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Jonathan Ellis

Jonathan Ellis

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I have been working on an account now for some time. This is a nationwide company and they have two dc's here in Atlanta. I have one of the dc's already and was working on the other. I gave them a demo last week and got back to him today. He informed me that He was not going to switch now. He is currently using fleetwash and has said that "we get what we pay for". My proposal was more than he is currently being charged but he is still allowing me to give a demo and he told me today dont quit and to call him back in 6 months. He also told me that he does not feel that I have the equipment to keep up with the job. I really feel that was an excuse to get me to drop the price. He told me that we do a better job than fleetwash and also mentioned switching if he had a deal.
For those of you that have been in this situation before what would you do? I am going to send him a thank you card for his time and the opportunity. Also, I had planned on getting another truck once this came through, but I may just settle for getting another hot water machine and then give him a call back.
 
Jonathon.....stick to your guns. Large companies like to mess with little guys like us. They think you're so hungry that you'll work for nothing - Don't do it (unless you really are starving)! He can't determine what you are or are not capable of until you start doing the work. I'm not speaking from fleet experience but from new construction interior/exteriors. HUGE company called us, offered long term contract, blah blah blah and then told us what we would get paid (not what would we charge but what they pay - period) Our hunger showed and we signed on the dotted line. Bent over with no kissin' for a year now and are on the verge of telling them "poof - be gone". You are your owner/boss, it's your company, your time, your effort, your energy - YOUR MONEY. You have to decide if it is a good long term financial decision for you. If you do drop the price to get in the door, also keep in mind that the next guy that does a good job for him, may also drop his price and this guy has already shown exactly how loyal he is. It's all business you know. Best of luck on whatever decision you make.

Celeste

P.S. If you sign up, make sure you have an "out" clause in the contract so you won't be stuck in case you find you made a mistake.
 
I agree with Celeste, stick to your guns! If he told you not to give up and check back in 6mos, then do just that. Maybe check in with him a little sooner. Remember these guys talk to one another. You have to keep the same pricing with both locations. He also may have some kind of contract with Fleet Wash that expires in 6 months. Keep in contact with him, if you do a good job for one location, chances are good that you'll get the other locations as well.

Steve
 
Thank's guys.
They have no contract with fleetwash. My prices are $1 per trailer more than fleetwash currently. I could afford to come down and even beat fleetwash's price but he also made the comment that he knows that he would get better service from me. With their other dc I ran into the same problem. They talked me down almost $4 of what they were paying (I was not aware of the price at that point) I was starving and so I took it. Proof that there is a real true God that works in mysterious ways- That same fleet is paying nearly three times per week what they were paying and instead of about 30 hours per week we are doing about 15 hours per week. What once was just getting by now has more than initally expected and I now pay people to do the work for me. All of that said for this reason... I do not want the second dc to be pulling my leg about the pricing and get it lower. I think I am going to give him a call in about 3-4 weeks and try again with a different approach. I also spoke with the man at the location that I already work with (which also used fleetwash before us) and told him that we got turned down and he could not understand. I am charging them the same price and they are beyond satisfied.
 
Nailed it!!!---Update

I met with this company again today. I have washed 10 of their trailers 2x per week for the past 2 weeks for another demo. I took before and after pictures this time. I called him yesterday and left him a message to see when I could come meet with him and he told me today. I went down and met him and he had me fill out the information that I needed to for starting the account. He told me that he is still not ready to throw fleetwash off the lot so he gave me some work and them some work. He did make it clear that I will be on their site (for all the work) soon.
Best of all, we did not adjust the price, it is still the original (and higher) price I initally gave them.
 
Way to go just goes to show never give up persistance pays off hope things go well for you
 
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