Anyone Here Actually Work For Dish Network??

[w2n]

I am an ex dish tech who worked for Intertech Digital based out of Lockport Ny. Dish is an evil empire to work for and will always continue to be. For all you people/dish customers who have been screwed by dish in one way or another. We as techs get screwed 10 fold by dish or our retailer cough cough Intertech. This company will rape your paycheck for anything they think is viable which is Bullsh!t most of the time. And the reason most techs are the way they are when it comes to negitivity is because of the work load. Intertech expects 20 hours worth of work per day out of each employee, no joke. So this kinda explains why there are lazy employees who don't want to do the work when we show up at your house. It's just that most the time we want to get home at a reasonable time and not 11-12 at night.

That's how it was w/ the company where i was an Field Service Manager for a few years... My day would start at 6am to open the office/warehouse & i would "start" heading home around 9pm every day; typically I would have 12+ hours worth of work assigned to me. i was "lucky" if i only had 6 troublecalls & 0 installs. on top of that i was expected to manage a crew, train new hires, help slow techs troubleshoot their mistakes, handle equipment shortages, route which calls each tech received everyday, and cover an area of about 150 x 200 miles. Typically i would work 6 days a week with Wednesday & either Tues or Thurs off only if one of those was a slow day.

Each of my "troublecalls" was basically re-install that either the customer or dish didn't want to pay for. The only time i was "obligated" to fix it completely was if the system was originally installed by one of our techs. You name it, I or my other collegues probably saw it. For a change of pace i would take a crew of about 3-6 techs and we'd caravan to another major city about 4+ hours away from home to spend 1-2 weeks doing 90% installs. I finally said F* you to the owner while i was out of town running a crew.

The techs were paid on a "bonus" scale that was criminal & violated every labor law on the books. they were backcharged if their install had a troublecall (even if the customer was an idiot & couldn't figure out their remote or had a bad rcvr). They also lost $$ if they didn't have all of their "required" pictures or didn't maintain an average of 14MPG driving an Econolline Van.

I won't lie, i did it mostly for the $$ (i would pull in about $1000 on a good week, $300 on a bad one, all cash under the table); which at the time was great but eventually i was tired of not having a life and it became clear that the company didn't have long term plans... it appeared that they wanted to slam in as many installs as possible before the local DNSC was established; not 3 months after i quit (6 months after the DNSC had been in town), they shut down the office i was based from. Of course about 6 months before the DSNC was being established, they fired all of our dispatchers & the techs were forced to call the home office (a few states away).

it was an interesting experience, i learned more about the roads & communities in my state in those few years than i had the rest of my entire life... I also received more speeding tickets & nearly lost my license twice... I probably wouldn't do it over again if i had the chance; i'm also surprised i didn't end up using cocaine like a couple of the other FSMs just to keep going everyday...

 

[dishcomm]

That's how it was w/ the company where i was an Field Service Manager for a few years... My day would start at 6am to open the office/warehouse & i would "start" heading home around 9pm every day; typically I would have 12+ hours worth of work assigned to me. i was "lucky" if i only had 6 troublecalls & 0 installs. on top of that i was expected to manage a crew, train new hires, help slow techs troubleshoot their mistakes, handle equipment shortages, route which calls each tech received everyday, and cover an area of about 150 x 200 miles. Typically i would work 6 days a week with Wednesday & either Tues or Thurs off only if one of those was a slow day.

Each of my "troublecalls" was basically re-install that either the customer or dish didn't want to pay for. The only time i was "obligated" to fix it completely was if the system was originally installed by one of our techs. You name it, I or my other collegues probably saw it. For a change of pace i would take a crew of about 3-6 techs and we'd caravan to another major city about 4+ hours away from home to spend 1-2 weeks doing 90% installs. I finally said F* you to the owner while i was out of town running a crew.

The techs were paid on a "bonus" scale that was criminal & violated every labor law on the books. they were backcharged if their install had a troublecall (even if the customer was an idiot & couldn't figure out their remote or had a bad rcvr). They also lost $$ if they didn't have all of their "required" pictures or didn't maintain an average of 14MPG driving an Econolline Van.

