The most insane customer you ever had - Page 3 - Paint Talk

aaron61 · 02-03-2010, 08:29 AM

Our trade in itself leaves you open to these types, because we deal in finishes, and most interior work is done for aesthetic purposes. Those who are more focused on the way something looks instead of just its function are more inclined to be picky PIA's.

Induspray · 02-03-2010, 04:10 PM

We did an epoxy floor in an empty warehouse around 50,000ft about 10 years ago. The owner who had a manufacturing company was nice as pie and everything was arranged that we would have the plant for 5 days to get the floor done before he did any other work. On day two I get a frantic call from the owner that he had electricians working on the lights and their scissor lifts were sticking to the floor (we had just put down the epoxy in that area 3 hours earlier so surprise surprise the floor was still wet). I explained that no one was to be on the floor for 5 days but this OCD or alziemers patient claims I told him the paint dried in 2 hours ???? I rush over to the warehouse and just as I get there the owner peels out of the parking lot with his window down shouting "A$$hole" at me as I drive in.???? I saw the electricians and told them to work in one half and they could have this other half in a couple days. Problem solved. The owner who was now Mr Jeckyl (not Mr Hyde) was happy again and paid us on completion instead of the 30 day terms I had given him. Guess he was off his meds on day 1.

Picky Painter · 02-03-2010, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Coat Coverage

Yeah, I had a lady with an old.... McMansion.

Would somebody please tell me what a "McMansion" is.

DeanV · 02-03-2010, 05:17 PM

Those neighborhoods where they cram a lot of larger nice homes side-by-side (at least that is my interpretation).

One Coat Coverage · 02-04-2010, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picky Painter

Would somebody please tell me what a "McMansion" is.

A smaller version of what one would consider a true mansion to be. A McMansion is a much larger home than a typical three story house, but not awe inspiring. They are in well-to-do areas.

**daArch** · 02-04-2010, 10:12 PM

My take is a big expensive house that looks nice, but is cheaply built.

Just like a McDoDo burger. Looks good on paper, looks good in the box, but has little nutritional and resell value. And although less expensive than its custom built counterpart is WAY over priced.

aaron61 · 02-05-2010, 08:41 AM

Cookie cutter type larger homes where evey other 1 is pretty much the same

cut-n-run · 02-09-2010, 03:20 AM

Two past customer tie for that dubious distinction...

First, there was the pill-popping meglomaniac. Job took place at the end of the year. I had a good year, (stupidly) thought to spread some Xmas cheer by giving this arrogant dip**** and his toxic c**tsore of a wife a quote that was way too low. They knew it was low which made them think they could take advantage of me. Honestly, I kind of wanted the job. It was all trim in a really unique space. All oil. Whatever.

Anyway, I give these idiots a bid they immediately knew was way low, and from that point on, everything went downhill. Really fast. The first day on the job, Mr. Pillpopper informs me that he will be working alongside me, to learn. HUGE RED FLAG. As part of the agreement, they were supposed to do a bunch of prep work, nothing heavy, just clean some **** and move a bunch of shelving. None of the prep work was done, so I spent the first THREE HOURS moving and cleaning. I wasnt happy, but I stuck with it.

About an hour into the job, the pill popper starts popping pills. I dont know what he was popping, but whatever it was made him angry, and aggressive. Because I dont interact well with angry/aggressive people, the whole scene became very tense. Remember this is maybe two or three days before Xmas. But, like a trooper, I stuck with it. The first day I ended up working twelve hours.

At the end of the first day, after filling and sanding ~500 nail holes and priming the entire space, plus painting roughly 200 sq. ft of the most ornate trim, in oil, my *helper* informs me of two things: first, I wasnt working fast enough, and he didnt like the color.(black). I skipped past the first claim and questioned him about the color choice. Its probably worth mentioning that he insisted on picking up the paint.

To make a long story short, I told him to repaint the oil work I'd already finished would roughly cost him the same amount of the entire bid. (I think it was around $3,000.) This, of course, was me looking for an out. Before I ended up putting my fist in his face. Repeatedly. He said come back tomorrow and we'll talk about it. I came back the next day, worked for maybe three hours, and... I just had to leave. I didnt even take my stuff. I just left. Came back a couple days later to pick up my stuff, his loud mouth hotshot lawyer of a wife called the cops, I absolutely humiliated her, in front of the cops, it was all a big mess. But I got my stuff back. Lesson learned.

SECOND job: an angry old gay man hired me to do a bunch of (plaster) repair work and repaint his entire place. The problems I had with this guy were twofold: first, I didnt know he was gay until AFTER I started working, and two, and I didnt understand the extent of his anger management issues.

