To be continued......
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
THE WEEK OF THE "BOY".......
"For young and for old, a place at the table, revisiting the roles, deciding the share with wisdom and grace, dividing the power, for women and men, a system that is fair."
unknown
Gentle readers, I have a short story to share. Some time back, at a family function, I sat talking to my oldest Grandson whom I do not know very well. He is a fine young man and stood over six feet tall plus. I thought I needed to get to know him before it is too late and he is a grown man. I asked him if he would like to come and stay with me for a week and work with me. He said he would ask him mom.
Two weeks later, I answered the phone at work and heard, "Grandma?"! And it was on. Some time later, it was Monday morning and I was trying to wake "the boy" Adam, to get to the shop.
The fact that I seemed to miss was that he was barely 14. A very tall 14. He was not at the point of self discipline. Adam and I arrived at the shop that morning and at the 8:00 AM staff meeting I introduced him and that he would be here a week to help out.
My guys embraced Adam and they all pitched in finding safe things he could do. I learned very quickly that Adam had to be kept busy. His first task that Monday, was to use a scuff pad, about 1000 grit sand paper and scuff the quarter panel of a car ready to be painted. My first clue of the week to come was when, in his vigor, he sanded the taillight of the vehicle. I walked up and inhaled a large amount of oxygen, gasped and my shop manager did an eye pop about the same time. Nothing was said to not embarrass Adam, but he was taken off the sand line. Quietly, a new taillight was ordered and no one said a thing.
Adam was then tasked with washing cars, (safest thing we could think of) and seemed to do well until he came up to me and said the power washer was broken. Again, my General Manager quietly ordered a new hose on line for our expensive power washer and nothing was said.
I had what was to be a very expensive week ahead of me. Adam is a hard and good worker. After he cleaned the shop, the office and the bathrooms we ran out of safe labor for the young man. My crew then took turns with Adam. He would hang out in the detail department with a great and patient young man and washed car windows as the detailer replaced emblems, trim, etc. Every one took turns. We even tried to let him answer the phone. That was worse than the taillight.
Adam seemed to enjoy lunch the most in his daily activities. Each day, he went to lunch with a different group of guys. I gave him money and he tagged along. He went to lunch with a slightly ornery group and they had lunch at "Hooters". Adam was repeatedly told, "Do not tell Grandma!"
He did not but I got wind of it within an hour as some of them could not keep a secret. I though it was great and it was good he was having fun. After all, he will have to work someday and the experience was good.
Somehow, we got through the week with only a few minor mishaps. Adam went home with a new laptop that I bought him for all his hard work. I now knew a grandson I had not known before and I hope he remembers his experience with a smile. I do.
Postscript: His father, my son, had to drive down the following week and repair my laptop which Adam had been allowed access to. Lesson leaned. Let them play with their own toys! It is cheaper.
God Bless all. Shangri La
unknown
Gentle readers, I have a short story to share. Some time back, at a family function, I sat talking to my oldest Grandson whom I do not know very well. He is a fine young man and stood over six feet tall plus. I thought I needed to get to know him before it is too late and he is a grown man. I asked him if he would like to come and stay with me for a week and work with me. He said he would ask him mom.
Two weeks later, I answered the phone at work and heard, "Grandma?"! And it was on. Some time later, it was Monday morning and I was trying to wake "the boy" Adam, to get to the shop.
The fact that I seemed to miss was that he was barely 14. A very tall 14. He was not at the point of self discipline. Adam and I arrived at the shop that morning and at the 8:00 AM staff meeting I introduced him and that he would be here a week to help out.
My guys embraced Adam and they all pitched in finding safe things he could do. I learned very quickly that Adam had to be kept busy. His first task that Monday, was to use a scuff pad, about 1000 grit sand paper and scuff the quarter panel of a car ready to be painted. My first clue of the week to come was when, in his vigor, he sanded the taillight of the vehicle. I walked up and inhaled a large amount of oxygen, gasped and my shop manager did an eye pop about the same time. Nothing was said to not embarrass Adam, but he was taken off the sand line. Quietly, a new taillight was ordered and no one said a thing.
