curiositync's Blog

that when you hire a blue-collar worker like a tree trimmer, gardener, house worker, work such as that, they are all nice to you when giving you a quote. 

they are really enthusiastic and helpful, chatting you up until you hang up or part with the promise of hiring them.  then you hire them, arranging for a time appropriate for them to come and do the work, shoot, they are even willing to do some little extra things if you like, and if you really need to dicker about the price, they are willing to come down by $50 or whatever (for a tree trimmer, the fee could be $400, and he would cut the price down to $350). 

then the time comes when they arrive to your place to do the work. they get the equipment set up, and work diligently, very professionally, paying attention to the job, they are really good, and you decide you will up the check to $400 because they are good, and you are getting to know them, and understand them as humans, not as workers.  while the boss is shredding the tree limbs with his right-hand-man, you ask the tree climber to chop down several more smallish trees next to the fence which he gladly does.  suddenly while he is helping you out, the boss cries out for his helper and you sense things are not well as his voice raises above normal.

the boss keeps asking for his payment, rapidly picking up his equipment and only doing the minimal amount of cleanup :( ...

and that is my question, why did he stop talking pleasantly to me?  was it really all about the money?  there have been other workers who have acted that way over the years, and they did the same thing, chatting me up before the job was granted, talking & acting friendly during the job, but then when the time came to be paid and leave, it's like, ppphhheeewwww... look out, there they go, they are gone with the wind... :?