Old timer told me to never trust a customer's 'it's just a simple drop' story

I ran into this guy Don at a job site in Phoenix last spring. He had like 30 years in the game and told me if a customer says it's a quick easy install, double the time estimate. I figured he was just being grumpy and blew it off. Two weeks later I took a job that the lady said would take 45 minutes and it turned into a 6 hour nightmare because the attic had no floor and the coax was all painted into the walls. Now I always ask to see the actual hookup spot before I give a time. Has anyone else run into customers who downplay how messy their setup really is?

2 comments

2 Comments

victor2191mo ago

Wait, cat pee soaked insulation? Man that's disgusting. @ericschmidt you went through that and still showed up the next day?

ericschmidt1mo ago

Oh man, the "simple drop" story is basically the electrician's version of "it's just a small leak" from a plumber. That old timer Don knew what he was talking about. Customers have a magical ability to forget all the cat pee soaked insulation, the mouse nests in the junction box, and the fact their walls are plaster over brick when they say it's "easy". I learned that lesson after a "two hour" job turned into a full day of wrestling with 50 year old armored cable that was basically welded to the studs. Now I tell people their "quick drop" is like a horror movie trailer - sounds innocent but you know there's gonna be screaming and unexpected damage.