The day of almighty Idiots
It started just like any other work day ... except the fact that it has been raining non-stop ... and as fun as it sounds, it is not fun when you have to be outside most of the day. But anyway, that's the job I picked and I won't complain about it.
Idiot #1
Customer requests to call him before I show up at his house for installation. So, I try to be nice and actually call the guy and warn him that I am coming, since it is the first appointment for the day ( i.e. I was planning to be at his house around 8:15 am ) and really I don't want to see him jumping out in the suit that he was born in when I show up at the door. No answer on the phone, but an answering machine kicks in. At this point I am assuming the guy is still sleeping.
I get to the house and knock really loud on the front door. No answer. As I am about to leave a person comes out to the van parked on the driveway ( the insignia on the van indicates it belongs to a company specializing in house renovations ). I approach the person and ask if the owner is available.
Contractor: "Yes. He is inside the house."
I go inside the house and meet the owner.
Me: "Morning. How are you? I called you earlier and left a message as well was knocking on the front door and there was no answer. I was actually about to give up and leave."
Owner: "Oh yeah. I heard the phone ring but did not feel like answering it."
Thinking to myself: [Understandable. Maybe he is screening the calls.]
Me: "I am sorry, I thought you requested for us to call you before I arrive and that is the only reason I called. I guess you can't hear very well at the back of the house when somebody is knocking on the front door."
Owner: "Oh no. You can hear everything. I heard the knocking, but I didn't really feel like coming up from the basement."
Me: "I am sorry, were you not expecting me? Did you cancel the order and I just did not get the message? "
Owner: "No, I didn't cancel the order. I still would like it installed today."
Thinking to myself: [I wish we had a refusal of service to idiots policy.]
Since it was my first call, I didn't know that I would have that same thought again .... and again ....
Idiot #2
Second call of the day. House looks freshly renovated. ( Can I say freshly? Who really cares ..... I am saying it anyway. ) The cable line that was running to the house previously is 'missing' and a new line has to be placed going from the main pole to the house. I can see that the line that was previously there is laying behind the backyard fence in the backlane.
Me: "What happened with the line that was here before? "
Owner: "It was getting in my way when I was painting the house, so I just cut it off."
Thinking to myself: [is every person I run into today will be stupid?]
Me: "Ok. No problem. I'll place a new line for you and we'll get your services going here."
I look on the outside of the house to find out where the original line was coming into the house. I fail to find the location ( generally it is around the same location where the phone line comes into the house). Anyway, I start tracing phone lines to help me in my 'adventure'. This wonderful hunt leads me to a concrete step underneath the patio door into which the phone lines magically disappear [into the concrete step that is].
I ask the owner: "Is this location where the old cable line was coming into the house?"
Owner: "Yes. Well, that is before we put a concrete step there."
Me: "Ok then. No problem, I can drill a new opening at a different location, but just out of curiosity ... what are you guys going to do if something happens with the phone line and the phone company has to access their wiring underneath this concrete step?"
Owner: "That is an interesting question. I never thought about it."
Thinking to myself: [No s*** Sherlock. I can see you never thought about it. Maybe you should think about it and think about some other things too since I see you are renovating this house yourself. I wonder what else you poured concrete over without thinking about it.]
Idiot #3
Work order: "Please install an additional outlet."
I arrive at a residence. Customer welcomes me in.
I start my work installing additional outlet. About half way through my installation, the following conversation takes place.
Owner: "Were you at a nursing home a block away this morning?"
Me: "Yes. I did have a call there this morning."
Owner: "I thought that was you. I work there so I guess it was you I saw. You work for the cable company right?"
Thinking to myself: [No, I work for the electrical company and that is why I am here installing an additional outlet for cable services for you. What did I do to deserve so many idiots in one day?]
Anyway, that's the end of my rant for the day. Although I rant about my 'wonderful' stories I hope you don't get the idea that I am miserable at my job. I actually love my job and it's days like these keep it very 'interesting' and make every day different so I don't get bored.
