You Gotta Love Customers Like This

Mike Finley

A recent email :


I was talking with a plumber about a week ago about different types of customers and we were both in agreement that there were certain customers who brought out the best in tradesmen, certain customers who you would bend over backwards for, go extra miles, throw in freebies with a smile and other types a tradesman wouldn't put an extra nail in the project unless they were forced to.

I think we all know which this one is.

Framer53

So, the question is, are you doing a kitchen floor?

wizendwizard

I'm sure Finley will contact Dave immediately after placing the bid on the job.

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"If you start the grout process over, you too could use sparkly grout!"
There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant, they are either illegal or immigrants.
I'm Retired, or a student, don't really know anymore.

Treeandland

You think she spoke to Dave while he was on the job and he did the stand up thing and told her the deal?

jtpro

Even though you know it, it must give you a GREAT sense of satisfaction that doing things on the up and up and professionally NEVER goes un noticed and is reiterated by a client!

Good for you Mike.

Tinstaafl

That's a warm fuzzy right there.

TxElectrician

I'm thinking Dave's price might be on the rise.

Gus Dering

Someone needs to demo the wood right?

No tile guy can handle that the way the great Finley & Co can. We'll have to package that into one easy price for the great customer as to not burden them with paper work.

Just kidding, I'm sure you will have her best interests at heart.

There are those customers that I give hugs to when I see them. She sounds like a good hugger.

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Every parent who has walked barefoot into their child's room late at night hates Legos

WNYcarpenter

Mike, what would you think if "dave" took the job without your knowing?

That was a great compliment from your client, but it wasn't necessary....so you'll make $$ from a job you're not doing. Though, your sub knows if he steps on your toes you won't use him again.

I'm curious how you handled this....

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"I knew I lost my wallet as soon as I threw my pants over the fence". -'lil jarhead bro when asking for a wire transfer...

Mike Finley

It would have been fine. Our business is doing bathrooms. I send a lot of work to all our subs or friends of mine that is outside of what we do when I get calls from past customers. Tile repair jobs or tile jobs outside of what we do I refer directly to our tile subs, hot water heater replacements I refer to our plumbers, somebody wants a ceiling fan or something... directly to our electricians... whole house recarpets (I refer a lot of these, for some reason customers are always doing recarpets around our jobs)... those I refer to my carpet wholesaler and my carpet installer, somebody wants their house painted... refer it to a painter friend... etc... etc.. etc...

I contacted the customer and quized them about the scope of work, the total scope is beyond what the tile setter will be capable of doing for this level of a client. As a favor to a great customer, we will do all the work involved except the tile, there is a lot more then just throwing some tile down, the customer realized it and hoped we'd do the work. The tile setter will get the tile work.

Bottom line though, is that you gotta love some customers. Some people really 'get it' and help make up for those that don't.

wizendwizard

__________________
"If you start the grout process over, you too could use sparkly grout!"
There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant, they are either illegal or immigrants.
I'm Retired, or a student, don't really know anymore.

WNYcarpenter

I agree! Everyone is happy with an educated HOer! Obviously, the HOer appreciates a job well done.

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"I knew I lost my wallet as soon as I threw my pants over the fence". -'lil jarhead bro when asking for a wire transfer...

Gus Dering

My best clients are the ones with a lot of remodel experience and have been burned in the past.

Once they see we want to the right thing and do what we say we would do when we said we would do it, they are in the fan club.

All people want is someone they can trust with their home, belongings, kids, pets and spouses, right? What's the big deal?

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Every parent who has walked barefoot into their child's room late at night hates Legos

wizendwizard

Here we go with the walking the HO's dog thread!!! O.K. but I ain't changing no kiddies diapers!!!

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"If you start the grout process over, you too could use sparkly grout!"
There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant, they are either illegal or immigrants.
I'm Retired, or a student, don't really know anymore.

Gus Dering

I was just referring to their desire to find them all with no signs of abuse as a result of our visit.

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Every parent who has walked barefoot into their child's room late at night hates Legos

neolitic

Those are good ones, "We've been waiting
to recarpet til the bath/kitchen/whatever
was done."
The red flag ones...."We just had this new
white wool carpet installed, then decided
to do the bathroom and entryway...
the black grout will make a nice contrast."



My two favorite families always schedule
their work for the annual vacation.

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(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

wizendwizard

o.k. that works also.

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"If you start the grout process over, you too could use sparkly grout!"
There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant, they are either illegal or immigrants.
I'm Retired, or a student, don't really know anymore.

DavidC

Good one Mike, I'll bet it does feel nice.

And for the record, our customer's dogs usually need canine therapy after we leave. It helps with the separation anxiety.

Good Luck
Dave

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www.CookContractingLLC.com

Bone Saw

I remembered this thread, so I wanted to dig it up. Mabey if this thread got some more contributing "encounters" it could pick up steam and be a sticky for all the ho passers by we get here, couldn't hurt.

Recent email:

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Chester County Custom Decks
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Destin Handyman

I totally agree 1 good customer will always make you forget about the ones who just do not get it (as long as you do quality work and always have the homeowners best interest in mind you will always do fine--guaranteed!). But some customers do not care and just want a cheap job and they want you to do some shotty job --I'll pass on that .

I give a thumbs up for the customers who make us remember why we love what we do.

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David
Emerald Coast Deluxe Services LLC
Destin, FL
www.deluxehandyman.webs.com