This wasn’t recent, but I’m just thinking about it. Did you ever have one of those customers who grabs your tape measure out of your hand (while discussing measurements of whatever), and just keeps talking, not handing it back to you?
During estimates, I carry 2 tape measures – one for me and one so the other party. But it has happened a couple of times, that I don’t happen to have a spare. During the course of conversation the other party (customer, archy, whoever) gets ahold of my tape measure and doesn’t hand it back to me. Grrrrr!!!!
Then I have to find a polite way to “Take” it back.
~ Ted W ~
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Replies
How's about getting a couple of dozen and getting your business's name and number put on them.
Then let potential customers take & keep them. They'll never forget you.
It's not in my budget, but a good idea. Maybe when economy gets better I could justify the expense.~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
Say to them, "let me see that for a second," and then measure something handy - a door, the height of the ceiling, anything - and put it back on your belt.
As a homeowner, I wouldn't like that approach. It's like you are being sneaky because you think I'm trying to steal it when, instead, I very likely am involved in the consultation and not aware that I haven't given it back.I'd prefer you just simply and directly smile, hold your hand out and say "Oh, I need that back".
Thats what I do. Usually, I might make some wisecrack about them trying to steal it if the atmosphere is causual. Sometimes, if they are too intense about the conversation, I just reach for it and they instinctively hand it back without breaking stride.
I really like the idea of having a small promo tape to give them.
"I really like the idea of having a small promo tape to give them."That idea came up at the big builder my wife worked for. One of the crusty old guys said "just don't give them a level".
I've never had that happen, but that would tick me off.
I don't take a pencil out of someone's hand while they're writing, I ask them for it. A person who grabbed my tape measure would like get some reflexive reaction from me.
But, I did have a guy take my 30' leverlock out of my bag a few weeks ago when we were discussing some work. The guy was trying to look cool (I think) and like he knew what he was talking about (after all, he worked "construction" when he was in college) but he couldn't figure how to get the blade out of the body! I took the tape and surreptitiously depressed the lever and pulled the tape out. He was dumbfounded.
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
They never really "Grab" the tape measure, I was just adding drama. But they have forgotten to give it right back, making me have to ask for it. ~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
kinda related. you talking to a client, customer, sub, and they interrupt before you are finish. When I was young I would stop talking and listen. But as I gotta older I notice I will "DONT INTERRUP ME, LET ME FINISH" and I will start from the beginning.Its all about the command of the conversation, I notice if they command the discussion then they think they in charge and it can be done their way. I have an architect that way, he get done talking, he get up and walks out of the room , without listening to discussion.
I was dealing with an archy like that once.He called basically to inspect the job over the phone. Asked a Q and then kept right on talking with out stopping to hear my answer. After three times of this I was tired of his monologue and hung up - had things to do. It was a few minutes before he called back again. I can just imagine how long he talked before realizing I was no longer on the line.
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kinda related. you talking to a client, customer, sub, and they interrupt before you are finish. When I was young I would stop talking and listen. But as I gotta older I notice I will "DONT INTERRUP ME, LET ME FINISH" and I will start from the beginning.
Yeah, that's another good one. I don't go as far as saying "Don't interupt me" or start from the beginning, unless I've already decided I don't want their business. But sometimes I just keep talking till they get the hint, or let them finish then continue where I left off, or interupt them right back.
I'm glad to say my best customers are very business oriented and are accustomed to letting each person talk in turn. ~ Ted W ~
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I've got to say I prefer your method better than Brownbagg's. In the same way that I'm not trying to steal your tape measure, I'm also not interrupting you on purpose in a stupid power play. If I interrupt, it's because I'm enthusiastic, you've triggered my mind, and I'm trying to follow you or confirm your ideas.I did meet with a guy once a long time ago who kept telling me not to interrupt, but I had no way of knowing I was interrupting because he wasn't talking at the time- He apparently was doing a monologue and I wasn't supposed to converse with him at all. He didn't get the job. Admittedly, my project was no big loss to him, but I sure would have had a difficult time working with him.
