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When is it OK to embarrass a customer?
December 21, 2011
1:22 am
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Grant
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So, I have this job that I do every so often. Pretty specialized, not something just any body can do. So, of course, I charge plenty for it. Well, the other day I got calls from TWO outfits, and after they describe what they want, I know it's the part I've been doing for years.

Customer has a right to shop around, I guess. But, on the other hand, I want them to know that I'm the only one who can do them too. So I gave the other vendors sky-high prices, which they used in their quotes. Shoulda left it at that, but...........I couldn't resist rubbing the customer's nose in it (cuz I was irked) and making him squirm a bit.

If I had kept my mouth shut, he wouldn't have known that I knew, the other vendors would have given him high prices and I could have increased my price.

Guess I answered my own question now. Shouldn't let emotion take over.

“There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot,
but then there are others who, with the help of their art and their intelligence,
transform a yellow spot into the sun.” ~ Pablo Picasso ~

December 21, 2011
3:17 am
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David Einhorn
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Take a deep breath, relax. Live and learn.

Best wishes,
Dave E.

Author of book titled, "Civil War Blacksmithing", available on Amazon.com

December 21, 2011
3:32 am
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Lewis
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Economists talk about something called "opportunity cost". In this case the cost of making this fella squirm was the opportunity to raise your prices. :bounce:

I felt certain I was gonna have a story about the time I mouthed off to someone, but I can't think of anything at the moment.

December 21, 2011
12:26 pm
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Wayne Coe
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Opps!

Wayne Coe
Artist Blacksmith
669 Peters Ford Road
Sunbright, Tennessee
423-628-6444
[EMAIL=waynecoe@highland.net]waynecoe@highland.net[/EMAIL]
http://www.waynecoeartistblacksmith.com

December 21, 2011
12:43 pm
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JNewman
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I guess when you are semi retired and can afford to lose the customer. Or when they really piss you off.

Of course raising your prices "coincidentally" just after they sent the job out for quote, would probably let them know you know. But they wouldn't know 'for sure" and would hesitate to challenge you on it.

December 21, 2011
4:05 pm
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Bruce Macmillan
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A funny story comes to mind.........A buddy of mine gave a woman a bid on a gate that was similar to one on his website. The pics in the site are copywrited with a ghost mark , (big deal). Anyway he gives her a price and then gets a call from his brother, another smith, that the woman would like a bid from him, as per the copied pics from the website......My buddy told her he was none too pleased and I don't know if he got the job or not.....I would have got my Bro to give her a higher bid and mentioned it after the job,:mstickle: or not....

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
Dr. Seuss

December 21, 2011
5:21 pm
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Randy
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Yea, that's a tough one. If you can do it behind their back that's one thing... I had a client that was an interior decorator from Hungary. As I was working up the price she came by and said with a real accent, "Even though this is for my own home I still expect my discount!" So I doubled my price and gave her 10% off. She was very happy, and so was I!

Randy McDaniel
http://www.drgnfly4g.com

"We do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing." Oliver Wendell Holmes

December 21, 2011
6:47 pm
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Greg Obach
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you do have a monopoly on this item.. so you can in fact raise it as you feel necessary...
- i'd wait till the new year, and raise it abit... just to cover additional operating costs
- its not cruel, its just biz

nextime round when he does it ... i bet the outcome will be different

December 21, 2011
7:26 pm
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Mills
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🙂 You are not alone.

December 23, 2011
4:00 pm
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David Edgar
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Most of my troubles usually start with my big mouth, I just can't leave well alone.
I am not getting any better with age. I just keep pushing the button.

December 23, 2011
10:46 pm
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Bruce Macmillan
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David Edgar;13732 wrote: Most of my troubles usually start with my big mouth, I just can't leave well alone.
I am not getting any better with age. I just keep pushing the button.

I hear ya, Sometimes I get into mindless blabbing (some of you may have noticed) and after a meeting I wonder to myself, why the fuck did I say THAT...:banghead:.... I gotta tell myself before meetings to stay on track, if they don't need to know something to keep it under my hat.....Unless I'm hot for the clients wife....

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
Dr. Seuss

January 4, 2012
11:34 pm
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Phil
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Only 2 suppliers? the most I have had is 6 all coming to me to get a price on a job that we have done for years and we are the only ones that have a) the tooling b) the skills c) the machinery. I basically upped the prices all round but gave the supplier that gave me the best terms (ie he paid on time) the best price, so he naturally got the job, we got our order at our increased price, the end customer ended up paying my increased price plus the suppliers profit margin. Everyone was happy. The next time they come to me direct I'll quote my new price plus what I reckon their supplier whacked onto my price.
Fix them right up!

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