"What exactly do you do?" "I buttle, sir."
September 19, 2024 8:52 AM Subscribe
How to be a butler to the super rich. (archive link here)
Yes, Jeeves and Wooster are referenced. How could they not be?
Yes, Jeeves and Wooster are referenced. How could they not be?
My favourite fictional butler has to be Mr. Butler of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. He's the perfect butler -- capable and unobtrusive -- and the viewer never gets a chance to know him, but every so often he comes out with some startling skill. In one episode there's an intruder in Phryne's house, and Mr. Butler takes him down very efficiently. Phryne asks him how he knew how to do that, and it turns out that he was in some elite unit in WWI. In another episode, Phryne's companion Dot, who is Catholic, is complaining that her priest is giving her a hard time about her non-Catholic beau Hugh. Mr. Butler tells her, "You have power, Dotty, and you just don't realize it." He reminds her that she does a lot of church work and basically advises her to indicate to her priest that she will cease to do it unless he backs off. Dot does so, and it works like a charm. He's a butler with combat skills and a Machiavellian mind -- not a bad combination. It always made me wonder what his backstory could be, but in a way it's funnier not to know.
When, back in 1992, a high school boyfriend of mine didn't know what he wanted to do, I told him the perfect career path for him would be a butler with an attitude (something along the lines of Mrs. Carlson's Hirsch from WKRP in Cincinnati, although Hirsch refers to himself as a "house boy"), and I teased him he'd wind up working for some trash family that had just made it big in the lottery. He said, "I can see it!" but didn't use the idea, alas.
posted by orange swan at 9:48 AM on September 19 [13 favorites]
When, back in 1992, a high school boyfriend of mine didn't know what he wanted to do, I told him the perfect career path for him would be a butler with an attitude (something along the lines of Mrs. Carlson's Hirsch from WKRP in Cincinnati, although Hirsch refers to himself as a "house boy"), and I teased him he'd wind up working for some trash family that had just made it big in the lottery. He said, "I can see it!" but didn't use the idea, alas.
posted by orange swan at 9:48 AM on September 19 [13 favorites]
i had never considered that "buttle" was a verb
It’s a back-formation; the term basically means “the guy with the bottles.”
posted by Horace Rumpole at 9:50 AM on September 19 [10 favorites]
It’s a back-formation; the term basically means “the guy with the bottles.”
posted by Horace Rumpole at 9:50 AM on September 19 [10 favorites]
For a recent and very impressive butler, see T. Kingfisher's _A Sorceress Comes to Call_. CW: people who like horses might not want to read this.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 10:05 AM on September 19 [4 favorites]
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 10:05 AM on September 19 [4 favorites]
It’s a back-formation; the term basically means “the guy with the bottles.”
London historian J. Draper has a breakdown of the etymology - the butler was historically the servant in charge of the estate's wine cellar, which a) was a position of high trust and authority, which lead to b) them also being in charge of the male servants.
posted by NoxAeternum at 10:32 AM on September 19 [9 favorites]
London historian J. Draper has a breakdown of the etymology - the butler was historically the servant in charge of the estate's wine cellar, which a) was a position of high trust and authority, which lead to b) them also being in charge of the male servants.
posted by NoxAeternum at 10:32 AM on September 19 [9 favorites]
I mean, it's basically where the entire economy's heading, no? At least that seems to be the fantasy of certain members of the billionaire class. That we are all quiet helpers, serving at their pleasure.
posted by chasing at 10:54 AM on September 19 [8 favorites]
posted by chasing at 10:54 AM on September 19 [8 favorites]
I think I've made my pitch on MetaFilter before for a comic called The League of Gentlemen's Gentlemen, about an LXG-style team made up entirely of fictional butlers, currently consisting of Reginald Jeeves, Alfred Pennyworth, Owen Burnett, Lynn Belvedere and Riff Raff. I'm also considering adding Wadsworth from Clue to the team just because I get a kick out of having him and Riff Raff on the same page.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 11:43 AM on September 19 [37 favorites]
posted by Parasite Unseen at 11:43 AM on September 19 [37 favorites]
"The students must ... serve meals in synchronised fashion."
