they threatened us enough with bad publicity.
Right now the worst thing she can honestly say is we wouldn't come out and help her for free.

I don't do well with threats and demands without at the very least being payed for it, and even then it's get the job done and I'm gone. (may not ever go back either)

You are correct that she is an older woman with little knowledge and needs help, but that isn't my problem when the trade off is taking from my own family.
Tell ya what, send me 75 and I'll go do it for her and tell her you felt for her.:D JK:)

We don't do this for fun or entertainment, but to pay our own bills, and customers will do what you teach/allow them to do.
Karma isn't accepted as payment at the bank so far.

Like I tell my wife "This is not a customer, because customers pay for services."

This is not my normal nature, but it IS what I have had to learn to do to pay the bills and not get taken advantage of.

But I hear ya.
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I operated a small business for 22 years after retiring from IBM. I know what you're talking about, I just look at at things a little differently. Especially with older folks, and computers. I never lost a dime taking care of people, even when they were wrong, or unjustly blaming us for something we were't responsible for.
It's Just a different business philosophy, that's all. .
Nearly every time I did something like this over the years, it turned out to eventually work in my favor, either with more word of mouth advertising, or more business, down the road form they customer, or a friend or relative of the customer.

Best wishes for the future.
 
Frankie said:
I operated a small business for 22 years after retiring from IBM. I know what you're talking about, I just look at at things a little differently. Especially with older folks, and computers. I never lost a dime taking care of people, even when they were wrong, or unjustly blaming us for something we were't responsible for.
It's Just a different business philosophy, that's all. .
Nearly every time I did something like this over the years, it turned out to eventually work in my favor, either with more word of mouth advertising, or more business, down the road form they customer, or a friend or relative of the customer.

Best wishes for the future.
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Good, glad it all went well for you and I hope you got out of service style work before some of the people became entitled and very indignant about it while you know damn well they are doing it to cheat you out of it.
And it's getting worse as it goes on.

It's not always this way obviously, just getting more frequent.
 
I'm dealing with 'old people and computers' at work right now. My dad (78) is an engineer but does not know what a bookmark is/does in an internet browser and does not know how to cut and paste. How is that possible? Younger people kind of take it for granted but I am starting to believe that people of a certain age have a really tough time with technology. It can be extremely frustrating.

He/we have been using an outdated machine for years (XP from '03!) and after working there for two years beating my head against the desk, I finally convinced him that waiting several minutes for the processor to close a window on the desktop was a BAD thing. He didn't really think anything of it. Likewise, our admin assistant lady (68) thinks that 'computers have a mind of their own' and magically do things by themselves. I have a difficult time convincing her otherwise.

I'm setting up an entirely new system with a dedicated server. I've had to hold their hands and show them how to do EVERYTHING. They look at me like I'm speaking a foreign language.

Finally today he told me that I was "good at this computer stuff". :banghead:
 
I figured out a long time ago that people will hassle you more after you do them a favour than if you charge them a fee for service - especially family. I do a lot of tax work, and nobody rides for free. But - I do guarantee my work and build the cost of the number of average follow-ups and tax department requests into my fees right out of the gate.
 
I have the same problem in my IT consulting business. I'm looking forward to retirement and getting less willing to put up with the I10dt's.
 
I'm 67 years old and not an idiot BUT I am some what illiterate when it comes to new age tech. :) Everything I know about computers, I taught myself with the help of my 62 yr old sister who spent her life working in IT. When we were young, we did not have computers. I-pods, calculaters,play-stations, or anything that worked like this new age tech. I know enough to keep from hitting the wrong buttons or at times actually hitting the wrong button!! lol
I think most of the problems dealing with the public anymore has a great deal to do with the economy, and at times dealing with just plain ole idiots!! It's hard for us older people to deal with a lot of the younger people that came into the work place with the idea that the world owed them a living. A lot of the older people only know one way to deal with that and that is to be a reg old A$$hole. I have friends that own their own business and have heard just about every horror story you can think of. Even selling a car with "lifetime" maintence!!!! Yeah right, that ain't gonna fly for sure but you know what I mean.
I feel sorry for anyone that has to deal with the public nowdays. IF I have to deal with a friend to do something for me, be it working on my cars or my home, I fully expect to pay them for that service just like Joe Blow.
All I can say is GOOD LUCK and hope you come out ahead in any situation.
Jim
 
