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treeman82

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I have been discussing the issue of client attitudes? with a friend lately. One of the parts in particular was how often do clients buy you lunch, or make you lunch?

I've had clients give me food from their own kitchens, or food from their businesses, or they would go out and buy something, or what have you. Not all the time, but once in a while.
 
Once in a blue moon something like that happens, but not very often.
My favorite was working the day after hurricane Andrew struck. Lots of people were outside (no pwr) grilling all the perishable meats and stuff. We chowed down like big dawgs.
I just think it's nice when they at least offer something to drink.
As I'm sure ya'll have experienced, the poorer the people, the better they treat ya! :rolleyes:
 
One guy offered me and the crew a pot of coffee in exchange to remove a15" lead which had broken from the Raleigh, NC ice storm. I was working for the city cleaning up rite of way hangers, and this was way beyond the limit. Sure buddy for a 100 and a pot of coffee. He did it and out came the nastiest cowboy coffee on earth, grounds all in it. Im sure glad we got that extra 100.
 
I had one of Daniels clients insist on makeing me something to eat. She didn't have much in the house but together what had. She also kept insisting I take my sweat drenched shirt off and let her put it in the dryer. I thought that would really be imposing. It seemed though she had other things on her mind perhaps. You just don't offer a stranger to put their soaking wet sweaty t shirt in your dryer with out it being cleaned? Or do you?
 
It's not very often they offer lunch. I've had customers cuss me for taking a drink out of their hose "bring your own @#%* water with you". The more money they have, the less hospitality.
 
oh yeah rich folks wouldnt give you a dog crap sandwich,this week ive had tea n shortbreads,and choc chip muffins its amazing the difference that can make to me doing a few little extras
 
Originally posted by BigJohn
I had one of Daniels clients insist on makeing me something to eat. She didn't have much in the house but together what had. She also kept insisting I take my sweat drenched shirt off and let her put it in the dryer. I thought that would really be imposing. It seemed though she had other things on her mind perhaps. You just don't offer a stranger to put their soaking wet sweaty t shirt in your dryer with out it being cleaned? Or do you?

She just wanted some Hot Monkey Love. :Monkey:

I have at least two changes of shirts during the hot months. I would quit this profession if I had to wear the same shirt all day.
 
Last month did a 'sweet' prune job for a lady who works at a famous expensive chocolate company. She came out and gave us 2 big plastic bag of chocalate. Retail price of the gift prbably was over $50.

And boy did the work speed up with the sugar rush.

Jack
 
When I was working in Wales and Scotland a year ago every client brought out tea/coffee and sweets at least once per job. On one job, there were four of us. I take my coffee black, its a beverage not a food. The other three ordered their's with a variety of milk and sugar recipes. The poor lady smiled when I asked for black.

Most of the time no one is home when I've worked so it is rare to have treats.

Tom
 
A treat...

It is nice to be considered, especially with the liquids on the hot days. Once while working for a person who now is a regular client, she found out that we didn't bring our lunches (we went late morning as it had been raining and really didn't know if we'd even get the job done.) Anyway, she insisted on making us something, so we obliged (when were done of course!).

Man, can she cook! (I since have learned that she has cooked under some world famous chefs, and she puts on some great parties.) Here we are, a mess, sitting on the stone wall, and out she comes with three decorated platters with steak sandwiches, some kind of fruit salad with Kiwi, strawberries, etc, another salad that was great but I still don't know all that was in it, and home-made cookies. And my wife wondered why I wasn't hungry when I got home (well, not for food...)

More often than not, though, I prefer to snack lightly on the job, and like Tom said, often do the work while no one is home, which I find is usually for the better.

Speaking of food - I wonder what's on the menue for Tom's party?!

Gopher
 
coffee, water and washrooms offered most times, nice to work for blue collar families tho, they seem to have a better grip on hospitality.
 
Originally posted by Tom Dunlap
When I was working in Wales and Scotland a year ago every client brought out tea/coffee and sweets at least once per job. On one job, there were four of us. I take my coffee black, its a beverage not a food.

That is a big difference I have noticed between Europe and America. Here customers are very happy to see you, always give you coffee, juice, and frequently lunch. The other kicker is they tip everyone on the crew $10-$20 :) . Done almost daily, that is some good pocket money;) .

In America, it seemed that many clients/neighbors were reluctant to acknowledge you. Blue collar families are usually the best. They frequently offer food, water, and a cold beer when the job is done. Not to mention respect for what you do and nice conversation. They also seem to understand the importance of being paid on time and usually OFFER you a check or ca$h when completed.

I have happily done a lot of work on the cheap for nice people like that.
 
I would get offered coffee or tea every second day if the people were always home. I probably score something close to a full lunch once a fortnight, today I had 4 corned beef sandwiches, 4 sausage rolls and these little potato pie things that were great with lemonade.
Last week we were being given coffee from a siberian family, boy was it strong! they brought out a packet of biscuits every day we were there and we got soup a couple days to.
I agree with the rich client thing at times, although I have been taken out for dinner afterwards by one of my better off clients.
Oh a client the other day brought me a little radio controled truck as she heard I was having truck problems! Now that was very cool.
 
Originally posted by MasterBlaster

As I'm sure ya'll have experienced, the poorer the people, the better they treat ya! :rolleyes:



Funny how that works, eh?

I've noticed the same thing.
 
Originally posted by xander9727
I've had customers cuss me for taking a drink out of their hose "bring your own @#%* water with you". The more money they have, the less hospitality.


For REAL???????

OMG....
 
About the blue collar vs. blueblood thing. --There is a huge difference between people who are wealthy and comfortable with their money and in their own skin and the "new rich". Some of my monied clients are "salt of the earth" types as well.
 
I had one guy with LOTS of money that I used to work for. The place was only their weekend home, but if somebody was working there when they were home they would bring out french press coffee with toast and jam in the mornings. If I was there in the afternoon working the old guy would invite me in for soda. Good people.

I had one guy with money who said to me that all I had to do was either go to his resteraunt, or call up to get it delivered and whatever I wanted was on the house... provided I was working for him that day. He of course turned out to be a friggin ???????.

The best people hospitality wise though are the blue collar people. It's really nice to be able to go somewhere to work and know in the morning that you need not bring lunch with you because the people WILL make you something good to eat.
 
we have been offerd on a few occasions...normally little old ladies offer us food then if we take any try to blackmail us into doing "that other 'small' tree" for nothing....

normally we poilitly turn them down telling them that we always bring our own lunch etc....

i usually take a 2/3ltr bottle of juice to quench the thirst

jamie
 
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