I went to a restaurant where the waitstaff came with food on covered, silver trays for the entire table and simultaneously uncovered the dishes and then placed them on the table. I have to admit it was quite fun, as least for one night.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:49 AM on September 19 [5 favorites]
I went to a restaurant where the waitstaff came with food on covered, silver trays for the entire table and simultaneously uncovered the dishes and then placed them on the table. I have to admit it was quite fun, as least for one night.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:49 AM on September 19 [5 favorites]
I work with very wealthy people in my profession. Nobody in the US is using this unless they are very odd. There are all sorts of jobs catering to the very rich that you probably don’t know about (estate managers, for instance), but this stuff is just absurd.
A family office will vary wildly, but usually you’ll see a CEO, a CIO, and some family-facing relationship managers to handle day-to-day stuff. Somebody will usually have a law degree, and someone else usually will have a CPA. As you get bigger, the staff expands and specializes. But nobody has a freaking butler. They’re wealthy; they’re not aliens from the 19th century.
posted by leotrotsky at 12:04 PM on September 19 [7 favorites]
A family office will vary wildly, but usually you’ll see a CEO, a CIO, and some family-facing relationship managers to handle day-to-day stuff. Somebody will usually have a law degree, and someone else usually will have a CPA. As you get bigger, the staff expands and specializes. But nobody has a freaking butler. They’re wealthy; they’re not aliens from the 19th century.
posted by leotrotsky at 12:04 PM on September 19 [7 favorites]
I sort of think it is pretty cool...
It's horrible wealth inequality and shit, but...
It has a somewhat neat thing about doing something really well. And having to do it in the "proper" way. You want to work at McDonald's or be a badass taking care of some rich fuck?
Would never be hired as a butler. Could never wear the suit or the gloves. And few rich folks want an old hippy butler looking dude. Thinking about doing more housesitting/dogsitting stuff, but I digress. But there is a bit of confidence, when you can totally do this shit, whenever you're boss wants it done, that must feel pretty empowering, (I have been reading too much Gibson and the Rook series of late).
Massive money can get things done. To be able to weld that kind of power, would be pretty cool. Hubertus Bigend can get any reservation he wants...
posted by Windopaene at 12:27 PM on September 19
It's horrible wealth inequality and shit, but...
It has a somewhat neat thing about doing something really well. And having to do it in the "proper" way. You want to work at McDonald's or be a badass taking care of some rich fuck?
Would never be hired as a butler. Could never wear the suit or the gloves. And few rich folks want an old hippy butler looking dude. Thinking about doing more housesitting/dogsitting stuff, but I digress. But there is a bit of confidence, when you can totally do this shit, whenever you're boss wants it done, that must feel pretty empowering, (I have been reading too much Gibson and the Rook series of late).
Massive money can get things done. To be able to weld that kind of power, would be pretty cool. Hubertus Bigend can get any reservation he wants...
posted by Windopaene at 12:27 PM on September 19
I work with very wealthy people in my profession. Nobody in the US is using this unless they are very odd. There are all sorts of jobs catering to the very rich that you probably don’t know about (estate managers, for instance), but this stuff is just absurd.
Hey, good thing you TFA as you would know the main audience who is doing this are not Americans!
posted by Kitteh at 12:37 PM on September 19 [7 favorites]
Hey, good thing you TFA as you would know the main audience who is doing this are not Americans!
posted by Kitteh at 12:37 PM on September 19 [7 favorites]
That training sounds like a lot of fun. Dodging fruit while smashing glass and twirling? That's a memorable weekend for me.
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:46 PM on September 19 [1 favorite]
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:46 PM on September 19 [1 favorite]
The article makes it pretty clear that the majority of hires are for people from Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, both in their home countries and in Britain. Oh, and "British rock stars."
"Jeeves, did I ever tell you about the time we played the Ed Sullivan show?" "No, Sir Paul, I don't believe you did."
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:57 PM on September 19 [5 favorites]
"Jeeves, did I ever tell you about the time we played the Ed Sullivan show?" "No, Sir Paul, I don't believe you did."
