Heads up about customers insisting on watching repairs

I had a client last week who absolutely would not leave the bench while I worked on their old SLR. They kept asking questions every 30 seconds and leaning right over my tools. It made me so nervous I almost dropped a tiny spring. In the end, I had to politely but firmly ask them to wait in the front. It's okay to set that boundary to do your best work.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_emery1mo ago

Yeah, I just tell them straight up it's a liability thing for me. My shop insurance actually has rules about non-staff in the work area. I explain that if they get hurt or something gets damaged, it creates a huge problem. It's not personal, it's so I can focus and get their gear fixed right. Setting that rule from the start saves so much stress.

river_craig211mo ago

Wow, it's a safety issue as much as a focus one.

rowan_brown661mo ago

See, I'd flip that around and say safety is the focus. Losing your train of thought for a second is one thing, but the real problem is causing an actual crash. A minor fender bender because you looked at your phone is still a safety issue, not just a focus problem. That's why the laws treat it that way, lol. They aren't worried about your mild distraction, they're worried about you plowing into someone.