Customers watching?

There's few things I hate more than doing an installation with the customer watching. Let alone having them ask silly questions or even worse, giving you advice! Especially when it comes to custom installs or situations where you have to "make a plan". I know in most shops it doesn't work that way, but in some it does. I would just really like to know your thoughts on this so that I can show it to my boss and try to convince him to do something about the matter. I can think of tons of reasons, but would like to hear yours instead. Thanks! NicolasAll your BASS are belong to us!

Other than the huge annoyance factor, customers in the bay is a huge liability.  If an accident were to occur, and the customer were to get injured while watching you do something- your shop can be held liable.  At least, that's how it is in the states.  This is a liability few shops are willing to accept, thus, no customers in the bay.  Without them nagging you, you're able to concentrate on your work, doing a much better job, and finishing in less time.My ex once told me I have a perfect face for radio.

a sign something like this and clearly visible would speak volumes labor rate $50 per hour if you want to watch $60 per hour if you ask questions $70 per hour if you help $80 per hour Prove your connections, use a meter!

I promise, I'll behave!

That sums it up great! My thoughts exactly. You see, it's a little difficult in our shop, since the layout is "open plan". There's realy no seperation between the showroom and the work bay. Only one entrance, through the work bay. My boss propably reckons that it sets us apart from the rest, and that the customers can see how professional we work. Or something in that line. All your BASS are belong to us!

I know a couple of shops with similar signs to that one, Electro, but when I suggested it to my boss, he just laughed, considering it a joke.All your BASS are belong to us!

It works both ways. Not anyone can do this with no one watching so it takes a confident installer to do it with the customer watching. On the other hand you cant fix some of the minor mishaps without the customer ever knowing. Installers will put it anywhere!

Heres what i do when i have the customer staring from a distance. Bring a piece of plastic in there and when your taking panes off just snap it out of view so it makes a loud noise. Then just look up at the cusomer with a confused look. I love doing that.

I've done some jobs with the customers watching.  They just cringe when the dash panels start flex before the clips finally pop.  I think it is funny. But it is a huge liability to have them in the bay. You could always pull the car in the bay so that it hides you while you do most of your work.Good Luck!

-Thad

Thanks everybody for your comments! Hopefully my boss will now see that it's not only me who's complaining, but people on the other side of the world are too. All your BASS are belong to us!