mobiltec
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I make mistakes so you don't have to...
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 12, 2015 17:53:26 GMT -8
Had to let the 4th person I have hired in a year to just help me and maybe learn a few things. I was paying this guy $15/hr cash and he lives here in the park so he doesn't even have to drive to work. First thing he did was let Sabrina out of the yard after I have told him countless times not to do that. Then he complained about working conditions having to be mindful of closing the gate behind him. I should tie up the dog he said.
Then he starts to complain about how cleaning up old J rail was boring, tedious work and beneath his skill level. Mind you he kept doing it the wrong way as soon as I would leave him alone for 5 minutes. So I had to tell him more than 3 times how I wanted it done. He ruined more J rail than his time was worth so now I must buy new J rail for the trailer. Should have just done that in the first place I suppose.
When I called him on not doing things the way I told him he hit me with "I could work circles around you if I did it my way"... Yet his way does not work and ruins the J rail. By the end of the day I was tired of listening him moan and groan so I gave him his money for the day and told him he was finished. He asked when to come back and I told him not to bother.
I give up. I'll just do this stuff all myself. I have 4 trailers and thought I needed help but the help ends up making things take longer than if I just do it all myself. So that's the way it will be. I don't know what is wrong with people these days. They think you should pay them JUST for showing up.
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John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Jan 12, 2015 18:21:53 GMT -8
LOL......It's not worth it, just do what you can, and be satisfied!
It's just me, and the radio!
It would take an army of skilled workers to rebuild all of these little trailer's.
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mobiltec
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I make mistakes so you don't have to...
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 12, 2015 19:00:13 GMT -8
You said it John. I can get things done much faster by myself. I'm done trying to hire anyone to help.
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Post by schweetcruisers on Jan 12, 2015 19:02:01 GMT -8
After running crews for a interior trim company, being a super for a general contractor, and owning my own company for 8 years, I just do it all myself.
Great case in point, last fall I was remodeling a kitchen, I built two custom walnut counter tops, one 37" x 96" and one 52" x 96" both 2" thick. For weeks I moved them by myself with no issues, the day I was delivering them I moved the smaller one first and as I moving the second the hardwood floor apprentice grabbed a end to help. He ended dropping it twice in the five feet I had to move it and broke off one of the corners.
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turbodaddy
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17' 1965 Fan "Sunseeker"
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Post by turbodaddy on Jan 12, 2015 19:31:50 GMT -8
Well now...my wife and I have been self employed for about 30 years in a couple different businesses. We have always been "hands on" doing most of the work ourselves,only using employees to keep up when the demand was more than we could accommodate. Honestly, we've been lucky in that most have been pretty good...but when they are bad...it can get really bad! Worst mistake ever was to hire a friend's wife who turned into a NIGHTMARE. Ruined my friendship with a guy I'd known from when I was 11 years old. I'm 62 now, recently told my wife that I have retired. ( I will "help out" if she needs me.)Of course, I still go to work everyday and have yet to collect a dime from social security. The old saying "If you want something done right, do it yourself" rings true in my ears!
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Jan 12, 2015 21:44:55 GMT -8
When I volunteered at Habitat they quickly figured out I knew how to use a hammer. So they assigned three office workers (with big hearts and no skill) to work with me framing out closets. In 8 hours, four of us framed one closet...eight 2x4s. I spent my time pointing to where the nails go, watching them bend the nail with 20 swings, and pulling them out. I was so depressed I never went back.
My last trip to Haiti I hired a rock solid 18 year old for $1 an hour to do all the lifting. No attitude, no complaining, just work, work, work in the hot sun. It was the best dollar I ever spent.
The bottom line, don't expect much from people beyond lifting, carrying and holding things up.
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Jan 13, 2015 5:00:55 GMT -8
Reminds me of the TV ad. Big steroids guy says, "I pick things up, and put them down". (do I remember what was being sold?) Nope.
