[Brian]

Last week I received a phone call from an AC guy. He was looking for someone to install radiant barriers for him and wanted to work out some kind of arrangement.

Fairly quickly into the conversation he started telling me about the importance of educating customers, that good work isn't cheap, etc. Once in a while I would express agreement, but basically just let him talk.

At some point he asked me a question (I don't remember exactly what it was). After I answered, he said, "I know who you are. You wrote that article on Contractor Talk." He then spent about 5 minutes apologizing and saying how silly he felt. The whole thing was pretty funny to me, because he was basically telling me things I had written in the article.

The guy lives about 2 miles from my office. It really is a small world sometimes.

On another note, he basically wants to sell the job and then hire us to install it. This could be a big win- win. He gets a sales commission, and has credibility with his customers, and we don't incur the marketing/ sales expense.

Brian Phillips

 

[vermontpainter]

That's great, Brian. I like the idea that Contractor Talk and Paint Talk could be helping us make connections that result in professional collaboration in the field from time to time.

 

[Brian]

That's great, Brian. I like the idea that Contractor Talk and Paint Talk could be helping us make connections that result in professional collaboration in the field from time to time.

One thing I have found over the years is that there are far more people reading these forums than there are posting. I don't know what the number is, but I would not be surprised that for every poster there are 3 or 4 "lurkers", if not more. Our "message" reaches a lot more people than might be evident.

Brian Phillips

 

[MAK-Deco]

Our "message" reaches a lot more people than might be evident.

Brian Phillips

As that can be a good thing, it can be a bad thing as well. Thats why it always good to be on our best behavior

 

[seversonspainting]

As that can be a good thing, it can be a bad thing as well. Thats why it always good to be on our best behavior

:notworthy::thumbup: Is that pointed at me. :whistling2:

Although that is cool getting a lead from here.

 

[JNLP]

One thing I have found over the years is that there are far more people reading these forums than there are posting.

For sure! Currently Active Users: 91 (10 members and 81 guests)
Now many of us don't log in everytime we come here, but the number of guests reading along is still high.

 

[vermontpainter]

Many of those "guests" are Google creepy crawlers...:shifty:

 

[Brian]

Many of those "guests" are Google creepy crawlers...:shifty:

Yes, but they are our guests and we should be nice to them.

Brian Phillips

 

[ewingpainting.net]

As that can be a good thing, it can be a bad thing as well. Thats why it always good to be on our best behavior

This is true which bring me to a little story I have.
While I was a VP for a large painting contractor in southern Cali. we were spend any where from $75,000.00 to 150,000 a month. with this vendor. I walked in a unnamed paint supplier and asked for a stain match. Since I was just looking for a simple match and did not need an exact match, I asked the manager to just match it to a stir stick and I would take responsibility for the match. He refused, after arguing with him for two or three min. I saw I wasn't getting any where. I simply stopped talking, walk out and got the district manager on my phone explained to him what I was wanting and his people were refusing. Walked back in and gave the phone to the manager. I said "someone wanted to talk to you" response from the manager "Hello yes sir, yes, I understand, no problem" gave my phone back and told me "your stain will be ready for you in 30 mins and sorry for the confusion"

I believe that goes for here as well. As I was googleing my company to see what would come up. Low and behold there was a Paint Talk topic that popped up with my conversation in it. WHEH I was being gooooood.:sweatdrop: