[HomeGuardPaints]

Let me preface this with the note that the last two weeks have had me running around like crazy and today I was trying to do my normal work load plus set everyhing up for tommorrow because I am leaving to go out of town. Needless to say, I wasn't in the best mood.


Lady calls today, She starts the convo with I'm collecting 3 estimates (seems normal). She would like an estimate on a large 40 x 40 deck to be stained. I tell her sure I'd be happy to come out tuesday to take a look at it. she replies that won't do I need an estimate sooner. (not going to happen in person, I'm headed down south). I tell her that if the deck doesn't need anything special that I will stain it for $3900.(figure thats a safe estimate, plus she doesn't sound like someone I really want to work with) she then informs me that she wants it done prior to Monday(3 days away) but that shes going to get the other 2 estimates first...she didn't give me the opportunity to say that my next availible crew is out 3 weeks and hangs up. 1 hour later -secretary patches someone through to my phone, Its the lady from before, she'd like me to do the work, but only for $1900. I giggle, ok laugh quite loudly. she says whats so funny? Well mam' you've asked me to stain a deck in 3 days 2 of which are a holiday and cut my price in half, futher more I'm not even availible until late june to provide any kind of work(and definately not discounted work). Lady says, you shouldn't talk to me with that tone I will call someone else. I said ok, good luck finding someone to answer their phone between now and monday, and even better luck getting the work done before then. she hung up.

probably not my best moment but what do you expect from a man who left at 630 only to return 14 hours later

 

[[email protected]]

Good job! :thumbup:

 

[JTP]

Let me preface this with the note that the last two weeks have had me running around like crazy and today I was trying to do my normal work load plus set everyhing up for tommorrow because I am leaving to go out of town. Needless to say, I wasn't in the best mood.


Lady calls today, She starts the convo with I'm collecting 3 estimates (seems normal). She would like an estimate on a large 40 x 40 deck to be stained. I tell her sure I'd be happy to come out tuesday to take a look at it. she replies that won't do I need an estimate sooner. (not going to happen in person, I'm headed down south). I tell her that if the deck doesn't need anything special that I will stain it for $3900.(figure thats a safe estimate, plus she doesn't sound like someone I really want to work with) she then informs me that she wants it done prior to Monday(3 days away) but that shes going to get the other 2 estimates first...she didn't give me the opportunity to say that my next availible crew is out 3 weeks and hangs up. 1 hour later -secretary patches someone through to my phone, Its the lady from before, she'd like me to do the work, but only for $1900. I giggle, ok laugh quite loudly. she says whats so funny? Well mam' you've asked me to stain a deck in 3 days 2 of which are a holiday and cut my price in half, futher more I'm not even availible until late june to provide any kind of work(and definately not discounted work). Lady says, you shouldn't talk to me with that tone I will call someone else. I said ok, good luck finding someone to answer their phone between now and monday, and even better luck getting the work done before then. she hung up.

probably not my best moment but what do you expect from a man who left at 630 only to return 14 hours later

Homey--

I promised to try and remember that other people, besides contractors, read this forum. But, I have to say this anyway: One of the very best things about this business for me is the ability to say to a potential customer--You know lady, I'd prefer it if you really would call someone else because you are obnoxious, over bearing, ill mannered, and stupid. Now go play in traffic and leave me alone. Cya--click. And, I have come very close occasionally to using these words.

JTP

 

[NEPS.US]

1 out of 100 is completely nuts .... I had a customer that I bid $25k worth of work for ... countless meetings with them and their designers and they cut the job to a bathroom and 2 ceilings. I had thought I was awarded the job and I was driving to the closing of my house and the phone rings. The owner wanted in addition to my WC and liability, the insurance policy numbers of my employees private cars for protection in case one of them was driving to his house and got into a accident and tried to sue him because his house was their destination. I lost it and told him to get another contractor in a not nice way. It can be liberating.

 

[timhag]

Let me preface this with the note that the last two weeks have had me running around like crazy and today I was trying to do my normal work load plus set everyhing up for tommorrow because I am leaving to go out of town. Needless to say, I wasn't in the best mood.


Lady calls today, She starts the convo with I'm collecting 3 estimates (seems normal). She would like an estimate on a large 40 x 40 deck to be stained. I tell her sure I'd be happy to come out tuesday to take a look at it. she replies that won't do I need an estimate sooner. (not going to happen in person, I'm headed down south). I tell her that if the deck doesn't need anything special that I will stain it for $3900.(figure thats a safe estimate, plus she doesn't sound like someone I really want to work with) she then informs me that she wants it done prior to Monday(3 days away) but that shes going to get the other 2 estimates first...she didn't give me the opportunity to say that my next availible crew is out 3 weeks and hangs up. 1 hour later -secretary patches someone through to my phone, Its the lady from before, she'd like me to do the work, but only for $1900. I giggle, ok laugh quite loudly. she says whats so funny? Well mam' you've asked me to stain a deck in 3 days 2 of which are a holiday and cut my price in half, futher more I'm not even availible until late june to provide any kind of work(and definately not discounted work). Lady says, you shouldn't talk to me with that tone I will call someone else. I said ok, good luck finding someone to answer their phone between now and monday, and even better luck getting the work done before then. she hung up.

probably not my best moment but what do you expect from a man who left at 630 only to return 14 hours later

This is the proper way of handling this type of situation. That lady had no right to treat our little Homey that way.

 

[GMack]

Let me preface this with the note that the last two weeks have had me running around like crazy and today I was trying to do my normal work load plus set everyhing up for tommorrow because I am leaving to go out of town. Needless to say, I wasn't in the best mood.


