Thoughts on in home service

[jimlongley]

As someone who spent 28 years going into people's homes as a telephone repairman and who was "attacked" one and a half times, I see no problem with carry into people's homes...

There's a story missing here about the one-half time. You gotta tell us someday.

The short version:

All modern telephone central offices can detect troubles on subscriber telephone lines, frequently before the customer notices it. I was sent on such a trouble on a sub who was WAAY out in the woods.

When I stepped onto the porch of the house, the door opened just enough for a shotgun barrel to poke through. I explained what I was there about, and the gun holder told me "I ain't got nuffin wrong wif ma phone" so I left.

I called my boss and let him know what happened, and then I got hold of a friend who happened to be a county sheriff's deputy. A couple of weeks later the place was raided, seems as though all the pot growing in his "corn" fields was quite visible from the air. The first six or eight rows of corn around the field were corn, everything in the middle was pot. Kind of explained why the poor reception.

I count that as a half attack, wouldn't have mattered if I was carrying, I would not be crazy enough to draw against a shotgun pointed at me, particularly since he wanted me to leave. If he had just told me that he didn't want me there, without the gun, I would have left and probably never told my friend and reported the trouble "Subscriber refused access" and that would have been it.

[Frost]

Thanks for all the responses everyone.

As to the liability concerns, i am self employed so i dont think i face much more potential liability from an AD or ND in someones home then most other situations. Although an AD in Right2Carry's residence could definately end baldy.

I think sholder/pocket/thunderwear is looking like the best options. I will have to see how uncomfortable it is to work on the ground with a sholder setup. If the sholder does not work out i will go with a front pocket or thunderwear since i cant think of any job that would require me to lie on my belly.

[NcongruNt]

I do PC, laptop, network, and printer service. Occasionally, I visit homes and home businesses.

I would NEVER, NOT ONCE, NOT EVER, enter someone's home for a service call without carrying my personal protection device (AKA, Glock). You just never know what kind of situation you are getting into when you go into someone's home.

Now that we have established that, I believe the original question was "how to carry?".

It is really, really difficult to stay concealed and comfortable while crawling around on the floor, under desks, etc. I seldom carry "on body" in that situation. I just drop it into my laptop bag or tool bag. The velcro holster that came with my Coronado Leather purse works just as well in the tool bag as in the purse. And the bag is never out of my reach when I am working.

Brass Monkey, if that makes you uncomfortable, then you have to figure out how you are going to handle that. Personally, if you answer the door armed when I come to your house for a service call, I am probably going to make a hasty excuse to be somewhere else.

Yeah, people do really stupid and insane things when it comes to their computers. I took a call once when I was working for Dell from a person who had some issue with her laptop. She had exactly 1 call logged on the system about her computer, and thought it would be appropriate to DRIVE all the way from California to Austin to complain about her system in person. She called me from the lobby of Building 1, where Michael Dell's office is. I informed my supervisor, and security met her very quickly, along with an L2 tech from our department. I have taken calls from people who shot their computers, threw them off of tall buildings, people who have a crying breakdowns over simple issues, etc. When it comes to their computers, some people's rationality goes out the window.

If I were doing on-site computer work for a living, you better believe I'd carry if at all possible.

[kw5kw]

Yeah, people do really stupid and insane things when it comes to their computers. I took a call once when I was working for Dell from a person who had some issue with her laptop. She had exactly 1 call logged on the system about her computer, and thought it would be appropriate to DRIVE all the way from California to Austin to complain about her system in person. She called me from the lobby of Building 1, where Michael Dell's office is. I informed my supervisor, and security met her very quickly, along with an L2 tech from our department. I have taken calls from people who shot their computers, threw them off of tall buildings, people who have a crying breakdowns over simple issues, etc. When it comes to their computers, some people's rationality goes out the window.

If I were doing on-site computer work for a living, you better believe I'd carry if at all possible.

This is exactly why I'm getting OUT of the computer industry! My users get so upset and call me that their computer is broken if their icon on their desktop moves!!!

Russ

[anygunanywhere]

If I see his weapon, he broke the law

I don't think so. Just because you see it does not mean he broke the law. We carry, and we look for those who carry. We know what to look for, are usually a lot more situationally aware, especially when strangers are in our homes.

Yes, it would be unfortunate for this to happen, but I doubt I would react as you describe.