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:57 PM on September 19 [5 favorites]
I feel I must point out that Jeeves, while he can buttle with the best of them, is a valet and not a butler.
posted by phliar at 1:10 PM on September 19 [34 favorites]
posted by phliar at 1:10 PM on September 19 [34 favorites]
My general impression is a valet is attached to a person while a butler is attached to an estate, but I suppose there are more precise definitions.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:32 PM on September 19 [4 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:32 PM on September 19 [4 favorites]
The wealthiest person I know is a billionaire. He has 3 personal assistants at his office. One, for work related stuff, one for his personal stuff, and the 3rd is for his wife and 7 kid's stuff. One of his kid's wants a ticket to see some band in another city, the assistant books the flights, hotel, car service and gets VIP tickets to the show. At home he has 3 staff. Mostly cleaning, laundry, taking care of the 4 (large) dogs, cooking dinner, and general household maintenance. He has another person, not on site, who, for lack of a better term, is the house manager. A/C breaks down, call house manager across the country to get it fixed (NOW!). Schedule the gardeners. Etc.
No butler or anyone buttling.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 1:53 PM on September 19 [5 favorites]
No butler or anyone buttling.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 1:53 PM on September 19 [5 favorites]
I worked as a house assistant for a rich woman for a very short time. I wasn't suited to it, I'm not particularly servile. I worked with a close friend who at the time was much better at the attitudinal aspect of the job. She was more of a personal assistant to Mrs D (as she liked to be called). I guess you could say she was a Valet Girl.
Thanks, I'll show myself out.
posted by evilDoug at 2:07 PM on September 19 [4 favorites]
Thanks, I'll show myself out.
posted by evilDoug at 2:07 PM on September 19 [4 favorites]
But that's not how that valet is pronounced unfortunately...
posted by entropone at 2:14 PM on September 19 [1 favorite]
posted by entropone at 2:14 PM on September 19 [1 favorite]
There is also Willikins and perhaps Albert.
posted by maxwelton at 2:50 PM on September 19 [1 favorite]
posted by maxwelton at 2:50 PM on September 19 [1 favorite]
Akshully, it is. Or I should say, close enough. You could pronounce it val-et (pronouncing the t) or val-A (with a hard A sound) which is close enough to val-E for a humorous comment. YMMV for humor.
posted by evilDoug at 3:05 PM on September 19 [3 favorites]
posted by evilDoug at 3:05 PM on September 19 [3 favorites]
Rigby Reardon: I'd like to see Ms. Forrest.
Butler: Who shall I say is calling?
Rigby Reardon: Rigby Reardon, tell her I've been shot.
Butler: Very good, sir. May I tell her by whom?
Rigby Reardon: No, I don't know myself.
Butler: Are you all right? You look as though you're going to faint.
Rigby Reardon: Faint? Never... Catch me.
[Rigby Reardon falls on the floor, fainting]
Butler: Sorry, I'm a Butler, not a catcher.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:23 PM on September 19 [3 favorites]
Butler: Who shall I say is calling?
Rigby Reardon: Rigby Reardon, tell her I've been shot.
Butler: Very good, sir. May I tell her by whom?
Rigby Reardon: No, I don't know myself.
Butler: Are you all right? You look as though you're going to faint.
Rigby Reardon: Faint? Never... Catch me.
[Rigby Reardon falls on the floor, fainting]
Butler: Sorry, I'm a Butler, not a catcher.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:23 PM on September 19 [3 favorites]
I guess you could say she was a Valet Girl.
For sure. For sure.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:25 PM on September 19 [7 favorites]
For sure. For sure.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:25 PM on September 19 [7 favorites]
The Remains of the Day is top buttlering.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:27 PM on September 19 [2 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 3:27 PM on September 19 [2 favorites]
Careful is the one movie I can think of about butler-school.