The angry gay man worked from home. It was maybe a 1000 sq ft place, and he always made it point to be lurking nearby wherever I was working. As previously noted, I dont interact well with people who have trouble controlling their anger, and I REALLY dont work well around aggressive gay people. On this job, I (unfortunately) had an insurance certificate filed with the building's management office. I knew walking off the job would leave me exposed to whole bunch of treachery. So I tried to finish, I really did.

After the third day and the second time the guy touched me. plus dealing with a whole bunch of nasty insults, I almost, he probably has no idea how close I came to hitting him. Before that happened, I casually collected all of my tools and left. And, as predicted, I got a call from my insurance company a week later, the guy claimed I destroyed his floors and got all of his floors refinished, even in rooms I never entered, all by committing insurance fraud. I thought about paying the guy an afterhours visit, I really did. Even though I probably shouldnt have, I ended up letting it go. What an f'n jerk he was.

Otherwise, all of my other customers, every last one of them, theyve all had nothing but great things to say about my work. I dont know whatelse to say about the two trouble makers. I guess people are just funny sometimes...

aaron61 · 02-09-2010, 08:33 AM

How in the world did he get an insurance claim??????????????????? I've been through those and in our case there was a huge amount of investigation and he said she said interviewing before anything was settled.

NJPainter · 02-13-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisn

Something like this?

WOW!

brushmonkey · 02-14-2010, 03:11 PM

Seriously psychotic!!!

Keep the final check, Im outta here! You cant fix crazy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisn

Something like this?

brushmonkey · 02-14-2010, 03:41 PM

Great advice, thanks.

I always take plenty of before pics for my records & any possible future disputes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

On repaints I always do a walk-thru with the HO paying particular attention to the condition of the walls noting what is repairable, (within reason), and what isnt. Also I check for prior paint on the trim and ceilings.

Not only is it important that you make the HO aware of your findings, but that you also detail it in your estimate/contract. I have a strict rule that whatever is said to the HO is written into the contract. I tell the HO that the reason is for both of our benefits, and that way there are no misunderstandings.

If the HO is willing to pay to take care of any pre-existing conditions, then it is your obligation to tell them what they should expect within reason. I do alot of older homes with the plaster & lathe walls and there is only so much you can do to make them look like new drywall. Letting the HO know what to expect is just saving yourself alot of grief at the end. Good and constant communication throughout the job is the key.

T200 · 02-15-2010, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisn

Something like this?

ROFLMAO!!!

That's insane!

Maybe they should sell blue tape in 8-foot widths.

T200 · 02-15-2010, 04:58 AM

I've walked off two jobs in the past two weeks (a rarity for me).

Details are too boring--you've had the same issues, I imagine. One was a customer who INSISTED I apply stain to her weathered varnished door before revarnishing it--when I'd only quoted scuff sanding and two coats of sealer. The other was partly my fault. I wasn't specific enough in my written quote and she expected me to do things I hadn't quoted ("he said/she said").

I've decided that if at the beginning it looks like the customer is going to be a PITA, it's best to just walk away from it--or lose moneyO and still end up with a grouch. Once the relationship deteriorates, it can be nearly impossible to repair it with some people.

I can't help wondering if the economy can be responsible. Some people are uptight because of it--and about maybe losing their jobs. They also know many trades people need work and that may make them think they can get more stuff done "for free" because the guy needs the work.

Induspray · 02-15-2010, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T200

I've walked off two jobs in the past two weeks (a rarity for me).

Details are too boring--you've had the same issues, I imagine. One was a customer who INSISTED I apply stain to her weathered varnished door before revarnishing it--when I'd only quoted scuff sanding and two coats of sealer. The other was partly my fault. I wasn't specific enough in my written quote and she expected me to do things I hadn't quoted ("he said/she said").

I've decided that if at the beginning it looks like the customer is going to be a PITA, it's best to just walk away from it--or lose moneyO and still end up with a grouch. Once the relationship deteriorates, it can be nearly impossible to repair it with some people.

I can't help wondering if the economy can be responsible. Some people are uptight because of it--and about maybe losing their jobs. They also know many trades people need work and that may make them think they can get more stuff done "for free" because the guy needs the work.

Sometimes the best job is the one you walk away from. If you get a bad vibe when you are quoting or when you just start it will always go down hill from there. I know from a management point that when people start out being a PITA they will suck up 5 x more of your time and many will never be satisfied no matter how many hoops you jump through for them. I think at that time it is better to aggree to disagree and part ways. Try and get them to agree to terminate the aggreement so that you arnt left holding any liability because legally if you take on a job for X$$ you are responsible to finish the job, they have every right to get someone to finish the job and come after you for the difference and you know there wouldnt be much negotiation on their part with the second contractor if their intention was to force you to pay the difference.