I work as a handywoman as a side hustle, and last week I received a call from a man wanting to install a new toilet. He told me the model he wanted to buy and I suggested against it, since some of my other customers had an issue that causes the tank to leak into the toilet bowl, wasting water.

He said he'd think about it, and scheduled an appointment for me to install the toilet a few days later. I went over to his place and mentioned we spoke on the phone. He was an older man in his 70.

"You're the handyman?" he said, skeptical. "I thought you were just the receptionist and you'd be sending a man."

I'm very used to sexist comments like this so I just shrugged and said that I don't see how my gender matters. He didn't say anything else, and he showed me to the toilet. I saw that it was the model I advised against, but I didn't say anything more. I installed the toilet, he paid me, and everything was fine.

On the day before Thanksgiving, I received a call from the same guy. He said "I knew I shouldn't have trusted a female to install the toilet, it keeps leaking water into the toilet bowl! My water bill's going to go up!" Still trying to be respectful, I told him that this has nothing to do with my installation, and that a man would've had the same problem, since this toilet has a defect that I've seen frequently. I explained that he'd have to call the toilet company and get a replacement part under warranty, then he can call me back and I'd install it for free. He yelled "you're a fucking bitch and I'm never going to let you or another female touch my toilet again! and hung up on me.