Customer insists flooring installer does it their way, gets exactly what they asked for: 'I got paid to remove the work that I just got paid to install so I can get paid to install it again'

Advertisement
  • 01
    "I want it like this. I'm the boss, and you do it how I say." Sure."
  • 02
    "I want it like this, I'm the boss, you do it how I say." Sure. S ос Context: I work in flooring installation, commercial mostly, usually carpet or vinyl tiles, have been doing this for 10 years now. I got a work order to do a head office for a large developer, it was carpet tile but with a pattern/lines/border.
  • 03
    I start installing and just as I get the first tiles out after laying the glue, the "big boss" comes out. He says I'm doing it wrong. I was absolutely stunned, I looked at him, looked back at the tiles I had just put down, looked at him again and asked, "What?"
  • 04
    "Those numbers on the back of the tile are the sequence order, you need to follow the numbers." He replied. What he is talking about are God knows what, part #s, serial #s, lot #s? They have nothing to do with installation so if I actually followed whatever he was saying it would look like a mess not the intended pattern.
  • 05
    I tried explaining this to him but he wouldn't have it, he got frustrated and called the head office, who in turn called me and said to just do it how he wants it. So I did. As I'm finishing up he comes back, takes one look at it and says "I don't like it." I smiled and said "I don't care, that's how you wanted it." Packed my stuff up and left, he didn't say another word to me.
  • 06
    Few days later I hear that he called the head office asking for someone else to come redo it the way I had originally intended to install it, so the office sent me again and I got paid to remove the work that I just got paid to install so I can get paid to install it again. Needless to say that he didn't come out to make small talk the second time.
  • 07
    not_so_chi_couple Nothing like paying 3 times for something because you think you know better than the professional
  • 08
    Chaosmusic My family hired two guys to replace the front door lock. They bickered with each other the whole time (I think they were brothers). They sounded like the most incompetent jackasses. When they were done the work was perfect. If I had been like the customer in the OP I would have wasted time and money. You just have to let professionals work and respect their process.
  • 09
    AcidicWatercolor PLEASE tell me that he saw it was you that got sent out to fix it TheGrandmasterGrizz OP. Yeah, even though he specifically requested someone else they told him that I would still be the one coming back. I believe he sent his interns/assistants/secretaries to hover around me with water/refreshments which was nice but I would have much preferred he manned up and just apologized.
  • 10
    gilbeys18 These big bosses really love paying multiple times for the same job. TheGrandmasterGrizz OP. Trust me, they could certainly afford it, but it doesn't necessarily mean they were happy about it though
  • 11
    nismo2070 I know how to do my job better than every single person in supervisory or management roles. I've been doing it for 30+ years. So I'm always amused when one of them comes to me and questions my work. It never ends well for them but it sure does make me laugh.
  • 12
    HeatXfr My boss told me, "give 'em what they want, you'll be back to give 'em what they need." I could go into the details, but suffice to say, I went back and gave 'em what they needed after I gave 'em what they wanted.
  • 13
    Kittamaru Why the would anyone try to tell a professional how to do their job is beyond me... When I had guys come to remove the old and install the new carpet in my sons room, the only two things I told them were "If you want a drink I've got XYZ" and "He does have a closet door that goes here, I've removed the floor hardware - not sure if it matters for your install". Beyond that, I let them work and do their wizardry.

Tags

Scroll Down For The Next Article