The value of great service and taking care of a customer…
This sketch never happened! We had a roofer come out to the house because of a leak. Our roof is very old and we have gotten the most out of it , but we are due for a new one. We greeted the roofer and my wife and I started to show him around. I forgot to print out pictures of the attic so I excused myself to go inside to print them. I was only gone for five or ten minuets. When I returned my wife was done. She was visibly upset, frustrated and insulted by this salesperson. How did it happen so quickly? He was not abusive, or rude, he did not curse or get angry…what was it? I found out later, after he ran out without looking back, that it was much more subtle. He came to our home in a time of some need. A roof is not a small item, it cost several thousand dollars to replace. Without knowing if we were fine during a pandemic or financially strapped he was very tone deaf. I do not know his situation but he would not listen to my wife, talked over her continually, insisted we needed much more than we did, and tried transparent fear tactics to get us to “sign up today”.
It made me appreciate the relationships we have with our usual service providers. Our plumber who put in a new line when we were stuck with sewer issues and no flushing toilets. Our furnace guys who seem to know how to get the job done, yet be kind and courteous in the process. The mechanic who does not charge for some simple services because he knows and respects us as customers.
Especially now in the middle of a pandemic. These trades people are coming into homes and dealing with much more than a mechanical fix. They see our basements and closets, our messes and junk. The best of them know they are more than repair people but they really can make or break a day for others.
So this sketch was a little humorous poke at just a few of the issues they deal with as they come into our homes and our lives. How valuable it is to have good people around you doing good work. Stay safe.