Hearthlist Digest #562 - Sunday, February 4, 2001 damage by "ngilmore" <[email protected]> Re: Chimenas... by "The Firebird" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: damage From: "ngilmore" <[email protected]> Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2001 21:29:22 -0500 me wonder about other potential damage that can be >caused >such as denting a hole in the wall while carrying a 350 lb stove, >scratching >the floor, getting soot on a white rug (!), ripping wallpaper while >putting >in a mantel...whew! >< >Obviously, if these things happen, they put us in an awkward position >with >the customer, as in, "Sorry we broke your china vase, but you >still owe us >$400! There was a good short story in the New Yorker some years back told from the pont of view of a woman who is having the precious wood floor in her East Hampton summer home redone. Lots of wonderment about and respect for craftspersons like the guy painstakingly doing her floor...upon the recommendation of a friend, she actually imported him from Georgia and was paying for his room and board as well as his fee for the floor work, because she wanted it done right and there are so few people left who know how. So after the better part of the summer it's finally finished, and she's thrilled with the job and knows it was all worth it, and they're moving the last of the stuff back into the house...he's helping, and upon moving the refrigerator back into place he makes a scratch or gouge (depending upon your point of view) smack in the middle of the floor and dismisses it with a little, "Oops!" So she's almost speechless but not so much that she can't ask him if he isn't going to fix it before he goes, and he, seemingly unaware of her horror, casually tells her oh know, can't do that...can't just "fix" the scratch,have to redo the entire kitchen...no time...have to go back to Georgia for another job on his schedule, and so the story ends with her disillusionment. I made copies of it and gave it to my employees at the time, not that I think any of them ever actually read it, but if they had I had hoped it would make an impression of some sort. But it got me to thinking that no matter how careful one or one's employees are trained to be, isn't it often just luck, good or bad, at work in these situations? In "the old days" were there ever really a majority of workers who performed perfectly and cleaned up perfectly and paid or gave up large sums of money to the customer when things didn't go quite right? What else can you do but look to your insurance to cover unintended damage, but still collect the money for your own time and labor? There are always mitigating circumstances, but in general, if you accept the responsibility and make restitution for damage, you've behaved ethically, and the customer should also behave ethically and pay for your service. One could be "nice" and not charge, but being nice too often can lead to being bankrupt. My 2 cents. Noel Gilmore Autumn Moon Fireplaces
(back) Subject: Re: Chimenas... From: "The Firebird" <[email protected]> Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2001 21:29:56 -0500 RE: Clay Chimineas Try one of the cast iron chimineas. Much more resistant to heat caused breakage. If you think clay chimineas on a wood deck are a potential problem, every year we get requests for chimney & stove pipe to fit them, so they can be installed indoors !! Gene Butler, The Firebird Stove, Fireplace, & Irrigation Specialists Since 1977 1808 Espinacitas Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 phone:(505) 983-5264 fax:(505) 983-4195 www.thefirebird.com