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#21 |
Preserving the Past
Trade: Restoration & Historic Preservation
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
I would spin the whole thing around and ask "what's your budget?"
Cabinet prices can vary as we all know. So can flooring and other elements.
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Jason E Whipple, General Manager Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio Facebook | Twitter |
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#22 |
Pro
Trade: Bathroom Remodeling
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
Send me $20 if you are so concerned with my links John, and I'll think about devoting some time to them in order for you to sleep better at night.
And reread my reply, I rewrote in while you posted, maybe it's more clear. If not I can't help you any further. This whole thing is a simple process. I deal with exactly these issues that you think are insurmountable on a daily basis and they take up about 10 seconds of the a conversation with a lead. Last edited by Mike Finley; 03-16-2008 at 04:51 PM. |
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#23 |
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
We ask this question, and I can't tell you how many people get coy. They don't seem to understand that we will give them as much bang for their buck as we can. We have a set markup and our prices are competitive with the better fence companies. But we won't compete with lowballers - if they want cheap fence, they can have it, but not from us.
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#24 | |
Preserving the Past
Trade: Restoration & Historic Preservation
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 3,571
Rewards Points: 2,060
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.Quote:
Well she got other contractors to show up, and yes, they started throwing out all types of dollar amounts. When she asked what they had in mind for cabinets and flooring they said they would look into it and let her know what her choices were. Most of them never called back. I got a call to come back out to meet with her on Tuesday. Why, because she figured out that I wasn't about to be irresponsible and throw out a useless bunch of numbers that meant nothing. We will sign a design/estimate agreement on Tuesday where I will be paid in advance to give her a responsible estimate and she will be able to see what she is getting and make changes accordingly. John E, Good luck with wingin' it.
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Jason E Whipple, General Manager Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio Facebook | Twitter Last edited by Jason Whipple; 03-16-2008 at 05:42 PM. |
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#25 |
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
I disagree with a lot of you.
What about the customers needs? I mean after all they are paying for your services, shouldn't you try and make them happy? How is price shopping a waste of time? Wouldn't some one be an idiot if they just had something done with no idea what the going rates are? I fully understand our time is valuable, but I know whenever I am making a major purchase, I research it, weight the various options, etc. and I expect my customers to do the same. |
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#26 | |
EVIL GENIUS
Trade: General Contractor, electrical, fabrication, & wel
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.Quote:
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I am just a vessel from which genius flows -Homer Simpson Global warming is a myth, like evolution and the metric system. U.S. Coast Guard
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#27 |
Join Date: Mar 2008
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
I'm just a rookie but I always start my estimates out with a little info about the process (estimate/review/plans/contracts) and a worksheet which includes job specs and budget. If the two don't match I just let them know there not realistic goals.
I like what someone said about showing previous work and ballparking it, however I'm sure some would debate that and it definately depends on the job details |
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#28 |
EVIL GENIUS
Trade: General Contractor, electrical, fabrication, & wel
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
I agree with this, in my past work anyways. Ive met way to many people who have like a deck on a 2nd floor apartment thats rotted. They need it replaced and are thinking $400-$500. When you say more like $6000 they about pass out. There would have been no point in figureing out exacly what it would cost because I knew what they were thinking. This deck thing happend a few days ago.
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I am just a vessel from which genius flows -Homer Simpson Global warming is a myth, like evolution and the metric system. U.S. Coast Guard
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#29 |
Moderator
Trade: GC - Remodeling Specialists
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
And all of these wonderful posts come down to the same thing in my mind: Serve your client's needs while serving your own.
