A couple of weeks ago I pulled up outside a custies house to see that he's doing some DIY on the front door, adding a wooden porch. Before I could profure my usually cheery hello he almost shouts , "You should phone first. I'm busy, you'll have to leave it!" or similar.
His manner was pretty rude - raised voice and dismissive. I said that although that wasn't the arrangement I'd be happy to phone the night before. "Yes, ring first in future. Come back next week, but call beforehand". I'm pretty mild-mannered but I don't like being shouted at, but equally I don't like avoidable confrontation. As I drove off I relaxed back into The Big Show and smiled to myself wondering how long it would be before his wife phoned me wondering where I was.
Anyway the answer was today. A nice pleasant cheery "Where are you? Can you come and do the windows" enquiry on the home answerphone. I phoned back and explained to her that I wouldn't be coming back on account of her rude and borderline aggressive husband. "That's not like him, let me fetch him". Anyway hubby comes to the phone and I explain all. "I have loads of customers who I have an excellent relationship with and I don't needs his attitude when I turn up to do a job for him. Life's too short for the stress, that's why I moved to rural Wales". We ran through what was said. I agree that what he said was accurate, but it was not what was said, but how it was said. He apologised and I accepted adding, that I still wouldn't be coming to clean his windows.
Might make him be a bit more polite with the next windie. If he can find one that is...