No Good Deed...

[harryball]

Sometimes I just like to vent here and listen to other's stories of misfortune so I can be assured that I'm not a special target of the cosmos but we all share the same challenges.

I sold a walkie lift to a friend of mine for a tad less than I could have sold it had I held out for top dollar and agreed to take part of the payment in barter. Not a bad deal, helps him, helps me because as much as I liked it my shop just wasn't big enough and for the 1 time out of 99 it was useful it was just in the way for the 99 times out of the 100. (besides, I could always borrow it back, right?) AND I did get a cool rifle and a suppressor (if the ATF ever does their part)

Anyway, it stays in the way in my shop for several more months after the deal. I finally end up loading it on my trailer and delivering it. No biggie, I mean it's finally out of the way, wasn't that hard to do.

While unloading it pretty much peals the steel mesh off one corner my trailer gate. I still need to fix that.

Then, the FIRST TIME he goes to use it the thing stops working.

So I go this morning to check it out. The wire came loose from the access door switch that verifies the door is closed. Re-attached it, all is good. It was not subtle, this wire with a connector on it was hanging out and easy to see. I understand, he was sure the world was conspiring against him and maybe I'd somehow tried to unload a bad lift on him. So instead of taking time to go through it slowly he called me right off the bat. I could tell he felt a little bad about calling me for a wire hanging loose in plain view. Probably happened during rattling of the trailer ride and unloading.

I'm not mad or upset. I don't think anyone is at fault so much as it just seems sometimes that the cosmos (or gremlins or demons or whatever) just LINE UP to screw with you as much as possible.

Certainly not the worst "good deed" punishment I've ever received, just the freshest.

So, what is your good deed punishment story?

[bleeth]

Way too many of these type of things on a daily basis.
I send an e-mail with precise info that I spend time going over and then get a phone call asking me questions that were clearly answered.
I submit shop drawings and then get questions about them which are clearly shown in the drawings.
Two days ago I had a visit from one of my Int. Designer clients to see some custom steel brackets and shelves we had done for her to verify how far in from the ends she wanted the brackets, do the last bit of machining on them that needed that info first, and then sent them into finishing. Beginning of January I told her that the steel shop would not have the brackets ready till end of month and so install would end up into February-end of second week or so. She, of course, saw exactly where we were with it when here. Yesterday I get a call from her wanting to know when it was going to be delivered. ONLY 1 DAY AFTER I REMINDED HER WHEN AND MATCHING WHAT I TOLD HER UMPTEEN WEEKS AGO. I simply answered her question and bid her a good day.
I am convinced that half the world out there has ADHD nowadays. So many people have gotten used to instant answers on the internet, updated news on a moments notice, fast shipping, etc, that they seem to prefer going to someone else for answers they could get themselves by just paying attention or doing a bit of research.

[chiloquinruss]

When I had my screen printing business I quoted a job to a guy and told him it would be 10 days to finish the job. Next day he called and asked when it would be done I told him 15 days! He replied "but yesterday you said . . ." and I replied "it will go up 5 days every time you call!" I learned very early on that if a customer is a pain upfront, they won't get any better no matter what you do to placate them. The best t-shirt we did was the one's that said "Just Say NO!" :D Russ

[Brian Harnett]

Wow lots of similar situations last spring I had a woman want a totem pole carved we went over the design several times each time it was finalized I would get another e mail change several each day. Get it finalized and give her a date June 1 for the start she is happy with it. Next day I get an e mail when can I start.

I decided not to take the job it was a on site carving and I got the sense that it would never end.

Many talk, few listen.

[blackhawk]

I feel you Dave on the emails. I don't think anyone ever reads an email past the first sentence. It drives me crazy.

The other thing nowadays is that no one ever calls you back when they say they will.

[gene]

I have a friend that she and I are working on a project together and she has been under the weather lately. I had the bright idea to text her and hopefully brighten her day . The text was Hi Beautiful , hope you are having a good day.. except I sent the text to my lumber salesman. now my prices have gone up 50%.

[harryball]

I have a friend that she and I are working on a project together and she has been under the weather lately. I had the bright idea to text her and hopefully brighten her day . The text was Hi Beautiful , hope you are having a good day.. except I sent the text to my lumber salesman. now my prices have gone up 50%.

LOL. Thanks I needed that one!

[mikeacg]

I feel your pain Harry!
I have to steal your idea, Russ!
My latest was a customer that kept asking for a price on a catalog I was printing for his nursery so he could include it in last years expenses. I told him I couldn't give him a price until I knew how many pages it was going to be and how many copies he was going to need. He never proofread the copy but then emailed me little changes every day for 2 weeks. Finally we finished with all the changes on a Friday and he wanted to know if he could have 40 copies by the next day (some people don't understand how printing works I guess...) Worked through the weekend and finally got it all done and billed out - now I'm waiting for payment...
Mike