I won't lie, i did it mostly for the $$ (i would pull in about $1000 on a good week, $300 on a bad one, all cash under the table); which at the time was great but eventually i was tired of not having a life and it became clear that the company didn't have long term plans... it appeared that they wanted to slam in as many installs as possible before the local DNSC was established; not 3 months after i quit (6 months after the DNSC had been in town), they shut down the office i was based from. Of course about 6 months before the DSNC was being established, they fired all of our dispatchers & the techs were forced to call the home office (a few states away).

it was an interesting experience, i learned more about the roads & communities in my state in those few years than i had the rest of my entire life... I also received more speeding tickets & nearly lost my license twice... I probably wouldn't do it over again if i had the chance; i'm also surprised i didn't end up using cocaine like a couple of the other FSMs just to keep going everyday...

I must say that the stories I have read on this site about the shabby working conditions of sub techs is amazing..What is amazing is how anyone with any confidence in their skills would put up with such garbage as ridiculous chargebacks and 20 hour workdays...WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!!!!!!!!!
Why would you work for some one that slave drives you into an 80 hour week?..WHY?!...
Posting your concerns (Although I don't mind discussing this becuase I am a sub tech as well) here isn't going to make the situation any better..This stuff should go to Dish and/ or your State Labor Board.
I work for a Dish Sub..WE are treated very well..If a tech wants to work hammer hours they can. No one is forced into it...there are no stupid nit picky chargebacks disguised as theft of pay....I get 3 or4 jobs per day..I never work more than 10 hours per day..I just refuse to do it..Sometimes I get stuck but rarely...I make pretty decent coin..I'm not complaining..I could work my ass off and put in 60 -70 hrs per week but at what cost?..When do I get to see my family or enjoy my income?...
I work 5 days per week...That's it...I tyically bring home $700 to $800 per week...I could make $1200 to $1500 if killed myself..What the hell for?.
My employer does not gives us more than we can handle in a day..BTW ,I have to question the guy who says his employer wanted 20 hrs of work per day..WE all know that is impossible....

Anyway..These techs that work for these subs keep taking the abuse and won't stand up togeher against the ripoffs are their own worst enemy...Indentured servitude is illegal and does not exist..If the conditions of the job are that bad, leave!..Find someone else to work for or start your own business.....That's all I have to say on this..

 

[bacchus101]

From my experience training Indian CSR's they work on closed systems (usually a Linux based thin client with a web based GUI to deal with customer interaction) which can not access forums such as these.

Even if they could they would never post......why risk 4 years of college and 2 years of grad school and a swanky $100 a month job to respond to crazy Americans ranting about losing 4 of there 210,023,322 channels........

 

[Zero327]

From my experience training Indian CSR's they work on closed systems (usually a Linux based thin client with a web based GUI to deal with customer interaction) which can not access forums such as these.

Even if they could they would never post......why risk 4 years of college and 2 years of grad school and a swanky $100 a month job to respond to crazy Americans ranting about losing 4 of there 210,023,322 channels........

Silly rabbit. Not Linux. UNIX.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Ok, I admit it, I'm Charlie

And so, was it mere coincidence that mike1973 won the Xbox from Scott????

I think not.

 

[bacchus101]

Silly rabbit. Not Linux. UNIX.

Unix? Hahahahahahaha!

Hahahahahahah!

Now that is funny!

 

[mike1973]

And so, was it mere coincidence that mike1973 won the Xbox from Scott????

I think not.

 

[navychop]

And so, was it mere coincidence that mike1973 won the Xbox from Scott????

I think not.

Nice catch!

 

[croat_king]

That's how it was w/ the company where i was an Field Service Manager for a few years... My day would start at 6am to open the office/warehouse & i would "start" heading home around 9pm every day; typically I would have 12+ hours worth of work assigned to me. i was "lucky" if i only had 6 troublecalls & 0 installs. on top of that i was expected to manage a crew, train new hires, help slow techs troubleshoot their mistakes, handle equipment shortages, route which calls each tech received everyday, and cover an area of about 150 x 200 miles. Typically i would work 6 days a week with Wednesday & either Tues or Thurs off only if one of those was a slow day.

Each of my "troublecalls" was basically re-install that either the customer or dish didn't want to pay for. The only time i was "obligated" to fix it completely was if the system was originally installed by one of our techs. You name it, I or my other collegues probably saw it. For a change of pace i would take a crew of about 3-6 techs and we'd caravan to another major city about 4+ hours away from home to spend 1-2 weeks doing 90% installs. I finally said F* you to the owner while i was out of town running a crew.

