yesterday—i get a call from a prospective customer. I make an appointment for 9:00 am today to look at his project.
I arrive at the house today at the appointed hour——and as i sant on the prospects un-covered stoop in the POURING rain—- I notice the following sticker on the front door————
I will paraphrase to avoid the Taunton censors———
” Eff Ewe See Kay YOU, I have enough friends!”
I read this sticker AFTER I knock on the front door—————
todays question— how long to I stand in the freezing rain on the prospects uncovered stoop staring at that sticker, mentally reflecting on the attitudes it reveals——- before I get back in my truck and drive away?
stephen
Replies
Unless he called you specifically to remove the sticker (or replace the door), I would run as fast as I could. What kind of neighborhood is this customer in?
Bob
A better question would be "how long did you stand there before you drove back to the office and posted this?"
I think I would have at least gave him/her the benefit of a doubt and at least ascertained whether or not they had just bought this house from the clown who actually put that sticker there.
I think I would have at least gave him/her the benefit of a doubt and at least ascertained whether or not they had just bought this house from the clown who actually put that sticker there.
Good point. Reading the original post, I immediately assumed that this is a house that the owner actually lives in, and not a rental or flipper. Still, If I *did* just move in and didn't put the sticker there, it would have been gone before anybody got to see it. Doesn't make much of a first impression...
bob,
owner lives in the house-it is not a rental or a flipper( i screen for this in the initial phone call and if that was the case i would not have been there in the first place)
house is in a neighborhood you or I would NOT want to live in.
I waited about 45 seconds then got back in my truck and left.
stephen-LOL
That is about all the time I would have given it, especially in a bad neighborhood.but now that guy is posting somewhere on a DIY forum a copmplaint about how he can't get any roofing contractors to show up and give him an estimate! LOL
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Just to clarify----- my last post was about a different guy than the original post in this thread--------didn't want to start yet ANOTHER thread chronicling my hissy fits!!! LOL.
I bet you get the Email equivalent of this all the time--------- people demanding your FREE advice---at THEIR convenience.
stephen
Just this morning, I spent close to an hour researching to find a particular wall sconce for a lady who has been a good customer here. She wants the same wall sconce for their house in Denver as the antique ones in the house here that I rebuilt for her.
It'll go on the bill though.I remember some guy called just as I was dozing offf about 8PM a month ago. he started rattling on about a job coming up as though we had done a dozen jobs together...I have lousy hearing - can't always recognize my own wife's voice over the phone, so I think maybe I missed something..."Excuse me, who is this???""joe blow from cocamoe, Mr X gave me your name and said you could do this work for me, we're ready to start in .......""Excuse me, Do I KNOW you?""Uhn, Sorry, did I catch you at a bad time?""I guess so, I'm all booked up for another six months or so!"
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Sounds like they got tired of the Jehovah witness wake up call on a saturday am.
But man, no Girl Scout cookies?
enduring the J W s is just god's way of making you earn those thin mints" If I were a carpenter"
Ya never heard of an umbrella? Sure, they look lame but they keep ya dry.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
The look you get when you answer the door to the JW's while wearing your 666 pendant - Priceless!
>>>>>>>The look you get when you answer the door to the JW's while wearing your 666 pendant - Priceless!Yeah, but they'll actually run away when you answer the door in the nude and after inviting 'em in yell to the back of the house "hey honey, these two are even better looking than the two from last week."http://logancustomcopper.com
http://grantlogan.net/
It's like the whole world's walking pretty and you can't find no room to move. - the Boss
I married my cousin in Arkansas - I married two more when I got to Utah. - the Gourds
86480.11 in reply to 86480.10
Yeah, but they'll actually run away when you answer the door in the nude and after inviting 'em in yell to the back of the house "hey honey, these two are even better looking than the two from last week."
I believe the above is the funniest thing I have ever read here. Did you get pictures?
>>>>>>>>Did you get pictures?Nope, and fortunately, they didn't either.http://logancustomcopper.com
http://grantlogan.net/
It's like the whole world's walking pretty and you can't find no room to move. - the Boss
I married my cousin in Arkansas - I married two more when I got to Utah. - the Gourds
I was wondering who was knocking at my door ...
Jeff
personally ... I'da chuckled and thot ... finally ... someone I can work with!
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Sounds like you paid a visit to my BIL.
He showed up at a BBQ wearing a t shirt that reads "I wouldn't xxxx you for practice".
How long do I look at that before I kick him in the head?
yourcontractor@aol.com
WHICH content will be free, of course; WHICH content will require registration; but WHICH content will be available only to members of FineHomebuilding.com.???
"I wouldn't xxxx you for practice".
Now thats real class!
Sounds like a wonderful guy. <G>
Doug
Well that was prior to him emailing DW (his sister) and telling her how sick and tired he was of hearing mommy tell him how good we are to her. You can all go xxxx yourselves.
I'm growing fonder of him by the moment.yourcontractor@aol.com
WHICH content will be free, of course; WHICH content will require registration; but WHICH content will be available only to members of FineHomebuilding.com.???
