about to meet a strange customer

Sitting on the side of the road killing time because I'm way to earley to meet a customer.
This is the first time I've had a reference call me to say this guy is fuckin weird you
Don't want to work for him. Lol. Guy don't want me looking at pictures don't talk to his
Kids. Sent me a two page email of things not to do at his house. Needing to talk in person
To get a feel for how nuts he is before we sign a contract. I think I want some references from
Him. Would ease my mind if I knew the other trades have been paid.

I have no idea what the business is but I wouldn't touch it. He just sounds like trouble.

It can be totally opposite.

People who talks all these terms and condition can be real smooth. They probably got burned in the past.

Who knows...

I got my 45 and three reloads if you don't hear from me in an
Hour call for back up.

Bunch of brick columns on a deck. Framed a house in
The last 18 days and ready to stand in one place laying
Brick again. Plus me and my brother are the only two
Crackers in this state framing homes.

It puts the lotion on the skin or it gets the hose again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hghclsswhitetrsh

It puts the lotion on the skin or it gets the hose again.

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AHAHAHHAHAHAA

I too am in customers homes every day dealing with weirdos. I have to tell ya, I would probably quote a price that is higher then your normal bid because you are going to pay for it in the long run. In my experience, customers that act like that before you even show up are a major pain in the ass during and after the job is complete. A lot of times, they are NEVER happy and you are doing everything in your power to please them just to get the rest of your money.
Think wisely instead of with your bank account on this one. Yes, the job is income, but it may also not be worth the massive disaster that will occupy your life. Some people are put on this earth to make our lives miserable. BTW, I am in 6 or more homes a day. Have owned the business for 9 years. I get a good feeling when I know a customer is going to be a giant dickhead or pain in the ass and I simply tell them I don't think my product or service will meet their expectations. Their reactions are always priceless. They don't like being fired.
Once in a while I will get gready and price things much higher to compensate for the horrible treatment that they will be giving me. When the job is done, I always kick myself in the face for doing the job.
If there is a way to find out if there are any liens on his property that would be a great start. A lot of times these type of people don't pay contractors because they are never satisfied with the work. Also google his name and address. See if he is the type that complains on every website about everything he has ever purchased or work he has had done.
Just some tips I use.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by colorider

I too am in customers homes every day dealing with weirdos. I have to tell ya, I would probably quote a price that is higher then your normal bid because you are going to pay for it in the long run. In my experience, customers that act like that before you even show up are a major pain in the ass during and after the job is complete. A lot of times, they are NEVER happy and you are doing everything in your power to please them just to get the rest of your money.
Think wisely instead of with your bank account on this one. Yes, the job is income, but it may also not be worth the massive disaster that will occupy your life. Some people are put on this earth to make our lives miserable. BTW, I am in 6 or more homes a day. Have owned the business for 9 years. I get a good feeling when I know a customer is going to be a giant dickhead or pain in the ass and I simply tell them I don't think my product or service will meet their expectations. Their reactions are always priceless. They don't like being fired.
Once in a while I will get gready and price things much higher to compensate for the horrible treatment that they will be giving me. When the job is done, I always kick myself in the face for doing the job.
If there is a way to find out if there are any liens on his property that would be a great start. A lot of times these type of people don't pay contractors because they are never satisfied with the work. Also google his name and address. See if he is the type that complains on every website about everything he has ever purchased or work he has had done.
Just some tips I use.

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^^^This. [Awesom] Damn good advice right there. I've turned away several people for firearms instruction because I got "weird vibes" from them. I have NO problem politely telling someone to pound sand if I think things are going to get sideways down road.

