Customers must think you are stupid

[penno]

Had a bloke phone me today who i did a quote for three weeks ago, told me at the time he needs it doing ASAP. Splashback in a kitchen 7 linear metres with small glazed tiles, gave him a good price of £256 all in (cheap because atm i am still getting paid by the Army and can afford to undercharge a little so i can get more experience and build rep) . Did his en suite a few months back which he was over the moon with. Anyway on the phone today and he said "the price you gave wasn't really what i expected. Spoke with my uncle and he says it is one days work. He thinks the job should be about £150. Uncle could do it but it is finding the time" (when i did the en suite his uncle was there, constantly looking over my shoulder like a little rat).
When i did the en suite for him he shown me the reason why he called me to do it. His uncle had tiled his main bathroom and it was a "mess" as described by the customer himself. Said to him on the phone "Yes i probably could tile it in a day then i would return the following day to grout it up for you" "what you are asking me to do is work for a day and a half and provide materials for £150".
"so you won't budge off the price you gave?" A big no.
He must think i am stupid, know for a fact he is trying to get the house renovated as quickly as possible. Before i gave him a price when i first measured up it was a "can you do it as soon as possible?"
Obvious after 3 weeks he has phoned around for other quotes and they were higher but thought he would phone me and try and get it cheaper still. His closing words were "ok will have a chat with my uncle and get back to you"
Sorry for long winded post but annoys me when people think you will graft your arse off for nothing. Know for a fact he will phone me back saying "ok can you do it"

 

[grumpygrouter]

Had a bloke phone me today who i did a quote for three weeks ago, told me at the time he needs it doing ASAP. Splashback in a kitchen 7 linear metres with small glazed tiles, gave him a good price of £256 all in (cheap because atm i am still getting paid by the Army and can afford to undercharge a little so i can get more experience and build rep) . Did his en suite a few months back which he was over the moon with. Anyway on the phone today and he said "the price you gave wasn't really what i expected. Spoke with my uncle and he says it is one days work. He thinks the job should be about £150. Uncle could do it but it is finding the time" (when i did the en suite his uncle was there, constantly looking over my shoulder like a little rat).
When i did the en suite for him he shown me the reason why he called me to do it. His uncle had tiled his main bathroom and it was a "mess" as described by the customer himself. Said to him on the phone "Yes i probably could tile it in a day then i would return the following day to grout it up for you" "what you are asking me to do is work for a day and a half and provide materials for £150".
"so you won't budge off the price you gave?" A big no.
He must think i am stupid, know for a fact he is trying to get the house renovated as quickly as possible. Before i gave him a price when i first measured up it was a "can you do it as soon as possible?"
Obvious after 3 weeks he has phoned around for other quotes and they were higher but thought he would phone me and try and get it cheaper still. His closing words were "ok will have a chat with my uncle and get back to you"
Sorry for long winded post but annoys me when people think you will graft your arse off for nothing. Know for a fact he will phone me back saying "ok can you do it"

Tell him to poke it! You are too busy for cheap jobs.:wink_smile:

Grumpy

 

[DHTiling]

when he phones back tell him you are too busy now ....that will teach him the stupid twock........dave.....

 

[CJ]

I love them types

If I'm busy, I have great pleasure in telling them............I can do it.........but not for 6 weeks

I had a call 2 weeks ago for a job........big bathroom wall and floor.......big kitchen floor.

Over a grand it was worth to me............Guy proceded to ask If I could do it the following week........This was on a Friday ffs.

When I told him it was going to be 4 weeks...........That was the end of that

 

[penno]

Thing is i don't want to do it, said to the wife when i did the en suite "just something about his uncle, all smiles but you can tell he is just waiting for you to make a mistake to pick up on"

 

[GazTech]

Thing is i don't want to do it, said to the wife when i did the en suite "just something about his uncle, all smiles but you can tell he is just waiting for you to make a mistake to pick up on"

tell him to swivel...you can tell him how to do it ...he will save loads and you critisize him lol...Gaz

 

[IvegotsTILE]

Don't do it mate,tell him 2 other people you have quoted for phoned tonight and excepted so your booked up for 4 weeks,then tell him if he excepted you when he said 'I'll get back to you' you'd have been able to do it. TOO LATE!

 

[brian c]

Although you still need the experience and the work,what you dont need is the added pressure of some weasel looking over your shoulder holding you back and trying to pick up tips from your quality workmanship.You decide what you want to do but tell the uncle he will need to get out the way(**** OFF WEASEL ).iCANT STAND SMART ARSES LIKE THE AFORE MENTIONED,you sound as if you have them both sussed anyway Penno.

 

[devonmark]

tell him..if his uncle thinks it should be a days work...tell him to get his F*&kin uncle to do it in a day and for the £150 with mats...leave him your card and tell him if his uncle F*&ks up it'll cost him double for you to put it right.

 

[Fekin]

Yep, never let a customer try n tell you how long a job will take.

Always have a good look at it, decide on how long you will need and simply stick to it.

If he wants a decent job done by a propper tiler then he'll have to pay for it, or let him get it done on the cheep by the uncle, and you might end up doing it afterwards anyways.

 

[GazLC81]

Balls to him! If he rings back tell him you have picked up a new contract and you wouldn't even consider doing a little job like that anymore! At the end of the day he is only going to be difficult if you do it and people like that never recommend you.......

Gaz

 

[LEWIS]

Some customers - God love em!

I quoted for a rush job last month for a medium size builder, 6 days work with a deadline as other subcontractors needed to get in after me. I gave them a very competitive price - (to get in with them - i'm sure you know what i mean).

I rang them after a couple of days to be told they could get it done a lot cheaper (must of been free). The phone rang on Friday night at 6.30pm asking me if i'd still be interested in the job, i said know not really why? They said that 2 tiliers turned up and made a complete hash of the job and it needs cleaning up and starting again, we'd really like you to help - O.K. then i say - i'll be there with 2 guys 7.00am Monday morning but it will be billed at twice my standard rate, there response was Fine we know you'll do a good job.

The job will be finished tomorrow late evening, 2 guys doing a double shift for 3 days to hit the deadline. And i have noe been contracted to do all there tiling work.

Remember - How much do you think your worth?

Tell him your to busy.

Regards

 

[devonmark]

Some customers - God love em!

I quoted for a rush job last month for a medium size builder, 6 days work with a deadline as other subcontractors needed to get in after me. I gave them a very competitive price - (to get in with them - i'm sure you know what i mean).

I rang them after a couple of days to be told they could get it done a lot cheaper (must of been free). The phone rang on Friday night at 6.30pm asking me if i'd still be interested in the job, i said know not really why? They said that 2 tiliers turned up and made a complete hash of the job and it needs cleaning up and starting again, we'd really like you to help - O.K. then i say - i'll be there with 2 guys 7.00am Monday morning but it will be billed at twice my standard rate, there response was Fine we know you'll do a good job.

The job will be finished tomorrow late evening, 2 guys doing a double shift for 3 days to hit the deadline. And i have noe been contracted to do all there tiling work.

Remember - How much do you think your worth?

Tell him your to busy.

Regards

well done...like to read about success...lesson learnt the expensive way for the builder..

 

[CON5933]

Tell him to go and ride his uncles moustache.....

or

if he's in a jam, tell him you could do it but you'd have to 'bump' another customer back a few days and tell him because of that the price is now £350 + mats