Thursday, June 21, 2012

Here’s something I wonder over more and more.  Why is it that obtaining quality work is like trying to resurrect the dinosaurs?  Case in point…a number of months back, I had to have the motor to my house heater replaced.  That process turned out to take longer than had been quoted, but…the job did get done and I had heat this past winter.  So, silly me, I thought everything had been done the way it should’ve been, cause, ya know, I did hire a professional after all.  But, seeing as quality work is becoming more rare, quality is not what I got.

Today, I had another repair company out to take a look at our air conditioning unit that decided to stop blowing cold air.  In short order, it was determined that it needed a Freon charge.  No biggie.  I authorized the work and the repairman set about his task.  About a half hour later, he returned from my attic, a puzzled look on his face.  He then asked, “Did you recently have the motor to your heater replaced?”

When I told him I had, his look became even more perplexed.  “By us?” he asked.  It was obvious by his tone that he hoped the answer would be no.

I explained that the work had been by another company.  Relieved, he then told me how that individual had put the motor in—backwards. 

“Backwards?!” I asked, shock punctuating my remark.  “How could it have worked then?”

I was told that it would work, though at only about half power.  Thinking back and now grateful that I hadn’t had one of our more bitter cold winters, I shook my head.  Today’s repairman then shared how he’d fixed the problem—no charge—and implored that I never use the other company again.  I thanked him for the no-charge repair and assured him I’d lose the other company’s name and number.

So, back to my question….  Why is it so hard to find quality work…the first time?  Why must things get done half way, or in a manner that’s completely wrong, only to have to be corrected later by another?