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10-25-2007, 12:55 AM
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#1
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Member
Trade:
Painting
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
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Do you take your clients out to eat?
Just curious.
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10-25-2007, 01:27 AM
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#2
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Pro
Trade:
Renovations
Join Date: May 2005
Location: West Coast Canada
Posts: 1,672
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Not unless I would have taken them out to eat before they were my clients. Certainly not to 'get the job'.
__________________
"Too much is always better than not enough"--J.R. "Bob" Dobbs
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10-25-2007, 01:55 AM
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#3
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David Davis
Trade:
? No thanks, I like mine better!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Denver, Colorado
Posts: 246
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No. But I will allow them to take me out to eat if the client is a potential customer.
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10-25-2007, 05:14 AM
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#4
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...jammin
Trade:
Rock Disciple
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Posts: 5,225
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No
...
__________________
Signature Quote
Quote:
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Originally Posted by ModernStyle
I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr
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10-25-2007, 06:01 AM
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#5
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Pro
Trade:
General Contractor
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hennessey, Oklahoma
Posts: 4,570
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Not unless there is a prior connection, and the dining out is incidental to the job. I do take the subs to lunch about once per job.
Every situation and customer/client relationship can be different, but in my opinion, you need to keep a professional distance.
__________________
Ladwig Construction Hennessey, Oklahoma 405 853 1563 Ladwig Insulation & Construction Services Serving Oklahoma Statewide 405 314 5802
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10-25-2007, 07:22 AM
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#6
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Pro
Trade:
Painting Contractor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Mass
Posts: 687
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No I don't ...but I seam to be taken out or bought/cooked dinner by almost every client.
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10-25-2007, 08:35 AM
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#7
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Chief Toilet Mover
Trade:
Bathroom Remodeling
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Littleton, Colorado
Posts: 11,758
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Who was the guy on here that was taking potential remodeling customers out to dinner and claiming the high close rates...
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10-25-2007, 08:48 AM
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#8
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Pro
Trade:
Residential Remodel
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Near Seattle
Posts: 275
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No, but one time I ran into some previous clients at a nice restaurant. Had a chance to say hello and introduce my wife quickly.
When we finished dinner we were told the 'check had been taken care of'.
Rich
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10-25-2007, 10:03 AM
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#9
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Pro
Trade:
home builder carpenter Central Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: valley grande, al
Posts: 775
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KellyPainting
No I don't ...but I seam to be taken out or bought/cooked dinner by almost every client.
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Same here 
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10-25-2007, 10:56 AM
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#10
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Pro
Trade:
Remodeling & Decks
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,747
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Every once and a while, I'll happen to bring my 5 year old daughter to the job with me for a visit. I find that when certain types of customers see that I am actually a human being and a have a family, their entire tone towards me as a contractor can change for the better.
Certain HOs are so adversarial towards any contractor working at their home from being burned in the past that they tend to be stand-offish. I'm not like other contractors, which is why they hired me, but sometimes I have to take the edge off.
I'm sure you guys know what I mean.
But...I would never take a client out to dinner. After the job is done, maybe I'd give them a GC to someplace if they were extraordinarily pleasant to work for, but never would I go with them.
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10-25-2007, 04:07 PM
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#11
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Pro
Trade:
contractor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: east
Posts: 3,314
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i dunno - im really on the fence when it comes to dinner
it's tough to develop a good relationship without being at least friendly. Being friendly is NOT the same as being friends.
as long as you can maintain a business relationship FIRST ... im fine with it.
__________________
Thanks in advance!!! 
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10-25-2007, 04:52 PM
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#12
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Curmudgeon
Trade:
carpentry/remodeling/"Yes M'am we do"
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beech Grove, Indiana, Birthplace of the "King of Cool"
Posts: 10,151
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Sure have been invited to sit down for supper lots of times. MMMMM--rumaki 
__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)
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10-25-2007, 08:22 PM
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#13
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Pro
Trade:
Painting Contractor
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Huntsville Alabama
Posts: 1,182
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Quote:
Originally Posted by neolitic
Sure have been invited to sit down for supper lots of times. MMMMM--rumaki |
Yeah me too. I also have been given venison before.
No i have never taken a client to dinner. I have been to a few Christmas parties though over the years.
LOL i still almost spelled it wrong.
__________________
Sean
Last edited by Workaholic; 10-25-2007 at 09:24 PM.
Reason: For my dignity lol
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10-25-2007, 09:02 PM
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#14
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Pro
Trade:
Paperhanger/painting contractor
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Decorah, IA
Posts: 154
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Workaholic
Yeah me too. I also have been given venicen before.
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Do you mean venison?
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10-25-2007, 09:05 PM
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#15
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Drywall/Paint contractor
Trade:
drywall/paint contractor
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Kipling, Sk
Posts: 16
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This didnt happen to me, but a painter I know in a nearby town.The guy was painting the exterior of a little ole ladys house.So when dinnertime rolled around, she asked the guys if they want a bowl of soup and a sandwhich? they said sure that would be nice.The 2 of them spent 4 days there working.So when he gave them the bill she gave him a check and it was 44$ short of the total amount.So he asked why there was 44$ taken off the check?She says well I fed u guys for 4 days.I guess a soup and sandwhich cost them 5.50 each.I still laugh about this every time I think about it.Could you imagine that?? BTW around our parts we always go for dinner together,whether its the homeowner or the contractor ,we all get along real good. I think the jobs go more smoother once you get to know everyone a bit,kinda takes the edge off.Were all from small towns and have been working together for years though.
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10-25-2007, 09:22 PM
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#16
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Pro
Trade:
Painting Contractor
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Huntsville Alabama
Posts: 1,182
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jackrabbit5
Do you mean venison?
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LOL yes you nailed me on my poor spelling. I am going to edit it.
__________________
Sean
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10-25-2007, 09:43 PM
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#17
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Pro
Trade:
Renovations
Join Date: May 2005
Location: West Coast Canada
Posts: 1,672
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich Turley
No, but one time I ran into some previous clients at a nice restaurant. Had a chance to say hello and introduce my wife quickly.
When we finished dinner we were told the 'check had been taken care of'.
Rich
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Now that makes you feel good! 
__________________
"Too much is always better than not enough"--J.R. "Bob" Dobbs
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10-25-2007, 09:46 PM
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#18
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Pro
Trade:
Renovations
Join Date: May 2005
Location: West Coast Canada
Posts: 1,672
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Workaholic
LOL yes you nailed me on my poor spelling. I am going to edit it. |
Now that is a nice three-pointer. (I understand you guys in the States call it a six-pointer, kinda like measuring yourself in cm's instead of inches  ).
__________________
"Too much is always better than not enough"--J.R. "Bob" Dobbs
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10-26-2007, 07:35 AM
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#19
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Pro
Trade:
Paperhanger/painting contractor
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Decorah, IA
Posts: 154
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reveivl
Now that is a nice three-pointer. (I understand you guys in the States call it a six-pointer, kinda like measuring yourself in cm's instead of inches ). |
I think you need to put your glasses on and do a recount.  It's an eight pointer, you missed the brow tines.
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10-28-2007, 08:51 PM
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#20
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Epoxy Dude
Trade:
Industrial Coatings & Linings
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Posts: 217
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Well...
Ya'll might guess we spend alot on taking clients out to dinner! The contractors that we sell direct generally expect to eat at Outback or something if I come to town. Our industrial clients usually expect something even better!
I eat well.
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