I seem to recall where if you call a repairman, you really should verify his identity before you let him in. I know who people are before I allow them in my home.

If I know them, and they are packing and I do not know, great. If I know, great too.

On topic - pocket carry. Kel-Tec P3AT or a J frame.

Anygun

[NcongruNt]

Yeah, people do really stupid and insane things when it comes to their computers. I took a call once when I was working for Dell from a person who had some issue with her laptop. She had exactly 1 call logged on the system about her computer, and thought it would be appropriate to DRIVE all the way from California to Austin to complain about her system in person. She called me from the lobby of Building 1, where Michael Dell's office is. I informed my supervisor, and security met her very quickly, along with an L2 tech from our department. I have taken calls from people who shot their computers, threw them off of tall buildings, people who have a crying breakdowns over simple issues, etc. When it comes to their computers, some people's rationality goes out the window.

If I were doing on-site computer work for a living, you better believe I'd carry if at all possible.

This is exactly why I'm getting OUT of the computer industry! My users get so upset and call me that their computer is broken if their icon on their desktop moves!!!

Russ

Well, it gets better as you go up. Tech support is pretty much the low rung of the ladder in what is becoming a blue-collar industry. Well, there's field service techs, which are about even on that ladder, IMO - though that depends on who you work for and what you do. I do sysadmin work now. You always have to deal with incompetence and stupidity in the tech industry, it just gets a little better as you move up in skill sets. There's also the BOFH indulgences you get to offset the annoyances with sysamdin work.

[Crossfire]

Well, it gets better as you go up. Tech support is pretty much the low rung of the ladder in what is becoming a blue-collar industry. Well, there's field service techs, which are about even on that ladder, IMO - though that depends on who you work for and what you do. I do sysadmin work now. You always have to deal with incompetence and stupidity in the tech industry, it just gets a little better as you move up in skill sets. There's also the BOFH indulgences you get to offset the annoyances with sysamdin work.

WOW!
Ya know, if I wasn't just a dumb, uneducated blue-collar worker field service tech, I might be smart enough to be offended by that.

[NcongruNt]

Well, it gets better as you go up. Tech support is pretty much the low rung of the ladder in what is becoming a blue-collar industry. Well, there's field service techs, which are about even on that ladder, IMO - though that depends on who you work for and what you do. I do sysadmin work now. You always have to deal with incompetence and stupidity in the tech industry, it just gets a little better as you move up in skill sets. There's also the BOFH indulgences you get to offset the annoyances with sysamdin work.

WOW!
Ya know, if I wasn't just a dumb, uneducated blue-collar worker field service tech, I might be smart enough to be offended by that.

I wasn't referring to the intelligence or importance of the workers when I said that. I say it in reference to the way skilled workers in the tech industry are being treated as expendable and unimportant by the corporations that rule this industry. The same holds true for software engineers, too. When I say bottom rung, I'm talking about how support and field technicians are overwhelmingly treated by their employers. Corporations see such positions as pure overhead and treat them as such. In my opinion, this has led to the demise of the quality of customer service in the computer industry.

Additionally, I have great respect for blue collar workers - they are the ones that keep this country running. My comparison was to provide a parallel to the kind of disrespect that blue collar workers are commonly at the receiving end of. Please don't put words into my mouth by implying that when I said blue collar, I meant dumb and uneducated. I most certainly did not.

[kw5kw]

I wasn't referring to the intelligence or importance of the workers when I said that. I say it in reference to the way skilled workers in the tech industry are being treated as expendable and unimportant by the corporations that rule this industry. The same holds true for software engineers, too. When I say bottom rung, I'm talking about how support and field technicians are overwhelmingly treated by their employers. Corporations see such positions as pure overhead and treat them as such. In my opinion, this has led to the demise of the quality of customer service in the computer industry.

How true... for instance I started this job 6 1/2 years ago. I make exactly the same today as the day I started.

I'm supposed to be the System Administrator, but I have no input on what we purchase, in fact I have no purchase power at all.

I'm told that we're getting some new equipment/software on the day that the vendor shows up to install said equipment/software.

When the printer went down last year as they were trying to print holiday bonus checks, the business manager got all huffy and wanted me to fix the printer right away... which I did, but did I get a holiday bonus... NO!

I get no respect, yet people yell at me because their computer/printer doesn't work. Just this morning an employee told me his printer wasn't working (before I even punch the time clock), I stop and take a look at it... his USB cable had come unplugged from the printer.

*sigh*

Additionally, I have great respect for blue collar workers - they are the ones that keep this country running. My comparison was to provide a parallel to the kind of disrespect that blue collar workers are commonly at the receiving end of. Please don't put words into my mouth by implying that when I said blue collar, I meant dumb and uneducated. I most certainly did not.

Hopefully the employers will understand and treat the next person better.

Russ

[gigag04]

All reasons why I left IT all together and am now enjoying the hectic hours of restaurant management and bartending (at Pappadeaux, not like a sketchy bar).

my thoughts on how to carry (and I WOULD)
I would carry in thundercarry, ankle rig slid waaaaay up, or in the tool bag.

When I was living in college station and I would go study at a coffee shop, I would keep my weapon in my bag, since I would be slouching around between a couch or table, and didn't want to expose my carry piece. You get used to having it at arm's reach in bag. Just keep you're eye on it, and it can make bathroom trips inconvenient and akward.

-nick

[Crossfire]

Please don't put words into my mouth by implying that when I said blue collar, I meant dumb and uneducated. I most certainly did not.

I am SO sorry to imply that you said I was dumb and uneducated. What you actually said was INCOMPETENT and STUPID.

You always have to deal with incompetence and stupidity in the tech industry, it just gets a little better as you move up in skill sets.

Thanks. I feel better now.

[BrassMonkey]

PM me if you are back on the market.

I wasn't referring to the intelligence or importance of the workers when I said that. I say it in reference to the way skilled workers in the tech industry are being treated as expendable and unimportant by the corporations that rule this industry. The same holds true for software engineers, too. When I say bottom rung, I'm talking about how support and field technicians are overwhelmingly treated by their employers. Corporations see such positions as pure overhead and treat them as such. In my opinion, this has led to the demise of the quality of customer service in the computer industry.

How true... for instance I started this job 6 1/2 years ago. I make exactly the same today as the day I started.

I'm supposed to be the System Administrator, but I have no input on what we purchase, in fact I have no purchase power at all.

I'm told that we're getting some new equipment/software on the day that the vendor shows up to install said equipment/software.

When the printer went down last year as they were trying to print holiday bonus checks, the business manager got all huffy and wanted me to fix the printer right away... which I did, but did I get a holiday bonus... NO!

I get no respect, yet people yell at me because their computer/printer doesn't work. Just this morning an employee told me his printer wasn't working (before I even punch the time clock), I stop and take a look at it... his USB cable had come unplugged from the printer.

*sigh*

Additionally, I have great respect for blue collar workers - they are the ones that keep this country running. My comparison was to provide a parallel to the kind of disrespect that blue collar workers are commonly at the receiving end of. Please don't put words into my mouth by implying that when I said blue collar, I meant dumb and uneducated. I most certainly did not.

Hopefully the employers will understand and treat the next person better.

Russ

[NcongruNt]

Please don't put words into my mouth by implying that when I said blue collar, I meant dumb and uneducated. I most certainly did not.

I am SO sorry to imply that you said I was dumb and uneducated. What you actually said was INCOMPETENT and STUPID.

You always have to deal with incompetence and stupidity in the tech industry, it just gets a little better as you move up in skill sets.

Thanks. I feel better now.

*sigh*

I wasn't referring to employees, I was referring to the irrational customers such as the the examples I mentioned. This entire thread was started around concealed carry in someone else's home on a service call. I cited instances from my own personal experience where customers have acted very irrationally and sometimes violently when it comes to their computers. Taken the context, I thought it was obvious to whom I was referring.

[Crossfire]

You know, you are just digging yourself a deeper hole here...

Ok, so you didn't mean to offend the half dozen or so PC techs that read the forum. What you really meant was the 1000 or so PC USERS that read the forum!

[KBCraig]

You know, you are just digging yourself a deeper hole here...

Will you allow some dispassionate observation?

I originally read NcongruNt's comments exactly as he explained them. It was obvious where his comments were directed, and it wasn't to you or any other field tech.

Ok, so you didn't mean to offend the half dozen or so PC techs that read the forum. What you really meant was the 1000 or so PC USERS that read the forum!

Again, it was obvious that the incompetent and stupid minority were the object of his comments. Maybe it's because I'm a Mac user that I don't take such comments personally.

Kevin