aproy1101 said:
I'm lucky at my work. There are only three full time employees, all men. I receive all my knives here, and they can't wait to get a peek. Often the first chops I make with a Khuk are into a 2x4 scrap in the warehouse. I can't imagine even having a knife website open at another job. I do keep my little pukko in my pocket though, just to be safe.
I know what you mean, Andy. Getting knives at work is great for me because i'm never home to sign for packages. I pack whatever I want whenever I want. It's a perk of being the boss. It's not uncommon for me to pack a multitool and a SAK on my hip with a JKM or Sarge/KPH stuffed into my back pocket. They are all tools and all have a job to do. The multi is for fixing pumps, the SAK gets light cutting chores, and the fixed blade gets used for heavy rope cutting or if I am too lazy to unfold a knife. The customers never notice my tools except when I am fixing something for them, then obviously it is a tool and not a threat.
I do like to mess with sales people that come in to sell me insurance, or paint, or a security system, or advertising on a radio station no one has ever heard of, or some other BS that I don't have time for. I like to eye them up a bit before I let them know who i am. I don't have a whole lot of time to BS with someone about some crap I don't want or need. They always come in looking for someone older than myself, so they wait politely while watching this "kid" (me) rudely keep doing what he's doing instead of getting his boss from his office. Then they start in with the snippy chit chat.
"Is Jake around?"
"yeah, he's around somewhere I'm sure. Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"I need to speak with Jake."
"What's this regarding?"
"I'm Blah, Blah, Blah from Some Radio Station. I need to speak with Jake." forced smile.
"Ok, just a minute."
I keep working for a few minutes while they grow more frustrated.
Then 1 out of 5 will make some snippy comment about the knife I am using or have on my work bench.
"Does Jake actually let you bring weapons to work?" talking about Sarge/KPH/Corporal and a large lock blade SAK
"Yeah, he thinks they're pretty cool, and it's not a weapon. I'm not killing this motor, I'm fixing it...like a doctor" flash a $h|7 eating grin.
"Oh." Short and snide
"Lemme go check on something." I go back to my office to grab some paper or a pen or something. "Hey, Jake is really busy. Can I take your information and any proposals you have?"
"Oh, really?" kind of mad that I wasted their time. "Well when do you think I'll be able to talk with him?"
"You just did. We're not interested. Thank you for your time."
It pi$$es them off, but if they want my money then they'll be back with a better offer. I just can't stand salespeople that 1) Don't think that a 25 year old guy could be running a store. 2) assume that I am "the help" 3) Make comments about my "weapons". 4) Waste my time because they have been so engrained with the "don't talk to the gatekeeper" montra.
If you think that might beautiful little Corporal knife, fitted and gifted to me by a very good friend, is a weapon and not a functional piece of art, then I don't think I need to be buying what you're selling. We ain't on the same wavelength, obviously.
Jake