Lost A Customer---mad As Hell
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Old 11-02-2009, 06:08 PM   #41
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

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Originally Posted by Anti-wingnut View Post
I hate to say it, and I am fortunate in that others do the selling for me, but that sort of spiel normally turns me off. Whether at Firestone Tires, Radio Shack, Sprint, or some schmoo trying to sell me something in my living room. I tell them, give me your numbers, let me do my own due diligence, and I'll get back to you. If someone doesn't want to give me numbers, they don't want to do buisness
You may be taking that out of context. Normally I do not negotiate on price without taking something off the board of like value.

The point is that you don't negotiate anything away without a concession of some sort from the other party. I beleive that is exactly what the OP did because he made a price concession and then was told by the client that he had to think about it. The numbers were not withheld but he did give all the control to the customer by making the reduction with nothing in return.

The OP would have been better off to stick to his original price if he was going to get back to him later.

Good Luck
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Old 11-02-2009, 06:20 PM   #42
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

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This is the second time today that some one here suggested calling a lost sale and asking," Why didn't you pick me?"

Complete fool----what an idiot----

You would sound like a sniveling 8th grader who didn't get invited to the dance.

There are to many reasons a customer chooses one over the other--chances are you wouldn't get the truth any way.

It's not the customers job to educate you.

I had a supplier do that to me once,That question opened up a floodgate of ridicule out of my mouth-even I was surprised!

He asked me for a job a month later . ----DON'T ASK THAT QUESTION
Let me clarify something for you. I do not call every lost sale right afterward and grill them about why. And I don't recommend that tactic.

However, I do keep a folder labeled "Bids Lost". These are the jobs we did not get and presume went to someone else. And whenever times are slow I will go through this folder and call at least some of them, if not all.

And I will ask about how the job went, how they made their choice, etc. You would be surprised at the response you get. Some are happy with their decision and would hire the same contractor again. Some are dissatisfied and looking for a reliable contractor. Some need it fixed and finished. The responses are about as varied as the number of people you call.

It's called reworking your leads and I have sold jobs as a result of the practice. I do recommend this process. If that makes me a complete fool and/or an idiot, I'm comfortable with that.

Good Luck
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Old 11-02-2009, 07:45 PM   #43
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

David,My ill tempered blast was not aimed at you personally.

You always have good,well thought out advice.

I also save my 'lost jobs' folders.It amazes me when some one 'lost' calls back months,even years later saying,"Well,We finally decided to do the project."

Once again,Sorry David,I didn't aim my blast at you.--MIKE--
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Old 11-02-2009, 07:54 PM   #44
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

so, who did you aim it at?
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Old 11-02-2009, 08:26 PM   #45
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

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Old 11-02-2009, 08:31 PM   #46
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

so.....
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Old 11-02-2009, 10:30 PM   #47
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

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so.....
Hey trouble maker, WTF is with the avatar?
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Old 11-02-2009, 11:38 PM   #48
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

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David,My ill tempered blast was not aimed at you personally.

You always have good,well thought out advice.

I also save my 'lost jobs' folders.It amazes me when some one 'lost' calls back months,even years later saying,"Well,We finally decided to do the project."

Once again,Sorry David,I didn't aim my blast at you.--MIKE--
Thanks for that Mike. I guess you must have got my goat. :=)

Good Luck
Dave
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Old 11-02-2009, 11:54 PM   #49
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

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Hey trouble maker, WTF is with the avatar?
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Old 11-03-2009, 12:50 AM   #50
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

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Originally Posted by mikeswoods View Post
This is the second time today that some one here suggested calling a lost sale and asking," Why didn't you pick me?"

Complete fool----what an idiot----

You would sound like a sniveling 8th grader who didn't get invited to the dance.

There are to many reasons a customer chooses one over the other--chances are you wouldn't get the truth any way.

It's not the customers job to educate you.

I had a supplier do that to me once,That question opened up a floodgate of ridicule out of my mouth-even I was surprised!

He asked me for a job a month later . ----DON'T ASK THAT QUESTION
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeswoods View Post
David,My ill tempered blast was not aimed at you personally.

Once again,Sorry David,I didn't aim my blast at you.--MIKE--
Quote:
Originally Posted by J F View Post
so, who did you aim it at?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J F View Post
so.....
Yes, tell us --MIKE--
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Old 11-03-2009, 09:03 AM   #51
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

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Hey trouble maker, WTF is with the avatar?

http://www.contractortalk.com/f12/contest-rules-67475/
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Old 11-03-2009, 05:35 PM   #52
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

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Old 11-03-2009, 06:47 PM   #53
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Re: Lost A Customer---mad As Hell

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Yes, tell us --MIKE--
he's all talk. just another internet bully, hiding behind a keyboard in his momma's basement.
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