My $100 view today

[Mark Saiger]

Today's "$100 view"

Elderly lady pushing 100 years of age, takes all the winters off and her and her Pomeranian fly to San Diego for the winters....great lake view....and about 40 minutes North of me. No cell phone reception...just pure beauty up there....and she still takes care of her place and does a good job....

When she called, she was looking for other cleaning work we don't do, but she wanted carpet cleaning anyway too...

Wife told her $100 minimum, but then after booking and entering in schedule...discovered where the location was and should have been higher minimum.

Arrived and she just wanted $100 worth of carpet cleaning...."And while your at it, could you check that spot by the fireplace to see if the roof leaked again (so I thermal imaged it) and needed help with checking the oil in her vehicle"....

Just after a prevac she was impressed...and I HWE cleaned the open areas of a LR, DR, Kitchen, Entry....

She was actually just a hoot....Total bill at the end....$100 including the tax....

And next time she calls....will probably be $100

She said it had been 2 years since the last company...can't remember their name....was here...and she wasn't sure if she would be around in another 2 years....

I left her my magnet...just in case.... and hope to be back again someday.....

 

[Big Jim]

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Today's "$100 view"

Elderly lady pushing 100 years of age, takes all the winters off and her and her Pomeranian fly to San Diego for the winters....great lake view....and about 40 minutes North of me. No cell phone reception...just pure beauty up there....and she still takes care of her place and does a good job....

When she called, she was looking for other cleaning work we don't do, but she wanted carpet cleaning anyway too...

Wife told her $100 minimum, but then after booking and entering in schedule...discovered where the location was and should have been higher minimum.

Arrived and she just wanted $100 worth of carpet cleaning...."And while your at it, could you check that spot by the fireplace to see if the roof leaked again (so I thermal imaged it) and needed help with checking the oil in her vehicle"....

Just after a prevac she was impressed...and I HWE cleaned the open areas of a LR, DR, Kitchen, Entry....

She was actually just a hoot....Total bill at the end....$100 including the tax....

And next time she calls....will probably be $100

She said it had been 2 years since the last company...can't remember their name....was here...and she wasn't sure if she would be around in another 2 years....

I left her my magnet...just in case.... and hope to be back again someday.....

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Karma brother Karma

 

[Jim Pemberton]

When I meet someone of her age, I think to where they were at various stages of history.

When she was 4, the Spanish Influenza killed so many people world wide. There were children that never were there to grow up with her that died even then. There were older siblings and family members that she never had a chance to know.

She would have been 14 when the stock market crashed in 1929, and grown to be a young woman while our country struggled out of the depression.

She was 26 when the US entered World War II. She had to have had family members, and at that age maybe a husband, in that war. The "home front" was a struggle of rationing and fear of the day the car would pull up with military representatives bringing news of the death of a loved one.

Who knows what things she saw, what things she experienced?

Few of us have ever had to struggle for a day in the way she had to live for years.

Treating the seniors of that generation with respect is a duty we all have.

Good for you Mark....though I'm not surprised at all that you did that.

 

[Mikey P]

Well said Jim...

 

[Mark Saiger]

I really could have just spent the day there and listened....

The pictures of the trees were also because she was telling me what size they were when her and her late husband first moved to this spot...

Just so much in history...and the people she knew that I knew of ...and she knew I had been a band director and the former directors before me here (who have passed) were close and special friends of mine that had taught her kids in band....

For me....was extra special day

And I got the son in law done early and told him to get that family of his to the county fair on us....

So much to be thankful for at times....just want to share positive every day I can

Even through all of our hard times....

 

[Big Jim]

When I meet someone of her age, I think to where they were at various stages of history.

When she was 4, the Spanish Influenza killed so many people world wide. There were children that never were there to grow up with her that died even then. There were older siblings and family members that she never had a chance to know.

She would have been 14 when the stock market crashed in 1929, and grown to be a young woman while our country struggled out of the depression.

She was 26 when the US entered World War II. She had to have had family members, and at that age maybe a husband, in that war. The "home front" was a struggle of rationing and fear of the day the car would pull up with military representatives bringing news of the death of a loved one.

Who knows what things she saw, what things she experienced?

Few of us have ever had to struggle for a day in the way she had to live for years.

Treating the seniors of that generation with respect is a duty we all have.

Good for you Mark....though I'm not surprised at all that you did that.

I like the way you think Jim

 

[jcooper]

Saiger" data-source="post: 4378850" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

Today's "$100 view"
Elderly lady pushing 100 years of age, takes all the winters off and her and her Pomeranian fly to San Diego for the winters....great lake view....and about 40 minutes North of me. No cell phone reception...just pure beauty up there....and she still takes care of her place and does a good job....
When she called, she was looking for other cleaning work we don't do, but she wanted carpet cleaning anyway too...
Wife told her $100 minimum, but then after booking and entering in schedule...discovered where the location was and should have been higher minimum.
Arrived and she just wanted $100 worth of carpet cleaning...."And while your at it, could you check that spot by the fireplace to see if the roof leaked again (so I thermal imaged it) and needed help with checking the oil in her vehicle"....
Just after a prevac she was impressed...and I HWE cleaned the open areas of a LR, DR, Kitchen, Entry....
She was actually just a hoot....Total bill at the end....$100 including the tax....
And next time she calls....will probably be $100
She said it had been 2 years since the last company...can't remember their name....was here...and she wasn't sure if she would be around in another 2 years....
I left her my magnet...just in case.... and hope to be back again someday.....