I wouldn't recommend the weird doorstop novel The Quincunx to everyone, but the penultimate act has some swell manor servants freak-outs when their estate is dissolved.
posted by ovvl at 5:47 PM on September 19 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't recommend the weird doorstop novel The Quincunx to everyone, but the penultimate act has some swell manor servants freak-outs when their estate is dissolved.
posted by ovvl at 5:47 PM on September 19 [1 favorite]
Isn't there a movie version of Walser's Jakob von Gunten - I think by the Quay Bros.?
posted by kickingtheground at 5:59 PM on September 19
posted by kickingtheground at 5:59 PM on September 19
Of course nobody mentioned "Godfrey" as in:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Man_Godfrey
[snip]
My Man Godfrey is a 1936 American screwball comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring William Powell and Carole Lombard, who had been briefly married years before appearing together in the film.[2][5] The screenplay for My Man Godfrey was written by Morrie Ryskind and Eric S. Hatch, with uncredited contributions by La Cava, based on Hatch's 1935 novel, 1101 Park Avenue. The story concerns a socialite who hires a derelict to be her family's butler, and then falls in love with him.
posted by aleph at 6:15 PM on September 19 [6 favorites]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Man_Godfrey
[snip]
My Man Godfrey is a 1936 American screwball comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring William Powell and Carole Lombard, who had been briefly married years before appearing together in the film.[2][5] The screenplay for My Man Godfrey was written by Morrie Ryskind and Eric S. Hatch, with uncredited contributions by La Cava, based on Hatch's 1935 novel, 1101 Park Avenue. The story concerns a socialite who hires a derelict to be her family's butler, and then falls in love with him.
posted by aleph at 6:15 PM on September 19 [6 favorites]
For Remains of the Day Anthony Hopkins got coaching from Cyril Dickman, the retired butler to Queen Elizabeth II. Dickman said "There's nothing to being a butler, really; when you're in the room, it should be even more empty."
posted by kirkaracha at 7:01 PM on September 19 [3 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 7:01 PM on September 19 [3 favorites]
If we're doing valets then lets not forget Passepartout
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_World_in_Eighty_Days
...having dismissed his valet for bringing him shaving water at a temperature slightly lower than expected, Fogg hires Frenchman Jean Passepartout as a replacement.
posted by aleph at 9:38 PM on September 19 [3 favorites]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_World_in_Eighty_Days
...having dismissed his valet for bringing him shaving water at a temperature slightly lower than expected, Fogg hires Frenchman Jean Passepartout as a replacement.
posted by aleph at 9:38 PM on September 19 [3 favorites]
I had never considered that "buttle" was a verb
It is less ambiguous than saying "I do butt stuff".
posted by fairmettle at 1:10 AM on September 20 [5 favorites]
It is less ambiguous than saying "I do butt stuff".
posted by fairmettle at 1:10 AM on September 20 [5 favorites]
Why is it that the hate, or unyielding, unrelenting animosity towards some "rich" comes not from the truly poor people, but from middle class, and not necessarily even it's lowest tier?
Is it because they are (perhaps) equally remote and estranged from both, but ever since rich started meaning "immoral", it's comfier to feel like you are closer to the other side, which ain't so
posted by Green-eyed grenade at 4:27 AM on September 20 [1 favorite]
Is it because they are (perhaps) equally remote and estranged from both, but ever since rich started meaning "immoral", it's comfier to feel like you are closer to the other side, which ain't so
posted by Green-eyed grenade at 4:27 AM on September 20 [1 favorite]
My pet theory is that "civilization" is just a dream of the bourgeoisie, while the very wealthy and the very poor alike share an understanding of Nature as completely red in tooth and claw.
posted by Rat Spatula at 4:40 AM on September 20 [1 favorite]
posted by Rat Spatula at 4:40 AM on September 20 [1 favorite]
"...share an understanding of Nature as completely red in tooth and claw"
With notable counterexamples in the World you believe what you want to believe.
posted by aleph at 4:55 AM on September 20
With notable counterexamples in the World you believe what you want to believe.
posted by aleph at 4:55 AM on September 20
Nobody in the US is using this unless they are very odd.