It is much more important now as we get older, if I do not get the thought out in one burst it may take and hour to remember what I was talking about (;-)For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
It is much more important now as we get older, if I do not get the thought out in one burst it may take and hour to remember what I was talking about (;-)
It didn't start till you got older? I've never known a time when escaped thoughts were easy to get back to.
Or maybe I just don't remember.~ Ted W ~
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What were we talking about?For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
What were we talking about?
Peace on earth
Ending hunger
A good education
I dunno...whatcha have in mind? lol
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Edited 4/15/2009 12:24 am ET by RalphWicklund
What was your source and cost? They look like the Max steel Stanleys.For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
I got them at the flea market for a buck a piece. Pull out to 16', lock in place, good spring return, both inches and metric. Rubber grip around hard plastic shell and a wrist strap.<G>
Peeled off the label and replaced with my own 1 1/2", peel and stick, circle that I got printed through the local OfficeMax.
Total cost, each, IIRC, $1.50.
I bought cheap ones and cut myself bad, I dont know if the edges are sharper on all of them but mine were deadly
Thanks, good deal!For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
That is a good idea...I Googled it and there were tons...here's a few
http://www.branders.com/product/promotional_items_Tape_Measure_6_Ft_with_Level_Pen_Notepad?prdid=50554&breadcrumb=true&zone=US http://www.shopdeluxe.com/shopdeluxe/catalog/tierThreeCategory.jsp?startIndex=0&page=1&parentCatId=MAJ-PROM&softwareFlag=false&id=TAPE+MEASR&PROMOCODE=cp459&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=cp459&gclid=CM_h4ruN8pkCFRIeDQodNHavRg
http://www.specprom.com/category/promotional-TapeMeasures_p1.htm
http://www.epromos.com/product/8825368.html
I kinda liked the other one with the level but these have a key chain which means it might get used more?
1121 - Tape Measure Level KeychainLowest price starting at: $0.55 each.Description: 39 inch metal tape with auto retraction. It also has inch and metric scale and level.
View Details
http://www.4imprint.com/Mini-Grip-Tape-Measure/EXEC/DETAIL/FROMPRODUCTGROUP/~SKU104019/~CA104019.htm
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Edited 4/15/2009 2:03 am ET by andybuildz
Edited 4/15/2009 2:18 am ET by andybuildz
Edited 4/15/2009 2:19 am ET by andybuildz
Edited 4/15/2009 2:24 am ET by andybuildz
Sure you just hit reply but it was not my idea. We used to give away Zippo 6' tapes when I was a manufacturers' rep. I did not buy them the agency owner did but they were pretty classy compared to most although not overly useful in our trade here. We were repping aerospace stuff. Engineers and buyers loved them.
They seem to be discontinued and now Barlow does them.
http://www.advantage-advertising.com/zippo-tapes.htmlFor those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
your idea? ...ok..sorry...lol. When I Googled Tape measure promos there must be dozens of pages of a gazillion great ideas you can buy...dozens of variations of the same items at all kinda prices.
Personally I like the key chain idea best b/c it stays with the customer and doesn't get tossed in a drawer but the only problem is you need to get something thats not cheap looking and it really can add up/ I saw a pretty classy looking key chain that had a really nice small flashlight w/a small tape measure and little level...It was a really nice one but you needed to spend like $600 b/c they were over two bucks each and you needed to buy at least 250 of em' and a set up charge etc.
I guess thats not bad if you have the cash and the potential clientele to give them to. After looking at all the promo items I gave up...Way too many cool choices. I'd go broke...lol
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
That's what I like about RalphWicklund's idea. I also would rather hand out something of quality, since it makes a statement about the work I do. But it would take me years to had out 250 of them. I wouldn't give them to most of my potential customers, as they just want a few repairs and maybe some painting done. Only if they're talking a large remodeling project or a room addition, AND if I think they're serious, will I give them a free tape measure. Otherwise, I have an extra one on hand that they can "borrow" during the course of the meeting.
Anyway, I ordered 1/2 dozen on ebay, and can get a couple dozen more if I like what they send me. I can label them myself (again Ralph's idea). ~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
I kinda dug these too but they only do 39 3/8" but still. I think they were around a buck and lite change each and you had to order 150-ish?
