Plumber Came to my House Yesterday.

[Arthur Frayn]

Title edited for caps See rule 9.

My 15 year old water heater finally went to heater heater heaven. She was a true and faithful servant through the years. But, in these things we must girt our loins and move on. Time for a new water heater, despite the sober and manly tears.

The plumber came in yesterday. A nice 35 year old with a chipper demeaner. A family man of the old school, like myself. He came with several good recommendations from neighbors. The man is building his business and making friends in our small town seems important to him.

As I helped him wrestle the old girl out of the man cave, he noticed my pipe wall and said he always wanted to try pipe smoking. He related to me that he and his business partner were enthusiastic cigar enjoyers. He also shared my liking for old Columbo episodes. We exchanged impressions of Peter Falk hunching over and saying, "Uh, just one more 'ting".

By the time he was left, I had given him a cleaned estate briar and several samples in each of the main categories of pipe tobacco. He was a good student and learned quickly to pack a pipe, charring lights and gentle sipping and exhalation through the nose. He was authentically happy. So much so that at the truck, when I was paying him, he knocked $110 off the cost of a new water heater installation. And I made a new friend as well.

 

[NomadOrb]

Great story, thanks for sharing your experience.

Taking the time to build good, meaningful relationships is vital to life and business.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

Actually, my neighbor who is in his 70s has his water heater replaced last year. He asked me earlier to get him some wacky tabak which I did and he said he felt so good he helped the guy carry the old one out of his basement and the dude gave him $100 off

 

[Arthur Frayn]

Actually, my neighbor who is in his 70s has his water heater replaced last year. He asked me earlier to get him some wacky tabak which I did and he said he felt so good he helped the guy carry the old one out of his basement and the dude gave him $100 off

then he ate a whole box of Cheerios, by the handful without milk. and ordered a extra large ham and pineapple pizza.

 

[anotherbob]

My 15 year old water heater finally went to heater heater heaven. She was a true and faithful servant through the years. But, in these things we must girt our loins and move on. Time for a new water heater, despite the sober and manly tears.

The plumber came in yesterday. A nice 35 year old with a chipper demeaner. A family man of the old school, like myself. He came with several good recommendations from neighbors. The man is building his business and making friends in our small town seems important to him.

As I helped him wrestle the old girl out of the man cave, he noticed my pipe wall and said he always wanted to try pipe smoking. He related to me that he and his business partner were enthusiastic cigar enjoyers. He also shared my liking for old Columbo episodes. We exchanged impressions of Peter Falk hunching over and saying, "Uh, just one more 'ting".

By the time he was left, I had given him a cleaned estate briar and several samples in each of the main categories of pipe tobacco. He was a good student and learned quickly to pack a pipe, charring lights and gentle sipping and exhalation through the nose. He was authentically happy. So much so that at the truck, when I was paying him, he knocked $110 off the cost of a new water heater installation. And I made a new friend as well.

really awesome. If he didn't knock the price off the installation I'd say he might be the worlds worst con man. Goes into someones home and then when he sees something he wants talks about how he's been thinking about trying it. "Is that a television? I've been thinking about watching one, I like movies but I don't know about t.v..."
That's cool double so. One a decent plumber seems hard to find and there is something about enabling our vices on others that just feels so right.

 

[kcghost]

It is always a surprise when you run into another pipe smoker.

 

[bullet08]

I remember putting heater in my father's restaurant. We had old basement that looked like a dungeon. On top of few milk crates was the "bitch". Taking her out wasn't much of problem. Cut the gas, power, water.. Cut the pipes, and kick her to the side. Made a nice platform for the new heater and put her down for the real work. Soldering those pipes back on was much more harder than I imagined. Specially the water pipes. After number of solder dropping on my arm leaving nice burn, it was done. Nope, I knew plumbing wasn't in my future.

 

[mso489]

He's already a cigar smoker, so you aren't corrupting him or infuriating his wife. And you have a working water heater. It sounds like a good day.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

then he ate a whole box of Cheerios, by the handful without milk. and ordered a extra large ham and pineapple pizza.

It's possible but he never brought it up. We have to keep it on the DL as his wife is disapproving as is my girlfriend.

 

[Arthur Frayn]

really awesome. If he didn't knock the price off the installation I'd say he might be the worlds worst con man. Goes into someones home and then when he sees something he wants talks about how he's been thinking about trying it. "Is that a television? I've been thinking about watching one, I like movies but I don't know about t.v..."
That's cool double so. One a decent plumber seems hard to find and there is something about enabling our vices on others that just feels so right.

Funny that you should mention low budget con men coming to the door.