Adam was then tasked with washing cars, (safest thing we could think of) and seemed to do well until he came up to me and said the power washer was broken. Again, my General Manager quietly ordered a new hose on line for our expensive power washer and nothing was said.
I had what was to be a very expensive week ahead of me. Adam is a hard and good worker. After he cleaned the shop, the office and the bathrooms we ran out of safe labor for the young man. My crew then took turns with Adam. He would hang out in the detail department with a great and patient young man and washed car windows as the detailer replaced emblems, trim, etc. Every one took turns. We even tried to let him answer the phone. That was worse than the taillight.
Adam seemed to enjoy lunch the most in his daily activities. Each day, he went to lunch with a different group of guys. I gave him money and he tagged along. He went to lunch with a slightly ornery group and they had lunch at "Hooters". Adam was repeatedly told, "Do not tell Grandma!"
He did not but I got wind of it within an hour as some of them could not keep a secret. I though it was great and it was good he was having fun. After all, he will have to work someday and the experience was good.
Somehow, we got through the week with only a few minor mishaps. Adam went home with a new laptop that I bought him for all his hard work. I now knew a grandson I had not known before and I hope he remembers his experience with a smile. I do.
Postscript: His father, my son, had to drive down the following week and repair my laptop which Adam had been allowed access to. Lesson leaned. Let them play with their own toys! It is cheaper.
God Bless all. Shangri La
Saturday, July 13, 2013
"I Hear The Train A' Commin......(AGAIN)
It's Rollin' Around The Bend........
Gentle Readers, Hello. It is Saturday Afternoon and I am here while the crew is working to catch up on the work load.
It was Tuesday, around midnight, an unknown assailant used a rock found on the ground to break out the window of the office at "THE BODY SHOP". The assailant then broke the blinds climbing through the broken window and went through my office looking for cash. It was clear that the object was to get cash as they took about $25.00 in coin, from the desk. It was foolish for them to think I would leave anything more than that.
The police responded quickly to the break and enter with skillful and meticulous CSI work. The office was dusted from top to bottom with black powder and I am sure if there was a finger print, it was found.
So......bottom line, they broke a window I have to replace, broke the blinds and only got a few dollars. Not worth the 2 hours I spent washing the black powder from every surface.
People, I am a small business, not a Walmart! I am scraping to get by. Leave me alone!!!!
In closing, I would like to apologize in advance for my warped sense of humor and tell you that a person came in today for an estimate on their "Woe Woe". Allow me to translate, Volvo.
Have a blessed weekend, what is left of it. Shangri La
Gentle Readers, Hello. It is Saturday Afternoon and I am here while the crew is working to catch up on the work load.
It was Tuesday, around midnight, an unknown assailant used a rock found on the ground to break out the window of the office at "THE BODY SHOP". The assailant then broke the blinds climbing through the broken window and went through my office looking for cash. It was clear that the object was to get cash as they took about $25.00 in coin, from the desk. It was foolish for them to think I would leave anything more than that.
The police responded quickly to the break and enter with skillful and meticulous CSI work. The office was dusted from top to bottom with black powder and I am sure if there was a finger print, it was found.
So......bottom line, they broke a window I have to replace, broke the blinds and only got a few dollars. Not worth the 2 hours I spent washing the black powder from every surface.
People, I am a small business, not a Walmart! I am scraping to get by. Leave me alone!!!!
In closing, I would like to apologize in advance for my warped sense of humor and tell you that a person came in today for an estimate on their "Woe Woe". Allow me to translate, Volvo.
Have a blessed weekend, what is left of it. Shangri La
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
I AM EXTRAORDINARILY PATIENT,
PROVIDED I GET MY OWN WAY IN THE END.
Margaret Thatcher
Gentle Body Shop Readers,
Last week, I had one of those experiences that, we all wish to avoid, but when they happen, cannot avoid, but need to handle.
