OT- Why do we place no value on others time, knowledge and experience?

I work in the fence industry. I have people use me to figure out a solution to their problem all the time. Occasionally the potential client will try to use my concept and have someone else implement it in an effort to save money. More often than not they will call me back and want me to fix an unfinished problem. My price goes up to undo the problem and then more forward with my plan. The client is usually pissed but understands why after I explain.

I once had someone say to me that "I can't afford to do it cheap." And how true it is.
 
I see this differently? If someone calls asking tech advise, I simply tell them that I can't tell them and then take responsibilities. Or basically play dumb and tell them it's too complicated to explain on the phone or something. I'd totally dodge questions except for explanations to bring it in to the shop to be fixed (if it was something I wanted to mess with). I think email / online forums is the only exception to this rule for it's on YOUR time. You can't make money with a phone in your hand giving free advise...

Simply state that you are too busy at the moment to be a free teacher.:flipoff2: Rude and crude but to the point for true customers isn't going to ask a bunch of questions rather than just bringing it in.

Since being hired back on full time and keeping the side work I WANT to keep, the cost of my time has trippled. Unless someone I'm close to or someone who helped me in the past needs assistance, I'm no longer for hire. And it feels SOOOO good to say that now being I took on every shit job to exist for the past 3-4 years.
 
6BangBronk said:
I see this differently? If someone calls asking tech advise, I simply tell them that I can't tell them and then take responsibilities. Or basically play dumb and tell them it's too complicated to explain on the phone or something. I'd totally dodge questions except for explanations to bring it in to the shop to be fixed (if it was something I wanted to mess with). I think email / online forums is the only exception to this rule for it's on YOUR time. You can't make money with a phone in your hand giving free advise...

Simply state that you are too busy at the moment to be a free teacher.:flipoff2: Rude and crude but to the point for true customers isn't going to ask a bunch of questions rather than just bringing it in.

Since being hired back on full time and keeping the side work I WANT to keep, the cost of my time has trippled. Unless someone I'm close to or someone who helped me in the past needs assistance, I'm no longer for hire. And it feels SOOOO good to say that now being I took on every shit job to exist for the past 3-4 years.
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dependent on what business you are in -

In my line of work, our sales/estimating staff cannot afford to tell a potential sell to 'fuck off' when that sale could be 15% of our year's gross income (or future income from return business)
 
Ron, you are no longer allowed to call me and ask about cars:flipoff2:
 
Hurley said:
dependent on what business you are in -

In my line of work, our sales/estimating staff cannot afford to tell a potential sell to 'fuck off' when that sale could be 15% of our year's gross income (or future income from return business)
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Agree. But that's why I'm NOT a salesman. I envy a salesman for I couldn't sell free gold...:rolleyes:

But when someone calls me on my phone to ask how to do something when I should be getting paid to do this work I consider it as totally unacceptable. But honestly I'm not rude. I just play stupid and dodge the questions somehow for I know this feeling well with past customers who take their crap to someone else who wants to know how I did something. I had to spend my time figuring out how the person before me did it to begin with and if someone has to ask questions on someone else's dime who does the same for a living, they don't need to be doing the work initially.
But as for everything, there's always a first time to learn something but the internet is the only exception for free help besides chatting with friends / family who has knowledge. If someone can't get on a computer and figure it out, they need to take a class on it. NOT just call up a shop to ask how to do something. That's just so wrong on so many levels to me...:shaking:

I find it professional to be able to dodge / avoid questions without offending. ;) You have to.
 
Hurley said:
dependent on what business you are in -

In my line of work, our sales/estimating staff cannot afford to tell a potential sell to 'fuck off' when that sale could be 15% of our year's gross income (or future income from return business)
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You can come deal with some of my customers then :D

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I supply telecommunications equipment for phone companies and data centers. Moneys great, but I hate sitting at a desk. Any retired network engineers want a sales job cause I'm leaving this place soon?!
 
FREE GOLD?!??!?!?:bounce:
 
Hell I am sure we all get stuff asked to us about different topics.. but I will say when I call a shop and I ask questions and they take the few minutes to answer those are the ones I go to.. I have a few shops that I go to even though I know there prices are higher sometimes.. but I also know I can walk in ask more questions or call them back and they will answer my questions.. at the same time I will also refer lots of work to the folks willing to help..

Lee is a prime example of a good shop that I refer people to all the time.. I was referred to him by Yager, I have used him for 2 trannys and other stuff.. he has helped me many times and I know others that I have referred to him that gave him great reviews also..

he took the time to help me and I try to help him as much as I can
 
BRUISER said:
Hell I am sure we all get stuff asked to us about different topics.. but I will say when I call a shop and I ask questions and they take the few minutes to answer those are the ones I go to.. I have a few shops that I go to even though I know there prices are higher sometimes.. but I also know I can walk in ask more questions or call them back and they will answer my questions.. at the same time I will also refer lots of work to the folks willing to help..

