DON'T TOUCH MY TOOLS

[Elton Joorisity]

Don't forget a recently stitched cantle bind Brent. Or people that lift seat Jockey's to look under them.

[Sharpshooter]

I'm NOT nice about it al all....

Having spent most of a lifetime as an auto mechanic, I've dealt with the finger*#@%! of tools for a long time.

The ONLY solution I've ever found is to be very blunt. I make my living with those tools and when someone breaks or loses one of them that translates to food out of my family's mouth.

"Please leave my tools alone..." is my first line....

"I asked politely the first time..." is the second.

It usually doesn't go far beyond that and never a second time if it does.

Too often we get caught in the "The Customer is Always Right." trap, what most people don't know is that the original sign was a bit larger and the more important second part was stolen by some overbearing customer long ago.

The Customer Is Always Right; Sometimes he just needs to be right somewhere else.

I live by the 90-9 and 1 rule...

90% of the people you will do business with are easy to deal with and completely fair. They are looking for a dollars worth of work for a dollar.

9% of your customers are going to be a bit more difficult. They don't completely trust you and it's probably NOT your fault. They require a bit more attention and care, answers to a few more questions and more time just making sure you are doing it right. They're a bit of a pain but once you win them over by going that extra 9% they are the most loyal customers you ever have. I love the 9%ers because they keep me honest and give me an opportunity to strut my stuff and frankly, I'm a 9%er.

That leaves 1%.... ONE out of a Hundred. There is NOTHING you are ever going to do to please them; NOTHING, ZIP NADA. Regardless how hard you try, how much time you spend with them, how many times you bend over backwards, they are going to walk right over you. They're the ones who bring their dog to your farm and tell you it's OK, they're the ones who insist on playing with your tools, they're the ones that finger up everything they can touch.

Think about this.... when the Mob Guy in the movies goes into someone's place to strong arm them, what does he do? He fingers up everything, he goes where he wants and does what he wants. WHY does he do that? Because that's a great way of showing how unimportant you are in his eyes.

That 1%er is doing the same thing.... his actions are demonstrating disrespect in as clear a manner as possible.

The question you need to ask yourself is; "How bad do I need this person's money?"

To me, I learned long ago that the time and energy trying to please someone who cannot be pleased is wasted. I would rather spend the time with the other 99% of my clientèle. They deserve it. The hour I spend with a jerk is an hour I can't spend on someone who will appreciate my time and efforts.

1% means ONE out of ONE HUNDRED....

Out of 100 customers, one of them goes elsewhere and if you're the vengeful sort you'll have someone to recommend to him; someone who REALLY deserves his patronage.

The twist in the equation is that when that ONE leaves, you will likely GAIN business instead of lose it.

While you redo a job because the JERK discovered some flaw that you still can't see, how many other good paying jobs are you not getting to. In the end, the jerk isn't going to pay you the agreed price, you'll have three times the effort and materials invested in a job that you give him for half price just to get rid of him. When he's gone you'll be money ahead.

So I'll just be satisfied with pleasing 99% of my customers. That other 1%.... It's mind over matter.... I don't mind because they don't matter.

The Customer Is Always Right; Sometimes he just needs to be right somewhere else.

Please Leave My Tools Alone is polite and direct. 99% of your customers will respect you and your request and when they do I'll have a few extra minutes to explain and demonstrate the one that most interests them. I might even find a bit of scrap leather to let them try the tool out on. I have that time because I wrote off the 1%ers long ago.

Sorry for the long answer, but I think it time to gain a few more converts to the 90-9-1 Club.

Edited April 13, 2009 by Sharpshooter

[Art]

The best way to keep the wife from making unnecessary visits to the shop is simply to rip her clothes off and have your way with her every time she comes out there, not just a quickie but do a good job. Now this will wear you out for the first week or so until until she figures out what the heck is going on; it may scare the hell out of the dog too. The frequency of the visits will diminish, especially if she figures out she may be wearing you out, but it will be a little bit of a novelty for her at first, but you must persevere. You must be steadfast in this, she will eventually learn to only come out there if she wants something, and also to make sure there aren't customers about and to lock the door, especially after the first time there ARE customers there. This will also cure the problem of the wife diddling with the thermostat.

Art

[Shorts]

I guess it's easy for me, no store front. But my husband is the shop terror, he likes to run in and grab my things to open whatever plastic package he has in hand...... .......

[Suze]

too bad they don't make covers for a workbench like the ones you cover the keys of a piano with.....

someone comes in - plop and lock - noone touches the tools.

and I don't think Art's "souloution" would work for Shorts - she'd never get rid of her hubby. >grin<

[Bob]

I'm NOT nice about it al all....

Having spent most of a lifetime as an auto mechanic, I've dealt with the finger*#@%! of tools for a long time.

The ONLY solution I've ever found is to be very blunt. I make my living with those tools and when someone breaks or loses one of them that translates to food out of my family's mouth.

"Please leave my tools alone..." is my first line....

