Why do some customers stand 6" behind you?

[South Spark]

Anyone else get this? Just changed a bathroom light and the customer spent the whole time virtually stood on the bottom rung of the step ladder staring at what I was doing. Not conducive to a good morning's work!

 

[DefyG]

Yes had that before, guess some just don't trust, some just curious and think 'I could do that next time'!

 

[Darkwood]

A few reasons, insecurity, curiosity, you may look dodgy, seeing what exactly they are paying for......

 

[telectrix]

tread on him, or drop a large screwdriver on his hed. he'll soon move.

 

[Pete999]

Anyone else get this? Just changed a bathroom light and the customer spent the whole time virtually stood on the bottom rung of the step ladder staring at what I was doing. Not conducive to a good morning's work!

Did a job along time ago for a Deaf and Dumb couple, the job was requested by the Husbands Father.
Anyway arrived had a cup of tea, Dad pushes off leaves me to it, unfortunately the Husband as well as being both Deaf and Dumb, had the misfortune to sort of snort when he was breathing, he was stood behind me for about an hour whilst I did the work, nice Bloke but very off putting, paid up no worries, must be very hard for some people with no visible disability.

 

[Toneyz]

With some people its a security thing as you are an unknown stranger in their house.
Some people are interested in what you are doing.
Some people don't see anyone throughout the day and like to chat.
I know what you mean it makes you feel.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I done a PV job yesterday...fitting the inverter etc in the loft and the customer stood on the loft ladder the whole time. Even getting in the way when the apprentice needed to get down or back up again when he went to fetch something.

 

[ruston]

Sometimes you may be the only person that they have seen, and had the chance to talk to for a long time. It can be off putting , but it is nice to be nice.
Then there are the pure pains. It is part if the job .

 

[pirate]

I assume they like the look of my pert backside, and enjoy my expensive aftershave
(Obviously, I don't shave, but I like to splash it all over anyway, to cover the smell of the bilgewater)

 

[Baddegg]

Space invaders! I find farting silently and then looking at them in disgust gets rid of em!

 

[marconi]

They are safely beyond the sparc distance?

 

[StephenRowley]

tread on him, or drop a large screwdriver on his hed. he'll soon move.

time for a good fart

 

[Wilko]

Probably we've all had this at some time or another. I go into skool teacha mode and tell them about our work starting with safe isolation. If they've not gone by the time I get to the influence of 3rd harmonics I find a wall that needs a hole in it .

 

[Spoon]

I would love to spend all the time watching how people do things. I find it interesting and you learn from it. Love to watch 'how its made'..
But, yes, I try and leave then alone when they are doing work at the house, as I know it bugs most people...

 

[Andy78]

Just bore them away. If they are gonna stand there they can listen to me pontificate about the state of the industry/regulation changes/electrical theory, anything to make them bugger off.

Or press them into service passing you tools and making cuppas.

 

[Squid]

Have a long chat with them and charge them in 15 minute segments for the work, chatting time is billable.

 

[buzzlightyear]

now that take me back again , I had just finish a job .had been under floor boards and now and again looking up through the hole the customers
head was virtually in side the hole to see what I was doing .
having finished the job he said I was watching what you was doing .
mmmm thought.so me gets out of the hole .boards down carpet down furnisher back .customer says to me .have you seen the cat .I said to the customer I thought a saw so thing run past me under their .
because it was pitch black and saw was the cat .

 

[buzzlightyear]

now that take me back again , I had just finish a job .had been under floor boards and now and again looking up through the hole the customers
head was virtually in side the hole to see what I was doing .
having finished the job he said I was watching what you was doing .
mmmm thought.so me gets out of the hole .boards down carpet down furnisher back .customer says to me .have you seen the cat .I said to the customer I thought a saw so thing run past me under their .
because it was pitch black and saw was the cat .

 

[MDJ]

A few reasons, insecurity, curiosity, you may look dodgy, seeing what exactly they are paying for......

yup definately this lol

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

On the flip side i have had customers meet me at the house then turn around and say 'here are the keys lock, up when you are done and leave them in the door round back of the garage!!' joys of countryside living i guess. in city centre you would never do that.
The house being full of stuff. Seems people have varying degrees of trust etc..

 

[Deleted member 9648]

It's not uncommon for people to leave you alone with a strategically place pile of cash somewhere....clearly a trap. It is extremely off putting though when someone stands right on top of what you are doing, they always seem to appear just when it's going wrong and you are struggling. On the plus side though in the summer I was at a real sorts house up a pair of steps and she insisted on standing right below chatting in a pretty loose fitting dressing gown, the view was a major distraction.

 

[Squid]

It's not uncommon for people to leave you alone with a strategically place pile of cash somewhere....clearly a trap. It is extremely off putting though when someone stands right on top of what you are doing, they always seem to appear just when it's going wrong and you are struggling. On the plus side though in the summer I was at a real sorts house up a pair of steps and she insisted on standing right below chatting in a pretty loose fitting dressing gown, the view was a major distraction.

Did you "accidentally on purpose fall off the ladder"?

 

[Squid]

My girlfriend used to work in a company where the interns where located on the mezzanine floor and it the summer it would get hot up here and they would end up in shorts and bikini tops, she was surprise at how trades men where so forgetful and would return looking for the tools they left behind........

 

[7029 dave]

I have had a punter pull up a chair in the middle of the kitchen to watch me.

 

[ipf]

I remember, donkeys years back, working on a CU low down with a great dane sat behind me, looking over my shoulder. Thought about taking him on as an apprentice but his dexterity let him down a bit.
Maybe, if they'd have had DI's then, I might have had a change of heart.

 

[sparkdog]

Its double time for watching.

 

[solarsavings]

A few years back I had an old fella stand watching me work in his bungalow when he says "I've noticed you have small feet" wtf?
A little while later he says "Can I show you this" double wtf He proceeds to show me the restraining straps he had fitted to the head and foot of his bed I tightened up and finished rather quickly after telling I was married with kids.

Had some interesting times working in peoples homes but that, well that was simply weird

 

[mhar]

Many years ago was talking to some other self employeds re just being left in people's houses and the little piles of cash thing, one bloke used to keep change in his van so he could add to each pile just incase the customer was leaving 'traps'!

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

A few years back I had an old fella stand watching me work in his bungalow when he says "I've noticed you have small feet" wtf?
A little while later he says "Can I show you this" double wtf He proceeds to show me the restraining straps he had fitted to the head and foot of his bed I tightened up and finished rather quickly after telling I was married with kids.

Had some interesting times working in peoples homes but that, well that was simply weird

Reminds me of one female customer who had almost see through white leggings on with bright red thong underneath.
She had a very low cut top with it all on display and kept finding reasons to bend over right in front of me when working.
Wouldn't have been so bad but she was wrong side of 40 and not in the best of shape!
Couldn't wait to get out of there!! very much case of bunny boiler alert

 

[Toneyz]

Some good stories there. I think if some of you got together you could write a very amusing book.