Can you just? How often do you hear that?

[nick channer]

soon as they say "can you just" i say yeah no problem i'll be over to give you a quote in a min... they no there be no freebies straight away and 9 times outta 10 theyl pay.. even if its only 30 or 40 quid for couple cuts with pole saw etc..

[Frank]

I went into Currys to buy my latest TV and just as they were packing it into my car I said, "can you just go and grab me the blue ray player, tv stand, and the iPad from off the shelf for me".

 

Funnily enough they DIDNT.

 

strange.

[Pete Hart]

The worst possible words to hear when you have finished and packed up!!!

I judge each situation on its merits... i.e few cuts, no probs....... but anything more than that i will explain that it will cost them x ammount more on top!!

 

Best to do it with an emotionless expression on your face and stick to your guns!!

[nick channer]

The worst possible words to hear when you have finished and packed up!!!

I judge each situation on its merits... i.e few cuts, no probs....... but anything more than that i will explain that it will cost them x ammount more on top!!

 

Best to do it with an emotionless expression on your face and stick to your guns!!

 

almost as bad as when you've topped row conifers and they say can you take another 2 ft off

[Pete Hart]

Now that Nick is exactly what happened to me 3 weeks ago.... my response.... that will be £150 extra (initial job £380).... their answer..... actually it looks fine like that!!!!!!

[Frank]

I say "can you just jobs start at £25+vat".

 

That shuts em up.

[Pete Hart]

Nice one Frank! £25 + vat sounds cheap!!!

[Stephen Blair]

This is business guys, having a mental contract in your head will only lead to hassle and grief later on. When you are at McDonolds and once the order has been taken and you then decide you want a Sundae, do you have to hope that the tillperson likes your smile or manners? No, they say certainly and give you a Sundae for a set price. IF you have just bought a certain meal, they may say to you you are entitled to a discount on the Sundae or if you DID get a large option it would of been free. NOW they will have told you this at the time of your order, WHY because they are trained to do this.

1 to try and get more money out you. and 2 So the customer can not say they were not told this, thats why they will repeat everything back to you before hitting the total button, you have just entered a contract. This is all set out in stone and printed in big shiny words and pictures infront of you.

All these little things you do to make yourself feel better are only masking the fact you do not have the Confidence to speak out, they are defense mechanisms that you have learned as a child to stop the bad feelings inside, but they are short lived and will only repeat themselves and continue to cause problems in your personal and business life.

Have you ever wondered why you NEVER come across a sympathetic traffic warden? They simply do not pass the test, if you have an ounce of empathy you fail the test, simples.

We go into this job because we are light hearted guys who like playing in trees, very few of us are relaxed in confrontation situations no matter what level they are.

Now most shops when you go will have little signs behind the till, like. Dont ask for credit, cash only, no switch card, only credit cards after £10 etc

This illiminates the chancers.

If you do a job then tell the customer that if they spend over £200 they are entitled to a 10% extra free, NEVER inclusive or knocked off, then point out that a bigonia needs dead headed or something needs trimmed. This is not being a crook, this is offering a bonus scheme to your customers. Being bitter and thinking of smart resentful things will only cost you money and heart ache.

[Tom D]

Got to agree with Stevie, I eliminate all the can you just stuff at the quoting stage: I ask them if there is anything else at all that they might want doing, explaining that as we will already be there it would be more cost effective to get it done then rather than a separate future visit. This usually works and also brings in more work, and, because I ask this before I give my price there is no awkward "how much do I charge to take out that buddleia" moment.

[Pete Hart]

I think you have put it into words very well there Tom...... preventing any awkwardness is very smart, and as you say....could earn you a few extra quid too!!