I haven't read all the posts, but I have to say that you have a great "friend". It does sound like the fiancee is driving the request for a partial refund, though. Like someone said, I'd refund them the cost of the "Spot Shot", then I'd tell my "friend" that I think it would be best if he had someone else detail his cars in the future (translated: I don't work for free :nono)
Customer came back wanting $
- Thread starter JpiRally
- Start date
nosbusa1700
New member
I would tell the guy after thinking about it, I changed my mind. I would say after four months, you want some money back. Why? After all of this time. Because you got some stains out that I couldn't?
Oh well. That's life. It's a vehicle, that was nasty as hell. That looked like a brand new car after the detail. It's not like it's some rare heirloom, and you messed it up, or damaged it.
I imagine in her line of work she's messed something up, or didn't do something correctly.. Did her company come back and ask her for some of her hourly wage, or part of her salary back "after the fact" because of her mess up? I highly doubt it.
To be honest. I would be a little pissed for them asking for money back. Especially if you only received $150.00 for 15 hrs of work.
If you feel the need to give them some money back. Give them what you made in 1 hr. $10-$11 bucks. Then deduct 6-7 dollars for the aggravation they have caused. lol
If it were me. I would tell them no refund of any kind. Especially after four months. If that didn't work. I would tell them to to F OFF.
I'm nice to a point, but I hate people trying to take advantage of me. Especially if I've busted my azz for someone, and didn't make any money in the process, and they are trying to nit pick every single detail.
The car's nasty as shi*. They could care less. They weren't picky then were they??
You detail it. They get it back in tip top shape. Now all of the sudden they nit pick the floor mats.
LMAO.
Tell them to pound sand.
Oh well. That's life. It's a vehicle, that was nasty as hell. That looked like a brand new car after the detail. It's not like it's some rare heirloom, and you messed it up, or damaged it.
I imagine in her line of work she's messed something up, or didn't do something correctly.. Did her company come back and ask her for some of her hourly wage, or part of her salary back "after the fact" because of her mess up? I highly doubt it.
To be honest. I would be a little pissed for them asking for money back. Especially if you only received $150.00 for 15 hrs of work.
If you feel the need to give them some money back. Give them what you made in 1 hr. $10-$11 bucks. Then deduct 6-7 dollars for the aggravation they have caused. lol
If it were me. I would tell them no refund of any kind. Especially after four months. If that didn't work. I would tell them to to F OFF.
I'm nice to a point, but I hate people trying to take advantage of me. Especially if I've busted my azz for someone, and didn't make any money in the process, and they are trying to nit pick every single detail.
The car's nasty as shi*. They could care less. They weren't picky then were they??
You detail it. They get it back in tip top shape. Now all of the sudden they nit pick the floor mats.
LMAO.
Tell them to pound sand.
tenorplayer23
New member
STOP...............do not debate this any longer. You have the right idea.
1st, think "customer". Something didn't go quite right, but a lot did. However, you should make the part right that didn't get fixed for the customer. (Although Nordstroms or lands End take things back seemingly forever, I think 4 mos. for dirty mats is a little nuts..........but, whatever.
You have to think what the "customer" invested to get the mats right. The price of the product + their labor/inconvenience. A surrogate for that time, would be your time. Not sure what "her" labor rate is, BUT, I would think that the OTC product is <$10 & her "time" is worth probably no more than yours (unless she's a neurosurgeon, etc.............and, by the sounds of the conversation with them, she "ain't"!
You added it up correctly.....an hour of labor (her hours value) plus the product cost (you estimate or look it up). Just give them the money. And, don't offer them a free detail (what, another $150 worth....probably not).
And, FIND OUT WHAT THEY USED..........if you used APC/carpet cleaner/upholstery cleaner plus steam extractor & it still didn't work....but theirs did..........that's not so good.
Just my opinion.........I could be wrong
See ya. :wavey:
1st, think "customer". Something didn't go quite right, but a lot did. However, you should make the part right that didn't get fixed for the customer. (Although Nordstroms or lands End take things back seemingly forever, I think 4 mos. for dirty mats is a little nuts..........but, whatever.
You have to think what the "customer" invested to get the mats right. The price of the product + their labor/inconvenience. A surrogate for that time, would be your time. Not sure what "her" labor rate is, BUT, I would think that the OTC product is <$10 & her "time" is worth probably no more than yours (unless she's a neurosurgeon, etc.............and, by the sounds of the conversation with them, she "ain't"!