The techs were paid on a "bonus" scale that was criminal & violated every labor law on the books. they were backcharged if their install had a troublecall (even if the customer was an idiot & couldn't figure out their remote or had a bad rcvr). They also lost $$ if they didn't have all of their "required" pictures or didn't maintain an average of 14MPG driving an Econolline Van.

I won't lie, i did it mostly for the $$ (i would pull in about $1000 on a good week, $300 on a bad one, all cash under the table); which at the time was great but eventually i was tired of not having a life and it became clear that the company didn't have long term plans... it appeared that they wanted to slam in as many installs as possible before the local DNSC was established; not 3 months after i quit (6 months after the DNSC had been in town), they shut down the office i was based from. Of course about 6 months before the DSNC was being established, they fired all of our dispatchers & the techs were forced to call the home office (a few states away).

it was an interesting experience, i learned more about the roads & communities in my state in those few years than i had the rest of my entire life... I also received more speeding tickets & nearly lost my license twice... I probably wouldn't do it over again if i had the chance; i'm also surprised i didn't end up using cocaine like a couple of the other FSMs just to keep going everyday...

WOW....sound exactly like the company SRS913 spoke of. I am an employee for them also. And they aren't just subs. They are an RSP for DN.

 

[croat_king]

BTW ,I have to question the guy who says his employer wanted 20 hrs of work per day..WE all know that is impossible....
.

A little exaggeration maybe.
But there have been times that we have been out till 12:30PM (and they told us we HAD to because it was on our schedule) and we start out our day at 7:30am.
I used to work with that guy.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

And so, was it mere coincidence that mike1973 won the Xbox from Scott????

I think not.

Hey I didn't know that.

Besides I didn't pick him as the winner, my wife did. Hmm now thats funny...

Wait I did notice him eyeing my wife at CES last week.

Charlie is that you?

 

[daboogas94e]

When you talk to my boss man next time....tell him that us DNS techs need more money in the North GA area. and market adjustment would only be fair since we were passed over last yr!

 

[dishcomm]

WOW....sound exactly like the company SRS913 spoke of. I am an employee for them also. And they aren't just subs. They are an RSP for DN.

Just goes to show how sh!tty the people are in this business...What kills me is Dish and Direct know this crap goes on yet they do nothing about it..The satco's know there is substandard work being done by overburdened underpaid people..There are no safety rules.No care is taken to see that the work is being done properly..No one is watching the contractors to make sure they obey all state and federal labor laws..
I have heard about these nightmare companies and their illegal and sometimes criminal activities in the area of labor compensation...
Fortunately I work for some very good ,honest people..They treat their employees like valued members of the business..We don't get hammered wiht 18 hrs worth of work..Each tech is required to give a realistic estimate of how many jobs he can do in a reasonable day. Dispatch doles out the work accordingly..If a tech is taking on more than they can handle and starts missing jobs , that tech is assigned less work..Nobody kills themselves working at our shop..That's not why this company is in business.The don't want people getting burned out....Unfortunately it seems that many satellite contractors are in it to suck as much life out of the industry in as short a period of time and get out as soon as they make their pile..
This is to the detriment of the entire sat busines..Eventually it is all going to have to change or the whole thing is going to come crashing down....I see the beginning of the end already..Good people are leaving the business.. I am looking to make a career change after 9 years of this. My expenses are going up and the pay rates are not following suit. With the new D-1000plus we are having to run far more cable and use a lot more fittings..That costs money.

 

[ZandarKoad]

Sometimes I wonder if I'm in the same business...

I've been doing this for over two years. I'm probably at around 1500 installs. I can easily take home over $300 per day on a 10 hour work day. Lately though I've been averaging about half that simply because I hate working in the winter. I'll take as FEW jobs as possible as long as my retailer is happy... Until the winter breaks. Then it's back to business and $400 days. Though... there have been significant pay cuts since last year, so we'll see.

I used to think to myself that anyone in the world could do this job. It's so freakin easy, you just can't be afraid of work. It's not hard work, it's not dangerous work. It's just... work. Don't run from it, do it, and it will pay. But MAN. After training about 5 techs over the last two years, I've come to discover that people have some serious issues.

