Deposits.

[enduro]

Did a quote for a tiling job about a month ago which was excepted..Job was booked in to start on Monday next week, got a text from the customer today to say the had got a cheaper price and they were going with that price and thanked me for my time! Tried to call them straight back but no answer. This was a 10 day job so was a bit annoyed about this but managed to bring a few things forward. Time to start taking deposits on larger jobs i think to try and stop this.

 

[DHTiling]

Blinking annoying when they do this Andrew... bet you are fuming..

 

[Dan]

It is something I would consider but there are pros and cons to it I guess.

With bigger jobs I'd be keeping in touch with the customer more often "right so your tiles and adhesives have come in I'll go to pick them up for you" type thing a few days before. If they've already got all that, then those are probably the types of customers that will feel they can cancel the day before.

You could have some terms in your quote that state cancellations must be 7 days prior to the job start date, anything after that period will incur a % charge or a fixed fee to cover lost days at work.

 

[dave l and l]

i would go round to there house to let them express my annoyance to them and to let them know they have cost you time and money,
it has happened to me before and i was fortunate enough to move jobs too, however if i had been relying on the money for something i would not have been at all impressed at all.
the deposit idea is good i like to take one whenever i can or when i am supplying tiles as i wouldnt like to take the hit if something happens

 

[Ian]

I always take deposits if I'm supplying tiles but, don't if it's labour/addy/grout only, have been stung a couple of times but, this method works 95% of the time.

 

[Dan]

I would never buy tiles for a domestic customer. I'd order them and tell them to call the shop to pay, and I'd collect when they come in. Then they can't cancel without getting the tiles off you first.

I'd never be out of my own pocket though for a customer. Even if I was making a few quid on the tiles they'd still have to pay the shop directly.

 

[Andy Allen]

whats more anoying is the fact they text you, havn't even got the bottle to speak to you..

hope they got some muppet doing it and makes a right mess of it...

teach them not to just go for the cheapest quote..

 

[aphilp]

Make sure that you charge them double, when they come back to you to fix it.

Best Wishes

Anne

 

[poynton phil]

I always take a deposit on jobs over a £1000 for materials.

 

[tfs]

It is realy frustrating when someone does this type of thing, whilst they are in the rights to do so they should realy have shopped around before booking you in to do the job. I dont think peeps realise the affects this has on a sole trader/ one man band.

I take a booking and materials deposit of 20% for all my sash window work. The average job value is around £2000 so this deposit ensures that they are serious as well as covers intial costs to cover some materials and ensures a start date for them etc.

 

[merit]

people have been brainwashed off ,dont get done get dom, so arnt willing to pay up a deposit , think they are getting ripped off, same as you, hope the cheaper quote gets the cheaper quality finish

 

[diamonddrilbit]

I would always get them to sign a contract with deposit amount as well as info on problems arising, extra money could be charged ect, if they won't sign a genuine contract then they're not worth it.
A contract protect them and you.
Unless it's cash then you're screwed !!

 

[White Room]

If you have double glazing done they all have a deposit from you.....

 

[kilty55]

deposits on all jobs for me,no deposit no job. been stung too many times by people cancelling at the last minute.

 

[Marksmithtiling]

If I supply tiles I get the full amount for them up front If only labour and materials I dont take a deposit.
I've had a call on a Sunday evening to cancel a job on the Monday because a relation was at a loose end and could do it, even had the cheek to ask if I could get the addy / grout for them cheaper than B&Q........ I declined !!

 

[flaggy]

i had that one as well mark and i said i will , then i didnt answer my phones after a day ,i had texts saying its wasnt nice the way they was being treated ,wot a cheak

 

[John Benton]

If I am supplying the tiles I ALWAYS get the full amount and the cheque cleared before I order the tiles. It shows commitment from the customer and they are less likely to go elsewhere once they have parted with their hard earned.

When I do kitchens I always get 50% deposit on the whole job which more than covers the materials. When you're talking about £thousands you cannot afford to be left out of pocket. When you work for yourself cash-flow is the most important thing in my opinion. Once it gets out of hand there's only one direction you are heading.

I used to dread asking for a deposit but it has become second nature now.

 

[Dan]

If somebody cancelled me by text I'd not reply and turn up still on the day and say I never got it. Then tell them there and then they'll have to pay for the days work as it was booked in and I'm here now. Make them feel uncomfortable.

They should at least call you to explain.

 

[MPM]

In ten years never took a deposit untill three weeks ago on a £4,000.00 job only took it because i was unsure about the client abillity to pay as insurance was involved, client has been brilliant and has paid in full. I can say that in ten years I can only recall 1 cancellation. While I understand the hastle it has caused you, think of the problems you could have faced if you did the work as from my experience with penny pinchers they want the earth. good luck with filling in the time, and enjoy your tiling.

 

[Peter]

Very annoying when it happens. Not so bad if you have a few jobs you can pull forward.