Do you like all of your customers?

Tuck91

Tuck91

New member
For those of you that do this for a living or part time, do you like all of your customers? Are some of your customers just really dumb and expect everything to be done for dirt cheap?



I do this on the side, and I refuse to do business with this trashy waitress that wants me to do a full detail on her boyfriends bike and Ford F-250 for only $100.



What really gets on my nerves is that she expects to get some sort of "discount" or "deal" because she had me detail her Ford Explorer a year ago and because I gave a local doctors office a discount to detail all twelve off the employees cars. Big difference! 12 vs 2!



I absolutely hate some of the people that expect some sort of dirt cheap priced detail along with a "discount"
 
You will always like some of your customers more than others. That is just life. I usually avoid the type of people who will be difficult. This is usually apparent very quickly after the first contact with them.
 
Just remember, not all business is good business. If you have a bad feeling before you do the job then there is a fair chance you will regret it even more if you take it. Walk away.



As for this Waitress, tell her your price and if she doesn't like it she can go elsewhere.
 
You created the problem with that waitress. She came to know you as the "discount detailer" because that's how you presented yourself to that doctors office.



Offer different levels of service and keep your margins high. You can't make up profit with volume.



Remember, not everyone is your customer.
 
MichaelM said:
You created the problem with that waitress. She came to know you as the "discount detailer" because that's how you presented yourself to that doctors office.



Offer different levels of service and keep your margins high. You can't make up profit with volume.



Remember, not everyone is your customer.
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Not sure how she found out I gave that discount to the doctor and his employees.





I don think I created the problem though. All I did was knock ten bucks off of each car since he gave me twelve cars to do.



I do not label myself that way either
 
No, I have a few I don't particularly like. Most, however, I do. Some of my customers go all the way back to 1994 and I know them pretty well as they do me.
 
I'm with Scott on this one, there's definitely those that never seem to be perfectly satisfied no matter how great a job you do and some that are just too picky for what they're paying for and some who you teach how to properly maintain the finish yet they don't....



But those are just a few, most are great to work for.



Josh
 
MichaelM said:
Offer different levels of service and keep your margins high. You can't make up profit with volume.
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Why can't the OP make up profit with volume ?
 
JoshVette said:
I'm with Scott on this one, there's definitely those that never seem to be perfectly satisfied no matter how great a job you do and some that are just too picky for what they're paying for and some who you teach how to properly maintain the finish yet they don't....



But those are just a few, most are great to work for.



Josh
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...and there are those who just aren't very nice people or your personality clashes with their's. ;)
 
Scottwax said:
...and there are those who just aren't very nice people or your personality clashes with their's. ;)
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True, or the one's where they sit and watch you the whole time....



or the one's that try to tell you how to detail their car, as if we don't know or something? I'm like I'm not finished yet and I'll get back to that after I do this or that.....etc.... or you're not putting the wax on thick enough..... ha



Most of which I am proud to say I do not take care of their cars anymore by my own choosing.:2thumbs:



Josh
 
I can certainly have a difference in opinion about different customers, but I always make sure that they like me before they leave.
 
WAS said:
Why can't the OP make up profit with volume ?
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Each job affords you only one opportunity to turn a profit. A discount takes away directly from profit and lowers your margins.



For example, if you do a $100 job that costs you $75 you have a 25% profit margin. If you give a 10% or $10 discount you only bring in $90 for the same $75 cost. Now your margin is down to ~16.7%. It does not matter how many of those discounted jobs you do, you'll never get back to a 25% margin.
 
I do like all of my customers (whom I did their vehicle's). This being said, I do all quotes in person for two reasons. When I first started out, I did a quote over the phone and the lady told me that it wasn't in bad shape (minivan). Upon delivery, it was a mess. The inside had melted chocolate, dirt, grime, etc. all over the place. If I knew this, I would have quoted more than what I did. The second reason is that I can get to know the customer. If they seem like they are going to be a pain in the butt, I tell them that I cannot do what they want for what they want...in a tactful way as not to tarnish my reputation, however, deep down inside, it's just because you know this customer is going to be a pain in the butt and it will be more headaches than it is worth. With this said, I am happy with all of my customers and they are all happy with me and my work.
 
I have worked for people I couldn't stand but they are no longer customers or when they call my prices tend to go above what others might pay and if they're willing to pay then wth, they can be my customer.
 
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