One of my employees came to work with the attitude from hell and was ready for a fight. He had been in my office several days before having a pity party for himself and we talked about that his inability to hold his temper in check is doing him no good in the work place. He agreed with me and said he would work on it and understood that his problems at home should stay at home.
I heard the screaming from the front office and ran out the door to the shop. To make a long story short, the person screaming was the very employee who agreed just a few days before to control his temper. I stood between him and my painter, two big guys and used my mother voice and said, "Knock it off!" I told him several times to "GO HOME AND COOL OFF" He preferred to get in my face, scream at me to fire him if I dared, so I finally said, " OK, YOU ARE FIRED, NOW GO HOME". Seriously, my hands shook for two hours after that but I do not let anyone see it. It was really ugly and I was sick.
None the less, everyone is relieved that he is gone, the shop drama has gone to nothing. I had him replaced within three days. What was the point of all that? Doesn't he know it got him nowhere????
We have had a good week so far. We have close to 40 cars on our lot and customers are complaining about having to park in the street. Music to my ears.
I recently received a call from a man who owned a body shop in Northern Ohio whom had stumbled upon said BLOG. He had to call and tell me that they had gotten absolutely nothing done that day! They sat in his office reading aloud the Blog and laughing over the stories. Now, realize, he also felt the PAIN, the BODY SHOP PAIN.
Margaret Thatcher
Gentle Body Shop Readers,
Last week, I had one of those experiences that, we all wish to avoid, but when they happen, cannot avoid, but need to handle.
One of my employees came to work with the attitude from hell and was ready for a fight. He had been in my office several days before having a pity party for himself and we talked about that his inability to hold his temper in check is doing him no good in the work place. He agreed with me and said he would work on it and understood that his problems at home should stay at home.
I heard the screaming from the front office and ran out the door to the shop. To make a long story short, the person screaming was the very employee who agreed just a few days before to control his temper. I stood between him and my painter, two big guys and used my mother voice and said, "Knock it off!" I told him several times to "GO HOME AND COOL OFF" He preferred to get in my face, scream at me to fire him if I dared, so I finally said, " OK, YOU ARE FIRED, NOW GO HOME". Seriously, my hands shook for two hours after that but I do not let anyone see it. It was really ugly and I was sick.
None the less, everyone is relieved that he is gone, the shop drama has gone to nothing. I had him replaced within three days. What was the point of all that? Doesn't he know it got him nowhere????
We have had a good week so far. We have close to 40 cars on our lot and customers are complaining about having to park in the street. Music to my ears.
I recently received a call from a man who owned a body shop in Northern Ohio whom had stumbled upon said BLOG. He had to call and tell me that they had gotten absolutely nothing done that day! They sat in his office reading aloud the Blog and laughing over the stories. Now, realize, he also felt the PAIN, the BODY SHOP PAIN.
I asked him how he found me and he said he had a techie working for him. He insisted I call him if I was ever in the area so he could buy me a drink as I was the funniest person he would ever know, I think I will do that. A kindred spirit.
Seems we drink a lot in the "BODY SHOP"
Bon Nuit, Shangri La
Seems we drink a lot in the "BODY SHOP"
Bon Nuit, Shangri La
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
WASTING AWAY AGAIN IN MARGARITAVILLE....
...SEARCHING FOR MY LOST SHAKER OF SALT
Jimmy Buffett
Good Evening Shop Fans! This program is coming to you from the "BEST BODY SHOP" in the Midwest, YES SIR! Ladies and Gentle men, I am saying The Best!
OK, OK...it is the Margarita talking. We have a car in-house which belongs to the owner of the Mexican Restaurant two blocks away. Bless his heart, when he dropped his car off for repairs, he walked to the desk and set down a VERY large plastic glass with a lid on it, saying nothing and left. After, we were all curious and I sniffed it. I said I thought it was lemon aid. I took the straw..... and took a sip....OMG guys this is a Margarita!!! Quickly, they got three cups and we split the very good Margarita and all were happy and content. Wow, some people are just too cool.