There was this one dude who couldn't even MOUNT a SD MAST after four weeks of field training with three different field techs. I personally trained him for two weeks, and showed him exactly what to do step by step to mount a mast... But some people just lack the mechanical experience to handle tools. To each his own I suppose...

 

[dishcomm]

Sometimes I wonder if I'm in the same business...

I've been doing this for over two years. I'm probably at around 1500 installs. I can easily take home over $300 per day on a 10 hour work day. Lately though I've been averaging about half that simply because I hate working in the winter. I'll take as FEW jobs as possible as long as my retailer is happy... Until the winter breaks. Then it's back to business and $400 days. Though... there have been significant pay cuts since last year, so we'll see.

I used to think to myself that anyone in the world could do this job. It's so freakin easy, you just can't be afraid of work. It's not hard work, it's not dangerous work. It's just... work. Don't run from it, do it, and it will pay. But MAN. After training about 5 techs over the last two years, I've come to discover that people have some serious issues.

There was this one dude who couldn't even MOUNT a SD MAST after four weeks of field training with three different field techs. I personally trained him for two weeks, and showed him exactly what to do step by step to mount a mast... But some people just lack the mechanical experience to handle tools. To each his own I suppose...

I understand the point you are making..But this business is changing..Oh and BTW we are a retailer and a DNS comntractor..Just to let you know I would do retail jobs all day long...The DNS jobs are really getting to be a pain..For example..I was on a job for 90 mins before I could do any work...The w/o had the wrong EQ, the wrong programming and of course the rate the cust was going to pay was NOT even close to what the sales partner quoted..So what am I to do but wait around and try to save the job...This is why doing contract work for Dish sucks..
I would be in hog sh*t heaven If worked exclusively for a retailer that had the sales volume ot keep my busy 5 days a week..But we just don't have the outside sales people doing cold calls and canvassing neighborhoods..Don't ask, I hate selling..Can't stand the rejection....
Now onto the the new tech issue..That is so true..what you wrote..On my end you can throw in the fact that younger people, under 30 have a less than stellar work ethic..They think it's going to be easy. Then the first couple of tough ones come their way and they start whining like sheep on shearing day...

 

[ZandarKoad]

I understand the point you are making..But this business is changing..Oh and BTW we are a retailer and a DNS comntractor..Just to let you know I would do retail jobs all day long...The DNS jobs are really getting to be a pain..For example..I was on a job for 90 mins before I could do any work...The w/o had the wrong EQ, the wrong programming and of course the rate the cust was going to pay was NOT even close to what the sales partner quoted..So what am I to do but wait around and try to save the job...This is why doing contract work for Dish sucks..
I would be in hog sh*t heaven If worked exclusively for a retailer that had the sales volume ot keep my busy 5 days a week..But we just don't have the outside sales people doing cold calls and canvassing neighborhoods..Don't ask, I hate selling..Can't stand the rejection....
Now onto the the new tech issue..That is so true..what you wrote..On my end you can throw in the fact that younger people, under 30 have a less than stellar work ethic..They think it's going to be easy. Then the first couple of tough ones come their way and they start whining like sheep on shearing day...

We do DNS fufilment too... (About 98% of my work is DNS fufillment.) when the work order has the wrong equipment I do it wrong anyway (like the work order tells me). I've convinced myself that it's in the customer's best interest (and it IS, REALLY! ):

Lets say they wanted DVR, but the work order only has 2 322's listed. And they ALSO wanted international programming from 61.5, but the work order just has one D500 on it. Well, I assure them that there is no problem whatsoever. CSR's make mistakes from time to time, and they'll get everything they want in due time. I let them know I ONLY have the equipment the work order CALLS FOR, and that I can get them hooked up TODAY, all four TVs, with all the american programming, so they can at least enjoy SOME TV. Then I tell them to call Dish themselves and explain that they did not get what they asked for. I leave them a copy of the work order too so they see what I'm talking about. Every customer has at least three days (it might be up to 30 days) to completely change their mind about anything on their account and still get all the promos. So they can add a DVR reciever and a 61.5 dish to their account and they will NOT be charged for a service call. So EVERYONE is happy, except for maybe DISH, because they have to pay for TWO truck rolls. BUT: THEY screwed up in the FIRST place by having a bogus W/O. So Dish can go ahead and get pissed at that sales partner. I DID the W/O. I kept my efficiency up. I kept the customer happy.

