Customer told me my soldering looked sloppy 6 months ago

I was fixing a guitar amp for a guy who runs his own repair shop on the side and he pointed out I was leaving too much flux residue on my joints. He showed me how he cleans his board with isopropyl and a stiff brush before he even tests it. Has anyone else had a customer call them out on something that actually made them better?

3 comments

3 Comments

anna71720d ago

Have you ever wondered if that customer was actually testing you in some way? I mean, a lot of these repair guys will watch how you handle criticism to see if you're worth referring future work to. My old mentor used to do that, he'd point out one tiny thing on purpose and if you got defensive he'd never send you a job again. But if you took it well and asked questions, he'd start giving you all his overflow. Kind of makes you think about what else that customer was really looking at that day.

luna26120d ago

Totally get where you're coming from, but honestly that customer did you a favor in the long run. I mean, think about it, if they hadn't said anything you'd still be leaving flux everywhere and never knowing any better. Kinda makes me wonder how many other small bad habits we all have that nobody bothers to call out because they don't want to be rude. Maybe it's just me but sometimes the pushback is the best thing that can happen for your work, even if it stings at first.

xenam8420d ago

Right there with you on this. Nobody likes that gut punch when you realize you've been doing something wrong for ages, but getting called out privately like that is honestly a gift. It sucks in the moment but it beats the alternative of just never knowing and maybe repeating the same mistake forever.