It has been a good couple of days. Cars come and Cars go. People come into our lives and they want to discuss their accident as it was a live changing event. OK, I understand, it is hard and stressful and no one wants their lives complicated by an accident, rentals, repair and insurance hassle. I figured that out a long time ago. No one is happy to come in my shop.
None the less, I am happy when they do and when their insurance checks arrive. Hey, we have to eat too.
Good night Road Warrior!
God Bless and Stay Sane, Love, Shangri la
PS, I know a great Mexican Restaurant if you are interested!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
I'M FOR TRUTH, NO MATTER WHO TELLS IT,
I'M FOR JUSTICE, NO MATTER WHO IT IS FOR.
MALCOM X
Good evening gentle readers, should I say, those masochists who, like I, enjoy the regular beatings we take from the public to be in any retail businesss...good evening, folks.
I am sitting at my desk, after hours, at work, paying bills and enjoying a Long Island Ice Tea. (That is the great part of owning your own business) I decided, the hell with the bills, I need to write.
MALCOM X
Good evening gentle readers, should I say, those masochists who, like I, enjoy the regular beatings we take from the public to be in any retail businesss...good evening, folks.
I am sitting at my desk, after hours, at work, paying bills and enjoying a Long Island Ice Tea. (That is the great part of owning your own business) I decided, the hell with the bills, I need to write.
We have been through the ringer in the last three weeks and the summer is just beginning. I have got to tell you, I love the gangsters, the young ones and the OGs. They provide so much entertainment and they sure have charisma and charm! I almost told one that the "prison walk", holding up one's pants while said pants are around one's knees", is going out of fashion. Come on gents, try the GQ look! You will get many more women, actually have the respect of the neighborhood and inspire a new generation. What you do not know, is you do not intimidate anyone, anymore. I still make you pay for your metallic pink auto paint.
Speaking of, why does everyone call it a "PAINT JOB" like a boob job????? It is a paint service on your vehicle. A "nose job, or a lube job, a blo... job." But I hate to be asked how much is a "paint job". It sounds so low class. Public, it is a paint service! When you call the contractor, do you ask how much to paint your kitchen..or how much for a kitchen job?
Oh well, so much for jobs.
I was recently contacted by a producer for reality programs to do one in my shop based upon this blog which he had read. When I answered the phone and he said he was with Brownstone Pictures and wanted to talk to me about doing a show on my shop, I said, Yea, and I am the Queen Mary and hung up. The phone rang again and he was laughing hard and asking me to not hang up. I know, you won't believe me, but it is the truth. I still do not believe it. I talked to him on the phone and exchanged many emails. I tried to take videos and took many of the floor. Phone videos were new then. During the course of this, I broke up a fight in the shop, had two customers I had to call the police on and had two employee temper tantrums but I dared not pull my phone and take a video! If he could have seen the drama, it would have sold many a reality show. I guess you just have to be here.
In the course of this, I tried to envision what this young man looked like. I visualized a fat nerd. Sorry T. So, being the curious type, I looked him up on Facebook. He is a very handsome young man and if I were a few years younger.........but, we agreed to stay in contact in case the future reality show biz were to require a lady body shop owner. Really, this did happen. So, Dave Durango, your comment about a reality show....was right on! I told you to be careful what you wished for.
We have just painted a DONK for a man who is completely unreasonable and we are at a loss of how to get rid of him. We have people walk the lot and say, they want a "paint service" like that and he just thinks it is not good enough. Let me say, he did his own body work and the spots he is unhappy are his body work under the paint and he says he gets it, but does not want to pay and take his car, he just leaves it and says he will think about it. WHAT A MORON! I am amazed at the patience of my GM Peter, to listen to him go on and on and not loose his demeanor. (ie., Go Off) His DONK is still here and he now wants us to fix his bad bodywork, and he is willing to pay for it. Go Peter!!!!!
