Any foot in mouth moments to share???

I recall bidding on a BIG project for a client... I suggested he have a gate camera intercom so that he could be forewarned of the next door neighbor / AMWAY sales guy!


...There was a silence at the conference table... the client and his wife looked at each other then at me, then with an awkward smile, he explained to me that he was one of the TOP Amway guys in the country!!! OMG... well, don't ask me how, but we still got the job!

Haha!

That's gotta be right up there with, "Hey, when's your baby due?"

"Is your daughter 18 yet?"

Actually, yes.

I once did a walk-through with a client in a house that was just framed. We were in the great room and when we finished there I said "Okay, let's do the master suite. Follow me" as I slipped between the 14-1/2 inch space between two studs. Problem was the client weighed about 350 lbs.

Guess I should have taken the long way and gone down through the hall.

Glackowitz's boss used to work with me.... I was the sales guru-genious designer B.S. artist... and Glackowitz's boss was the installer / tech (and a great one)!...

We were invited to do a walk through of a billionaire's home in the most exclusive area of Seattle... After entering the massive residence, Dennis, remarked to Mrs. Billionaire... "Boy I'll bet you'll be happy when you get this tacky fake Leopard-skin wall to wall carpeting removed, huh?!?!?

Mrs. Billionaire looked at Dennis and I, and said: "Uhm, well actually Dennis, we JUST HAD THIS INSTALLED"!!!

I, was a little uhm... embarrassed! It was a priceless moment though! LOL!!!

LOL thats a good one stan. I try to not make comments anymore, good or bad, about a clients belongings or items in their home unless asked for an opinion. I've also stuck my foot in my mouth with things like "I can't believe the woodworker has a visible seam on those vertical columns" - homeowners husband was the woodworker; not a very good one however :-)

Back in college days, I worked at a golf course and thought I might be funny. One day there's a phone call for me, so I go to pick it up. Being a wise guy, I said, "Ace Mortuary - Tom speaking!" Silence at the other end. "Hi Tom, this is Mr. McDowell (the head of the electronics department at the college). It's funny you should mention that, because Mr. Whitfield (the older lab technician at the college) has died, and his wife asked if you could be a pall bearer at the funeral."

big gulp

I accepted and carried one corner.

Mr. McD and I could laugh about it (much) later.

Sometimes doesn't pay to be a wise guy.

...WOW!!! Funny how these things happen sometimes!

Like Tweeter, I pretty much don't try to get too chatty with my clients anymore, or comment on their house or possessions... During the last fever pitched election period, I made some Pro-Obama comment to a customer, and later wandered past his home office which was adorned with autographed pics of the home owner with Reagon & both of the Bush's! LOL! (gulp).

If they dont ask.. keep your mouth shut.. If they do ask.. say it looks great and dont elaborate.

You can apply this wisdom to many situations in life.

Wife or Girlfriend is standing in front of a mirror and turns around and asks our opinoin.. we say GREAT and move on.

Any attempt to elaborate will get you in trouble.

Go on, live dangerously.

Me: No dear, those jeans don't make your ass look fat at all.

Wife: F-You!!! I didn't ask you that, you jerk... Go out to dinner by yourself!

Seriously though.. i wont even talk about the clients outside their home.. Some guys love to start making jokes when were a block away at lunch not realizing that just maybe.. the client has friends in the area.

Yeah, good policy! You also have to be careful not to comment about the customer to their builder! One time I was being overly judgemental and critical of a couple to the builder... Turned out they were his best friends! DOH!

That'll be on my tombstone:

"This guy never knew when to shut up!"