The Inspector's Journal Forums
Username:
Password:
Save Password


Join TIJ Forums
Lost Password?
Subscribe to TIJ's Newsletter

All Forums > Miscellaneous Discussion Forums > Open Topics >

Grumpy

Previous Topic: A Little Side Chat About Music - Topic - Next Topic: FHA 203(k) qualified inspector in King County New TopicReply to TopicShare Topic
Posted By  
View Profile
Sagamore Hills, Ohio
Posts: 3113
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Thread Start First Page
[#1] Posted: 04/21/2009 - 10:25:30 AM
Reply with Quote
Anyone else get a little ticked when a client asks to borrow your flashlight? Pretty anal, I know. I never say anything of course. Perhaps I should carry a mini-mag for those occasions.

Terry



http://www.hlis.net

This space for let - please inquire within.


View Profile
Chicago, IL
Posts: 9506
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#2] Posted: 04/21/2009 - 10:31:25 AM
Reply with Quote
Nope. I carry a couple minimags and a couple cheap 250,000cp lights from the big box for them to play with. They love it, and so do I.

Nobody gets to play with my Fenix but me.......


Kurt in Chicago

"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012


View Profile
Kenmore, WA
Posts: 2101
Joined: Sep, 2004
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#3] Posted: 04/21/2009 - 10:34:26 AM
Reply with Quote
Yea, maybe you're a bit grumpy today. I know what it's like.

I just remind myself they're my clients that are trusting me with a lot. Who's there to serve whom?

.

Randy Navarro
http://www.thecompleteinspection.com
View Profile
Kenmore, WA
Posts: 15393
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#4] Posted: 04/21/2009 - 10:36:57 AM
Reply with Quote
I lose or drop and break so many flashlights a year that I no longer buy the expensive kind.

My wife goes down to the "Stupid Prices" store and buys up Chinese-made Maglite knockoffs about half a dozen at a time and keeps them in a box on the truck. I've always got a couple extra in the bag that someone can borrow.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

Nashville, TN
Posts: 1375
Joined: May, 2007
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#5] Posted: 04/21/2009 - 11:05:42 AM
Reply with Quote
Quote: Originally posted by Terence McCann

Anyone else get a little ticked when a client asks to borrow your flashlight? Pretty anal, I know. I never say anything of course. Perhaps I should carry a mini-mag for those occasions.


I told customers straight up: "If you want a flashlight, you've got to bring your own. These flashlights cost about half as much as your inspection."

Also, if a busybody granddaddy showed up with his own flashlight, I'd say something like, "Let me know when you're done with your flashlighting. Because I flashlight solo."

Oh, and this: When a busybody started following me around, I'd say something like, "You're going to have to follow Rick. He's in charge of keeping folks away from me, so I don't get distracted. And if you start distracting him, he'll send you back to me. Best thing to do is just have a seat on the couch until I'm ready to give you the highlight reel."

Is it obvious that I didn't have to rely on RE agent referrals?

WJ

View Profile
Calgary, AB
Posts: 512
Joined: Jan, 2004
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#6] Posted: 04/21/2009 - 11:14:56 AM
Reply with Quote
I never thought of it as a nuisance, I'm thankful I have a customer to lend a flashlight to. This is a service industry and if it involves lending a flashlight then so be it.

You might not say anything but believe me your client will sense your thinking especially women. So, if it ticks you off then carry a 'client' flashlight AND a 'client' tape measure.
It's a win-win situation.


RC
www.YourCalgaryHomeInspector.com
View Profile
Collins, NY
Posts: 3142
Joined: Apr, 2008
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#7] Posted: 04/21/2009 - 11:37:06 AM
Reply with Quote
Quote: Originally posted by RobC

I never thought of it as a nuisance, I'm thankful I have a customer to lend a flashlight to. This is a service industry and if it involves lending a flashlight then so be it.

You might not say anything but believe me your client will sense your thinking especially women. So, if it ticks you off then carry a 'client' flashlight AND a 'client' tape measure.
It's a win-win situation.




Great, now I have to go shopping for mini mags and 16' tape measures with my logo on them. Thanks alot!

Tom

Tom

http://clearcreekhomeinspection.com/

Life is tough enough as it is, it's tougher when your stupid. Don't do stupid things.
Dr Joe Lstiburek
View Profile
Windsor, ON
Posts: 474
Joined: Oct, 2006
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#8] Posted: 04/21/2009 - 12:22:44 PM
Reply with Quote
I'm forever letting my clients use the spare flashlights and tape measures. What's not cool however, is when they expect to handle the Surveymaster, Disto or IR cam.