Speaking of, why does everyone call it a "PAINT JOB" like a boob job????? It is a paint service on your vehicle. A "nose job, or a lube job, a blo... job." But I hate to be asked how much is a "paint job". It sounds so low class. Public, it is a paint service! When you call the contractor, do you ask how much to paint your kitchen..or how much for a kitchen job?
Oh well, so much for jobs.
I was recently contacted by a producer for reality programs to do one in my shop based upon this blog which he had read. When I answered the phone and he said he was with Brownstone Pictures and wanted to talk to me about doing a show on my shop, I said, Yea, and I am the Queen Mary and hung up. The phone rang again and he was laughing hard and asking me to not hang up. I know, you won't believe me, but it is the truth. I still do not believe it. I talked to him on the phone and exchanged many emails. I tried to take videos and took many of the floor. Phone videos were new then. During the course of this, I broke up a fight in the shop, had two customers I had to call the police on and had two employee temper tantrums but I dared not pull my phone and take a video! If he could have seen the drama, it would have sold many a reality show. I guess you just have to be here.
In the course of this, I tried to envision what this young man looked like. I visualized a fat nerd. Sorry T. So, being the curious type, I looked him up on Facebook. He is a very handsome young man and if I were a few years younger.........but, we agreed to stay in contact in case the future reality show biz were to require a lady body shop owner. Really, this did happen. So, Dave Durango, your comment about a reality show....was right on! I told you to be careful what you wished for.
We have just painted a DONK for a man who is completely unreasonable and we are at a loss of how to get rid of him. We have people walk the lot and say, they want a "paint service" like that and he just thinks it is not good enough. Let me say, he did his own body work and the spots he is unhappy are his body work under the paint and he says he gets it, but does not want to pay and take his car, he just leaves it and says he will think about it. WHAT A MORON! I am amazed at the patience of my GM Peter, to listen to him go on and on and not loose his demeanor. (ie., Go Off) His DONK is still here and he now wants us to fix his bad bodywork, and he is willing to pay for it. Go Peter!!!!!
“What the heck is a donk?” Let us explain.
Specifically, “donk” is the nickname for a customized 1971-76 Chevrolet Caprice or Impala. Many folks erroneously use it to describe any custom car with big wheels. To be clear, flashy wheels aren’t required, but if you want a showstopper, they certainly help.
Good night T. from LA. You are NOT fat and NOT a nerd.
Love you, Shangri La
Love you, Shangri La
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Employees:
Can't afford them, can't live with them, can't live without them.......can't kill 'em......just smile....:-)
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
"I am out of control and at times hard to handle,
but, if you can't handle me at my worst, you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
MARILYN MONROE
6/26 - 8/62
Bon Jour,
It is hot and muggy and it is not even 10:00 AM. Yesterday was full moon day and rum & coke evening. Let me ask you, if your car was dinged or slightly damaged in the mall parking lot or at the grocery store, would they pay for the repairs????? Would you even think of asking???
Well, Mr. Unrich, why did you expect me to pay for your mirror when it was fine when the car was finished, but damaged by the time you had time to pick it up, over a week later. And why did I, as an act of good will buy a $79.00 part and fix it? You, in gratitude, complained to the BBB, insulted me and stormed out. GET REAL! You also owe me for the original work which you did not pay for and refused to pay for when we re-did it because you were unhappy and weeping over a speck of dust at the bottom of the door. I really do need to get better at telling people where to go.
Man Drama. I cannot take anymore, Lets all stop complaining, please. We HAVE to put up with the clientele, so lets be happy with each other.
So, now you are putting up with my drama......enough.
I gave everyone the weekend off, closed for the Holiday. Mental health break!
Bon jour, Shangri La
MARILYN MONROE
6/26 - 8/62
Bon Jour,
It is hot and muggy and it is not even 10:00 AM. Yesterday was full moon day and rum & coke evening. Let me ask you, if your car was dinged or slightly damaged in the mall parking lot or at the grocery store, would they pay for the repairs????? Would you even think of asking???
