[Terre]

I've been reading this thread, and biting my tongue, but since that isn't my strongest skill, here goes.

I think he missed half of your point.

"and the time required to stop and change a bent blade while on the route was very costly."

If the man is buying his own blades, it means he doesn't feel capable or willing to make the effort to miss the obstacles that are causing the damage. If he has his own blades, he can change them himself, and you'll never know about the time lost.

Granted, I've been married to an anal retentive mechanic for many years, but I think he also shows a disregard for your equipment. If he is tearing up blades, what else is he not paying attention to?

[AZTLANLC]

We as a company wouldn't be able to make much without employees, this type of of incidents will happen to anyone even after working 8 years it will only take a second to forget a certain obstacle in a property and bend a blade I'd feel real concerned if this is or starts happening more often.
But one blade and the time spend changing clearly is compensated in grand part by him replacing the cost of it.
We all have families and problems in our life and while mowing is so easy to start thinking about those and for a split second miss something, it certainly could've being worse than a single blade, we can't not expect our workers to forget about all while they're working.
Me when an employee tells me that he bends a blade which happens rarely I just buy a new one and tell them thanks for letting me know and that the good thing is that the same mistake will not happen again right?

[jwholden]

Lanelle's post is definitely thinking out of the box.

Did the guy show up for work the next day and apologize and hand you a set of new blades or will this be the last time it ever happens?

I give the guy kudos if he is coming to you to say he bent a blade. That in itself is half the battle. Your reaction when he admits a mistake will determine whether or not you hear of mistakes down the road.