Don't waste time... If you're not asking about budget, schedule, materials, etc. at the first meeting with your client, then you're not getting down to business. You're wasting your time and your client's time. Offer solutions, not products... How do you expect to pass the qualifying test your client is putting you through? Do you think charm and a bunch of pretty pictures of past jobs are going to get you the sale? Pfffffftttt. Not likely. Meeting your client's needs is what gets you the sale. Solving their problems is what gets you the sale. Anticipating their problems and offering solution choices are what get you the sale. Crowing about the fine joinery in your finished product is just vanity (pardon the pun) and again, a waste of time. Try expressing instead of impressing... Tell your client's what you can do to make this job better or more usable for them. Show them the value in the services you provide that others are not interested in (like grab bars, comfort height potties, wider doorways, warming drawers at a comfortable height instead of near the floor, small accent windows that add natural light and charm for little cost, etc.). Don't try to impress them with how good your company is, show them. Show them you're truly interested in this being their project, that it reflects them and meets with their wishes and desires. Offer suggestions on how to make the budget work for them, instead it just being a number they feel enslaved and limited by. Get to the point... You need the answer to four basic questions before you can reasonably discuss a project with a client.
Design services are intellectual property,... and are therefore a product that must be accounted for, just the same as installing a counter top. You have fixed and variable costs associated with creating that design and you should be paid for those and earn a profit on them. I suggest that if your design services are built into your overhead then you can charge for them the best way that suits you. Before, during or after. Makes no difference to the bottom line. If you don't find yourself doing this on every job you discuss with a client, then ask yourself, "whose time am I wasting and why?" and "Is there a way to make my time work better for me or to earn more in less time?" Food for thought.
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"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y. New York Times, July 20, 2006 |
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#30 | |
Pro
Trade: kitchen cabinet maker and installer
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.Quote:
John
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Ed the Roofer said "John too, in his crass and blunt demeanor.............." Last edited by Double-A; 03-18-2008 at 03:46 PM. Reason: typo... Double A edited it for pie slinging. |
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#31 | |
Preserving the Past
Trade: Restoration & Historic Preservation
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.Quote:
![]() Come on John, enough already. Are you trying to get this thread closed?
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Jason E Whipple, General Manager Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio Facebook | Twitter Last edited by Double-A; 03-18-2008 at 03:46 PM. Reason: pie slinging |
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#32 | |
Pro
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.Quote:
Point taken John
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Ed the Roofer said "John too, in his crass and blunt demeanor.............." |
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#33 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 26
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
wow, thanks for all these input.
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#34 |
Moderator
Trade: GC - Remodeling Specialists
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Location: Arkansas
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
OK folks, let's keep it professional. If you want to sling pies, take it to PMs or email but quit screwing up other folks posts with your egos.
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"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y. New York Times, July 20, 2006 |
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#35 | |
EVIL GENIUS
Trade: General Contractor, electrical, fabrication, & wel
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Southwest Michigan
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.Quote:
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I am just a vessel from which genius flows -Homer Simpson Global warming is a myth, like evolution and the metric system. U.S. Coast Guard
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#36 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,362
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![]() Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
Before we can do that, I'd like to know how many guys here own guns, how many guns each has, how tall are you, what is your "boxing" weight, your mixed martial art skills, etc.... then we can properly divide your forums into :
1. Heavy weight championship; 2. Middle weight champ; 3. Bantam weight champ (Turkey type); ![]() 4. Featherweight champ (Chicken type) ![]() 5. Ant/Fly weight champ! ![]() |
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#37 |
Storage Specialist
Trade: Custom Closet and Home Storage Specialist
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
Man I wish we could move this to a bar like the good ole' days before the internet.
I could see one of those free grab bars coming out of the van real quick. |
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#38 | |
Starving Tile Artist
Trade: Carpentry, Flooring & (UGLY) Tile installs.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.Quote:
I'm 6'7" tall, Weigh 265. Have never boxed but can hold my own in "street". Back belt in karate 2 years training in tai-qwan-do. I have a punch impact ratio of 925 psi. Since I am basically a coward I prefer to take on the fly weight division!!
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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. |
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#39 | |
Pro
Trade: Bathroom Remodeling
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.Quote:
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#40 |
Pro
Trade: kitchen cabinet maker and installer
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Re: How Do You Guys Deal With Aggressive Customer.
I sub out most of my fighting stuff. I do the easy ones myself, but all the difficult stuff goes to guys who do know the colour of the boathouse at Hereford
John (anybody spot the reference?) Advertisement
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Ed the Roofer said "John too, in his crass and blunt demeanor.............." |
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