Well, Mr. Unrich, why did you expect me to pay for your mirror when it was fine when the car was finished, but damaged by the time you had time to pick it up, over a week later. And why did I, as an act of good will buy a $79.00 part and fix it? You, in gratitude, complained to the BBB, insulted me and stormed out. GET REAL! You also owe me for the original work which you did not pay for and refused to pay for when we re-did it because you were unhappy and weeping over a speck of dust at the bottom of the door. I really do need to get better at telling people where to go.
Man Drama. I cannot take anymore, Lets all stop complaining, please. We HAVE to put up with the clientele, so lets be happy with each other.
So, now you are putting up with my drama......enough.
I gave everyone the weekend off, closed for the Holiday. Mental health break!
It is the beginning of summer, we do not know
"what" is going to fall from the sky, walk in the door or call next. "How much is a free written estimate?" Here we go, the adventure begins. The summer of 2013 will be fun. I need a bodyman and a standby painter and some good drugs.Bon jour, Shangri La
Sunday, April 28, 2013
NOBODY GETS JUSTICE.
PEOPLE ONLY GET GOOD LUCK OR BAD LUCK.
Orson Welles
Good Sunday Morning Body Shop Fans! Bon Jour Mon Amis! Lets reflect upon the people of the shop life, the customers, applicants and employees. The last two weeks, after several weeks of not being able to light fires under certain employees, I decided the old motto of, "change your people, or change your people." was in order.
I have learned the art of pissing someone off and having them quit, which is much better than going through the HR motions of warnings and finally firing them and then arguing with Unemployment, the State Department of Morons who love to spend your money. Did you know if you come to work drunk and get fired, the state will pay you to stay home and drink more. The scenarios are endless. I had a young man get pinched and not show up for work for a week. His fiancee called and said he was in jail and she was not paying the bail, so it was unknown when he is coming back. I replaced him and when he finally called, his job was gone. He was way past the legal "job abandonment" laws . Yet he was paid unemployment! Now I am a little smarter...I piss them off and they leave. Usually, it takes very little to anger (spoiled and lazy Neanderthals) employees of a certain mentality. Just asking them to pick up something usually does the trick, or ask them to hang up their cell phone and look at what they are doing.
Thus, three employees are gone. Now am trying to find replacements who want to work. I interviewed a young man, who came to me, and we talked for quite a while. We agreed he was experienced, wanted the job and was to call Friday and tell me how much notice he had to give at his present job. He did not call, so I called him Saturday. He answered the phone and hung up on me! It seems they ignore teaching any kind of professionalism in school anymore, along with ethics. If high school is the only schooling some people get anymore, it seems they need to teach young people how to behave in employment positions. I am only obligated to employee them and pay them. It is not up to me to teach them to get up in the morning and at least fake coming to work.
So, the customers. Had an adult man leave his car for a repair to a door which was hit and needed replaced. The work and price was agreed upon. There was a small dent on the rear of the SUV that the customer did not want to pay for or fix. Upon his picking it up, the first words out of his mouth was, "You were not able to fix that dent??" Does this sound as offensive to you as it always does to me???? I had my Hot water heater replaced a month ago, I did not ask the plumber when he was done why he did not replace my furnace too!!!!!
A father/son duo came in a while back with an old mustang they were flipping. It was a mess, but they were all over cheap. Did not want to pay for ANYTHING except paint. Were told and told of the issues that may not look good. Cried poor, did not care, just wanted it to look better. It ended up looking better than it had a right to. They came in screaming about how unhappy they were and pointed out areas of body work repair that we did not do. I reminding them that they did not want it. I ended the argument. He said, why didn't you just fix that part on the bumper, it would have taken 10 minutes. I said, funny thing about employees, they won't work for free. It would take two hours, and obviously you do not know anything about body work. He said, well, if you had called I would have paid for it. I said, Son, you came in all about budget, budget, budget (meaning cheap) and if you wanted a steak dinner, you should not have ordered a hamburger. They paid and left with smiles on their faces. Sometimes, I believe it is all a well planned act to try to get money back. Woe to the business man who falls for it.