Maybe he's worried you'll recognize his kids from a 'missing' poster. Sounds like a weirdo.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by colorider

I too am in customers homes every day dealing with weirdos. I have to tell ya, I would probably quote a price that is higher then your normal bid because you are going to pay for it in the long run. In my experience, customers that act like that before you even show up are a major pain in the ass during and after the job is complete. A lot of times, they are NEVER happy and you are doing everything in your power to please them just to get the rest of your money.
Think wisely instead of with your bank account on this one. Yes, the job is income, but it may also not be worth the massive disaster that will occupy your life. Some people are put on this earth to make our lives miserable. BTW, I am in 6 or more homes a day. Have owned the business for 9 years. I get a good feeling when I know a customer is going to be a giant dickhead or pain in the ass and I simply tell them I don't think my product or service will meet their expectations. Their reactions are always priceless. They don't like being fired.
Once in a while I will get gready and price things much higher to compensate for the horrible treatment that they will be giving me. When the job is done, I always kick myself in the face for doing the job.
If there is a way to find out if there are any liens on his property that would be a great start. A lot of times these type of people don't pay contractors because they are never satisfied with the work. Also google his name and address. See if he is the type that complains on every website about everything he has ever purchased or work he has had done.
Just some tips I use.

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This is a really good piece of advice!


I was a partner in a painting company for 9 years, last job i did took us 8 months in a "A" frame house. The owner had us paint it about 7 times before he finally went with just ONE solid color called "Nut Meats".


Sent from my Otterbox Defended Tactical iPhone using High Capacity "Clips".

Yep.. I sell and install audio video and automation systems, it's rare but I have run into a couple. Just bid it at your pain in the ass level. If you get the job great, it's extra cash and just don't look at the guy, if you don't oh well, just move on. I have found that the couple people that I have worked with that were like this up front eventually became regular people after a day or so at the house once they see that you are respectful and not a nut yourself. Some people are just really private and don't like the idea of strangers coming into their homes to work.

Ok, so tell us which member of this forum it is.......

I've never gone into a weirdos home for business, but this conversation reminds me of when I got the house measured for carpet -


I was in my home office working and the doorbell rang, so I minimized the browser I was working in really quick and ran upstairs.

Anyway, the guy finishes measuring the entire house and is looking a little uncomfortable as I'm signing the work order. I didn't think too much of it.

I went back to the office room to resume work and there is a pop-up taking up my entire 27" display of of a large black woman going to town on herself with a giant sex toy.

Apparently I got the pop-up from a torrent site I had visited earlier and it opened in its own window in the background. When I quickly minimized what I was working on and bolted for the door, I didn't stick around long enough to see what was open underneath and the pop-up was next in line.

So yeah. If you measure carpet for a living and you're on this site, I'm sorry and I promise I'm normal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CapLock

I got my 45 and three reloads if you don't hear from me in an
Hour call for back up.

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It's been two hours, I'm calling 911

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hghclsswhitetrsh

It puts the lotion on the skin or it gets the hose again.

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The panda avatar made this

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jhood001

Apparently ....

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LMAO, but of course thats what they all say.

If you decide to do work for him just add a massive "asshole tax" to your bid.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BPTactical

Ok, so tell us which member of this forum it is.......

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Lmao I had the same thought.


Sent from my Otterbox Defended Tactical iPhone using High Capacity "Clips".

I meet lots of crazy in my business. (In fact, this week .... )

Advise I got a long time ago: Just because you see a pot of crazy does not mean you have to stir.

I deal with nut jobs daily as well. I've found that people with demands like this guy's (don't look at the pictures, don't talk to the kids, don't bend over the wife, etc) can go one of three ways:

1) They have either had a bad experience with, or heard a story of a bad experience with, a contractor/sales person/whatever it is someone does for a living in the past and they are now over protective of themselves, their family, and their belongings, and once you build up a level of trust or respect they lighten up a bit and seem more normal.

2) They pay up easily as they don't want confrontation and the attention it brings.

3) They are a true nut job that may never pay, and they will have you do any work over and over until it is exactly what they want (usually the first or second attempt matches, but they don't know until at least the seventh or eighth attempt).

The trick is figuring out which they are.... Colorider's advice is spot on.

It sure would be nice if there was an outlet for contractors/etc to report issues with customers, much like customers do with the BBB and online feedback sites.

