Comments on: Aiming to not meet your expectations http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/ eat. play. love. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dr. V http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/#comment-1905 Dr. V Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:38:50 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=1383#comment-1905 I had someone freak out on me right after I graduated because her Maltese was not spayed with a "bikini line" incision like they do in people. I had someone freak out on me right after I graduated because her Maltese was not spayed with a “bikini line” incision like they do in people.

]]> By: Chile http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/#comment-1903 Chile Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:55:20 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=1383#comment-1903 Oh my. I think we have the same client. Except in my case he needs something designed and printed and he's upset that the number "7" is .003" inches larger than the number "5." Because that's totally noticeable. Especially when our margin of error in printing is 1/64th NOT 1/256th. Oh my. I think we have the same client. Except in my case he needs something designed and printed and he’s upset that the number “7″ is .003″ inches larger than the number “5.” Because that’s totally noticeable. Especially when our margin of error in printing is 1/64th NOT 1/256th.

]]> By: Lisa http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/#comment-1902 Lisa Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:30:11 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=1383#comment-1902 We had a person in our rescue group who was pissy with our vet because when he spayed the dogs, you could see a scar after they had healed. Get a life! For a $45 spay, I don't care that there is a scar. In fact, I like a scar because then there is no question, 'Is she spayed?'. (The exceptions are the yorkies/chis who have to have c-sections, but if you're opening up a dog that small to deliver puppies, save your money and spay her.) The newly minted vet is similar to Charles Winchester, the third on MASH. She takes a long time to do the surgeries, but it's because she's doing everything very precisely. All of her sutures are internal and she glues them. We had a person in our rescue group who was pissy with our vet because when he spayed the dogs, you could see a scar after they had healed. Get a life! For a $45 spay, I don’t care that there is a scar. In fact, I like a scar because then there is no question, ‘Is she spayed?’. (The exceptions are the yorkies/chis who have to have c-sections, but if you’re opening up a dog that small to deliver puppies, save your money and spay her.)
The newly minted vet is similar to Charles Winchester, the third on MASH. She takes a long time to do the surgeries, but it’s because she’s doing everything very precisely. All of her sutures are internal and she glues them.

]]> By: Kari http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/#comment-1901 Kari Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:53:49 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=1383#comment-1901 That's another thing I like about my school. Since it's a charter, they don't HAVE to be here. Parents who don't like their student's teacher can request a change to a different teacher... but we've done the math, and 50% of those transfers end up leaving the school (not necessarily dropping out--sometimes just finding a different school) before the end of the semester. That's already happened to me once this year. I had a parent who accused me of "losing" her daughter's homework repeatedly for weeks in a row. We actually aren't supposed to take any student work home, since it becomes part of their permanent record since it's independent study. So the farthest it goes is from my desktop to my desk drawer. In other words, I didn't lose it--little snowflake (who is, incidentally, 18 years old, not special education, and her mother still packs her backpack for her) didn't do it. After a not-fun parent meeting w/ her, me, the kid, and my boss, the mom switched her to another teacher. She lasted two weeks with that teacher, and then pulled her daughter out of the school. Eh, whatever. Our enrollment is still up 200 students over where it was at this time last year, so obviously we're doing something right. :-p That’s another thing I like about my school. Since it’s a charter, they don’t HAVE to be here. Parents who don’t like their student’s teacher can request a change to a different teacher… but we’ve done the math, and 50% of those transfers end up leaving the school (not necessarily dropping out–sometimes just finding a different school) before the end of the semester. That’s already happened to me once this year. I had a parent who accused me of “losing” her daughter’s homework repeatedly for weeks in a row. We actually aren’t supposed to take any student work home, since it becomes part of their permanent record since it’s independent study. So the farthest it goes is from my desktop to my desk drawer. In other words, I didn’t lose it–little snowflake (who is, incidentally, 18 years old, not special education, and her mother still packs her backpack for her) didn’t do it.

