Just realized a customer measuring for a ceiling job was doing it all wrong

This lady in Aurora pointed at my tape and told me I was off by 3/8 of an inch, turns out she was reading from the wrong end of the blade the whole time - has anyone else dealt with a client who thinks they know your job better than you?

2 comments

2 Comments

clairebaker17d ago

Have you tried just holding the tape up and letting them double check your work before you start cutting? I had a homeowner in Boulder do the same thing once, thought I was being lazy with my measurements. I just handed her the tape and said "you show me then." She realized real quick she was reading it wrong and got real quiet after that. Best way to handle it is let them prove themselves wrong, saves you from arguing and wasting time. Also helps to mark your measurements on the ceiling with a pencil so they can see what you're working with.

fisher.taylor17d ago

Did the same thing with a homeowner who swore I was cutting a board short. Handed him the tape and my pencil and told him to mark where he wanted it. He measured twice, looked at me, measured again, then just said "go ahead." Never got that kind of pushback from him again. Some people need to see it for themselves before they'll trust you. Saves a lot of breath.