I don't know how long you have to wait but I'm using that line and on the next chick that gets mouthy with me...
Hopefully it won't be my wife ;)
attention: rude contractor alert!
So, I am at home last evening-about 9:00 pm----and my business line rings------------ no problem--that's what answering machines are for. caller hangs up without leaving message.
couple minutes later---wife says--your cel phone is ringing---------- I go look at it-----don't even recognize the area code-----looks vauguely Clevelandish.
start thinking-- my son goes to college with a lot of kids from the cleveland area---maybe he is hurt and someone is trying to inform us.
wife gets out the phonebook---looks up the area code---------North Royalton.----
just as I am figuring out WHO is calling----home phone rings---and my wife ANSWERS it( she can't NOT answer it---it's compulsive---somebody might want to talk to her!!!!)
It's for you, she smirks--and hands me the phone--------but I already know who it is.
Several months ago-----a guy read an article in FHB---and tracked me down-----" please do my roof, north royalton isn't all that far from you--I used to work in your city, I know how far it is ,blah,blah,blah"
so-- i told him I would look at the roof----which I did, discovering it's about an hours drive each way-----and a couple of phone calls tell me it would be a pain in the butt to get permitted and licensed for ONE job in North Royalton.
so I call the guy up( MONTHS ago----and tell him---sorry----not interested---to much hassle----best of luck to you,etc.)
I figure that's that---last I hear from the guy---------
untill last night.
" Steve----- i have talked to 4 other roofers--and they all tell me the same thing---it's really difficult to deal with the building department here. Hey----how much ice gaurd should i have them put HERE--and how much icegaurd should I have them put THERE.
I try answering in Monosyllables-----he doesn't take the hint.
So--------when he pauses to take a breath, I say---------" hey-let me ask you---- If I had written a book----would you be calling me up to grill me like this???????"
Uhmmm, errrrr, no probably not------OHHH!!!, sorry, Click.
He hangs up----mercifully.
Probably should have handled it better---- but-- I am tired----been carrying slate up a ladder all day-----and my systems are in place to prevent this sort of intereaction when I am too tired to deal rationally----the answering machine!!!! Leave a message!!!!
I understand how he got my business line-- I am in the book.
I don't understand how he got my cel phone--- I don't give that number out---and I watch who i call on it because there are really only 5 people I want to hear from on it.
but the fact that he looked up my HOME phone number----to call me up and pester me with " brother in law "type questions---like I am his personal resource----- HE IS NOT EVEN A CUSTOMER!!!!!!!!
sorry for the rant---- but the home phone thing bothers me.---If he had left a message on my work phone---- I would have called him back at my convenience to answer his questions, for free-as a courtesy. but the home phone thing---really pizzes me off-----no respect---- like he is ENTITLED to an answer to his questions---any time he want's em---what am I the effen public library???-- even the library has closing hours, LOL
BTW-----wife says--him tracking down my cell phone number----is creepy, stalker-like.
should I have just cut him short6 early on---and said" you do realize you are not a customer--and you are calling me at HOME with business type questions??????"
Stephen
Even a family member knows that it better be an emergency to call here after 9PM!
I'd have told the guy I'll call him back when I'm awake and alert enough to respond - at 5AM - and let him take the hint.Truely, I use my home phone for business too, but traain my customers when is best to call. Sometimes I get new prospect calls in the evening, but not often. I just politely tell them that it is not a good time to talk and ask what time during the day tomorrow may I call you back?I've had a few who ignore that simple request and act like my time is their time right then and there, but I don't do business any further with them. The denser they act, the ruder I have to be to get it through to them.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
and my wife ANSWERS it( she can't NOT answer it---it's compulsive---somebody might want to talk to her!!!!)
LOL! Definetly a female thing.
I gotta say.....you showed a lot more patience with the guy calling your home phone than I ever could have.
With your wife as well. I likely woulda flipped on her for saying anything other than, "he's not available, leave a message on the business line."
Democrats.The other white meat.
In no way am i defending the prospective client, but there has been many a time I have had to throw door to door salespeople off my porch. My neighborhood seems to attract pushy salespeople, religious fanatics, and politions. I would love to put a bumpersticker like that on my front door. (although, admittedly, I would have a hard time explaining it to my kids, "...what does Eff Ewe See Kay YOU mean daddy?"
I'd also like to sit on my roof with a paintball rifle and shoot the ones that couldn't read the bumber sticker. Is that wrong? LOL
There is, I suppose the outside chance that the home owner is just some frustrated dude that just wants to be left alone. ...or maybe he's just nuts!
Dave
just hit them in the back of the head with the paint ball...
seems to annoy then to the point that they don't return...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
A follow up call before reaching the door might have been prudent and an assesment of the home as you arrived could have given you an idea of the type of situation you are getting into.
I have waited after contacting a client for over an hour and ended with a very good repeat client. Some time it is difficult to understand where a persons mindset is at a given time but it would still behove caution.