After a not-fun parent meeting w/ her, me, the kid, and my boss, the mom switched her to another teacher. She lasted two weeks with that teacher, and then pulled her daughter out of the school. Eh, whatever. Our enrollment is still up 200 students over where it was at this time last year, so obviously we’re doing something right. :-p

]]> By: Dr. V http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/#comment-1900 Dr. V Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:56:21 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=1383#comment-1900 You're even more stuck, I would imagine. While I could probably come up with some way to make it not worth their while, you can't really hand your students off to someone else. You’re even more stuck, I would imagine. While I could probably come up with some way to make it not worth their while, you can’t really hand your students off to someone else.

]]> By: Dr. V http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/#comment-1899 Dr. V Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:55:28 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=1383#comment-1899 I just direct them to my boss. He's pretty good with high maintenance, and for whatever reason it never seems to be a problem for him. He knows the drill. lol! I just direct them to my boss. He’s pretty good with high maintenance, and for whatever reason it never seems to be a problem for him. He knows the drill. lol!

]]> By: Kari http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/#comment-1898 Kari Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:23:56 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=1383#comment-1898 Let me let you in on a little secret... teachers often feel the same way about parents as well. I enjoy talking with parents and I'm thrilled when they're involved in their child's education, but when I spend 30 minutes to an hour per week on the phone/email with a parent of a single child, that's time that it's taking away from all of my other students. That's one of the reasons I love my job now--I only have 17 students. When I was at my old HS and had 180 students, that's a lot of time to take away from all the rest of the kids. So yeah, I totally feel your frustration, and your relief. :-) Let me let you in on a little secret… teachers often feel the same way about parents as well. I enjoy talking with parents and I’m thrilled when they’re involved in their child’s education, but when I spend 30 minutes to an hour per week on the phone/email with a parent of a single child, that’s time that it’s taking away from all of my other students. That’s one of the reasons I love my job now–I only have 17 students. When I was at my old HS and had 180 students, that’s a lot of time to take away from all the rest of the kids.

So yeah, I totally feel your frustration, and your relief. :-)

]]> By: Anthony Holloway http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/#comment-1897 Anthony Holloway Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:19:55 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=1383#comment-1897 This guy did you a favor. He gave you an opportunity to say no. I am not sure if you can charge enough for a client like this. Actually I am sure you can not. Is any amount of money worth the negative word of mouth, complaints to medical board, or law suit that end up doubling you insurance premiums? When you know in advance you can not give satisfy the client just politely say no. This is one you should be happy to give to your competition. This guy did you a favor. He gave you an opportunity to say no. I am not sure if you can charge enough for a client like this. Actually I am sure you can not. Is any amount of money worth the negative word of mouth, complaints to medical board, or law suit that end up doubling you insurance premiums? When you know in advance you can not give satisfy the client just politely say no. This is one you should be happy to give to your competition.

]]> By: Celtic_Maenad http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/#comment-1896 Celtic_Maenad Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:53:58 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=1383#comment-1896 My boss has a maxim that he adopted from *his* boss back when he was a resident: "Charge until you feel better about it." Which is brought out specifically for cases like this. When a client is *that* much trouble - more trouble than they're worth, make it worth your while. Either the troublesome client decides they don't want your services, or you're getting appropriately paid for your effort. Truthfully though, even with the difficult clients, we don't often do this (even if we dreamily think about it). My boss has a maxim that he adopted from *his* boss back when he was a resident: “Charge until you feel better about it.” Which is brought out specifically for cases like this. When a client is *that* much trouble – more trouble than they’re worth, make it worth your while. Either the troublesome client decides they don’t want your services, or you’re getting appropriately paid for your effort.

Truthfully though, even with the difficult clients, we don’t often do this (even if we dreamily think about it).

]]> By: AboutVetMed http://pawcurious.com/2009/10/aiming-to-not-meet-your-expectations/#comment-1895 AboutVetMed Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:52:00 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=1383#comment-1895 LOL, Dr V - "Fridays are an exceptional day to have surgery." Frustrating when people won't talk to techs - they are very knowledgeable about protocols and know when to ask the vet. Yay for Fridays, huh? ;-) (Whew - Glad your daughter is OK too.) LOL, Dr V – “Fridays are an exceptional day to have surgery.” Frustrating when people won’t talk to techs – they are very knowledgeable about protocols and know when to ask the vet.

Yay for Fridays, huh? ;-)
(Whew – Glad your daughter is OK too.)

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