The last employee we let go had it cut. We trained him in all aspects of custom picture framing during the months that my wife was becoming enormously pregnant. For a while it was just me and the other guy doing production until the economy went bust. Then for several months he had the shop to himself, radio tuned to his favorite talk show. Each day I'd set him up with what needed to be done and let him be. He actually was the best one we'd ever had. Then one day he tells me he's lonely working all by himself! A week or so later he complains that ours is not "a real frame shop". We had all state of the art equipment...computerized mat cutter, air operated under pinner, etc. I asked what he thought we were lacking, "air tools" he says. He wanted an air operated screw driver. (We were doing maybe 10 jobs a day = 20 screws per day!) That was when I suggested he might start looking for another job.
Finally we let him go...on friendly terms which included a plea that he NOT go work for our competition right around the corner. Two weeks later I heard that he WAS there! Then, a couple years later the guy came back looking for a job with us. Lucky for him, I wasn't there when he came in!
Now it is just me and my wife, just like when we first started...much, much better.
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SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 13, 2015 8:00:06 GMT -8
I seldom bother to use the help I have living with me. I only call upon them if I absolutely have to have another hand.
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RJ
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Post by RJ on Jan 13, 2015 8:30:48 GMT -8
Had to let the 4th person I have hired in a year to just help me and maybe learn a few things. Cripes! I can retire from my DoD job in May this year at a reduced rate if I wish. If I lived down your way Larry, I'd "gladly" come to work at your trailer shop  "We make sacred pact. I promise teach karate (trailer restore) to you, you promise learn. I say, you do, no questions. Wax on, wax off, wax on....". When do I start  I may get in trouble for sneaking biscuits to Sabrina though. |
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kathleenc
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Post by kathleenc on Jan 13, 2015 8:37:35 GMT -8
Almost bought a tee-shirt for someone in my family as a Christmas present, but decided it was too mean.
It said
"If things get any worse, I'm going to have to ask you to stop helping."
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 13, 2015 8:40:28 GMT -8
Almost bought a tee-shirt for someone in my family as a Christmas present, but decided it was too mean. It said "If things get any worse, I'm going to have to ask you to stop helping." Oh, I would wear that t-shirt!!!!! |
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kathleenc
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Post by kathleenc on Jan 13, 2015 8:57:47 GMT -8
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Post by bigbill on Jan 13, 2015 10:00:41 GMT -8
I have a grand nephew that comes over now and then to give me a hand. When he first started coming by he couldn't read a ruler, Now he can do almost anything, the difference is he wanted to learn and he has. In the eight years he has come by he made a few mistakes and broke a few things but he learned from them and I am proud of him. He now is wanting to buy his own home. He wants a repo/fixer upper that he can buy low and turn into a place he can be proud of. It all is a matter of attitude.
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ladywendolyn
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1964 Golden Falcon
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Post by ladywendolyn on Jan 13, 2015 12:39:15 GMT -8
I have constant trouble in a different area.
I am a blond, petite woman, and very feminine. But I grew up helping my parents renovate houses, including everything from digging and pouring a basement, framing, drywall, plaster,finishing work, you name it. I am also a gifted cabinet maker.
That being said, I constantly have men with no renovation skills try to rescue me, take the tools out of my hands, and take over what I am doing.
Over the years I have learned to laugh. I know they are confused. I totally break the "dumb blond stereotype" I am one of the only women I know who likes to shop for tools more than my husband. That being said.. I decided when I took on my camper project, I am doing it alone. No male help unless I ask you to lift the fridge into place, or hold onto a big panel edge.
I like it this way..
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Post by danrhodes on Jan 13, 2015 14:27:25 GMT -8
If I had to guess, the guy was in his 20s. I know that every generation thinks the next is a bunch of whiners, but I have never seen a more entitled, whiny group of folks than the interns we cycle through here at work. These are decent paying summer desk jobs, but this generation seems to both think they go straight from high school to the board room, and any work that interferes with hanging out is not worth doing.
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"We make sacred pact. I promise teach karate (trailer restore) to you, you promise learn. I say, you do, no questions. Wax on, wax off, wax on....". When do I start 
I may get in trouble for sneaking biscuits to Sabrina though. 