dcdriver said:
I'm 67 years old and not an idiot BUT I am some what illiterate when it comes to new age tech. :) Everything I know about computers, I taught myself with the help of my 62 yr old sister who spent her life working in IT. When we were young, we did not have computers. I-pods, calculaters,play-stations, or anything that worked like this new age tech. I know enough to keep from hitting the wrong buttons or at times actually hitting the wrong button!! lol
I think most of the problems dealing with the public anymore has a great deal to do with the economy, and at times dealing with just plain ole idiots!! It's hard for us older people to deal with a lot of the younger people that came into the work place with the idea that the world owed them a living. A lot of the older people only know one way to deal with that and that is to be a reg old A$$hole. I have friends that own their own business and have heard just about every horror story you can think of. Even selling a car with "lifetime" maintence!!!! Yeah right, that ain't gonna fly for sure but you know what I mean.
I feel sorry for anyone that has to deal with the public nowdays. IF I have to deal with a friend to do something for me, be it working on my cars or my home, I fully expect to pay them for that service just like Joe Blow.
All I can say is GOOD LUCK and hope you come out ahead in any situation.
Jim
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EXACTLY WHY I NEVER WENT INTO "the plumbing' BUSINESS FOR MYSELF!! and, as long as I can get on fabo, buy on ebay and such, I don`t give a dam about learning any more about computers, got better and more interesting things to do. (just my 2 cents)----bob
 
we all know kids nowdays start learning "puter" in the first grade. for the child of the 60's. 70's, we never had a chance to even see a computer . first time I ever sat at one was in 2006. the friend that had it could turn it on, about all. I have gone to the local small town library trying to learn more bout (about) how to use them. the librarians don't know much more than I do! LOL
yes, I admit I don't know what "cut and paste " is.... I live 40 miles from any place to give me lessons. so I learn more when I get a chance from a friend.

for many years my business was raising, training, showing quarter horses. I learned that every time I did something for free for a wealthy customer, it would always bit me in the a--. help someone free that wasn't so well healed, seemed it was always appreciated. amazing which people are loyal to YOU and those that will screw someone for the sake of another "win"????
I learned customers come and go. I follow my heart and do what is right.
I later decided what ever I did with the horse business, I would do not relying on any training/ showing business. don't make much money but I still have my sanity?! LOL
 
MRL Performance said:
So how does that work for a guy like me and my business? Had a guy I built an engine for, was out racing and missed a shift. The engine only had 1/2 season of racing, maybe 20-30 passes. Now it has a knocking noise. Wanted me to fix it for free because Im the builder and its my fault. I did fix it, but it was 100% nothing I did. Abuse, neglect or a part that breaks, how can I be held accountable for that? Now If I didnt torque his rod or used the wrong bearing, then yeah I f'ed up. Ill make it right.

Some say, "How can you abuse a race engine?" Well, sir, it was designed to do job "A", but if you use it for job "B", how the heck can I account for that?

Im sure all of us have been on both sides of the and have had trouble either way, I know I have.
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I have a friend who builds engines, dirt/ drag along with anything from imports trctors ect, you name it he does it or sends it out the door. I asked him that question years ago about standing behind something like race engines ect. He said if he does something wrong its on him, and no problem, but when its something the owner has done causing damage its on them. He told me that there is really no way to give any warranty on a performance engine that is beat on unless its something he has done wrong. He is quite secure in saying that. Nice to do the right thing but it all comes back to personal responsibility which seems to be a lack of in todays times. I see it with friends businesses, tired frustrations ect. My observations.
 
Mrmopartech said:
In today,s world,it,s easier to blame some one else for our problems than look at our selves and say we are to blame,because we did not spend any time to try and under stand the problem and fix it our selves.It cost may be a few hundred buck,s to take a PC course and a high school/collage and learn some thing from a expert,or go to a licensed auto and spend a hour or two to explain the basics to them and ask as many questions you can think of and give them some coin for there time.Are we to lazy to pick up a book and read the dam thing, for some of us it,s the gospel truth.Some believe that they should believe the friend of a friends fifth cousin about there PC or car,the info they get,but not spend money on some thing that every one needs or money on a item that is the second largest cash investment in there lives,or there first largest investment of there lives a house,they would never buy a book to get some type of knowledge from a 30$ book to protect there 200-300,000$ house when the brother inlaw is a handy guy with tools,and knows some thing about plumbing and electrical,GOD forbid.Take 100% responsibility for your self and don,t be a A-hole in life,and blame the world for your ****,that you caused,mrmopartech
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Good points, I have that with my wife and her family. Easier to point fingers and to blame than to step up and face the fact that they made mistakes. No communication, when a conversation gets uncomfortable then that person no longer wants to talk about it.
 
Another fine example of cheap people ripping off others just because they can is my Mother in law.
She'll invite you to lunch and then let you order whatever, then ask for a plate and want to share it with you instead of ordering something for herself. (and then loudly ***** the entire time you are eating about how much it cost)
The one and only time I went anywhere with her I paid just to shut her up, and when we got ready to leave she took the tip I left and shoved it in her purse. (Then denied it) so I had to go back and leave a tip again.

