Posted by Buddy Young on 4/7/12 6:36pm
Msg #417249

How are we percieved?

This has only happened to me once in all my signings:

I did a signing for a dentist in his office once and felt like I was being treated like a second class citizen.

During the signing we talked a little and after he found out what I did in my previous life, that I belonged to the same country club he did, and that I was on the board of directors, he changed his attitude tword me dramatically.

I was just wondering if any of you have had this tye of experience in the past.

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 4/7/12 6:44pm
Msg #417250

I think it has nothing to do with our profession, only that

he is a snob.

Reply by kathy/ca on 4/7/12 7:04pm
Msg #417253

Actually I have always been treated with respect and have

felt like the client thinks I am higher on the "food chain" than I actually am, ha ha.

Reply by MW/VA on 4/7/12 7:24pm
Msg #417256

Ditto. IMO it's important to present a professional

appearance & demeanor. Gaining the signer's confidence & making them comfortable is what I try to do. I can't control what they think of me & don't care. I'm there for a short time to complete the task & get paid for it. I am well organized & often get comments on how thorough the presentation is.
That's just me & how I do things.
Remember, a dentist, who does require a lot of schooling & makes lots of money, is like everyone else.
He only makes his money from the patients who pay for his services. We're exactly the same. :-)

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 4/8/12 5:44am
Msg #417270

Agree, Sheila - classic snob behavior!

The fact that this guy changed gears after finding out that Buddy's elbows actually were 'haute' enough to rub his own with certainly cements things.

Snobbery comes from within -> outwards. Who was it that used to say "Pity the fool"? (Whew, I might actually be remembering something from what, the 70's?! I think it was Mr. T?)

Reply by 101livescan on 4/7/12 7:43pm
Msg #417257

I live in a hot bed of the nouveau rich, and occassionally I run across someone who thinks they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. I rarely share their opinion, I'm just there to get the job done. I don't really care if they are rude and arrogant, they have to live with themselves. In the end, we all have our interview with God.

On the other hand, primarily, meet the nicest people on the planet, especially these days. Not too many shady, sleezeball characters getting loans these days.

Reply by leeinla on 4/7/12 7:47pm
Msg #417258

Great Answer 101livesacan. I hope you are doing well.

Reply by leeinla on 4/7/12 7:47pm
Msg #417259

Great Answer 101livesacan. I hope you are doing well.


L.

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 4/7/12 9:28pm
Msg #417266

I received a call from the TC the day before my closing on friday to warn me that the BO was crazy and she was an attorney for her fathers prestigious huge law firm and they said she was dumb and a huge pia! I thought how fun this is going to be. The TC planted the seed that this signing may be trouble..

But I refused to think like they did..Going in I did not want to think that there would be any trouble..Besides I always think (no matter who they are) that they all go to the bathroom like the me..This helps take any jitters I may have..After all this time I still get the jitters..

The bo was perfectly fine! Her husband was super nice and she asked him a few questions and that was it! Abolutely no problems..So the moral of the story is the BO was perceived as a dumb, crazy, pia attorney..and had I listened to the TC I would have perceived her to be that way..

People always surpise me..But with experience I know that usually by the time I meet with the BO issues have usually been ironed out and the BOs are just happy to sign and move on..And they are in a better mood!

Reply by CJ on 4/7/12 11:07pm
Msg #417268

When I started many years ago, I had low self-esteem. I had come from abusive relationships, and on-and-off employment. I was intimindated by all of the borrowers. I figured they were all smarter and richer than me. Since then, I have found that most borrowers are ordinary folks, they just picked wiser career paths than I did and they got in better relationships. I remember many times doctors and attorneys toss the papers back at me and say, "What does this mean?" Heck! You're the one with the fancy-schmancy education, and you're asking me to explain this to you? (But I do understand the boilerplate, and I can explain the facts without giving opinons or advice.) I am not intimidated any more by anyone. I have learned that they are experts in their jobs, and I am an expert in my job. When I need a doctor, I need them, and when they need a loan signed, they need me. Every grouchy control-freaks I have figured out were that way long before I showed up. I notice that some people just find me delightful and funny, but some people I instantly rub the wrong way. I act the same at everyone's house, so it's not me.

One time the SS said to me, "You're going to the bank and meeting with the VP, so doll-up a bit". Of course that was sexist, but so what. I changed out of my overalls and I put on my BEST suit, my best high-heals, did my make-up and hair super-special, wore all my expensive rings and pearl necklace, and tried to walk like a model. Basically, I looked like I was going to speak before Congress. Well, the VP turned out to be a very laid-back woman: no make-up, unfussy hair, and casual-Friday clothes. She looked like a nice grandma type that probably makes great chocolate-chip cookies. I was SO overdressed. I was afraid of being percieved as a rich-b**** snob.

