Clients that make you go hmmmmm.

[Mick Dempsey]

Now, I'm a big boy, been paddling my own canoe for more than two decades now, I know that when you price work there are no guarantees, and you have to take the rough with the smooth.

 

Today though, the literal biscuit was taken, I was out all day, and the first appointment was 30 minutes away, arranged by email, so I pull up, look at the abandoned cars and neglected garden and instantly think "probably not" but I'm here now so put on my game face.

 

It was a dying thuja hedge and a couple of small lombardies, all about logistics so I give it some ol' chat and price it.

 

The lady then told me that they are doing it themselves and wanted to know what it would have cost!

 

Luckily the rest of the day was more successful but that really riled me.

 

Any outrageous time wasting client stories?

[Stubby]

  On 12/08/2017 at 16:43, Mick Dempsey said:

Now, I'm a big boy, been paddling my own canoe for more than two decades now, I know that when you price work there are no guarantees, and you have to take the rough with the smooth.

 

Today though, the literal biscuit was taken, I was out all day, and the first appointment was 30 minutes away, arranged by email, so I pull up, look at the abandoned cars and neglected garden and instantly think "probably not" but I'm here now so put on my game face.

 

It was a dying thuja hedge and a couple of small lombardies, all about logistics so I give it some ol' chat and price it.

 

The lady then told me that they are doing it themselves and wanted to know what it would have cost!

 

Luckily the rest of the day was more successful but that really riled me.

 

Any outrageous time wasting client stories?

Expand  

Did you not tell her it would cost a little bit more now that she had to pay your " call out/time wasting fee ?

Edited August 12, 2017 by Stubby

[Mick Dempsey]

What was the point? You can't be openly rude/hostile.

 

 

Said my goodbyes, got in the truck, drove away, moaned about it on here!

Edited August 12, 2017 by Mick Dempsey

[devon TWiG]

You could have given them a really high price and they would have been delighted with all the money they saved !!!!!!   ........ I once felled a tree for some one  a good  few years ago , for about £100 , an easy days work   and they were very grateful and said it saved them a lot of money not having to hire in a professional  !!!!!   

 

[Matthew Storrs]

Thats fair enough Mick- you've obviously got more self control then me/most. I can't help thinking I would have explained in a fairly dry manner that I was glad they felt it acceptable to waste your Saturday when they had no intention of paying to have the job done. 

It makes you think though, it's be nice to charge say £20 for a quote- refundable on acceptance of job- I know i know- it'd never work but still- it cut out the time wasters

[Mick Dempsey]

Devon twig, I did think of that on the drive away!

 

Yes Matthew, cutting out the time wasters is something that most of us have to do craftily on the phone or in the emails, not easy though, especially if one is scratching around a bit for work.

 

The line "I want someone to come and look at my trees" is often a flashing beacon.

 

[Matthew Storrs]

I've got it wrong on many occasion- in my favour- of going to look at a job (usually arranged en route to somewhere else) thinking that its most likely a waste of my time only to find the complete opposite- 2 of my most regular and easy going customers are such examples.

[Steve Bullman]

  On 12/08/2017 at 16:43, Mick Dempsey said:

Now, I'm a big boy, been paddling my own canoe for more than two decades now, I know that when you price work there are no guarantees, and you have to take the rough with the smooth.

 

Today though, the literal biscuit was taken, I was out all day, and the first appointment was 30 minutes away, arranged by email, so I pull up, look at the abandoned cars and neglected garden and instantly think "probably not" but I'm here now so put on my game face.

 

It was a dying thuja hedge and a couple of small lombardies, all about logistics so I give it some ol' chat and price it.

 

The lady then told me that they are doing it themselves and wanted to know what it would have cost!

 

Luckily the rest of the day was more successful but that really riled me.

 

Any outrageous time wasting client stories?

Expand  

What is more annoying is the fact they had the brass neck to even tell you their plan admin if there was nothing wrong with it.  Some people are amazing 

[Mick Dempsey]

It sort of slipped out, as soon as she said it she (and her daughter) realised they'd made an error.

 

Anyway, the rest of the clients this afternoon were legit (if a bit annoying)

[felixthelogchopper]

Of course, if you don't advertise that your quotes are free of charge then there's nothing to stop your invoicing for your time.