We have not been making the magic number lately. The number which means we can pay all the bills each week. It is so tough on me, I get tied up in knots. I just keep watching my 401K go into payroll. The reason is the dead weight we were carrying. Got rid of dead weight now need to find live weight. It never ends, it is day to day, life or death and I am getting very weary. There are more changes in the wind.
I watched Chef Ramsey and saw the difference it made when the Chef was fired and a good one hired. Say Goodnight Gracie, Frazier has left the building.
Orson Welles
Good Sunday Morning Body Shop Fans! Bon Jour Mon Amis! Lets reflect upon the people of the shop life, the customers, applicants and employees. The last two weeks, after several weeks of not being able to light fires under certain employees, I decided the old motto of, "change your people, or change your people." was in order.
I have learned the art of pissing someone off and having them quit, which is much better than going through the HR motions of warnings and finally firing them and then arguing with Unemployment, the State Department of Morons who love to spend your money. Did you know if you come to work drunk and get fired, the state will pay you to stay home and drink more. The scenarios are endless. I had a young man get pinched and not show up for work for a week. His fiancee called and said he was in jail and she was not paying the bail, so it was unknown when he is coming back. I replaced him and when he finally called, his job was gone. He was way past the legal "job abandonment" laws . Yet he was paid unemployment! Now I am a little smarter...I piss them off and they leave. Usually, it takes very little to anger (spoiled and lazy Neanderthals) employees of a certain mentality. Just asking them to pick up something usually does the trick, or ask them to hang up their cell phone and look at what they are doing.
Thus, three employees are gone. Now am trying to find replacements who want to work. I interviewed a young man, who came to me, and we talked for quite a while. We agreed he was experienced, wanted the job and was to call Friday and tell me how much notice he had to give at his present job. He did not call, so I called him Saturday. He answered the phone and hung up on me! It seems they ignore teaching any kind of professionalism in school anymore, along with ethics. If high school is the only schooling some people get anymore, it seems they need to teach young people how to behave in employment positions. I am only obligated to employee them and pay them. It is not up to me to teach them to get up in the morning and at least fake coming to work.
So, the customers. Had an adult man leave his car for a repair to a door which was hit and needed replaced. The work and price was agreed upon. There was a small dent on the rear of the SUV that the customer did not want to pay for or fix. Upon his picking it up, the first words out of his mouth was, "You were not able to fix that dent??" Does this sound as offensive to you as it always does to me???? I had my Hot water heater replaced a month ago, I did not ask the plumber when he was done why he did not replace my furnace too!!!!!
A father/son duo came in a while back with an old mustang they were flipping. It was a mess, but they were all over cheap. Did not want to pay for ANYTHING except paint. Were told and told of the issues that may not look good. Cried poor, did not care, just wanted it to look better. It ended up looking better than it had a right to. They came in screaming about how unhappy they were and pointed out areas of body work repair that we did not do. I reminding them that they did not want it. I ended the argument. He said, why didn't you just fix that part on the bumper, it would have taken 10 minutes. I said, funny thing about employees, they won't work for free. It would take two hours, and obviously you do not know anything about body work. He said, well, if you had called I would have paid for it. I said, Son, you came in all about budget, budget, budget (meaning cheap) and if you wanted a steak dinner, you should not have ordered a hamburger. They paid and left with smiles on their faces. Sometimes, I believe it is all a well planned act to try to get money back. Woe to the business man who falls for it.
We have not been making the magic number lately. The number which means we can pay all the bills each week. It is so tough on me, I get tied up in knots. I just keep watching my 401K go into payroll. The reason is the dead weight we were carrying. Got rid of dead weight now need to find live weight. It never ends, it is day to day, life or death and I am getting very weary. There are more changes in the wind.
I watched Chef Ramsey and saw the difference it made when the Chef was fired and a good one hired. Say Goodnight Gracie, Frazier has left the building.
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