There you go rolling your eyes!!!!!

D

David Saulque

Senior Moderator
Today I went out and gave an estimate. The line was 36 feet with a pizza oven made to look like a wood fire brick oven (gas). The system was at 6 months and was dirty-not real bad. Any case I was talking with the manager when this oriental comes up with an apron on and start asking question. I turned to the manger and asked who this guy was and he said the co-owner. After asking several questions he says “how much”. I stated it would be cost and materials for the first time based on a $ per hour. The guy gets this disgusted look and rolls his eyes. Well that did it. I told the manger that I will not deal with him-just to many red flags. I explained the problem area with the manager-and he couldn’t stop laughing. Man do I hate dealing with people like that.

With like system I will not spend a lot of time and give a cost and material bid, rather than spend hours (free) coming up with a price. Call anyone(plumber, Elec. fan maint) and it is a price after the job. After the job you should be able to come up with a fixed service price. This system was waiting for problems.:mad:
 
I know how you feel David.
 
You are right on David. Just walk away from that if he is being a pill at the bid imagine what he will be like when the job comes due to pay.
 
Call anyone(plumber, Elec. fan maint) and it is a price after the job. After the job you should be able to come up with a fixed service price. This system was waiting for problems.
Click to expand...

I do the same thing, I try to give them worst case and best. I'm too busy to even fool around with them if they give bad vibes.
 
Here is a little known secret:

The way you treat the poor slob :D that has to show up and give the free estimate directly affects the price quoted.

Here is a great article Matt showed me awhile ago along these lines:

http://www.37signals.com/svn/archives/001053.php

David made the right move.
 
When I was a salesman at my former job, I had no choice in the matter. I had to tow the company line. When I started my business, I made the decision that if I can't make it without these people, then I don't need to be in business.

I've went back to a few of them, just to turn them down...:D

the little things I do to humor myself...
 
HotShot_Anthony said:
When I was a salesman at my former job, I had no choice in the matter. I had to tow the company line. When I started my business, I made the decision that if I can't make it without these people, then I don't need to be in business.

I've went back to a few of them, just to turn them down...:D

the little things I do to humor myself...
Click to expand...

Felt pretty good didn't it??:)
 
Years ago when I worked at a parts house, a customer gave me hell because I billed him for tool a tool repair.. The tool came back and I billed the customer for the repairs. He came in and gave me hell because he thought we should have warrented a tool he bought elswhere. I thought he was acting like an Asshool. So I just bumped him up one price sheet when I waited on him. After a while I went to the local Chevrolet garage as parts mgr. This Asshool dropped his car off for repairs. The next day he came to get the car and noticed a dent in the door. He blamed a mechanic for the dent, even though the tracks of the car were visible on the shop floor and the dust on the dent matched the dust on the rest of the car. The shop foreman, Ed, just smiled and said, Clarence, we will send the car to the Body Shop and take care of the repairs. I told the foreman that is was obvious that the dent was not our fault. Ed said we would make an adjustment on every repair bill until Clarence had paid the shop back. I looked at Ed and said "Ed, I already charge him 20% extra on the parts bill!" Ed looked at me and asked "20%?" I nodded, thinking I was going to be looking for another job. Ed said "20 %, that sounds fair" After that, Clarence got charged an extra 20 % for all the parts and labor on all of his vehiciles at the garage. Amazing how an extra 20 % added to the bill can change your attitude. Try it, it'll put a smile on your face.
 
Some times you have to do a little inventory on what you have. I recently dropped some jobs cause of this vary reason. Do I miss the money yes, But have less stress and the chance to step back and look at where I am going with my fairly new business, (fourth year),decide what I need to do and do it.


Matt
 
I like it. I dont waste my time with these clowns. Im polite state my position and leave it with them. They can take it or leave it. Im not going to lowball myself just for thier business. They will probably drop you after the initial service anyway. About 4 years ago I reorganized my client list. I dropped the slow pay, never satisified, PITA customers. I figure the new startups would like the chalenge. I bumped up the price on some of my accounts which were too low. Now I take real good care of my better customer list. I dont have to take 80% of my time to take care of 20% of my clients. Now I make more money and work less. Now when I have new referrals they come from my good customers, which are generally simular in quality. These are clients I want to do business with.
 
Several weeks ago I received a call from a well know local single unit restaurant. He called and ask if we could give him a bid. Nine years ago he moved to this location and luck would have it that we serviced that unit-at that time he stated that he would not use us because we cleaned so and so. Well he call several weeks ago-I went in and look at the system to review my memory. The unit is 6 stories with a lateral over the carpeted dinning room.

Well, I went back and looked at my records-spoke to my manger who did the job-at least $700-800 range. Well I wanted the high profile account. I sent him a proposal with all the facts and stated for the first service to evaluate and clean we would do it 1998 price of $575. He sent a return polite email stating that he has never paid over $450. I didn’t respond-I thought I had it in the bag-I am not sure I want to eat his food. The funny thing is that I get $875 from the guy he does not like.
 
Your 1998 price was too generous for 2006.

Prices from the 90s or even the 80s are double, triple or more now.
 
I agree, just wanted to make a deal and he even turned that down. I know, in fact the plan was to get him in a dialogue-but it didn't get that far. It comes down to ABC-it works most of the time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top