The Horse rebels against his customer service failure from yesterday.

@TheHorse (205554)
Walnut Creek, California
May 4, 2021 10:23am CST
In my previous post I wrote about how I tried to renew my vehicle registration yesterday and failed. As an act of rebellion, I gave excellent customer service to someone who had made an inquiry (on Craigslist) about restoring some speakers. I told him it is not worth his time to drive 1.5 hours x 2 and have me charge him $30 to restore one surface of a pair of late '70s speakers. Here is what I wrote. I will never be rich, but at least I sleep well. --- Clayton, Not sure it's worth your while to drive all the way from SJ to have me fix that one side (I'd oil up the others and charge you something nominal, like $30). The speakers are only worth about $80. Here's what I'd do (if you're up for a fun and slightly challenging project): Get some Elmer's wood glue. Work it in gently underneath the wood that's coming up. Press the veneer down and wipe away the excess glue with a wet rag or paper towel. (Elmer's wood glue is water-based.) Press the area you glue down with the other speaker. Just set the other speaker on top of where you glued the veneer down. Do one area at a time. If there are places where the veneer has risen but there's no crack in the middle, you can introduce a small crack with a sharp knife. Then do the same thing. Press down one side of the crack and put some wood glue in the other. Repeat as necessary. Once you have all rising veneer glued down and close to flush with the rest of the surface, GENTLY sand with 150 grit sand paper. No power tools "allowed." Late '70s veneer is quite thin and you could sand through it if you used a power sander. Once the surface looks smooth, oil it up with whatever oil-based furniture polish you have on hand. I use Howard's Orange Oil, but Lemon Oil is available at Lowe's or Home Depot. Howard's Restore-a-Finish is also a good product. Then oil up all the other surfaces so they match. Let me know what you decide to do! Best, Horse
16 people like this
15 responses
@FourWalls (62063)
• United States
4 May 21
How sweet of you!!! Now....how come you treat Vanny so bad?
6 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
4 May 21
*DE puts his face into his hands* OMG!
5 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 21
Because she makes me send her blood.
3 people like this
@Janet357 (75656)
4 May 21
5 people like this
• Nairobi, Kenya
4 May 21
Very good feedback and advice from a professional
5 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 21
I hope he's able to use it.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 21
@mildredtabitha I haven't heard fro hi yet. My response DID involve "a lot of words." But I gotta "do the right thing."
1 person likes this
• Nairobi, Kenya
5 May 21
@TheHorse I hope so too
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
4 May 21
Gosh! You`re so nice but if I were Clayton I will still go and let you make it for me
4 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 21
We'll see if he writes me back.
4 people like this
• Germany
4 May 21
4 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 21
@m_audrey6788 But it's a longish and painful (traffic) drive from San Jose CA to here.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45472)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
4 May 21
Giving away all your secrets?
5 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 21
I assume nobody has the time or the initiative to use them.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (457813)
• Switzerland
4 May 21
May be he is not at all good doing those things himself and he will decide to ask you to do the work anyway. Let us know.
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (457813)
• Switzerland
5 May 21
@TheHorse May be he wants to praise your honesty.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 21
That could be. I'll let you know.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 21
@LadyDuck He hasn't responded. His speakers are not as good as the "classic" KLH speaker that came out in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
1 person likes this
4 May 21
Now that’s what I call taking the high road! I learned a lot about which furniture oil is best, thank you.
5 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 21
That can be a good thing!
4 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 21
@HomewardBound It will take several days if he takes the project on. Drying time for the glue, mostly.
2 people like this
4 May 21
@TheHorse Definitely! I hope Clayton was able to restore his speakers.
4 people like this
@snowy22315 (169828)
• United States
5 May 21
That was nice of you and I hope Clayton notices your kindness.
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
4 May 21
You're an honest guy . If I had gotten such advice, I would for sure believe you are indeed not an opportunist. I'd give you the business anyway . . . and feel inspired to continue on some good karma .
4 people like this
@kaylachan (57558)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 May 21
Hopefully the person you wrote that for takes it to heart and fixes the speaker himself. You're right, he'd be spending probably twice that much (not including what you'd charge) in time and fuel to travel to your location (assuming they don't get lost), just to do something that sounds like an easy fix.
4 people like this
@kaylachan (57558)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 May 21
@TheHorse It doesn't sound like it, if glue will solve the problem.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 21
It's probably only an easy fix for someone who has done wood restoration before. But it really isn't worth his time and money to bring them up here.
3 people like this
@xander6464 (40858)
• Wapello, Iowa
5 May 21
Don't forget to declare the Karma points you'll get from this...My friend Sleepy Joe is going to tax everything!
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
4 May 21
Wow! You sound almost human there. You should be careful or vanny will point out your flaws again. That was a very nice thing to do, pony.
3 people like this
@Janet357 (75656)
4 May 21
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95015)
• Marion, Ohio
5 May 21
Thats nice of you. No you are not going to get rich
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (115958)
• United States
4 May 21
That was very kind of you
4 people like this
@TheHorse (205554)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 21
I learned my business practices from "The Art of the Deal." Not.
2 people like this
@Janet357 (75656)
4 May 21
Bravo! Likable man!
4 people like this
@LindaOHio (155843)
• United States
5 May 21
We'd expect nothing less from you 'cause you're a good guy. :-)