Customers Try To Haggle Price After The Job Is Done.

curapa

In the spirit of the crazy callbacks thread I recalled these customers.

An Asian couple who spoke little English agree to contract a standard stockade fence through me. They call several times asking many questions, one being where do I get my material from. I get a call from my lumber salesman later telling me the Asian man came to the lumberyard wanting to inspect the fence boards.

I then get a call from the Asian man saying HD has fence boards on sale for $1.29,... Can you lower the price and get them from there? I explain HD has a delivery charge and I try to avoid doing business with them whenever possible. He agrees to go with my original bid using my lumber supplier.

I built the fence in two days and go to collect my money. I give the Asian mans wife my bill (he's out of town) which is exactly the same as my quoted price. She comes out with another companies quote showing me their price was $1.50 lower per ft and begins to haggle my price. We went back and forth for about 45 minutes until I threatened to put a lean on their house. She reluctantly wrote me a check for the full amount.

Stone Mountain

I've had that happen before. Not just Asians. Almost every denomination, especially "old country" European. It's part of the culture.

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concretemasonry

That is just a tradition in many countries or some ethnic groups in the U.S.

At least you had a contract and proposal. They were very uncomfortable, so it is a good thing you charged exactly what the original price was instead of something different, which could open up the flood gates.

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

dkillianjr

Argh, I hate people like that! You guys are right I have done work for a few like that. The worst were Indian, a guy from yogoslavia, and also 1st generation italians, they love to haggle

curapa

I remember telling the lady " if you wanted it built for their price you should have hired them"...

RizzoMaryland

I have been in this position on many occasions. I think it is important to remember when facing one of these kinds of people not to argue the different concerns they have. Just stick with the "this is what is due as agreed". If you start arguing different issues then you're playing there game.

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SelfContract

1. Avoid Asians & Indians next time.

2. However, if you do, then be "forewarn" them first before start anything...>>

"Do not haggle or compare my prices with others after I finished, Okay?"

If they said "Yes", then do it; if they hesitate or "No", simply walk... not worth your time or theirs!!

Rather be straight now or loose faces later.

john elliott

Rule two, see rule one (above). I didn't know about this stuff, found out the hard way, fortunately the amount was very small. Learned the lesson anyway

John

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Ed the Roofer said "John too, in his crass and blunt demeanor.............."

concretemasonry

The good thing about hagglers is that they intend to pay and can pay. - Much better than a deadbeat that just skips or avoids you.

I have been to India many times. When you go to buy something, they expect you to haggle over the price up until you hand over the money. If you tell them up front, it makes shopping much easier and less complicated when it comes to choices because they just give you the real price. - It is a tradition that takes time to undo after you move.

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

dannno1967

A legaly binding contract is the only way to go. Be ready for this kind of thing ahead of time. Know exactly what your legal recourses are and be ready to lay it down for them. Knowledge of the law and your rights can be powerful in a situation like this.

Tscarborough

If you are paid upfront, it tends to lessen the wriggle-room of the haggler, FYI.

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Heritage

http://www.contractortalk.com/showth...sian+customers

Some more feedback on the "ethnic" issue.

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Ed the Roofer

I had the accidental good fortune of providing a discount in my contract for some very good reasons at the time of orignal contract approval.

I also have a clause in my contract that states that if the entire amount due is not paid upon substantial completion, then all Discounts and Warranties shall become Null and Void.

On this discounted occassion, their was an additional charge for 2 sheets of plywood decking on a 3,900 square foot roof tear-off.

The discount was $ 900.00 from the originally quoted price at the time we all agreed to the contract.

When the woman home owner wanted to haggle about the Written Change order price at the end of the job, which was accurately being charged at the stated price per a line item in the contract, I informed her that it would be perfectly fine with me if she decided to not pay the full amount due.

That would then entitle me to collect the originally discounted $ 900.00 plus any legal and collections fees, plus negate my 5 year warranty.

I also have a clause that over rides any "Limiting Endorsements" made on a check, as in, Paid In Full, when the amount is not actually the full amount due.

When she discovered these fact and that I was sticking to my guns, I received the entire proper amount due.

The biggest thing though, was that the job was such a gravy easy profit maker, that I would have easily thrown in something for free of such little financial significance for almost any customer on a good will basis and for a referral, but this woman was such a beatch, that I never considered tendering her that offer.

Ed

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