You added it up correctly.....an hour of labor (her hours value) plus the product cost (you estimate or look it up). Just give them the money. And, don't offer them a free detail (what, another $150 worth....probably not).
And, FIND OUT WHAT THEY USED..........if you used APC/carpet cleaner/upholstery cleaner plus steam extractor & it still didn't work....but theirs did..........that's not so good.
Just my opinion.........I could be wrong
See ya. :wavey:
JpiRally said:i thinking of this....
1 hour of labor which when figured out cam to about $11 an hour...and the cost of the bottle they used...so like $15.
worked for 4 hours friday night, and from 7am to about 5ish the next so a total of 14 hours of work.
joe
Krees D Qban
New member
Ive used Spot Shot, its made by WD-40 company. It works good from my experience, but did not last long at all. Unlike other products that foam, this one just shoots straight solution, depleting the can quickly. Its good though...
fergnation
New member
This is why when ever a customer calls me and has a Jersey accent I just hang up the phone. They are never happy and always want to knock down the price!!
Obviously I am just joking. But I liked the go pound sand idea. He just doesn't want to listen to his fiance ***** about it. He is probably the one that needs to grow a set.
Obviously I am just joking. But I liked the go pound sand idea. He just doesn't want to listen to his fiance ***** about it. He is probably the one that needs to grow a set.
Coming back 4 months later is a joke. The mats were probably what, 5% of the work you did...if that? 5% of $150 (which seems to be a bargain for what you did anyway) is $7.50 so if you offer $20, he is way ahead and should be happy (although embarassed as it seems like his girrlfirend is the driving force behind the refund request). I'd only offer that at a courtesy.
Also, Spot Shot is great stuff. I use it all the time and it has yet to fail me. Worth a try next time.
LL
Also, Spot Shot is great stuff. I use it all the time and it has yet to fail me. Worth a try next time.
LL
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
nosbusa1700 said:
Well, if they didn't do that, it's because it's illegal. You can fire someone for messing up, but you can't take back some of their pay or "charge" them for the cost of the foulup, damaged goods, etc.
JohnKleven
New member
That's rediculous. If they were unhappy with the results of the work after you finished then you could have discussed some sort of discount. I also recommend you never promise any stain removal in the future.
John
John
Junebug
JAFO
I'm just amazed at the pure gall of that guy to ask you for money back, "friends" or "customers" like that you DON"T need. Say - hey, I did the best I could and worked cheap to clean up that car, and you were happy with it, so no refund buddy.
RustyBumper
New member
JpiRally said:
If they accepted the car as it was when you returned it to them and never said anything then you're good to go. I agree that saying something four months after the fact is absurd and that you don't owe them anything. If indeed they were unhappy with your work, then they should have told you something then and there or even within a week of dropping it off.
You're also right in distancing yourself from him. You don't need people like this as your friend. I hope that it works out for you.
jordanrossbell
New member
This lady said it was really easy for her to get it out...so its not like she spent hours scrubbing...give her 10 minutes pay out of your 10-11 dollar an hour...that will offend her but i dont feel that really matters at this point. She has disrespected you and your business by doing this...
JohnKleven
New member
Tell him to **** and fall in it.
ajnavo61490
AJ Auto Detail, LLC
12-14 hrs for $150? sounds like you need to be asking THEM for more!
Well....we spoke today and this is how it went down. I agreed to remove the dealer sticker on the trunk lid and wax that corner. Nothing else....the convo jumped a bit but this is how it went..
- He said the car looked bad when they got it back because of the 2 stains on the floor mat and the one on the bottom of the seat from the barf. I mentioned chemicals, how I clean and the level I go too to not only ensure the cloth is not damaged, but that the stain comes out. If I feel the stain is there I wont risk damaging fabric to remove it. I also said it would have been nice to know at the time, not 4 months later. I also then asked what specifically they didn't like..it was the stains in the floor mat and that was it.