Sorry, forgot to ask - does anyone know if he made it out, or do we need to send in help???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alan0269

...It sure would be nice if there was an outlet for contractors/etc to report issues with customers, much like customers do with the BBB and online feedback sites.

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^^^THIS. Alan, you might be onto something here. Why not start an "Angie's List" style site for douche-bag, nut job customers?

Because that would require posting up their person information?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alan0269

It sure would be nice if there was an outlet for contractors/etc to report issues with customers, much like customers do with the BBB and online feedback sites.

---

I had a thought some time back about just that. Sort of a reverse Angie's list for good/bad customers. Didn't think it would go over too well in the online community considering angie's list is a big scam. However, it's already been done. http://www.clientlisted.com/ I'm sure there are others.

While we're waiting for CapLock to surface, tell us about Angie'sList being a scam. I've never used it and have no ties, so I have no dog in the fight. Is it just a free version of Martino's list?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by colorider

I too am in customers homes every day dealing with weirdos. I have to tell ya, I would probably quote a price that is higher then your normal bid because you are going to pay for it in the long run. In my experience, customers that act like that before you even show up are a major pain in the ass during and after the job is complete. A lot of times, they are NEVER happy and you are doing everything in your power to please them just to get the rest of your money.
Think wisely instead of with your bank account on this one. Yes, the job is income, but it may also not be worth the massive disaster that will occupy your life. Some people are put on this earth to make our lives miserable. BTW, I am in 6 or more homes a day. Have owned the business for 9 years. I get a good feeling when I know a customer is going to be a giant dickhead or pain in the ass and I simply tell them I don't think my product or service will meet their expectations. Their reactions are always priceless. They don't like being fired.
Once in a while I will get gready and price things much higher to compensate for the horrible treatment that they will be giving me. When the job is done, I always kick myself in the face for doing the job.
If there is a way to find out if there are any liens on his property that would be a great start. A lot of times these type of people don't pay contractors because they are never satisfied with the work. Also google his name and address. See if he is the type that complains on every website about everything he has ever purchased or work he has had done.
Just some tips I use.

---

Yup.

My first clue is usually when they bitch up front about previous experiences with people in my industry. I've learned that the problem is usually them. If you had a problem with the guy before me, it pretty much doesn't matter how well I treat you, by the end you're going to have a problem with me too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jhood001

Apparently I got the pop-up from a torrent site I had visited earlier and it opened in its own window in the background.

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sure you did.

People dump bad reviews on AL and the only way for a contractor to get their rep restored is to buy subscriptions for people to give them good reviews. It's extortion on a grand scale.

So the site is free for users, but contractors only have a certain amount of reviews for free, and must pay for space for the rest? Genius.

As a contractor, I would immediately fill my allotted comment space up with facts about Angie's List and how it operates.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Irving

So the site is free for users, but contractors only have a certain amount of reviews for free, and must pay for space for the rest? Genius.

As a contractor, I would immediately fill my allotted comment space up with facts about Angie's List and how it operates.

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Full access for users also requires subscription and then they spam the shit out of you. Many top rated contractors are also just buying their way to the top.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by generalmeow

sure you did.

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Alright, you got me. I obviously need an intervention. Can any large, african american ladies come over and sort me out? Parrrr-taaaaay!

So when do we send out search parties for CapLock?

He said an hour.... That was definitely a while ago.... Kind of creepy... God speed... Hope his reloads were good...

HELLO!! CapLock?

Does anyone have a fix on his last known location. You can show me enroute with K9.

He's in a hole in the basement putting lotion on his skin guys :/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stoner01

Does anyone have a fix on his last known location. You can show me enroute with K9.

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[LOL]
Show me standing by with a tac-team. We may have to call in air support as well.

Quick. Someone call the F16s at Buckley....WE NEED CAS


[AR15]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DonnyCommo

He's in a hole in the basement putting lotion on his skin guys :/

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Lol his name is caplock not Joe Dirt


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