Hookup disagreement with a homeowner in Phoenix that still bugs me

I did a install last spring at this house in Phoenix where the guy insisted on having his main panel right next to the front door. I told him that's a terrible spot because it's the first thing a burglar sees and they can just rip it off the wall in 5 seconds. He said he wanted it there so he could arm/disarm fast when walking in with groceries. I get that convenience is nice but man, we ended up going back and forth for like 20 minutes. Finally he just said "look it's my house and my money so do it my way." I did it his way but I still wonder if I should have pushed harder or just walked off the job. Has anyone else had a customer fight you on basic safety like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

king.val1mo ago

Get what you're saying but honestly I've noticed this same thing everywhere not just in our line of work. People treat their own preferences like they're the only thing that matters even when it means making things way harder or less safe later on. I see it at the grocery store with folks parking right next to the cart corral then getting mad when their car gets dinged. Or my neighbor who refused to trim his dead tree branches because he liked the shade even though they were hanging over the power lines. It's like everyone thinks they're the exception to basic common sense until something bad actually happens. You did your job by telling him the truth and that's all you can do really. Letting it go is probably the healthy move here even if it still bugs you sometimes.

wade2501mo ago

The parking lot thing is a perfect example @king.val, like people will park literally right next to the cart corral and then act shocked when their door gets a nice souvenir dent. It's almost like they think the universe owes them special treatment and the laws of physics just don't apply. Dead tree branches over power lines though that's a whole other level of playing chicken with fate just for some shade. Tell your neighbor I said good luck with that, hope he's got good homeowners insurance.

max_brown1mo agoTop Commenter

Man that neighbor story is just wild, really feel for you having to watch that trainwreck unfold.