Idiot #1
Customer requests to call him before I show up at his house for installation. So, I try to be nice and actually call the guy and warn him that I am coming, since it is the first appointment for the day ( i.e. I was planning to be at his house around 8:15 am ) and really I don't want to see him jumping out in the suit that he was born in when I show up at the door. No answer on the phone, but an answering machine kicks in. At this point I am assuming the guy is still sleeping.
I get to the house and knock really loud on the front door. No answer. As I am about to leave a person comes out to the van parked on the driveway ( the insignia on the van indicates it belongs to a company specializing in house renovations ). I approach the person and ask if the owner is available.
Contractor: "Yes. He is inside the house."
I go inside the house and meet the owner.
Me: "Morning. How are you? I called you earlier and left a message as well was knocking on the front door and there was no answer. I was actually about to give up and leave."
Owner: "Oh yeah. I heard the phone ring but did not feel like answering it."
Thinking to myself: [Understandable. Maybe he is screening the calls.]
Me: "I am sorry, I thought you requested for us to call you before I arrive and that is the only reason I called. I guess you can't hear very well at the back of the house when somebody is knocking on the front door."
Owner: "Oh no. You can hear everything. I heard the knocking, but I didn't really feel like coming up from the basement."
Me: "I am sorry, were you not expecting me? Did you cancel the order and I just did not get the message? "
Owner: "No, I didn't cancel the order. I still would like it installed today."
Thinking to myself: [I wish we had a refusal of service to idiots policy.]
Since it was my first call, I didn't know that I would have that same thought again .... and again ....
Idiot #2
Second call of the day. House looks freshly renovated. ( Can I say freshly? Who really cares ..... I am saying it anyway. ) The cable line that was running to the house previously is 'missing' and a new line has to be placed going from the main pole to the house. I can see that the line that was previously there is laying behind the backyard fence in the backlane.
Me: "What happened with the line that was here before? "
Owner: "It was getting in my way when I was painting the house, so I just cut it off."
Thinking to myself: [is every person I run into today will be stupid?]
Me: "Ok. No problem. I'll place a new line for you and we'll get your services going here."
I look on the outside of the house to find out where the original line was coming into the house. I fail to find the location ( generally it is around the same location where the phone line comes into the house). Anyway, I start tracing phone lines to help me in my 'adventure'. This wonderful hunt leads me to a concrete step underneath the patio door into which the phone lines magically disappear [into the concrete step that is].
I ask the owner: "Is this location where the old cable line was coming into the house?"
Owner: "Yes. Well, that is before we put a concrete step there."
Me: "Ok then. No problem, I can drill a new opening at a different location, but just out of curiosity ... what are you guys going to do if something happens with the phone line and the phone company has to access their wiring underneath this concrete step?"
Owner: "That is an interesting question. I never thought about it."
Thinking to myself: [No s*** Sherlock. I can see you never thought about it. Maybe you should think about it and think about some other things too since I see you are renovating this house yourself. I wonder what else you poured concrete over without thinking about it.]
Idiot #3
Work order: "Please install an additional outlet."
I arrive at a residence. Customer welcomes me in.
I start my work installing additional outlet. About half way through my installation, the following conversation takes place.
Owner: "Were you at a nursing home a block away this morning?"
Me: "Yes. I did have a call there this morning."
Owner: "I thought that was you. I work there so I guess it was you I saw. You work for the cable company right?"
Thinking to myself: [No, I work for the electrical company and that is why I am here installing an additional outlet for cable services for you. What did I do to deserve so many idiots in one day?]
Anyway, that's the end of my rant for the day. Although I rant about my 'wonderful' stories I hope you don't get the idea that I am miserable at my job. I actually love my job and it's days like these keep it very 'interesting' and make every day different so I don't get bored.
posted by Alex / Саша at 8:30 PM
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