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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:23 pm
by loudog
Hi Chaps, I am currently working for a guy, who just doesn't stop watching over me. I have been doing paving & tarmac for 26 years now, I just find it so off putting. He is nice enough, but he has told me that he watches me to make sure it is done right. It is getting to the stage now where he pulls a chair up and sits there like eagle eyes. How would you lads deal with this, as my friends say " I would have hit him over the head by now"
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:21 pm
by lutonlagerlout
you get them every now and again lou
trying to split the atom
i try and sniff them out when pricing
It depends how deep you are with him but i try and just smile and get on with it
difficult i know
LLL
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 4:01 pm
by Pablo
it's a horrible situation to be in I had one a few years back who was pulling me for everything and then talking to the lads like he was their boss. Finally pushed me to far and I unloaded on him. Was wrong of me but he cowered in the kitchen for the rest of the job and said nothing. Was risky he could've got funny about money so best just knuckle down if you can and move on asap. Buy a few country and western cd's and play them loud might get you some peace from him.
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:38 pm
by Carberry
Only had two of them before. One couple kept on watching out their big kitchen window, it was like a bloody fish bowl.
The other thought he knew best and wouldn't stop annoying me. He stopped for a week after he found out that of my two labourers one was about to finish his degree in accounting and one was about to finish his masters in mathematical physics and that I did computer science at university. When he started again I had a go at him and told him I knew what I was doing, that he hired me because I knew what I was doing, that all the references he checked out told them i knew what I was doing and if he didn't shut it I was going to walk off the job.
As LLL says, you try and sniff them out before you start the job and either jack the price up or turn the work down. If you end up with a job with someone on your shoulder you just have to crack on with it or possibly have a word with him and say you find it off putting having someone on your shoulder like a parrot and maybe arrive at a compromise, like you coming to get him to inspect key stages ie: correct depth dug out, correct amount of hardcore put in, poles set to right height and level, slabs or blocks going down.
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:54 pm
by ilovesettsonmondays
just had a site agent like that . started watching us work for about half an hour each time the other week .was about 6 of us paving all together , keep watching us with his arms crossed . most on site are foreigners albanians, lithuanians , romanians , no poles they have seen the light and realised good old blighty isnt as great as it is made our to be . in the end i just said to him whats your problem . he didnt what to say , said he was just thinking. after that he never did it again
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:56 pm
by dig dug dan
had it once. the whole family in armchairs at the patio doors. no tea either.
thing is, they weren't even doing it to check we doing the job correct. just entertainment value i suppose!
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 8:38 pm
by joydivision
We had an old boy last week doing this. He was the customers dad, he was house sitting whilst we were doing the job.
Thing is, this guy would stand there all day and talk you to death! He was from an engineering background from what I chose to listen to, and he had done everything or had a mate who had done it, bigger and better than me.
After a day of being pleasant, trying to humor him and half listening to him, my pal finally told him to sling his hook. He put in in a great way to, 'im really sorry but could you please leave me to get on with my job, im struggling to concentrate on my work, thanks!'
Simple and worked!
JD
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 9:17 pm
by Big Phil
maybe he has a 'thing' for hairy arsed blacktoppers. you could try wearing a belt to stop teasing him every time you bend down :laugh:
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 8:49 am
by loudog
I did say to him that I would go through things when I reached a different stages of the jobf. Now here is the kicker, I am half way round his house in paving,I have constructed the footings and up to DPC, I haven't received a penny, and he wants me to finish the extension. I can't carry on with my paving until this extension is up. I am in £3000 already. Like I said he is nice enough but throws in the odd suggestion here and there but it's the constant watchinThe thing g over me thats I feel back at school.
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:07 am
by seanandruby
Get the daily papers and all just sit there reading, or listening to the radio. When he asks "what are you doing?" Just say: not doing anything till you stop watching. He'll get the message.
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:50 am
by local patios and driveway
Assless chaps and a wink in his direction ought to do the trick...
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:04 am
by GB_Groundworks
just say your health and safety method statement doesnt allow him to stand there, unless hes been inducted as his hse card and has full ppe on your not insured should move him on hehe, ppl dont tend to stand near the machines when they're flying around hehe
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:57 am
by loudog
lol like that about the ppe. I have yet to tell my brickie, who starts Monday what he is like. Thought I had better get him there first.
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 2:22 pm
by lutonlagerlout
lets hope he does read the brew cabin (the brickie)
funny enough i have had one like your man and at the end of the job the money came across real quick and we have had loads of recommendations of it
too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing
LLL 
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 3:20 pm
by Mikey_C
from a customer point of view, he might just be watching to understand and learn, and if you haven't said anything, thinks he's not bothering you, I love to watch tradesmen in action, because I learn how do things quicker, and in most cases better, I have also seen some cowboys/idiots, but unless i employing them and there working on my house, i'm not going to criticize.