It's the best it can be

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I'm doing the anodizing restoration for the front grille for a 1964 Ford F100. Customer had some interior chrome trim done and wanted my opinion on the job. It looked like a few stoners in high school shop class did the work. Bubbling, sanding scratches, buffer marks and even one area flaking.

The shop told him it was the best it could be. Which is absolute bull****.

I've gotten some work in with the same story. Just crappy work that the customer pays for and doesn't really know any better.

From automotive to contractors to whatever, how often do you hear "it's the best it can be" when you know it's not and what do you do?

I told him to get his money back and gave him a reference for a shop in Kentucky to send it to.

[LWJ]

Everyday.

I work in Commercial Insurance. Have a referral that was just hacked. They had a “cyber” policy from some company I never heard of.

Go figure. No coverage.

The level of incompetence is shocking. All industries have this.

Makes an average provider look like a hero.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I quietly back away from their involvement and do it myself (or find someone that can).

A lot of times, I run into people who really don't know better. I try to go easy- one- because they might really be trying their best, or, two- because I might be the complete psycho and not even know it.

It's a fine line between them being the idiot vs. me being the idiot.

For example- Lowes. I'm looking for a bolt. Didn't ask for help, but someone walks up to help. I haven't found the bolt yet. To be polite, I let them help. They push me aside and go through the same bin I was at. "Nope... sorry, we're out" "Ok, thanks for helping" I say, but as they leave, I stay, sorting through adjacent cubbies where often someone tossed the bolt I need in the wrong drawer. They- employee- might notice me digging on, but I am biding my time in a little extra digging vs. driving to the next home improvement store. That's my level of thoroughness at the local bolt bin.

I deal with this in my profession as well. An entire continuum of people not getting good enough and not even knowing, vs. expecting the impossible and never getting it.