Any stories about your best customers?

[Best]

We all tend to moan about rogue customers, or people that are unreasonable, but who is, or was your best customer? Whether they were very good paying or just really decent people you got on with.

I have a few I could mention, but one I will never forget was an elderly widow I worked for who lived on a farm. Brilliant lady who worked hard all her life there and kept the beautiful old farm. She always had cookies baked & a cup of tea for us & knew all the local things that went on. I used to call in often when passing for tea & a chat & she always liked a laugh. A real friend rather that a customer who sadly died a few years ago.

 

[rpm]

One of my private customers has 2 macerators in the house, she sends me a text to book the service visit and tells me where the key will be, I take both apart and text the price to her whilst having a coffee, she says go ahead and the money is in my account that evening. Haven`t actually seen her for 5yrs, got to be my best ever customer.

 

[gasmanrob]

I've had a few the best was a chap who lived in Spain he came back arranged a boiler service with me advised him whilst it was working it was in a bit of a state and should consider replacing it gave him a price at which point he said brilliant I'll have my other six done at the same time! Paid on completion of each no haggle nothing. Was a really nice guy to boot

Let's be honest anyone that pays on time or has the ability to make a decent brew in prompted falls into the good customer remit

 

[gasmanrob]

One of my private customers has 2 macerators in the house, she sends me a text to book the service visit and tells me where the key will be, I take both apart and text the price to her whilst having a coffee, she says go ahead and the money is in my account that evening. Haven`t actually seen her for 5yrs, got to be my best ever customer.

What would a service on a macerate entail?

 

[Riley]

Actually a blooming good question rpm. would you care to elaborate I am intrigued

 

[rpm]

Have maybe 12 or so company customers that will wait for me to come back from holiday or sickness if I`m off work when they ring the office. One had a bad experiance with an engineer that came on to her and the others like to talk whilst I drink coffee bemoaning their husbands or children don`t listen to them. Little warning here guys, 1 of them is married to a plumber!

 

[Rickster123]

What would a service on a macerate entail?

Picking out dry poo with a cocktail stick and removing bits of sweetcorn and tomato pips.

 

[rpm]

What would a service on a macerate entail?

Varies from model to model but .......
Check incoming and outgoing pipework outside of the pump box for debris and is it pipe secured, outgoing pipework inside the pump box, condition of impeller & bowl, condition of cutting blades, cutting chamber, check valves, non-return valves, microswitches, solonoid valves, PCB, discharge pressure, noise level and vibration level of motor when running, freeplay in motor shaft, all rubber seals, anti vibration mounts, electrical connections and correct fuse fitted, and written report left.

Think that`s about all it is.

 

[rpm]

Picking out dry poo with a cocktail stick and removing bits of sweetcorn and tomato pips.

Sounds more like a repair (unblocking) mate and that`s where the wet vac comes into it`s own. lol

 

[Riley]

Any hints on not getting covered in the proverbial when you disconnected the discharge pipes?

 

[Rickster123]

Sounds more like a repair (unblocking) mate and that`s where the wet vac comes into it`s own. lol

Fair play to ya mate I couldn't do it.

 

[Rickster123]

Any hints on not getting covered in the proverbial when you disconnected the discharge pipes?

Wear a pack-a-mac and keep your mouth closed

 

[Ray Stafford]

We had one customer who always came into the branch on the last day of every month, without fail, to pay his account. After about 15 years, I got a panic phone call from him. He was very apologetic, and explained that he was in Greece on holiday and his flight back had been cancelled, so would it be ok if he paid his bill on 1st of following month, instead of 31st of the current month.

I reluctantly agreed. 🙂

 

[Riley]

Or The time honoured tradition of get the apprentice to do it

 

[rpm]

Any hints on not getting covered in the proverbial when you disconnected the discharge pipes?

Know where the non-return valve is and work downstream from it wherever possible, that and make sure the power is off!!! Honestly guys I bet I come cleaner than you do.

 

[Riley]

We had one customer who always came into the branch on the last day of every month, without fail, to pay his account. After about 15 years, I got a panic phone call from him. He was very apologetic, and explained that he was in Greece on holiday and his flight back had been cancelled, so would it be ok if he paid his bill on 1st of following month, instead of 31st of the current month.

I reluctantly agreed. 🙂

You are a hard hard man Stafford

 

[rpm]

Fair play to ya mate I couldn't do it.

First 6 months is bad until you get used to the smell, can empty an open plan office in 5 minutes which is always good for a giggle.

 

[Riley]

Know where the non-return valve is and work downstream from it wherever possible, that and make sure the power is off!!! Honestly guys I bet I come cleaner than you do.

What about where A vertical discharge pipe is involved???

 

[rpm]

What about where A vertical discharge pipe is involved???

Various ways, you can unclip the nrv from the pump and pull the pipe away from the wall with the nrv on the pipe (never do this with a McAlpine nrv though) or very slowly loosen the clip and catch the dripping water with a wet vac.

The Sarf coast is pretty much covered by Sani Solutions if your thinking of moving into this market though.

 

[Riley]

Not what I'm ️looking to do seriously but I have a couple of regulars that have macerators so I suspect will ask me first. Always nice to arm your self with a little knowledge.

 

[gasmanrob]

Know where the non-return valve is and work downstream from it wherever possible, that and make sure the power is off!!! Honestly guys I bet I come cleaner than you do.

I replaced one two weeks back. Got a wet vac from screwfix specially for the task. It earn the it's money on that one job. But it hasn't smelt right ever since despite being cleaned and disinfected.

 

[rpm]

I replaced one two weeks back. Got a wet vac from screwfix specially for the task. It earn the it's money on that one job. But it hasn't smelt right ever since despite being cleaned and disinfected.

Did it have a plastic tank Rob? Mine have stainless steel tanks which are easier to keep clean, saying that I get through maybe 4 a year but do use it 4-5 times a day. To clean it try filling it up with hot water and disinfectent then run it for 5 minutes to clean through the air exhaust.

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Crazy Dave, she's as mad as a box of frogs and can talk the hind legs of a donkey but had
1 boiler change
3 marble radiators fitted
2 towel rails installed(one in a bedroom ???)
old boiler serviced twice
Must have got the bulk of 8K out her and i enjoy paying her a visit to hear what shes going to gas about next :lol:

 

[Millsy 82]

Since I've worked for myself 1 lad and his girlfriend. I went out to do a boiler service and he had cold spots on his radiator. I said it will be £50 today and £240 to come back and give the system a good flush.

He gave me the cash and said the money will be left on the kitchen side when I come back for the flush.

He moved house and called me to go and do a boiler service I said it's not in the best shape and recommend replacing have him the price and said it will be x amount deposit 2 hours later the full amount was in my bank account.

 

[Gray0689]

We had one customer who always came into the branch on the last day of every month, without fail, to pay his account. After about 15 years, I got a panic phone call from him. He was very apologetic, and explained that he was in Greece on holiday and his flight back had been cancelled, so would it be ok if he paid his bill on 1st of following month, instead of 31st of the current month.

I reluctantly agreed. 🙂

Hope you charged him interest in late payment lol