I suspect butlers are more a thing in other regions. I do know an Indian family who had one while they were in Dubai.
posted by warriorqueen at 6:26 AM on September 20
I suspect butlers are more a thing in other regions. I do know an Indian family who had one while they were in Dubai.
posted by warriorqueen at 6:26 AM on September 20
I just don't think that I could trust someone that much; maybe it's because I grew up with the knowledge that The Butler Did It, along with questions of What The Butler Saw.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:56 AM on September 20 [4 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:56 AM on September 20 [4 favorites]
Having a butler is also more of a matter of "amount of staff".
Wouldn't the very rich in the 'olden days' have a main house, a country house, and perhaps even more? The country house would of course have land which would require more servants to manage.
You need a butler and a head maid when you're working with: multiple maids, under-butlers, groomsmen, stableboys, cooks, gardeners, groundskeepers, game keeper, a nurse, nanny, or governess, footman, and probably more.
Modern machines and outsourcing work (like the A/C repairs) in JohnnyGunn's 6 on-site staff example, simply mean less work overall more efficiently done by less people. (Well, and hopefully now most people, even billionaires are able to get themselves up, dressed, and ready for the day on their own.)
posted by sharp pointy objects at 7:46 AM on September 20 [1 favorite]
Wouldn't the very rich in the 'olden days' have a main house, a country house, and perhaps even more? The country house would of course have land which would require more servants to manage.
You need a butler and a head maid when you're working with: multiple maids, under-butlers, groomsmen, stableboys, cooks, gardeners, groundskeepers, game keeper, a nurse, nanny, or governess, footman, and probably more.
Modern machines and outsourcing work (like the A/C repairs) in JohnnyGunn's 6 on-site staff example, simply mean less work overall more efficiently done by less people. (Well, and hopefully now most people, even billionaires are able to get themselves up, dressed, and ready for the day on their own.)
posted by sharp pointy objects at 7:46 AM on September 20 [1 favorite]
Why is it that the hate, or unyielding, unrelenting animosity towards some "rich" comes not from the truly poor people, but from middle class, and not necessarily even it's lowest tier?
Is it because they are (perhaps) equally remote and estranged from both, but ever since rich started meaning "immoral", it's comfier to feel like you are closer to the other side, which ain't so
I think you have to be extremely online to see that. Most people don't really want to be a billionaire - they will take it if comes to them without much extra work, but if they can afford the home they want, some fun (like a normal boat or vacations), and support their kids/lifestyle they way they want, their desire for excess income disappears.
And 'billionaires' are divorced from the upper middle class rich, but not as much as you are implying. They have local power, they have comfortable lives, they have local political power. No they can't guide the Supreme Court like a billionaire can, but they can guide their local courts, if they choose to do so.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:10 AM on September 20 [1 favorite]
Is it because they are (perhaps) equally remote and estranged from both, but ever since rich started meaning "immoral", it's comfier to feel like you are closer to the other side, which ain't so
I think you have to be extremely online to see that. Most people don't really want to be a billionaire - they will take it if comes to them without much extra work, but if they can afford the home they want, some fun (like a normal boat or vacations), and support their kids/lifestyle they way they want, their desire for excess income disappears.
And 'billionaires' are divorced from the upper middle class rich, but not as much as you are implying. They have local power, they have comfortable lives, they have local political power. No they can't guide the Supreme Court like a billionaire can, but they can guide their local courts, if they choose to do so.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:10 AM on September 20 [1 favorite]
the butler was historically the servant in charge of the estate's wine cellar
This explains the invention of the "butler's friend", allowing the butler to remove a bottle's cork, "sample" the wine, top up with a bit of water, and reinsert the cork without damage or anyone knowing better.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:59 AM on September 20 [1 favorite]
This explains the invention of the "butler's friend", allowing the butler to remove a bottle's cork, "sample" the wine, top up with a bit of water, and reinsert the cork without damage or anyone knowing better.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:59 AM on September 20 [1 favorite]
You want to work at McDonald's or be a badass taking care of some rich fuck?
Ironically. only one of those paths has at least the possibility of getting rich yourself, and it's not the one where you feel like a badass because you pick out someone's clothes each morning.
All the extremely wealthy people I know in real life started their journey at a McDonalds in the US or UK. In fact, the current generation of new McDonalds senior management and operators are heavily represented by immigrants and first generation American/Britons.