There were large nice tape measures I saw for under two bucks too w/your logo but I like the key chain idea..
whatever...I doubt I'll do it anyway for awhile.
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http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
I agree with you on the quality theory.
Probably a tough call on who to hand them out to, but I'm thinking it might be the next job, as well as the current one, that the tape sells.
When the idea of any project comes up, one of the first things many people do is grab a tape measure and check the space they want improved. A quality tape with a builder's name staring at them couldn't hurt.
Also, the larger tape might be less likely to get lost, easy to use and thus be there when the advertising can do its job.
My favorites are the clowns that interrupt themselves while trying to convey to get their point across.ML
My favorites are the clowns that interrupt themselves while trying to convey to get their point across.
Haaa haaa haaa... yeah those people really...
Hey, wait a minut! Who you callin' a clown??
(hee hee)~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
I ordered 100 of these inexpensive tape measures from Amsterdam Printing. They're a bit cheesy so I don't give too many away, but kids love them and they would make a great trade for my own tape measure if I had the problem of customers borrowing mine.
One nice feature about them is that they're marked in english and metric. Hey, you never know... we might go metric one day.
I just now placed an order for 1/2 dozen that look like good quality, to see what I get. If they're pretty good I guess I'll get 50 or so. With shipping, they're about $3 each, so I won't be handing them out like candy. Only for those customers who will give me substantial work.
Thanks for the idea.~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
Nice ideal Ralph, can I get a 30' Stanley? No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.
Sure, you can get a 30' Stanley. HD and Lowes sells them. I'll mail you one of my stickers to put on it if you want - no charge.
LOL!!! No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.
At least they can't do any harm with it. Much more alarming for me is when a client gets ahold of my pencil when I'm going over a design. You can see the change in their face as they get that "Hey, this is fun and easy to make changes...hmmm I feel like God now" look. Yeah, once they've got your pencil you're pretty much done.
LOL
I definately wouldn't recommend this, but at the shop, we had this boss from another dept. always coming in and wanting something. He'd say, "I need this built...blah blah blah...right away. And we'd say something like, "yeah, well what size do you need?" and then he'd instictively grab one of our tape measures, hold it out and say.."this big"...or something like that.
He wouldn't always hand back the tape either. He always tried to walk off with them. Sooo, we got one of those electrified, prankster type tape measures...the kind that looks real, but when you pull the tape out approx 2 inches...WHAM! BZZZZZZ! you get a jolt.
Well sure enough one day he comes in, starts the same old routine and grabs the nearest tape measure off our work bench...the prankster tape we had set visibly on the front corner of the bench . Yeah, he took the bait all right...and boy you shoulda seen his face when that tape measure lighted him up!
We all got a big laugh out of it...Somehow he didn't see the humor in it and stayed away from ur shop for a while...which was an added bonus!
Davo
I just sharpen the edges like a razor, and when their fingers fall off, I get it back off the floor.
I just sharpen the edges like a razor, and when their fingers fall off, I get it back off the floor.
Then wipe the blood off on thier shirt, since they can't do anything about it. Heck, they ain't got no fingers!
Hey, here's a good joke (not pointed at you, just sharing it)
"How many fingers am I holding up, and which one?"
note to self: don't borrow Malo's tape measure.~ Ted W ~
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Hand them a rag and say - "Sorry, that one leaks. Did it get ya? Here, you can use this one instead"
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
our company has gave everything, hats, t shirts, lunch boxes, folding chairs, umbrella, computer bags, clip board,etceven tape measure, but the most requested items are the orange hunting hats and beer huggers. No body like paying for them so they want ours free, and we gladly give them away
I think it's a psychological thing, like which of you is longer. I'd cut the tape you wish to have the customer grab to about three inches and then have a "tape contest" with him. That should settle it.
Or I could just whip it out and settle that matter once and for all.~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
So who's had them reach for the tape that's still in the holder at the front of the nail bag (old style Nicholas belts).
NTTAWWT...............
bullcrap, it's just not right.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
It happened once, GC grabbed it. Man, now that was awkward!
And no, he didn't try to put it back when he was done with it. ~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!