Things that make you go hmmmmmm?

[74-911]

A couple of weeks ago I rented a U-Haul utility trailer for a day from one of the big U-Haul lots near here. When I returned it, the guy out in the lot who was hitching and unhitching trailers just casually asked me if I was retired, what I did etc. When I replied I was retired from the software business he handed me a card and said if I ever needed any statistical or marketing research done, call him ??

Ran across the card yesterday and:

John D. Doe, Phd.
Consulting, Statistical Systems Research and Training.
and the usual url, phone numbers, e-mail info.

I looked up his website where all his credentials, education, and companies (several Fortune 500) he has worked for are listed. Looks legit but begs the question:

What is he doing hitching and unhitching trailers at a U-Haul dealer ???
Inquiring minds want to know.

[VaSteve]

Maybe he owns it? Maybe he was unemployed and needed a job. Call him and find out!

[Aragorn]

Probably downsized or made redundant. Gotta pay the bills somehow.

Or could be his place or someone in his family and he is helping out.

[motion]

You have to admire a PHD hitching trailers at U-Haul. Probably doing whatever he can to support his family.

[widgeon13]

When i first started in sales in the early 70's, I was training with an older fellow and we visited a small company in New England. The older experienced guy I was traveling with walked up to this guy on the loading dock (sweeping up the place) and really started to treat this guy like he was something special. He just had coveralls on and a shirt with his name monogramed on it. We were both in suits.

Next thing the guy said was, "Let's have a beer". So we went to a rather shabby office, opened a small refrig and popped out three beers. Turns out the guy was president and owner of this company. A very wealthy guy and great and loyal customer to our company. We became great friends.

Played hard and worked hard!

As my mother always said, "never judge a book by it's cover".

[Hugh R]

My Dad was a professor at MIT for 30 years. When I was a young pup, he used to have a lot of his colleagues over for a BBQ in the Summers. I found out years later that a number of them had Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, etc. Never know it from looking at them or what they drove.

[oldE]

Same here.

A few years ago, I made an appointment to do an energy audit on a new home. The owner said he might be late. After I had a look around, this ratty old 1st generation VW Jetta pulled in, and the driver got out. He was dressed in dirty overalls, a plaid shirt and battered straw hat. Turned out he was the owner of this new home.

As we talked, I found out he was a property developer who had created several subdivisions in the area.

Don't assume. Don't judge.

Les

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by motion

You have to admire a PHD hitching trailers at U-Haul. Probably doing whatever he can to support his family.

Agreed - whatever it takes to make ends meet. Also, my nephew worked for u-haul for a while as a store manager. He made about $25 an hour plus benefits in an area that pays poorly and usually offers zero bennies...

He quit because 45 hours a week was just way too much stress for him...

angela

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by 74-911

When I replied I was retired from the software business

What is he doing hitching and unhitching trailers at a U-Haul dealer ???
Inquiring minds want to know.

Working.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by motion

You have to admire a PHD hitching trailers at U-Haul. Probably doing whatever he can to support his family.

I think this is probably it - he needed the job. This was not one of the little neighborhood U-Hauls. Must be 2-3 acres of every type truck and trailer U-Haul rents, a huge climate controlled storage facility and there were 4-5 people working the desk. He had on a U-Haul shirt with his name on it.

A nice guy, probably in his late 40's, early 50's. He just handed me the card and said get in touch if I can be of any help. Just makes you wonder what his story is - but I would certainly never ask him.

[krystar]

his name is actually John Doe?

[74-911]

Originally Posted by krystar

his name is actually John Doe?

mmm.. not really, it just seemed to me that printing his real info would be a really bad idea, i.e. an invasion of his privacy.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by 74-911

mmm.. not really, it just seemed to me that printing his real info would be a really bad idea, i.e. an invasion of his privacy.

But it's on his business card, and he seems to be looking for customers.
If you don't want your name out there, would you be handing out business cards

[Bill Douglas]

Yes, I'd say more clever than the average Phd.

[1-ev.com]

Some business cards could be "just for friends..."

Originally Posted by cashflyer

But it's on his business card, and he seems to be looking for customers.
If you don't want your name out there, would you be handing out business cards

[GG Allin]

The dude that installed my garage door & opener has a Phd in Mechanical Engineering. It's all he does, all he's ever done. Took the business over from his dad. Dad insisted he go to college before doing so. Door works flawlessly.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

But it's on his business card, and he seems to be looking for customers.
If you don't want your name out there, would you be handing out business cards

Giving a business card to someone you have struck up a conversation with is one thing, nothing unusual about that at all . But that person then posting all your info on an internet BBS forum just seems like something most people would object to....

Just my opinion anyway.....

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by 74-911

I think this is probably it - he needed the job. This was not one of the little neighborhood U-Hauls. Must be 2-3 acres of every type truck and trailer U-Haul rents, a huge climate controlled storage facility and there were 4-5 people working the desk. He had on a U-Haul shirt with his name on it.

A nice guy, probably in his late 40's, early 50's. He just handed me the card and said get in touch if I can be of any help. Just makes you wonder what his story is - but I would certainly never ask him.

My brother worked for Uhaul in Northern VA when in high school. He said it was a good place to work. I can't recall if they are a chain or a franchise. Anyway, people all the time would ask him if they were hiring. He sent them inside and they'd get an application and find out that they have to go MD for the DRUG TEST. A lot of folks never finished the application. I guess going to MD was just too much. LOL

[Christien]

Reminds me of this cartoon I saw in today's paper

[M.D. Holloway]

Give it a try...ya never know...