My Neice and Nephew re tiled her kitchen, entry way and hall and when they got done she tried to give them each 5 bucks. (they turned it down) as they were just trying to fix her house for her.
Every year she sends a check for our house of four at Christmas time for 20 bucks. (5 bucks each) :D
It cracks me up actually, but it pisses the wife off, because she gives her ****** addicted grandson 300 a week till he gets a job and it's been 4-5 years now.
This last time he got re arrested she put up 20,000 bail because he failed his probationary drug tests (always does, and always goes back to jail for it) but he just couldn't bring himself to show up for court, so she lost that. (he was "busy")
Thank god those whackos live in CA and not near us, because I'd put a boot in that kids a**. (and get in trouble for it)
OH, and he had better things to do while his cousins did the tile, so he didn't help with that even.

So tight she squeaks, but gives over 1,000 a month to ONE grandchild out of 7 (the ****** addict) that lives in her house rent free with his ****** addict girl friend.
She steals stuff from the Goodwill and thrift stores when she has a bank account that would make your knees weak.:)
If she thinks something in a store should be less, she'll find a price tag she likes and tries to swap them.

I'm tellin ya man, whacko land. :D
 
TrailBeast said:
Another fine example of cheap people ripping off others just because they can is my Mother in law.
She'll invite you to lunch and then let you order whatever, then ask for a plate and want to share it with you instead of ordering something for herself. (and then loudly ***** the entire time you are eating about how much it cost)
The one and only time I went anywhere with her I paid just to shut her up, and when we got ready to leave she took the tip I left and shoved it in her purse. (Then denied it) so I had to go back and leave a tip again.

My Neice and Nephew re tiled her kitchen, entry way and hall and when they got done she tried to give them each 5 bucks. (they turned it down) as they were just trying to fix her house for her.
Every year she sends a check for our house of four at Christmas time for 20 bucks. (5 bucks each) :D
It cracks me up actually, but it pisses the wife off, because she gives her ****** addicted grandson 300 a week till he gets a job and it's been 4-5 years now.
This last time he got re arrested she put up 20,000 bail because he failed his probationary drug tests (always does, and always goes back to jail for it) but he just couldn't bring himself to show up for court, so she lost that. (he was "busy")
Thank god those whackos live in CA and not near us, because I'd put a boot in that kids a**. (and get in trouble for it)
OH, and he had better things to do while his cousins did the tile, so he didn't help with that even.

So tight she squeaks, but gives over 1,000 a month to ONE grandchild out of 7 (the ****** addict) that lives in her house rent free with his ****** addict girl friend.
She steals stuff from the Goodwill and thrift stores when she has a bank account that would make your knees weak.:)
If she thinks something in a store should be less, she'll find a price tag she likes and tries to swap them.

I'm tellin ya man, whacko land. :D
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wow!! LOL, no not really just sad! I hope I cash in my chips if I ever get THAT bad!! LOL
the "last" wife had a dopehead granddaughter she raised and the girl's mother being an addict also. I was driving the wife's car to work ( as I was the only one working), hit a deer and totalled the car. I had bought her the car in the first place. insurance paid more than I had even paid for it. O K , the wife puts the cash in the cookie jar. since it was "her" car... I find a vehicle to buy to get to work, borrow the $$ at the bank for it.
1 year later, wife wants her own car. so where is that cash? B S answers. she sent it to the dopehead granddaughter for lawyer money. few months later I borrow $4500 for her a car. 2 months later she moves back to Tx.! I paid off the bank last year. LOL hope she is happy down there!
we could all maybe write a book of these kind of stories!!?????
 
Well I got another one for that I'll make quick.

My oldest son had this girlfriend for awhile that would come over and they would sit around getting drunk together.
She loses it one night ALL pissed off, screaming, yelling and throwing **** all over the room (sons room)
I go in there and ask her what her address is and I tell her I'm going call a taxi to take her home.
She says no, I.m staying right F'n here.
I said, No your not you are leaving one way or another.
Either in a taxi or a cop car, well she chose the cop car by default. :D

When they got here, they could hear her in the house screaming and throwing stuff from out in the driveway.

She was already on probation for public intoxication and assault, so...

She got out 90 days later and I havn't seen or heard from her since.

Cool, that works. :D
 
The mechanic shop I go here to fix my daily drivers gets the scammers. One guy brings in an old Ford truck for an oil change. Then complains that they did something to it while changing the oil and it doesn't shift right anymore.

they told him flat out, all we did was change the oil and check the trans fluid level/top it off. That wouldn't cause that problem.

He then went away after his little scam to get his trans fixed free at their expense failed.....

Nice try, but sorry....
 
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