Lady calls today, She starts the convo with I'm collecting 3 estimates (seems normal). She would like an estimate on a large 40 x 40 deck to be stained. I tell her sure I'd be happy to come out tuesday to take a look at it. she replies that won't do I need an estimate sooner. (not going to happen in person, I'm headed down south). I tell her that if the deck doesn't need anything special that I will stain it for $3900.(figure thats a safe estimate, plus she doesn't sound like someone I really want to work with) she then informs me that she wants it done prior to Monday(3 days away) but that shes going to get the other 2 estimates first...she didn't give me the opportunity to say that my next availible crew is out 3 weeks and hangs up. 1 hour later -secretary patches someone through to my phone, Its the lady from before, she'd like me to do the work, but only for $1900. I giggle, ok laugh quite loudly. she says whats so funny? Well mam' you've asked me to stain a deck in 3 days 2 of which are a holiday and cut my price in half, futher more I'm not even availible until late june to provide any kind of work(and definately not discounted work). Lady says, you shouldn't talk to me with that tone I will call someone else. I said ok, good luck finding someone to answer their phone between now and monday, and even better luck getting the work done before then. she hung up.

probably not my best moment but what do you expect from a man who left at 630 only to return 14 hours later

She sounds like she wants to EAT her cake . . . She can't have it both ways.

There is only one realistic option for her if she truely wants that deck stained for her party on Monday: "Hi, I'm a real idiot. I'm calling because I need my deck stained by Sunday night. I'm begging you to come and do it. You can charge me whatever you think it's worth. Please, please, please."

Otherwise, she doesn't have a chance. Nice job, Homeguard!

 

[Tonyg]

HAHAHAHA Mickey, I gave her your number and told her you would be THE MAN to do it for $1500 AND you wouldn't have any problem working nights :whistling2:

Just watchin out for ya buddy! :jester:

 

[ProWallGuy]

I call that scenario 'dodging the bullet'.

When I get calls like that, I get real quiet until they are done talking, them hit them with this:

ThankyouforcallingProfessionalWallpaperandPainthaveaniceday*clickbuzzzzzzz

 

[DeanV]

That was the perfect response to a customer like that. In my opinion, not rude but realistic and shows them the complete lack of respect they were giving you.

 

[JNLP]

Didn't you know we as painters have no other work, no lives, no bills, no nothing? We just sit there by the phone waiting for their special call so we can run over & make everything better for them asap. :thumbup:

 

[vermontpainter]

Didn't you know we as painters have no other work, no lives, no bills, no nothing? We just sit there by the phone waiting for their special call so we can run over & make everything better for them asap. :thumbup:

Like this guy...

 

[Brian]

Didn't you know we as painters have no other work, no lives, no bills, no nothing? We just sit there by the phone waiting for their special call so we can run over & make everything better for them asap. :thumbup:

Sadly, there are many painters who fit that description. And unfortunately they have "trained" many customers to think it is true of all of us.

Brian Phillips

 

[vermontpainter]

I have a very limited list of customers for whom I would drop what I was doing to address their "paint emergency". I have many more who sometimes wish they could get that kind of priority service.

 

[johnthepainter]

i had one tell me "youll never work in this town again" lol

 

[MAK-Deco]

I have a very limited list of customers for whom I would drop what I was doing to address their "paint emergency". I have many more who sometimes wish they could get that kind of priority service.

I agree I have a few people that would get extra treatment, only for what they have done for me over the years. More people who think they deserve it and really don't.

 

[Brian]

I have a very limited list of customers for whom I would drop what I was doing to address their "paint emergency". I have many more who sometimes wish they could get that kind of priority service.

What exactly is a paint emergency? I know that many of my customers think that they have one, but I have never actually witnessed such a thing. It is usually a panic that is fueled by an irrational view of the facts, clouded by their own failure to plan, and amplified by an unwarranted ego.

I can imagine a "paint emergency" in a commercial setting, but the above would still apply.

Brian Phillips

 

[CApainter]

Brian, you touched a nerve. Why is it that Painters feel a need to respond so quickly to irrational requests by customers. Is it a lack of esteem in our industry? Is tripping over ourselves to please the customer a way of validating us as professionals amongst the other more respected trades?

I think it's Bull****, and refuse to give in! they need to wait in line like the rest of us.

 

[vermontpainter]

What exactly is a paint emergency?
Brian Phillips

Paint emergency is the sudden and irrefutable need for paint services to be provided within a specific and tight window of opportunity, usually brought on by panic associated with an impending and critical event.

Here are some examples:

1. Daughters college graduation party is next weekend. People flying in from all over the country. Must strip wallpaper in foyer and apply venetian plaster in powder room.

2. Oh my God, our summer party is in two weeks, we need the screened porch completely painted inside and out, and all entries to the house freshened, including sanding and refinishing all mahogany thresholds. Oh, garage doors need to be freshened as well.

3. On Nov 18 I learn that the customers family is all coming to customers house for Thanksgiving dinner. We are now ready to do the dining room makeover. Guest bedrooms need paint too.

4. Husbands business associates are coming for drinks and hors duerves saturday night. We need all scuff marks and dings fixed and touched up.

5. Father in law died last week. We are flying in mother in law on friday to stay indefinitely. We need to spruce up and redecorate the mother in law quarters before friday.

These arent 24 hour emergency service type emergencies, but they are, in fact, life or death situations. I could go on and on, but this is the idea.

 

[NEPS.US]

You forgot the " My Timhag ate 12 Chalupa's and the wallpaper is falling off my bathroom walls " emergency call!

 

[timhag]

You forgot the " My Timhag ate 12 Chalupa's and the wallpaper is falling off my bathroom walls " emergency call!

You"s a funny Mother F*cker.:yes: