Appreciation post: The old lady in Naperville who left me iced tea last Tuesday

So I'm running a new build out in Naperville last week, 3 story walkout, and the customer's grandma keeps popping her head out asking if I need anything. I brush it off twice, then she comes out with a glass of iced tea and a plate of cookies, just sits on the porch watching me terminate lines. She didn't say much, just "you boys work too hard in this heat." It got me thinking about the whole debate we have here about customer interactions. Some guys say keep it strictly business, don't accept food or drinks, liability and all that. Others say the personal touch is what gets you referrals and tips. I've been doing this 9 years and I've never had a bad experience accepting a drink, but I've also had customers who clearly want me gone ASAP. What's your rule on taking stuff from customers? Do you draw a line somewhere or just go with the flow? Cause I'm leaning toward always saying yes now, but I had a guy in Aurora last month offer me a beer at 10am and that felt different.

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alice1211d ago

Aw man, this is such a sweet story and honestly it hits different because I'm the type who'd accept a cookie from a stranger in a parking lot, lol. But that 10am beer thing, yeah, that's a whole other vibe. I think the grandma iced tea situation is a clear yes, but my rule is simple: if it's homemade and comes with kindness, I take it, if it's alcohol or feels like a test, I pass. Worst case, I've gained 15 pounds from all the baked goods customers have shoved at me, so clearly I'm not the one to ask for self control.