About a week ago, Jen found herself in a hilarious and unexpected situation at her small IT company. Their client base had been expanding rapidly due to an influx of people relocating from California and the Northeast to their city. These new clients often held certain attitudes toward the locals, which made for some very interesting interactions. The story takes place at a swanky coffee shop/bakery, a relatively new client for Jen. Buckle up, folks.
A Coffee Shop Comedy
Upon arriving at the coffee shop, Jen met the owner. Instead of a warm welcome, he bombarded her with skepticism about her capabilities, presumably due to her accent.
Undeterred, Jen asked for details about the network troubles, hoping to swiftly resolve the issue.
Tech Troubles and Skeptical Owners
But the owner got all bent out of shape, questioning if there was a more competent tech available. Biting her tongue, Jen reassured him that she could handle the job. All he needed to do was show her to the computer room.
Beneath the Rug
After reaching the room, Jen discovered the root of the problem: an ethernet cable running wildly across the floor, hidden beneath a rug.
True to the owner’s complaint, the computer had no service. The port checked out fine, but the cable itself was a goner. Jen traced the issue back to a spot where office chairs had rolled over it.
Custom Solutions on the Fly
Determined to set things right, she made a quick trip to her trusty van, grabbing some cable and her termination kit.
Back in action, she neatly routed the cable along the room’s perimeter, terminated it with precision, and certified it. While securing the cable to the wall, the owner barged in, curious about her progress.
A Confrontation
He demanded to know if she had fixed the problem yet and what exactly she was doing. Calmly, she explained that she had replaced the faulty ethernet cord with a brand new one, and his computer was up and running smoothly.
She added that she was merely securing the cable out of harm’s way.
A Snarky Owner
And then, it happened – the owner’s snarky comment.
“So you just installed some generic cable from Best Buy? Why are we paying you if all you did was something I could have done myself?”
Cable Confessions
That was it. Jen had reached her breaking point. It was time to unleash her smartass side.
“Heck no! I didn’t slap together some store-bought cable. I custom-made this masterpiece just for you. To put it in terms you’ll understand – it’s an artisanal, handmade cable tailored specifically to meet your networking needs.”
“Trust me; it works wonders compared to any factory-produced junk you can find. And hey, if you ever face any issues, give us a call, and I’ll make sure a ‘more competent’ tech comes to your rescue.”
The Owner’s Humorous Defeat
Stunned and defeated, the owner left the office, leaving Jen to wrap up and move on to her next ticket. Little did she know, her sassy retort would set off a chain reaction of events.
The following day, Jen’s boss summoned her to his office. He wanted the lowdown on what went down during her visit with the client.
The Lowdown on Jen’s Encounter
Boss: “So, tell me, Jen. What exactly did you say to the client? He called, and I need to know.”
Jen: “Well, I got a bit snappy with him. He was condescending from the get-go.”
Boss: “Yea, but what did you say to him?”
Jen: “What do you mean?”
Boss: “What did you say about the cable?”
Jen: “He said it was just a store-bought cable, and I told him that I had made it.”
Boss: “Did you tell him it was an ‘artisanal’ cable?”
Jen: “Oh, yeah. The whole place had signs boasting about their artisanal goods, so I guess it slipped out during the conversation.”
And then, something great happened. The boss burst into laughter, his face glowing with mischief.
The ‘Artisanal’ Chain Reaction
Boss: “You won’t believe this! The client called back, raving about how much better his computer was running after your visit. He wants all his network cables replaced with those fancy ‘artisanal’ ones. I told him I’d get back to him.”
Triple the Rate, Quadruple the Clients
Jen chuckled. “You should charge him triple the install fee because these cables are one-of-a-kind, handmade treasures. We could even claim the parts are locally sourced since that new Amazon warehouse just popped up.”
Jen and her boss laughed about it, and she went about her day. That evening, she returned to her desk, and her boss came over to her cubicle.
Locally Sourced Tech Treasures
Boss: “You’re not going to believe this… He agreed to the triple rate without batting an eye. And get this; he’s got friends calling in, asking for ‘artisanal networking’ too. We’re booked for the next four months! Time to add it as an option on our website!”
Jen: “So, did you tell any of these people that we already make most of our own cables that we install anyway?”
Boss: “Hey, if they want to pay more for what they think is something fancy, who am I to tell them no?”
Jen’s Secret Ingredient
And so, Jen found herself working jobs for a horde of country transplants, convinced they were receiving a top-notch, special service. Little did they know, it was the same old quality work wrapped in an artisanal package!
The Power of Sass
So it turns out that being a smartass to a client can sometimes pay off in unexpected ways! Jen’s tale serves as a reminder that even in the world of IT, a touch of sass and a dash of creativity can turn the tables, bringing in a wave of clients eager for that elusive “artisanal” touch.
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The post An Unexpected Standoff With a Rude Hipster Client Led to a Surprising Boost in Work for Her Company first appeared on Fistful of Dollars.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Dean Drobot. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Reddit