What to know why? A bunch of white people who peaked at becoming a butler heard "what do you want to do, flip burgers??" their entire lives. The people who came from somewhere that didn't tell their kids stuff like that have a great choice of potential butlers though.
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 9:45 AM on September 20
Ironically. only one of those paths has at least the possibility of getting rich yourself, and it's not the one where you feel like a badass because you pick out someone's clothes each morning.
All the extremely wealthy people I know in real life started their journey at a McDonalds in the US or UK. In fact, the current generation of new McDonalds senior management and operators are heavily represented by immigrants and first generation American/Britons.
What to know why? A bunch of white people who peaked at becoming a butler heard "what do you want to do, flip burgers??" their entire lives. The people who came from somewhere that didn't tell their kids stuff like that have a great choice of potential butlers though.
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 9:45 AM on September 20
Having a butler is also more of a matter of "amount of staff".
And having lots of staff means lots of infrastructure to take care of the staff. If you ever go see the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC you'd be amazed at how much stuff there is in the estate just to support the staff. The obviously had a lot of staff but then they have to live somewhere and eat somewhere and someone has to feed them, etc. This place was built before modern refrigeration and automobiles so that just amps up the staff needed to go get supplies and tend to all the horses and so on and so on.
It is like the modern American military. Most of the staff and efforts are in supporting the logistical nightmare of moving things around and keeping supplies up to date.
posted by mmascolino at 2:30 PM on September 20 [2 favorites]
And having lots of staff means lots of infrastructure to take care of the staff. If you ever go see the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC you'd be amazed at how much stuff there is in the estate just to support the staff. The obviously had a lot of staff but then they have to live somewhere and eat somewhere and someone has to feed them, etc. This place was built before modern refrigeration and automobiles so that just amps up the staff needed to go get supplies and tend to all the horses and so on and so on.
It is like the modern American military. Most of the staff and efforts are in supporting the logistical nightmare of moving things around and keeping supplies up to date.
posted by mmascolino at 2:30 PM on September 20 [2 favorites]
Most of the staff and efforts are in supporting the logistical nightmare of moving things around and keeping supplies up to date.
Draper discusses this as well: part of it was that there was more labor needed by dint of key labor saving technologies and modern supply chains just not existing yet - and also because these facilities were being run by upper class individuals who did not have comprehension of what that labor actually entailed.
posted by NoxAeternum at 3:35 PM on September 20
Draper discusses this as well: part of it was that there was more labor needed by dint of key labor saving technologies and modern supply chains just not existing yet - and also because these facilities were being run by upper class individuals who did not have comprehension of what that labor actually entailed.
posted by NoxAeternum at 3:35 PM on September 20
3 personal assistants at his office... At home he has 3 staff... He has another person, not on site, who, for lack of a better term, is the house manager...
No butler or anyone buttling.
A competent Butler would manage all of the above.
posted by dg at 10:18 PM on September 22
No butler or anyone buttling.
A competent Butler would manage all of the above.
posted by dg at 10:18 PM on September 22
Wouldn't the very rich in the 'olden days' have a main house, a country house, and perhaps even more?
And today. Most wealthy people have a second home, and the type of people who have butlers are way richer than that group. But I don't think they need a large fulltime staff. The one super rich person I know of, who's a friend-of-a-friend, has a large estate an hour from the city and has a couple who lives in a guest house on the property and serves as property managers. With cleaning services and caterers and pool services and car services, you don't need a large staff, just a few people who can do some work and know who to call for everything else.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 10:50 AM on September 23
And today. Most wealthy people have a second home, and the type of people who have butlers are way richer than that group. But I don't think they need a large fulltime staff. The one super rich person I know of, who's a friend-of-a-friend, has a large estate an hour from the city and has a couple who lives in a guest house on the property and serves as property managers. With cleaning services and caterers and pool services and car services, you don't need a large staff, just a few people who can do some work and know who to call for everything else.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 10:50 AM on September 23
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posted by entropone at 9:34 AM on September 19 [4 favorites]