Sunday, June 13, 2010

The Dinosaur Rears Its Ugly Head

I've written before about my brother, The Caveman.

He called me this week for some computer assistance and while we were on the phone, he relayed the following story to me. Some of you may know that he
owns his own company and has been at it for over twenty years. I think he still has his original company letterhead; a marble tablet that he chisled himself. It's real nice.

Anyway, when my brother does an estimate for a job, he of course visits the client personally. He doesn't send a salesman, he doesn't send one of his guys, he goes himself. He's so down to earth and unassuming, that often someone will say to him in the course of talking to him, "Well, just tell your boss...." and he replies, "I am the boss." I think people are suprised that the actual boss, the owner of the company, is standing in their living room.

So on this particular day, he went to the client's house to do an estimate. After walking the area with the guy, taking some measurments and discussing exactly what the client wanted, he said "OK, well I'll send you the estimate when I'm done with it." Then he shook the guy's hand and proceeded toward the door.

"Uh, wait a sec...don't you need my email?" the client said.

"What for?" my brother answered.

"To send the estimate." he said.

"No. I don't do email." my brother said.

"Well then how are you going to get me the estimate?" the client asked.

"I'm going to mail it to you." my brother responded.

"Mail it??" he said.

"Yeah."

"Through the mail?" the guy was beyond confused.

"Yes. In the mail." my brother said, as if it was the most natural thing.

"You do this all the time?" the guy asked.

"Yeah. In fact, what I'm going to do when I leave here is go home, look over the measurements I took, figure out what materials I need, then I'm going to call my suppliers and get prices from them and then I'll hand write your estimate, fold it up, put it in an envelope, lick it, stamp it and mail it to you. You should have it in a few days." my brother proudly announced, as if he were sending it Dinosaur Express.

"Wow. That's unheard of. I have to shake your hand." the client said.

"Yep. I'm old school." my brother said, laughing.

Then he told his client the story about how he made Ed and I take back
the printer we bought him. The guy looked at him like he was crazy. Eyes big as saucers.

And at that, my brother laughed, waved goodbye and got on his horse and rode home.


(kidding about the horse...but kinda not really)


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Kidnapping Is Obviously Not Their Forte
2 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Friday On Ice
3 YEARS AGO:
Having Influence Where It Matters
4 YEARS AGO:
MacGyver To The Rescue
5 YEARS AGO:
The Weekend

4 comments:

Gil said...

It seems like a sure fire way not to bid more work that he can handle!

MAE said...

...Comforting to have a bit of 'old school' in today's society...

DIXIE said...

Oh, how I wish we had asked him out here to consult with him when we decided to get rid of carpet and go with tile!
If we were "filthy" rich, I'd just have this all removed and start over with someone who could draw a straight line. As it is, we have to look at this every day.....
Ed's mom

Sarmen Khosdeghian said...

This client guy doesn't know what's about to hit him when it's time to pay for all that work.

Cash please.