Eisboch wrote:
I had a security (alarm) system installed yesterday. The sales guy had
visited last week and although he talked my ear off about things I had
no interest in, we successfully entered into a contract and scheduled
the installation.

The installers did a great job. They took the time to explain how
everything works. Like most microprocessor based systems it is capable
of far more than I will ever need or want.
I like simple, so I asked the installers for the easiest way to arm and
disarm the system.
My shop is so small I don't even need the option of "away" and "stay"
modes.

They said the easiest way is to simply punch in my code when I leave.
After a 60 second delay the system becomes fully armed. When I want to
re-enter, just enter and punch the code in within a certain time frame
to disable. Simple enough.

This morning the sales dude shows up again to "inspect" the installer's
work. This guy is a classic sales type. Talks too much and doesn't
know what he's talking about. He wanted to sit and go over all the
programming features and options on the system. I politely told him I
really had no need for them and was very satisfied with the simple
procedure that the installers described (and demonstrated).

He wouldn't give up. Kept insisting that he show me all the options.
I kept trying to explain (during his short moments of silence) that I
didn't need or want to learn about all the feature. Don't need them.

He continued. I was slowly losing patience. I described the very
simple and basic procedure the installers showed me. The sales dude
said they were wrong. It wouldn't arm the motion sensors, according to
him.

Now I am starting to get a little fired up. I explained again for the
third time that we demonstrated it while the installers were there. We
all stayed in the building, I armed the system by entering my code and,
after the delay the system armed. As soon as one of us moved, the
alarm went off, sensed by the motion sensors.

The sales guy said it can't be. You *have* to select one of the
modes. I said, "no you don't".
He tried again to instruct me on all the features.

By this time I had lost it. I told him he talked too much and doesn't
*listen* to what is being said.
He replied with, "Richard, I am a security expert".

I responded with, "You are a pain in the ass and don't listen. Get out
of here; you are really starting to **** me off."

He tries again to yap about the system "features". I got up from
behind the counter. I think he saw the look in my eye because he beat
feet out the door, got in his BMW and drove off.

After I calmed down I called the security company (ADT) for technical
assistance. They confirmed that the procedure I was using worked
fine. I mentioned that the sales guy says it won't.
She said to listen and do what the installers said and that the sales
types really don't always know what they are talking about.

I thanked her and told her if she sees a nervous sales type in a BMW
arrive at the office, be kind because I just threw him out of my shop.
She laughed like hell and said, "GOOD!"

Eisboch




On Tuesday, our new refrigerator was delivered and installed. The two
guys handling the delivery showed up exactly on time. They had
deliveries all over southern Maryland, having started out the morning in
North Carolina.

The refrigerator was unboxed on the front walk. The lead guy took some
measurements, and decided he could use the extra room he'd get by
unhinging the front door and the screen door.

The guys carried the refrigerator in, carried it over the wood floors,
and set it down on the tile floor in the kitchen.

The second guy removed all the tape on the inside, wiped down the
refrigerator, even though it had just come out of a box, and then hooked
up the water line and electric line.

As soon as he was finished, the guys rolled the new refrigerator into
its cubby, and the lead guy leveled it and then made sure all the
functions were working properly, and there was no damage anywhere.

Then he and his helper reinstalled the two doors and left.

Great guys, and I told them so. I gave each one a $20 and my thanks.

An hour later, their supervisor called to see what sort of job they did.
I told them that on a scale of 10, they rated a 10.

This morning, I got a call from my local Husqvarna dealer, telling me a
part I had ordered arrived. I drove over to pick it up. Went up to the
counter, the nice lady there asked my name, and she went to the
storeroom to get the part. She opened up the packed, checked the
contents against the call-out sheet in her parts book, and said "a
washer was missing." So, she went to the shop and came back with a
couple of washers.

Life is a lot easier when you're not a hothead, Eisboch.