Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 10:44:54 -0400
Reply-To: Ben <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ben <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: Labor, 28 hours, customer say, i have no money....
In-Reply-To: <46B9B105.2050907@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
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
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
| 