The signing went okay in spite of my ridiculous outfit.

Reply by CJ on 4/7/12 11:09pm
Msg #417269

PS. I don't wear overalls to the rest of my signings . . .

I wear overalls around the house.

Reply by Les_CO on 4/8/12 7:28am
Msg #417281

Re: PS. I don't wear overalls to the rest of my signings . . .

I have done many closings in the offices of title companies, and at bank branches. I always dress just as I would to do a closing there. In other words…’business.’ For me that means a tie and jacket, if not a suite. Yes, Colorado is laid back, and un-ironed Levi’s are the norm. But business is business. I been at this for years, I’ve met people in every place conceivable. They see a guy carrying a briefcase wearing a tie, they know it’s me. I have dealt with some very wealthy, some not so; some high place political types, some average guys; along with every kind of professional you can name (except wrestling) and I’ve never had any problem as far as their perception of me and what I’m there to do. I act like it’s important to me and to them, and they react accordingly.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 4/8/12 11:05am
Msg #417291

Just don't try a signing on a crab boat wearing a skirt!

There is ~no~ graceful, let alone practical way to board, even with helping "hands."

Take it from the goofiest looking soul on the docks. Even the seals were embarrassed for me.

Reply by Les_CO on 4/8/12 12:02pm
Msg #417294

Re: Just don't try a signing on a crab boat wearing a skirt!

High tide/low tide, on a windy day? I sort of have a picture of that in my mind.

Hard to find crab boats in Colorado….But I did have a heck of a time while diving off the Gili Islands trying to get into a outrigger canoe in full diving gear in a very swift current with two 70 lb Indonesians trying to help me into the boat (no ladder). Kind of hard to describe, sort of like a 1500lb Walrus trying to climb onto a 100 lb ice flow. And no I wasn’t signing that day, so I guess this belongs elsewhere.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 4/8/12 1:01pm
Msg #417303

Perhaps elsewhere, but one good image deserves another...

Tide irrelevant, docs float, no wind to speak of, just a rickety box as a "step" and swinging one leg over the TALL side of the unsteady boat, then the old "heave-ho" to finally plop on the deck. Oh, and lots of mean seals laughing.

It's comforting, somehow, to know another Notary's adventure, whether a signing or not, will be told around the homefires of the observers for generations..."...and then, your Grandpa grabbed the huge man who loved to swim with the fishes, and saved him from certain death..."

"Aaaaahh, cooed the wide-eyed children..."

Reply by RonnieB/NC on 4/8/12 5:21pm
Msg #417314

Re: Just don't try a signing on a crab boat wearing a skirt!

These belong in a book, "funny jokes" an experience of a Notary. All of you are so, so smart and
experienced. Other Notaries are learning. I for one take notes...

Reply by Jack/AL on 4/8/12 5:46pm
Msg #417315

I've never seen or heard of a crab boat wearing a skirt! n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 4/8/12 6:59pm
Msg #417320

Ha! You got me, Jack. I sit, chagrinned. n/m

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 4/8/12 9:22pm
Msg #417325

Re: I've never seen or heard of a crab boat wearing a skirt!

Have not been to the Pacific Northwest as often as I might have liked, but I have heard
that they have some REALLY wierd stuff out there.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 4/9/12 2:27am
Msg #417332

Laughing seals, for instance - " 'arr 'arr 'arr ...

'arrrrrroou..."

And, always remember - sneaker waves - no kidding. Watch the storms - behind the glass walls - all safe and toasty...simply glorious...

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/8/12 3:13pm
Msg #417308

That guy you were with? Maybe a big ol' snob...or just a guy who doesn't know how to communicate with another guy without something in common to discuss.

My experience has been a bit of the opposite while being a notary. Every other person I meet where I live has a PhD. Usually, unless they too are snobs, they treat a notary as someone they are very happy to find, see, deal with. 95% of them are not actually snobs. Nor are the doctors or lawyers I have dealt with. But, I hear others say that they think people are snobs that I do not perceive that way...sometimes "snobs" just don't know what to say and are glad to latch onto a common ground over which to communicate.

Reply by Lee/AR on 4/8/12 4:13pm
Msg #417311

Agree!

A lot of 'snobs' are really just very shy people.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/8/12 5:03pm
Msg #417313

So true, Lee -

It is so painful being socially awkward that they develop nasty outward personalities so that they can keep people from trying to talk to them and make them feel more awkward. When I meet a "snob" I usually assume that they are shy until they prove me wrong.