Lee is a prime example of a good shop that I refer people to all the time.. I was referred to him by Yager, I have used him for 2 trannys and other stuff.. he has helped me many times and I know others that I have referred to him that gave him great reviews also..

he took the time to help me and I try to help him as much as I can
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I can agree with this completely. However its also extremely frustrating when the same person call 3 times a week and ask how to fix or what parts to use and then take their money elsewhere to implement you're knowledge. Or when folks are seeking warranty repairs that are not deserved. I've had folks demand I warranty items on vehicles I've never seen, and dang sure never worked on lol.
I think there's a group of folks that goes around convincing themselves everyone owes them something.

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Meh....I'm electrical which as Shawn and Cyd remind me often, means I dont know shit.
Lol
 
Ron said:
I can't be the only one this happens to.

As many here know I am Sales Engineer for a large electro mechanical equipment manufacturer
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Is that like saying a janitor is a "Water Closet Engineer" :lol: :flipoff2:



Other than that poke, I feel your pain. We have people do the same to us at work. We don't mind helping; problem is, once you help and offer advice (especially design) and something isn't correct, then there is a level of liability and risk there that you aren't getting compensated for. Most people just don't understand that!
 
I am a paramedic. With out fail people will come up to me and ask me medical questions, while I'm eating no less. I have had people take off there shoes to show me sores and ask my opinion. Had a guy today ask me for money or buy his lunch. Told him no and he goes on this rant about public service. I ignored him and continued to eat my lunch. Wish I could tell him (and many others) to piss off but I like my job
 
Futbalfantic said:
I am a paramedic. With out fail people will come up to me and ask me medical questions, while I'm eating no less. I have had people take off there shoes to show me sores and ask my opinion. Had a guy today ask me for money or buy his lunch. Told him no and he goes on this rant about public service. I ignored him and continued to eat my lunch. Wish I could tell him (and many others) to piss off but I like my job
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there is nothing worse than that. i hate going out somewhere to eat with my family while wearing my work shirt. i'll be eating dinner and someone comes up and starts talking to me about there car. i usually hand them a business card and tell them to go away and call me during business hours.
 
I get it a lot as well, I work for Toyota INDUSTRIAL Equipment, ( forklifts, scissors lifts, various other logistics and construction equipment ) I happen to wear the same uniform shirt that Toyota Automotive techs wear, and get a LOT of questions at gas stations, resturaunts and some customer locations about Toyota automobiles.

I don't work on cars, and I don't work on anything with a license plate, pretty much ends it right there, and they leave with a very quizical look ( could be a normal look for them, don't usually notice or care )

Can I fix them ? yes, will I fix them, no, I despise working for the off the street retail customer. ( I feel for Lee and a few others who have to deal directly with a lot of these idiots ) I don't even work on neighbors stuff anymore, it becomes a pain in the ass, especially when they have no clue how to maintain, and I become the fall guy. Done with it.
 
Blkvoodoo said:
I get it a lot as well, I work for Toyota INDUSTRIAL Equipment, ( forklifts, scissors lifts, various other logistics and construction equipment ) I happen to wear the same uniform shirt that Toyota Automotive techs wear, and get a LOT of questions at gas stations, resturaunts and some customer locations about Toyota automobiles.

I don't work on cars, and I don't work on anything with a license plate, pretty much ends it right there, and they leave with a very quizical look ( could be a normal look for them, don't usually notice or care )

Can I fix them ? yes, will I fix them, no, I despise working for the off the street retail customer. ( I feel for Lee and a few others who have to deal directly with a lot of these idiots ) I don't even work on neighbors stuff anymore, it becomes a pain in the ass, especially when they have no clue how to maintain, and I become the fall guy. Done with it.
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I feel youre pain, I wear that same uniform, I use to just tell people I don't work on automotive, Just industrial side. Now a select few I like to screw with, I had this lady ask me while I was eating lunch why her camry had a scraping noise every time she stopped, I told her it was very soon going to catch fire and immediately take it too the dealer. She gasped and walked away, over heard her call her husband and tell him to have the car towed to Mike johnsons because a technician told her it was going to catch fire, I finished my sandwich and promptly left.
 
Ron said:
Meh....I'm electrical which as Shawn and Cyd remind me often, means I dont know shit.
Lol
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Out of curiousity(sp?), Who do you wokr for? It sounds like we work for a similar company. I work a company called Electro Mechanical Corporation. We build coal mining power centers, substations, switch gears etc.
 
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