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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PBramble" data-source="post: 4382569" data-attributes="member: 5778"><p>I really didn't read all the replies, so I may be reiterating something already said. Handymen came about because people were poor. We fixed stuff because we had to. We couldn't afford new stuff or the labor charge to fix it. We learned how to read interchange manuals to find the part at a lower price and finagled some to get it. I know I've used corporate accounts at some places and paid cash. I get their discount, they get the added numbers for their discount. (And I've never met anyone from Mathis Brothers or Air Comfort Solutions). That relates to maintaining our own vehicles and building the storage or tools we need in our shop. The younger generation has had it easy. Parents made good money and could afford to have all those new things installed. Newer houses that didn't need the service upgraded or new wiring ran. They don't need to learn trade skills to play games, so they don't. Kids don't want to work hard. I knew a plumber in OKC that was starting apprentices out at 23 dollars an hour. He couldn't keep a guy on a job longer than three days. He didn't do new construction stuff and said most of them cringed at laying in toilet water under a house while watching out for snakes. While the handyman has made an exit, most of the trades are showing decreasing numbers as well. It's the soft times that are creating soft people.</p></blockquote><p></p>