How Do You Discount A Freebie?

Stone Mountain

Hi Guys. Haven't been here much lately. I've been busy. We're moving next week, and I fired my crew supervisor, so I'm doing everything.
We are finishing a small deck for a young (very attractive) lady. It's 12x14. I didn't want to lose it to a hack that she had, so i discounted it a bit. I figured it was so simple, I'd still make money.
She's been nice, but has now decided she doesn't want the bench.
I originally threw in the bench for free to finalize the deal. Now she wants a credit for it.

So I'm standing at her door asking for a cheque and she wants a $100 discount. What would you do?

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HSConstruction

My opinion is take off the $100 sign the deal. I know you threw it in as freebie to get the job, but think about how long it would have taken you to build the bench. Labor and material would be much more than $100 right?

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Dan_Watson

What does the contract say?
If it is not in the contract, tell her she is SOL...
If it is in the contract, what is the difference in cost with and without it? Is $100 fair?

WarriorWithWood

Tell her the bench was going to be a freebie using leftover material, but as a good faith gesture you'll split it with her. 50 bucks ain't chit when it comes to her badmouthing you IMO.

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rwa

dang Stone, you said she was young and very attractive ... do we have to tell you what to do?

Inner10

Meet her in the middle, 50 bucks just because she's hot. If she was ugly I'd go after the full amount....its only fair.

Red Adobe

Yup yup!

Stone Mountain

She's married, with children. One actually, an extremely obnoxious 4 year old.
Besides, I'm also happily married, almost 36 years. I'd only cheat if the object of my affections was on par with Angeline Jolie, or Sophia Loren in her prime, or Jessica Simpson when she made "The Dukes of Hazzard", or Marilyn Monroe when she was 25, Or Raquel Welsh in her 30's, or somebody like that.
Otherwise, it's not worth cheating. (Not that such a woman would ever open her arms and give fat old me the "come hither" look!)

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Mike Finley

Yep, it's tough to collect for something that they think is free.

Any time I do anything for free for somebody, it shows up on the invoice with a dollar amount and then discounted the same amount, that way there is a value assigned to it.

You have to keep in mind that until you assign a value to something in the customers mind there is no value. Throw in a 2nd level of a deck for free and the customer thinks, you'd have $200 in it, throw it in for free and listed it as $10,000 and it's worth $10,000.

PGD

Mike Finley brings up a good point about giving out free stuff, one I had to learn the hard way, particularly on "hauling your old garage door free" many folks have asked to keep the door and wonder if theirs a discount for doing so.... "No it's free!" doesn't seem to work.

a bench for a 100 bucks? discount the $100 and consider this a inexpensive but important reminder.

naptown CR

try this firsrt

Hor schmot she is a client not something on a **** site still offer to split it

I can relate to this. If you really threw it in for free offer to split it and see where that goes. If she gets PO'd just give it back to her.
there is an old saying that I believe is true
If Someone likes you they will tell 10 people if the don't they will tell 100
The numbers may be off but the basic truth is there
good luck

Tinstaafl

As mentioned above, what's such a bench worth at your rates? Where did she get the $100 figure?

If that's what you would charge for one, it's entirely reasonable of her to expect that much of a discount--from her and most consumers' POV. If it's worth less, work out a way to show her that and give her an equivalent credit.

The bench was part of the original agreement, and has value, regardless of what you were "charging" for it. If you don't deliver that value or its equivalent in some other way, that's technically an ethical faux pas.

Leo G

If it was in the original contract then there needs to be a change order written to eliminate the bench, lets say $100.............


Yer welcome.

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silvertree

That happened to me, I gave a free window trim on a window job, that way all the windows in view would be the same, lady didn't want to paint the window trim so she said forget it, just give me the difference.
I gave her $60? or something.

Since then "I'll trim out that window for free, its usually $60 but I'll do it for free.
If they say forget, no rebate, its usually $60 but I gave it for free so no discount.
Very tacky of that woman, give her the $100, cheaper than an argument and no referral.

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Mike Finley

Magnettica

No pics?

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480sparky

Geez! You ain't pickey, are ya???

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MZ-HANDYMAN

If you didn't call it a freebie in the beginning... it wasn't a freebie in her eyes... Keep her happy she'll keep you busy!

MZ

Cdat

It was a 100 dollar restocking fee to put the materials away after you already ordered them. Looks like you broke even.

boydsdodge

I would say thanks (her name here) for the work it's been a pleasure and I hope we can help you again.
With the Hundred off.