So Mark,
Do you feel a tech on commission from a larger company(say 4 trucks or so) would have given her the same level of service? lol...

No lie, my wife got her first tip today(10 bucks!) from an 80 yr old... For a phone call? I'm sweating, she gets a tip for being nice!



Be especially nice to seniors, get lucky enough and maybe I'll get to be one!

 

[HydroDude]

I have lil ol lady that I've been clean her carpets for past 10 years for 100 bucks...she's 103 now, has the carpet cleaned for her birthday each year, for her 100th her invoice read Happy Birthday. ..she lives by herself, in a very nice condo on the beach and still drives.

 

[Mark Saiger]

So Mark,
Do you feel a tech on commission from a larger company(say 4 trucks or so) would have given her the same level of service? lol...

No lie, my wife got her first tip today(10 bucks!) from an 80 yr old... For a phone call? I'm sweating, she gets a tip for being nice!



Be especially nice to seniors, get lucky enough and maybe I'll get to be one!

Well, there are only 2 of us and 2 vans, but when I had more (and I am sure there are multi truck owners with the same philosophy)....

My people are given free reign to make a decision that can be of help to someone in a similar situation....

I bet there are things like that taking place everyday in EVERYONES business model....but I know you are making some light hearted fun here too

So, I know all of us carpet cleaners are very similar to myself in very giving and also, we like to have fun and poke at others in a fun manner too

I do remember getting a $3 tip for showing up one time to help look at a water loss in the middle of the night....and she was in her 90's and insisted I take the money....

She had to sit me down also to tell me a bunch of stories....

I might be that elder person someday, and hope someone young and patient will listen to me then....

I know Marty @hogjowl is struggling just to read and listen to me now...

 

[Mark Saiger]

I have lil ol lady that I've been clean her carpets for past 10 years for 100 bucks...she's 103 now, has the carpet cleaned for her birthday each year, for her 100th her invoice read Happy Birthday. ..she lives by herself, in a very nice condo on the beach and still drives.

You know, next time....it will be free....for sure

Almost was today, but this was my first time working for her, so didn't feel it would be quite appropriate this time....

She even asked as she was writing the check if $100 was seriously enough....yep...very much so

 

[dealtimeman]

I still think you should have shown her your zipper while she still had a chance to see it.

 

[Mark Saiger]

I still think you should have shown her your zipper while she still had a chance to see it.

 

[Old Coastie]

Well, Mark, sounds like a good day.

 

[Brian H]

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You know, next time....it will be free....for sure

Almost was today, but this was my first time working for her, so didn't feel it would be quite appropriate this time....

Good thing you did charge her... she may have thought you had something else in mind for payment.

I love talking with older customers, so much history!!

And the stories I have heard!!!!

 

[Old Coastie]

I had one old darling (who was a stunning beauty in her youth) tell me: "You know Steve, if I were 20 years younger I'd chase you all over this mountain!"

"Yeah" I said, "if I were twenty years older I wouldn't run so fast!"

It's been twenty years...

 

[Russ T.]

I had one old darling (who was a stunning beauty in her youth) tell me: "You know Steve, if I were 20 years younger I'd chase you all over this mountain!"

"Yeah" I said, "if I were twenty years older I wouldn't run so fast!"

It's been twenty years...

It's wit like this that is also SO VALUABLE for a tech to have or TRY to learn!

 

[Brian H]

It's wit like this that is also SO VALUABLE for a tech to have or TRY to learn!

That can be VERY dangerous Russ. Some people have it and some don't. When those that aren't witty try to be witty, it can come off very badly. And it's not always what they say, it's knowing when it will be well received.

I have had more then one cleaner over the years say something they thought was witty to a customer and it's come off sounding like a stalker.

 

[Russ T.]

I think that's true Brian.

I was going to say "you either got it or you don't" but figured someone without it would jump on me!

 

[HydroDude]

That can be VERY dangerous Russ. Some people have it and some don't. When those that aren't witty try to be witty, it can come off very badly. And it's not always what they say, it's knowing when it will be well received.

I have had more then one cleaner over the years say something they thought was witty to a customer and it's come off sounding like a stalker.

"Do you have enough light?"..."yes ma'am, I do some of my best work in the dark! "

 

[jcooper]

I once said good bye to an older fella across the room, " Nice to meet you and your daughter Mr Smith, have a great day"....

Yep, not the daughter... He yells back she's my wife!



Haven't been back......

 

[Mark Saiger]

I once said good bye to an older fella across the room, " Nice to meet you and your daughter Mr Smith, have a great day"....

Yep, not the daughter... He yells back she's my wife!



Haven't been back......