I am peeved at myself. I didn't do something that I should have done in order to do something someone else wanted me to do and ended up wasting the whole day.aaarrrggghhh!!
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I am peeved at myself. I didn't do something that I should have done in order to do something someone else wanted me to do and ended up wasting the whole day.aaarrrggghhh!!
I wouldn't be so hard on myself. You had a chance almost-encounter with someone and a lot of the details are missing.Quote:
Originally Posted by frugal-one
Maybe the guy doesn't give a whit about eating; soup and frozen dinners are a quick easy way to get some variety into a menu. So they're not optimal nutritionally -- it's not like anyone will be able to count how many more years he'd live if he made bone broths and vegetable stews instead of frozen dinners. Maybe he was buying the food for someone else -- maybe even a food shelf so that people working two and three jobs had something better than fast food or nothing to put on their tables.
And I know from dealing with my 80-year-old mother that old age absolutely does not diminish the desire for independence and self-reliance, even if the body or economics betrays that. I could see my mom accepting some help with heavy grocery bags, but I cannot see her accepting a stranger's offer to cook for her or to watch over her during the cold.
Maybe you're right and this guy needs a guardian angel like you think you could be. But maybe he's doing just fine for himself. So don't be too hard on yourself.
Yesterday in the beautiful warm weather, our tuckpointer came to get his scaffolding. We are laughing because it's now set up half a block away. He set it up for his next job, just as DH predicted: we stored it until he needed it.
People using expensive Post-it sticky notes instead of little pieces of scrap paper. If you're not sticking it to something, use scrap. grrrr.
Walmart. At least in our area, they run ads comparing their grocery prices to the competition -- they take a "typical" other-store shopper and duplicate her (I've yet to see a guy) grocery list at WM and "surprising" the shopper with the "lower" total. The shopper almost always proclaims how important it is for her family to save money. But then the ad (quickly) scrolls the list of items purchased and they're either items people don't buy that often (Brita water filters?) or heavily-processed packaged goods (among others this week, Tyson frozen breaded chicken fingers). I have yet to see anything as generic as "chicken thighs" or cucumbers or house-brand canned tomatoes (though the list does roll very quickly).
Seems to me if a shopper really wanted to save money, (s)he wouldn't be buying Tyson frozen breaded chicken fingers; (s)he'd buy (even factory-bird) chicken breasts and cut them up and be miles ahead financially and at least a little ahead nutritionally.
When I have a service worker in my home, I'm always surprised at those that seem to freely comment on my things.
Like, hey I see you have a poster from that exhibit, I went to that too, when did you go? or I notice you have woodworking tools all set up - what project are you working on? oh, that lamp is so cute, I used to have one like that.
My preference is for service workers like my plumber - he arrives on time, sets up, gets to work, then finishes it. We are both polite, but I'm paying him to do a job, not to become my new friend. He then can get to his next job, and I can get on with my day. He's never made a single comment on the color of my walls, or a picture frame, or what type of cereal box is on my counter, or anything.
Is this being too peevish to expect not to have to explain about things I happen to have sitting out around my home?
Not if that’s your preference. But I don't think that preference is universal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lainey
I've had several enjoyable conversations with service people while they were working because they commented on something they saw in the house. I like the idea of putting a genuine human face on an abstract like a plumbing company or window company. Sometimes I've learned something useful -- or they have.
I'd say if that's the way you feel, you need to redirect the conversation politely as soon as it comes up. No tradesperson will come into your house (at least the first time) knowing that you don't care for that level of familiarity.
[ETA]Many companies try hard to "personalize" their service in the belief that having a positive friendly relationship with a customer will help retain that customer. I certainly find genuine enthusiasm based on questions about a hobby, etc.,moreless ingratiating than the forced, "I'm Jason and I'll be your waiter this evening." or "Thank you for calling ______. We really appreciate your business. What is that 17-digit account number you punched into your phone 15 minutes ago?"
I like to do business with someone who shows a bit of personality and is a real human rather than just doing another job for another check. Showing an interest in something we might have in common or things around the house is one way that could happen, but a little bit goes a long way with me. Unless we are soul mates or something I'd just as soon get through a couple of short friendly exchanges and get to work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lainey
I've had a couple of service folks get into their relationship problems with family, friends, wives, or girlfriends. That is ground I really have NO desire to visit. Also, per Steve's remarks, I had several places come out to give an estimate to install air conditioning upgrade my electric a few years ago. They got into that comment or complement on certain aspects of my home so often I started to wonder it was part of their training or method of operation to win business.
Rogar,
I've had this too lately. One commented on their financial problems, another said they wished they could retire because this work is too physically demanding. My last one blurted out she has a major health issue she's battling. They all have my sympathies, truly, but I'm not their friend or even acquaintance. I'm a customer. These are things they need to be discussing with close friends and family. I don't want our interactions to be robotic, but I think the etiquette calls for casual, superficial conversation.
Maybe it's because I'm a middle-aged woman living alone that I'm sensitive to strangers, especially males, being nosy about my home environment. I've had more than one say, "do you live here alone"? or "is this where you keep all your tools"? geez.
I am a middle aged woman living alone and when the service guys come by to fix something I kind of feel like it's my duty to entertain them by talking to them about their lives. How many other calls today? How long have you worked for ___? What else do you fix? Is this a problem you see often? Etc.
I got this characteristic from my mother. She was very gregarious with total strangers. I don't feel like I'm pushy or nosy, just interested. Not that I really am interested. I'm just trying to be nice. I don't know if they like me and try harder. But usually they're really friendly in return.