Two summers ago, I was in front of my house doing something on the car. A old white Chevy van pulls up and a guy leans over and offers to clean my carpets with his special machine for a special price. A quick visual assessment tells me that he is down at the heels and not local. Pretty sketchy character to let into one's home. He tells me that he finished another job, and was so efficient -that he had time to do all my carpets for only $799. He could even throw in some kind of special lustre enhancing shampoo. He had time and could do it now, if I wanted.
His sales pitch was delivered at 1.5 speed; an extra fast talker.

I listened in a relaxed way, a friendly smile on my face. "The trouble is", I told him " that I dont have carpeting- I have hardwood floors". I told him thanks, but no thanks. "Anyway, I dont do business that way. Have a great day"

. He actually became frustrated with my Andy Griffith answer and me in general. He began to grumble that I was lying about the floors. and that I had wasted his time. I only shrugged and turned away and began to fiddle with my jitterbug.

 

[mso489]

That's my complaint with these outfits that claim to give you referrals for household repairs and renovation. They may screen their list of providers, but that doesn't prevent those people who are already booked from sending over their "friends," who may be wild pirates trying to bilk the customers, work with no written agreement, and get hostile if they aren't rewarded with high prices. Don't even accept estimates from anyone who doesn't come with a solid reference. It's a set-up for a mugging.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

Once, when I was young I had this prestine 78 Alfa Romeo Spider. I mean this was like year 2002 and the thing didn't have a spot of rust on it and someone managed to ding it in a parking lot at some point, rather badly actually. Months later I was crusing around south Philly in it and this barefoot Italian boy chased me down and told me his grandfather Giuseppe could take care of it for cheap. This is a literal description of the situation including names. I was young and nieve at the time and fell prey to the urchin kid's sales skills so I agreed. Wow, what a crappy job granny did. Probably cost me more to have it properly taken care of after having that dude pop out the dent creating more creases etc. Lesson learned!

 

[anotherbob]

Funny that you should mention low budget con men coming to the door.

Two summers ago, I was in front of my house doing something on the car. A old white Chevy van pulls up and a guy leans over and offers to clean my carpets with his special machine for a special price. A quick visual assessment tells me that he is down at the heels and not local. Pretty sketchy character to let into one's home. He tells me that he finished another job, and was so efficient -that he had time to do all my carpets for only $799. He could even throw in some kind of special lustre enhancing shampoo. He had time and could do it now, if I wanted.
His sales pitch was delivered at 1.5 speed; an extra fast talker.

I listened in a relaxed way, a friendly smile on my face. "The trouble is", I told him " that I dont have carpeting- I have hardwood floors". I told him thanks, but no thanks. "Anyway, I dont do business that way. Have a great day"

. He actually became frustrated with my Andy Griffith answer and me in general. He began to grumble that I was lying about the floors. and that I had wasted his time. I only shrugged and turned away and began to fiddle with my jitterbug.

really sign of legit business. They get angry at you for not letting them rip you off I mean save you money. I would have been a real dick. I would have been said something like oh you got done early must not have been thorough.

 

[STP]

Nice story. That tuned out a lot better than my recent hot water tank replacement… ha.

 

[Brendan]

I remember putting heater in my father's restaurant. We had old basement that looked like a dungeon. On top of few milk crates was the "bitch". Taking her out wasn't much of problem. Cut the gas, power, water.. Cut the pipes, and kick her to the side. Made a nice platform for the new heater and put her down for the real work. Soldering those pipes back on was much more harder than I imagined. Specially the water pipes. After number of solder dropping on my arm leaving nice burn, it was done. Nope, I knew plumbing wasn't in my future.

Don't be to sure, nowadays they use mostly crimp/Viega systems.
I seriously doubt some apprentices down under are even taught how to solder or sweat-on copper fittings.

Also, @Arthur Frayn maybe you can persuade him to join the forum?

"One of us, one of us, one of us"...

 

[Arthur Frayn]

maybe you can persuade him to join the forum?

"One of us, one of us, one of us"...

Good idea, boss.

 

[ashdigger]

The title made me think I’ve been on the internet too long.

 

[Arthur Frayn]

The title made me think I’ve been on the internet too long.

With that in mind, you might consider clearing your browsing history from time to time. just sayin'.

 

[anotherbob]

The title made me think I’ve been on the internet too long.

I have to admit when I read that title a certain style of 70's jazz influenced Steely Dan pre fame kind of song play in my mind.

 

[fMf Piper]

A nice 35 year old with a chipper demeaner. A family man of the old school, like myself. He came with several good recommendations from neighbors. The man is building his business and making friends in our small town seems important to him.

Great story. The world would be a better place if there were a bit more of this. To many shady operators out there just looking to rip you off.