-Brad

--
Brad Manor
Manorhome Consulting Inc.
View Profile
Sagamore Hills, Ohio
Posts: 3113
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#9] Posted: 04/21/2009 - 1:36:32 PM
Reply with Quote
Quote: Originally posted by kurt

Nobody gets to play with my Fenix but me.......




Speaking of which mine came yesterday. Still waiting on the batteries and charger though.

I must say I was surprised when I saw the size of it, it's tiny. Looking forward to trying it out against the Stinger. However it's going to take a lot to pull me away from the Stinger - I really dig that flashlight. That's why I get grumpy when clients like to play with it. My sandbox.

Terry



http://www.hlis.net

This space for let - please inquire within.


View Profile
Hillsboro, Oregon
Posts: 154
Joined: Apr, 2008
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#10] Posted: 04/21/2009 - 7:42:43 PM
Reply with Quote
I would always allow my clients to borrow my flashlight for a few seconds to see something I was pointing out until ... One of my clients dropped it from the top of the attic access ladder. My rechargeable Mag at $125 was broken big time. That was before the time I had two flashlights. That was one dark crawl space that day. I had to use my backup cheapo Mag Light. I'm sure my client had no idea how much that light cost and did not really seem to care for that matter. Luckily Mag repairs are free.

Now I bring a "client light" which is just a small cheapo Mag light. Let um drop it all they want.

I keep a couple of tape measures in my tool bag for clients to use. I just buy the ones with real bright colors so I can tell they are mine.


Scott Wagar

"I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun. " -Thomas A. Edison
View Profile
St Augustine, Florida
Posts: 354
Joined: Jan, 2007
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#11] Posted: 04/22/2009 - 04:19:45 AM
Reply with Quote
You will like the Fenix Terry. I've been an Ultrastinger man for the last 10 years and used the Fenix for the first time yesterday. Impressive light in a very small and cool package.
Dlord
Inspecting the oldest city
View Profile
Wausau, Wisconsin
Posts: 148
Joined: Nov, 2007
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#12] Posted: 04/22/2009 - 04:33:06 AM
Reply with Quote
I carry a spare flashlight and tape measure to loan to the folks. Keeps them busy while I perform the inspection. Interesting moments are when parents bring their children to the inspection and they spot your bag full of goodies and try to claim it as their own while the parents just stand there and not say anything or correct the darlin.
Michael Carson
Illegitimis Non Carborundum
www.inspectitrighthomeinspection.com
Portland / Bend / Salem, Oregon
Posts: 74
Joined: Jan, 2004
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#13] Posted: 05/21/2009 - 12:17:16 PM
Reply with Quote
Quote: Originally posted by kurt

Nope. I carry a couple minimags and a couple cheap 250,000cp lights from the big box for them to play with. They love it, and so do I.

Nobody gets to play with my Fenix but me.......



Paul in Portland
Portland / Bend / Salem, Oregon
Posts: 74
Joined: Jan, 2004
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#14] Posted: 05/21/2009 - 12:19:08 PM
Reply with Quote
Which mod Fenex do you like most? I am still in the dark ages with my rechargable Mag (still like it). E-mail me at "oregonwest@comcast.net" if you would.
Paul in Portland
View Profile
Newberg, OR
Posts: 2786
Joined: Mar, 2007
Currently offline offline
  
Grumpy
[#15] Posted: 05/25/2009 - 4:58:33 PM
Reply with Quote
Paul,

I just picked up the Fenix TK11 R2. I believe that the R1 or R2 is what everyone on this board has been purchasing. (type in Fenix on the search feature).


Brandon

Portland Home Inspector
   
Previous Topic: A Little Side Chat About Music - Topic - Next Topic: FHA 203(k) qualified inspector in King County New TopicReply to TopicShare Topic
Jump To:
The Inspector's Journal Forums © 2002-2013 all topics or replies that are posted on The Inspector's Journal
are copyrighted material of the original author that posted the topic or reply.
Go To Top Of Page 
 
Pick an RSS Feed

The views expressed on this website are the views of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the sponsors.
© 2002-2013 Copyright DevWave Software Inc.
Find a Home Inspector

Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000