(Their monthly bill may be higher, but no one is going to blame that on me. I just did my job. If they want to cancel after they learn of DVR fees, then fine. Let them issue me a DE-INSTALL work order. $$$)

I did NOT wait around for an hour + trying to get ahold of a CSR and let them discuss new charges with the customer... That's one of the golden rules of installing. NEVER let a customer talk to a CSR when your onsite BEFORE you've closed out the work order. AFTER you've closed the work order, you can let them talk just so long as it's on the CUSTOMER'S phone. So you can just leave while their talking. :up

The first rule of DNS fufilment is: YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT PRICES. The second rule of DNS fufilment is: YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT PRICES! You can accomplish this by claiming total ignorance. For the first two years I didn't have to fake it. I honestly didn't know that the work order lists the type of programming they ordered. Now that I know... I try not to look. I just tell the customer that "They (referring to Dish) don't tell me what you order or how much your bill is. They just tell me what equipment to install. You can talk to them directly about your cost per month. It's a privacy thing." Or something along those lines... Usually works. Sometimes they want to call Dish then right away when your half way done with the install... which is a bad thing. If they start to get pissed and look like they MIGHT cancel, then I'll call on my cell phone IMMEDIATELY and activate the account through the automated system. BOOM. JOB'S DONE. PAY DAY. If they want to cancel I still get paid. I leave the system in-place and tell them that Dish will send out pre-paid shipping boxes to retrieve the equipment.

Edit: I can't sell worth crap either, especially when I hate the product I'm selling. I think 99% of homes in America should take every last one of their precious TVs and put a sledge hammer right through them. There is nothing "positive" about watching TV except for ONE thing: it gives you pleasure. I don't hold that in high esteem. Life is too short, and the stakes are too high.

 

[dvbfan]

.. If they start to get pissed and look like they MIGHT cancel, then I'll call on my cell phone IMMEDIATELY and activate the account through the automated system. BOOM. JOB'S DONE. PAY DAY. If they want to cancel I still get paid. I leave the system in-place and tell them that Dish will send out pre-paid shipping boxes to retrieve the equipment.

What happens if the customer refuses to sign the W/O for job completion because they're pissed and ask you to take it all back immediately?

How do you overcome that?

 

[dishcomm]

We do DNS fufilment too... (About 98% of my work is DNS fufillment.) when the work order has the wrong equipment I do it wrong anyway (like the work order tells me). I've convinced myself that it's in the customer's best interest (and it IS, REALLY! ):

Lets say they wanted DVR, but the work order only has 2 322's listed. And they ALSO wanted international programming from 61.5, but the work order just has one D500 on it. Well, I assure them that there is no problem whatsoever. CSR's make mistakes from time to time, and they'll get everything they want in due time. I let them know I ONLY have the equipment the work order CALLS FOR, and that I can get them hooked up TODAY, all four TVs, with all the american programming, so they can at least enjoy SOME TV. Then I tell them to call Dish themselves and explain that they did not get what they asked for. I leave them a copy of the work order too so they see what I'm talking about. Every customer has at least three days (it might be up to 30 days) to completely change their mind about anything on their account and still get all the promos. So they can add a DVR reciever and a 61.5 dish to their account and they will NOT be charged for a service call. So EVERYONE is happy, except for maybe DISH, because they have to pay for TWO truck rolls. BUT: THEY screwed up in the FIRST place by having a bogus W/O. So Dish can go ahead and get pissed at that sales partner. I DID the W/O. I kept my efficiency up. I kept the customer happy.

(Their monthly bill may be higher, but no one is going to blame that on me. I just did my job. If they want to cancel after they learn of DVR fees, then fine. Let them issue me a DE-INSTALL work order. $$$)

I did NOT wait around for an hour + trying to get ahold of a CSR and let them discuss new charges with the customer... That's one of the golden rules of installing. NEVER let a customer talk to a CSR when your onsite BEFORE you've closed out the work order. AFTER you've closed the work order, you can let them talk just so long as it's on the CUSTOMER'S phone. So you can just leave while their talking. :up

The first rule of DNS fufilment is: YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT PRICES. The second rule of DNS fufilment is: YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT PRICES! You can accomplish this by claiming total ignorance. For the first two years I didn't have to fake it. I honestly didn't know that the work order lists the type of programming they ordered. Now that I know... I try not to look. I just tell the customer that "They (referring to Dish) don't tell me what you order or how much your bill is. They just tell me what equipment to install. You can talk to them directly about your cost per month. It's a privacy thing." Or something along those lines... Usually works. Sometimes they want to call Dish then right away when your half way done with the install... which is a bad thing. If they start to get pissed and look like they MIGHT cancel, then I'll call on my cell phone IMMEDIATELY and activate the account through the automated system. BOOM. JOB'S DONE. PAY DAY. If they want to cancel I still get paid. I leave the system in-place and tell them that Dish will send out pre-paid shipping boxes to retrieve the equipment.