- He then said that I was going on vacation right after I did their car, so I wanted the money and just wanted to head out of town and I did a shoty job as a result. I said dude...it was a $150. I would normally charge $350+ for the detail you got. If it was about the money I would have charged you full price, but you're a friend and therefore I didn't. He then told me the detail job wasn't worth $350 and the place next door charges $100 for a detail. I said go there that's fine...but you know its a car wash that employs HS students to do their details and it will only take them 2-4 hours max. Big difference of what can get cleaned in 10 hours of labor difference. I also told him the level of product used there and what I use is different and how its applied and cured is very different. I also told him me going on vacation has nothing to do with his detail job or my detailing a s whole. a job is a job and I take immense pride in my work and therefore the vacation had no bearing.
- He then said that he thought I cut corners o finish up faster. I then got heated...and showed my disgust. I turned it onto him and said this..."Dude..seriously? This is NOT about your car now is it? That is personal. In 3 years have you even known me to cut corners or sham someone let alone a FRIEND? If you want to make this personal we can, but that's ridiculous that you would even bring that up. If I was cutting corners would I have noticed 3 screws missing on the top of her engine cover? Would I have noticed the dealer caused scratches on the front bumper under the lower lip? What about the 7 dental floss picks under the seats? If I was cutting corners none of that stuff would have been noticed.
In the end..I said look dude. you want the sticker off I will do that, but as for a refund thats not happening. I debunked every theory he had with facts and offered him to come detail my next car with me..he declined, and so yeah...last job I ever do for a friend.
- He said the car looked bad when they got it back because of the 2 stains on the floor mat and the one on the bottom of the seat from the barf. I mentioned chemicals, how I clean and the level I go too to not only ensure the cloth is not damaged, but that the stain comes out. If I feel the stain is there I wont risk damaging fabric to remove it. I also said it would have been nice to know at the time, not 4 months later. I also then asked what specifically they didn't like..it was the stains in the floor mat and that was it.
- He then said that I was going on vacation right after I did their car, so I wanted the money and just wanted to head out of town and I did a shoty job as a result. I said dude...it was a $150. I would normally charge $350+ for the detail you got. If it was about the money I would have charged you full price, but you're a friend and therefore I didn't. He then told me the detail job wasn't worth $350 and the place next door charges $100 for a detail. I said go there that's fine...but you know its a car wash that employs HS students to do their details and it will only take them 2-4 hours max. Big difference of what can get cleaned in 10 hours of labor difference. I also told him the level of product used there and what I use is different and how its applied and cured is very different. I also told him me going on vacation has nothing to do with his detail job or my detailing a s whole. a job is a job and I take immense pride in my work and therefore the vacation had no bearing.
- He then said that he thought I cut corners o finish up faster. I then got heated...and showed my disgust. I turned it onto him and said this..."Dude..seriously? This is NOT about your car now is it? That is personal. In 3 years have you even known me to cut corners or sham someone let alone a FRIEND? If you want to make this personal we can, but that's ridiculous that you would even bring that up. If I was cutting corners would I have noticed 3 screws missing on the top of her engine cover? Would I have noticed the dealer caused scratches on the front bumper under the lower lip? What about the 7 dental floss picks under the seats? If I was cutting corners none of that stuff would have been noticed.
In the end..I said look dude. you want the sticker off I will do that, but as for a refund thats not happening. I debunked every theory he had with facts and offered him to come detail my next car with me..he declined, and so yeah...last job I ever do for a friend.
RustyBumper
New member
It sucks that someone that you thought was your friend, would do something like that. What stinks even more is that he would flat out say that you were cutting corners just to finish the job quicker. I'm glad that you stuck to your guns. So are you going to distance yourself from this guy? I hope so. You really don't need friends like him.
Talking about taking off the sticker is it like a dealer name sticker on the paint?
If yes I would run. He would tell you you scratched my paint and have another pain in the behind to resolve. Up to you but this guy is typical. He was in Awe when he got the car back and then he start thinking and his wife got all over and he changed his mind. No freaking way he can come back and ask for restitution on a detail job 4 months later. I would not even talk to him any more. It is not even worth the aggravation.
Cheers
Nick
If yes I would run. He would tell you you scratched my paint and have another pain in the behind to resolve. Up to you but this guy is typical. He was in Awe when he got the car back and then he start thinking and his wife got all over and he changed his mind. No freaking way he can come back and ask for restitution on a detail job 4 months later. I would not even talk to him any more. It is not even worth the aggravation.
Cheers
Nick