Maybe that's what happened with our Shih Tzu and the mobile groomer who ghosted us. We even tipped VERY WELL, and she just stopped returning calls and texts. Current groomer says our Shih Tzu is perfect for her. Who knows...
Best way to dump a customer?
- Thread starter The motor guy
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No telling. What drives one person crazy another person will be thankful for.
I'd assume a personal introduction from an established customer saves the practitioner screening efforts and expense.
That type of person will always exist whether you own your own business or work for an employer. With my side business, I simply have "fired" those customers and don't deal with them anymore. Most of them just had unrealistic expectations, wanted something for nothing, etc. The effort wasted on them could instead allow me to go above and beyond for the good customers. At work, I will deal with these people, but will simply give them the minimum they ask for and their requests go to the bottom of the list.
My son builds houses . Once you sign a contract and start the process you are pretty much stuck with that client . He has one now that is driving him crazy . They question everything . He is constantly having to pull up emails and text messages to show them what they have previously agreed to . They changed their mind about floor tiles FIVE TIMES and then complained about how long it was taking . They go around him and contact his suppliers to question prices . His latest stunt was to ask my son about putting in some sub surface drainage . When he didn't like the quote he said he would do it himself . He rented a trencher and then asked my son to show him how to run it . NOT HAPPENING ! When you're a small business you have to be careful with folks like this . Sometimes referrals are everything and you have to protect your reputation .
I'd always begin the conversation with
"Being this is your last time here"........
"Being this is your last time here"........
Talking about Veterinary experinces, take a look at the Brit. TV series on PBS in the US called "All Creatures Great and Small". Some good examples of "difficult" clientele!
I've had a few callers who I wish the management here would fire. I schedule and dispatch service technicians.... I'll come in on a Monday and find missed calls from a particular caller, three times on a Sunday, no message left. Or he'll call at 5:30 AM and not leave a message. Or at 12:01 PM while I'm already on the phone with another client (because lunchtime is when a LOT of my callers like to call). Eventually he calls the boss and complains he can't get ahold of me. I know what you're thinking.... Can't he text me? Doubtful; I'm pretty sure he doesn't have the kind of phone that does texts.
Speaking of texts: If I ever get another "hey I'll need this guy back again tmrw thx" text (without ANY kind of information) I think I'll just set myself on fire.
Speaking of texts: If I ever get another "hey I'll need this guy back again tmrw thx" text (without ANY kind of information) I think I'll just set myself on fire.
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But it is me! Me no want to no more
Funny, I should have seen this yesterday. I have one elderly guy who's loaded but complains he's broke. He always wants me to do onesy-twosy things like drill a hole or turn down the head of a bolt.
Then he never wants to pay more than a couple bucks. The thing is by the time I talk with him, wait for him, set up my machines to do whatever he wants and sometimes entertain him while he waits, it's just not worth my time. I should have a minimum charge of at least $20 -even for a single hole - but he always acts like $5 is all he can do.
He mostly hassles the local high school welding program 'cause they do stuff for free for him, but they don't have any machine tools.
Yesterday I told him I was having to care for my elderly parents (mostly true) and not taking work for the foreseeable future (not exactly true)
Then he never wants to pay more than a couple bucks. The thing is by the time I talk with him, wait for him, set up my machines to do whatever he wants and sometimes entertain him while he waits, it's just not worth my time. I should have a minimum charge of at least $20 -even for a single hole - but he always acts like $5 is all he can do.
He mostly hassles the local high school welding program 'cause they do stuff for free for him, but they don't have any machine tools.
Yesterday I told him I was having to care for my elderly parents (mostly true) and not taking work for the foreseeable future (not exactly true)
There's a great shop near me that I ask to do the stuff I can't. One day the customer ahead of me was complaining about the price. I said, out loud but to no one in particuliar, "Maybe I should go buy my own lift, $100K worth of tools and get a bazillion years worth of experience and do this myself..."
I need a quality shop near me. Otherwise I'm screwed... I am happy to pay the price and throw in a tip as a thank you.
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Yeah, I've seriously underestimated the number of people who can't use basic math to put simple numbers together.
This! I had a boss that was the GM and part owner of a hotel that I work at for several years. Sometimes he waited to the last minute on projects or dragged his feet. Best Western required the hotel to add an elevator to become ADA compliant. Two companies didn't want to deal with him and threw out a ridiculous quote. He went with the cheapest place possible and well there's a reason they were cheap.
IMO, It is dishonest to charge more than your posted fair rate for any customer. I had to dump a client last year. I wrote a letter explaining it was clear we were not a good fit for each other.
What specifically is dishonest about it? If you quote it up front, and aren't pushing the sale (quite the opposite).
Curios your opinion. Seems to differ from mine. I am far more willing to work a lousy job if it pays more.
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Depends on the job. Every job is bid differently because it's a different job, but if you have say a car repair shop and it says $125/hr and you're charging a certain customer $150/hr just because he's difficult then that's probably illegal.
If one customer is much more demanding and much harder to please then there no longer like customers?
I agree, in this case its much better to tell them don't go away mad, just go away.
I paid a lawyer once way more than he said his partner would take the traffic case for. I said that was fine - I was happy to pay more, I wanted the best. Some people are willing to pay more? So if your willing to do it at a higher price, then offer. If not, just say no.
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