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Date:         Wed, 8 Aug 2007 11:07:43 -0500
Reply-To:     Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Labor, 28 hours, customer say, i have no money....
In-Reply-To:  <46B9D6E6.8030302@videotron.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Ben,

I think a lot of people dream of getting something but don't have a dime - it's just that most of us don't go out and contract the work and then cannot pay for it.

I am sorry this is happening to you. Here in my business (Call Center / communications) we make every new client sign a statement of financial responsibility. All it is is something stating they promise to pay for our services. This way we have a signed document incase we have to take them to court. You may do this already I don't know.

I wish you the best on this - I hope you get the money you deserve.

On 8/8/07, Ben <huotb@videotron.ca> wrote: > > I always take deposit, well, almost. Not this time. I'm a poor business > men, that i know, but i'm getting better. > > Sad to say, but the following is true, it's always Air-cool folks that > give me trouble. Never had one single problem with water - cool folks, > if money was slighly a problem, they were honest about it so we work on > a solution. > > Don't worry, van sleep inside, anyway, if it would be outside... he he, > it would miss a few vey important parts. > > The guy was not impolite or unpleasant, at all, but it's the kind of > thing i don't have to hear after spending 28 hard hours of working. He > even came at the shop at half point to see the damage. This is when i > told him about the approx price. > > I don't go shopping with checks or fully loaded credit card, i stay > home, ifi have no cash, i inform myself as for the payment method before > thinking of buying something, like if they take credit card.... here, in > Quebec, no one is using check anymore. > > Some people are not thinking. > > Anyway. This is a statement for those who dreams of getting something > but don't have a dime. > > Ben > > > > Van-Again: Kenneth Wilford wrote: > > > Ben, > > > > You have to cover yourself on these jobs. I always get at least a 50% > > deposit on jobs larger than just a couple of hours. I make up an > > estimate and try to estimate high because there is usually always > > something that you didn't notice or can't see until you get it all > > ripped apart. If you estimate high and come in under it the customer > > thinks you are awesome (like Scotty on Star Trek), if it goes up a > > little at least they are more prepared for the price. Once I get the > > estimate typed up I can either email or just give it to the customer. > > The customer approves it, I get the 50% deposit via cash, credit card, > > even a check since you can wait for it to clear before you start the > > job. If it is an extremely large job, I get 50% then at another point > > that the customer and I agree to, I get another 25%, then the final > > 25% on completion. > > Parts cost money. I don't have extra cash sitting around to buy all > > of the parts that a customer might need for a large job. But if you > > get the 50% deposit you should have at least enough to cover your > > parts and keep things rolling until the job is done. > > A real customer that wants the work done will have no problem giving > > you a deposit. Any changes that I have to make to the estimate that > > are larger than $100 I call the customer and clear it with them > > first. When it is all done we go for a ride together in the van and > > any questions he (or she) has are addressed and then when they are > > happy, I get the rest of the money and they get their invoice with > > "Paid in Full" on it. Now everyone is happy. I am happy because I > > have done a great job and have gotten my reward for doing so. The > > customer is happy because their baby is back on the road and they can > > have more confidence in it. > > > > I have learned these painful lessons after doing this for almost 10 > > years now. But if you learn something from the lesson, then at least > > it is not in vain. > > > > I am posting this to the list so that list members know how an honest > > mechanic does business. Checks and balances on both parties. I even > > keep the old parts until the customer comes and checks out the van. > > If they request them, I can show the old parts that were removed and > > replaced so that there are no questions. Again you have to cover > > yourself. I recommend all female customers who are dealing with a > > shop for the first time, request that they show you the old parts > > after completing the job. Do this when you approve the estimate that > > way they know to keep the old parts. Even if you have no clue what > > the parts are that you are looking at, it lets folks know that you are > > going to check on them and keep them accountable. > > > > Hope this helps, > > Ken Wilford > > John 3:16 > > www.vanagain.com > > > > > > Benny boy wrote: > > > >> Me: > >> Sir, you Air-Cool van is ready and working fine (new heads, pistons + > >> a lot > >> of small stuff), 130psi all around, temp is fine, tested. Ready to > >> drive, > >> don't forget, drive smooth, oil change between 700-1000km. > >> > >> Customer: Ok, thank so much. I can go camping now, how much? > >> > >> Me: 3399$ > >> > >> Customer: ho, ok, can i make a check? > >> > >> Me: NO check, i had to many problems with those, sorry, cash, credit. > >> Debit > >> as a max of 1000$ per day just so you know. > >> > >> Customer: ho, i don't have enough on my credit card, what shoud i do? > >> Maybe > >> i have enough in my bank account??? > >> > >> Me: Sir, i have spent 3.5 days in a row in your van, i have grease up > >> to my > >> a**... find a solution... CREDIT, CASH or NO van, sorry but i'm sure > you > >> understand my point of view. > >> > >> Customer: Well, i'm no sure how to find the money! > >> > >> Me: Sir, i told you before an approx of the total bill, you didn't say > >> nothing, you said go ahead! > >> > >> Customer: well, i will find a way, how can i pay again? > >> > >> Me: Cash or credit (me sound VERY COLD) > >> --------------------------------------------------------------- > >> > >> The conclusion... > >> This is not the first time this happen to me, far from it, what the > >> hell is > >> the problem with people like that??????? i work my ass off... and > >> this is > >> the answer i get. > >> > >> Frustration! yes, it is. > >> > >> We always blame the business men, the customers is always right... > >> yea.. sure. > >> > >> I tell you all because if this happen to me.. i'm sure some of you > >> did so > >> one day!!! think twice before doing it again! > >> > >> Ben > >> http://www.benplace.com/bjp3.htm > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > >

-- Thanks,

Jeff 90' Carat (Grover) 86' (We call this one Parts) 85' GL (Preparing for reanimation)


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