carryyourbooks

i got a call while at church this morning. a lady called and said her smoke detectors were chirping every couple of minutes. i explained how much it would be if i came out today (sunday) and how it would be $75 less if she could wait until monday morning. she explained how it was hard to sleep and requested that i come after church.

i show up as promised and take care of the situation in about 15 minutes. one of them had a dead battery in it. the detector had paint on it to match the ceiling and the paint had locked the battery door. after cutting the paint with a razor knife, i replaced the battery and it was fixed. obviously, the handyman didn't get all of the SD's. the paint was original to the house. another SD right outside the master bedroom needed a hard reset and all was complete.

in the meantime, the wife come over and pleaded for a discount. i repeated my explanation that i gave her over the phone.

the name on the check was middle eastern, so i google the customer's name to see what the meaning of it was. his name came up several times. in fact, he has his own WIKI page. i never knew he was who he was until a little bit ago.

i just can't believe they are haggling over $75 when they are worth millions.

here is a link to his wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preetish_Nijhawan

and a photo of his house:

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Big John

Unfortunately, money can't buy class.

-John

macmikeman

He's not exactly famous. I have had a married pair of movie stars use their major domo to ask me to give em a discount off my usual pricing, which I flat out rejected. This guy was a teenage star, and made dozens of movies, and thinks he is a dancer. His wife looked real hot in the indoor swimming pool. Thats all the clues i'm giving...

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Still sweeping it up: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/22...-still-unclear

MDShunk

It's part of the culture for certain ethnic groups. It's not personal.

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One reason not to give DIY advice:
Catch a man a fish and you can sell it to him.
Teach a man to fish and you’ve ruined a good business opportunity.

ampman

what is a hard reset on a smoke det.

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"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation ...one is by sword...the other is by debt" John Adams 1826

oldschool

thats cool and all.... just not sure i would throw that all out on a forum

electricmanscott

Go to their coffee shop and bitch about their prices!

I google customers all the time.

Speedy Petey

The answer to your situation in in the name on the check.
It is in their blood to haggle.
I for one DO NOT give in to it.


I had a call from a contractor friend on Friday. A nice cute Indian lady friend of his had an emergency. Service was pulled down by a truck and was laying in the yard. Cut by the POCO for safety. OLD completely shot 100A service.

I get there and she say she is getting other prices. I say no prob. Mind you, this was 10:30am, on a Friday, and I HATE working late.
I give her a price on a new 100A and 200A service. Told her keeping the old panel was just not worth it. She says she'll speak to her mother and get back to me. I say better be quick. Again, a friend referral and an emergency. I was changing my whole schedule to accommodate her.

She calls me back after 11a and says they're going with someone else. I say thanks and good luck.
Pricing a freaking emergency service replacement, that was done by a vehicle??? They're not going to wind up paying for it anyway, but they HAD to have the absolute lowest price.

Chris1971

My last customer looked like an excon. Does that count?

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I'm innocent. I did nothing wrong. I'll take the fifth.

carryyourbooks

you take out the battery and hold the reset. the buzzer will buzz and then fade out. put battery back in and you are all set.

i have had to do it many times.

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dronai

I work in a very affluent area, and I find a lot to be very tight. There's a reason they have money.

360max

what are the signs of needing a hard reset?

Hairbone

One time i managed a hotel in a resort area. They rented out a family suite that slept 6 and had about 15 with them. They refused to leave at checkout and used up about 300 gallons of hot water that am. The owner came down to throw them out and before they left rubbed chit between the mattress & box springs.....

About 5 years later had one beat the snot out of me on my first bill to him..Next time he called I uped his bill by 25% and then deducted 10% as I said he was a good customer That deal lasted another 50 invoices

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BORN TO FISH... FORCED TO WORK

FISH ON

Tiger

I worked for a "household name" star last year, who was first class, grade A, top shelf. No haggling and paid up front. In my opinion you have a screw loose to release client personal information on the internet.

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www.TigerElectrical.com

MDShunk

The only recognizable person I've ever done work for was just as normal as any other homeowner. Matter of fact, it almost seemed as if she couldn't care less what I was doing in her house, where I was going, or how much it cost. She even sat a glass on the kitchen counter and told me I could get a drink from the fridge if I wanted. I actually had to go find her in the house when I was done so I could tell her I was finished. Sorta weird. People are still people, after all.

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One reason not to give DIY advice:
Catch a man a fish and you can sell it to him.
Teach a man to fish and you’ve ruined a good business opportunity.

electrictim510

I don't mind. I worked at Gary Payton and Bill Romanowski's house, both good customers.

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"Understand one thing every one has a place in this trade, and no matter what your skill set I doubt you know it all." brian john

chewy

Have you never done business with Indians or Pakistanis before? When their head starts moving like its on a swivel left and right you know the hagglings started.

MDShunk

Yup. It's as much a part of the culture for certain people as baseball and hot dogs are for us. It is, truly, what they believe they're supposed to do. None of us have to like it, but it is what it is. Some may call this stereotyping, but when certain cultural trends become clear, it's more like anthropology than an actual bias.

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One reason not to give DIY advice:
Catch a man a fish and you can sell it to him.
Teach a man to fish and you’ve ruined a good business opportunity.

chewy

Just like being stuffed with food at a Greek household, removing your shoes in Japanese households or not sitting on tables or bench tops in Maori households.

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Currently under suspension for unauthorized heroism.

chewy

And don't ever bring an open umbrella into my house, haha.

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Currently under suspension for unauthorized heroism.