Edit: I can't sell worth crap either, especially when I hate the product I'm selling. I think 99% of homes in America should take every last one of their precious TVs and put a sledge hammer right through them. There is nothing "positive" about watching TV except for ONE thing: it gives you pleasure. I don't hold that in high esteem. Life is too short, and the stakes are too high.

Understood..Good points all...But remember we are customer service people as well...in these rare instances my reason for getting involved in this manner is because I do not want the customer to stop me in the middle of the job and tell me they want to change their mind and cancel...On this particular job yesterday, the customer had DTV system working on site and I had to take that EQ down to install the E* stuff..So if he didn't want he E* stuff I would have had to stop what I was doing and to avoid pissing him off, would have had to reinstall his DTV stuff..At least I would think that would be the couteous thing to do..I am sure most techs would say "no way"...But i look at the potential consequences of customer complaints which can result in more headaches..I probably get into more stuff on jobs than I should..But I want to be known as a good service tech rather than just an installer who is looking to make a buck....Too many of those unscrupulous installers out there giving us good guys a bad name..I don't know..I could just go and do the W/O as is....But here's the rub....If the tech doesn't do the job because the cust wanted or had ordered something differerent, the response from Dish is "why didn't the tech go get the EQ and return to the job"?.....As far as DNS is concerned, every job should go in no matter what...They look at numbers only..And situations where the customer changes their mind or cannot make up their mind are the tech's responsibility..
I am with you on this though..I think we should never spend more than 10 mins discussing a job before we get started...But of course that is in a perfect world...
I think I am going to to try working in your suggestions..I want to just get the job in and worry about the details later..Problem with that is, I seem to get these customers that do not have a clue what they bought....When I explain the w/o at precall or on site it's always' I didn't order that".."Or I want my free DVR"..Or "they said i was supposed to get free Hi Def"....It's ridiculous how these friggin sales partners lie to the customers...On our precalls we are supposed to verfiy the accuracy of the w/o....Yesterday's job I did just that..The customer assured me the w/o was correct..I walk into the house and the first thing the guy says is "I want my Hi Def DVR to go here"....Well the w/o didn't have one..So now I am in a world of sh*t because now I can't do a thing until the cust talks to Dish and gets this straightened out...See what I mean?
Your input is very helpful..I have been in this business for almost 9 years. I have no ego to wound..I am all ears for suggestions on how to do things more efficiently..

 

[chadzx11]

A little exaggeration maybe.
But there have been times that we have been out till 12:30PM (and they told us we HAD to because it was on our schedule) and we start out our day at 7:30am.
I used to work with that guy.

Man, when I was installing, the only way I'd be out that late is if there were issues I couldn't handle myself. Like waiting on hold for hours after Katrina to light up a reciever I swapped out.

 

[chadzx11]

We do DNS fufilment too... (About 98% of my work is DNS fufillment.) when the work order has the wrong equipment I do it wrong anyway (like the work order tells me). I've convinced myself that it's in the customer's best interest (and it IS, REALLY! ):

The rsp I used to work for had a 7 day rule. If you had to do an upgrade within 7 days, you were getting paid exactly the same as if it were the first day. This bit me ONCE on an ahole customer who ordered a 4 TV set up, but only had 2 TV's. I had the work order modified to be only 2 TVs because I didn't want to face being charged back for them not getting the other 2 tvs for 6 months and not remembering how to hook them up. After getting porked by this customer, I walked off of every job where the site was not ready, even service calls. Screw 'em. The customer expects me to have the proper tools and equipment, and I expect them to have a clean, safe work envoirnment for me, and to have all the equipment they are required to provide.

Also, I don't appreciate getting bitched at by morons about not bringing their free DVD player that I have nothing to do with.