"I asked politely the first time..." is the second.

It usually doesn't go far beyond that and never a second time if it does.

Too often we get caught in the "The Customer is Always Right." trap, what most people don't know is that the original sign was a bit larger and the more important second part was stolen by some overbearing customer long ago.

The Customer Is Always Right; Sometimes he just needs to be right somewhere else.

I live by the 90-9 and 1 rule...

90% of the people you will do business with are easy to deal with and completely fair. They are looking for a dollars worth of work for a dollar.

9% of your customers are going to be a bit more difficult. They don't completely trust you and it's probably NOT your fault. They require a bit more attention and care, answers to a few more questions and more time just making sure you are doing it right. They're a bit of a pain but once you win them over by going that extra 9% they are the most loyal customers you ever have. I love the 9%ers because they keep me honest and give me an opportunity to strut my stuff and frankly, I'm a 9%er.

That leaves 1%.... ONE out of a Hundred. There is NOTHING you are ever going to do to please them; NOTHING, ZIP NADA. Regardless how hard you try, how much time you spend with them, how many times you bend over backwards, they are going to walk right over you. They're the ones who bring their dog to your farm and tell you it's OK, they're the ones who insist on playing with your tools, they're the ones that finger up everything they can touch.

Think about this.... when the Mob Guy in the movies goes into someone's place to strong arm them, what does he do? He fingers up everything, he goes where he wants and does what he wants. WHY does he do that? Because that's a great way of showing how unimportant you are in his eyes.

That 1%er is doing the same thing.... his actions are demonstrating disrespect in as clear a manner as possible.

The question you need to ask yourself is; "How bad do I need this person's money?"

To me, I learned long ago that the time and energy trying to please someone who cannot be pleased is wasted. I would rather spend the time with the other 99% of my clientèle. They deserve it. The hour I spend with a jerk is an hour I can't spend on someone who will appreciate my time and efforts.

1% means ONE out of ONE HUNDRED....

Out of 100 customers, one of them goes elsewhere and if you're the vengeful sort you'll have someone to recommend to him; someone who REALLY deserves his patronage.

The twist in the equation is that when that ONE leaves, you will likely GAIN business instead of lose it.

While you redo a job because the JERK discovered some flaw that you still can't see, how many other good paying jobs are you not getting to. In the end, the jerk isn't going to pay you the agreed price, you'll have three times the effort and materials invested in a job that you give him for half price just to get rid of him. When he's gone you'll be money ahead.

So I'll just be satisfied with pleasing 99% of my customers. That other 1%.... It's mind over matter.... I don't mind because they don't matter.

The Customer Is Always Right; Sometimes he just needs to be right somewhere else.

Please Leave My Tools Alone is polite and direct. 99% of your customers will respect you and your request and when they do I'll have a few extra minutes to explain and demonstrate the one that most interests them. I might even find a bit of scrap leather to let them try the tool out on. I have that time because I wrote off the 1%ers long ago.

Sorry for the long answer, but I think it time to gain a few more converts to the 90-9-1 Club.

I think that this answer is what many of us needed to hear. Tastes like a good medicine....

[Shorts]

too bad they don't make covers for a workbench like the ones you cover the keys of a piano with.....

someone comes in - plop and lock - noone touches the tools.

and I don't think Art's "souloution" would work for Shorts - she'd never get rid of her hubby. >grin<

Exactly what I was thinking. "Well that ain't gonna help very much!"

[cem]

too bad they don't make covers for a workbench like the ones you cover the keys of a piano with.....

someone comes in - plop and lock - noone touches the tools.

and I don't think Art's "souloution" would work for Shorts - she'd never get rid of her hubby. >grin<

How about a Roll Top Desk, I will be getting one or helping my sister to make me one as most here are on the small side this after finding my husband using my wooden mallet to hammer in pins on the vinyl shed he was putting together.

There are plans around for roll top desks on the net and I've seen audio recording studios desks that are quite long that have a similiar set up though they are usually made of metal. Instead of building the whole thing you could just build the top part and modify it to your desk length.

[jettrash]

I was at Al Shelton's shop a few weeks ago and it was really difficult to resist the urge to pick up and look at his old tools. I was hoping that some of his mojo would brush off on me if I touched them.

[charley]

How about a Roll Top Desk, (snip) ...

I like the setup that Jim Jackson has at the King's Saddlery shop ... his tools are on the wall, and he has a 2"x4" box around them mounted on the wall, and a hinged plywood "lid" over that. When he leaves, he closes and locks the lid (with a padlock).

I'm intending on building a similar thing (all my tools on the wall), but with a plexi-glass front lid (so you could see the tools when it's locked).

Of course, it would help if the wall was by your work area, so you could use the tools straight from the wall. Otherwise, if you have the tools "out" in your work area, then I agree with the idea of a separate/roped-off area from the visitors (if that's possible). Since you said you didn't have the space for that ... well ... that's a problem. (Sorry.)

-charley