Re: Can't figure some people out

Posted by NCWayne on July 31, 2013 at 19:50:51 from (98.21.228.82):

In Reply to: Can't figure some people out posted by Teakettle on July 31, 2013 at 16:47:36:

Like you said, you will never figure some people out, as evidenced by not only your story but also some of the replies.

I work on construction equipment for a living and run a BIG field service truck. When in the truck I charge $65 per hour, and another $1.50 per mile. That doesn't stop me from doing things like I did this afternoon. Had a good customer called telling me that he couldn't get his MF 135 tractor started after changing the fuel filter. I tried to walk him through everything but he simply couldn't get it to start. So, I was planning to be out and about in the pickup doing some running so I told him I'd run by and take a look. He had the needed tools there already, and it took us nearly an hour to get the stupid thing to ever prime and start (one of the biggest PITA's I've had the pleasure of working on here lately...LOL) but we finally got it. Then I took another 30 minutes or so to help him hook up his mower and get the belt adjusted.

Ultimately I could have charged him for at least two hours plus given my drive time, as well as mileage, etc, etc. and given some of the responses I would have been justified in doing so, and probaly should have because it costs me so much to stay in business.

What I actually did do was charge him $75, basically just the time I spent doing what he asked me to do. That netted me $75 cash money (and we all know cash is always worth more)for my time. To me, given the sitation I thought that was more than fair to the both of us. I mean I was already out and about, he provided me with the tools, etc to do the job, so all I had to do was show up.

I said all of that to say this. In my case I knew what I was getting into and took the appropriatre vehicle to do the job, NOT my huge service truck. As a result I was able to charge a fair amount to my customer and keep a good relationship with him. However had I been out and about in my BIG truck already and been by his place I'd have done the same thing. I belive there's an old saying to the effect that, 'You can shear a sheep many times, but you can only slaughter it once.' Basically be fair to a man and you'll have a customer for life. Do that and you'll make way more money from his continued business than if you screw him over just once.

In your case it sounds like they did their best to screw you over by asking for $300 for what they did. Given what you say it was a total of a 30 minute job for the operator,(approx drive time, and the pull to get you out) with an additonal $1.50 a mile for the truck, so say another $30 in fuel/truck expenses. If it were me charging you for my time and my BIG truck your bill would have been around $65. In other words I would have been thrilled to be offered $100 for a job that was "worth" $65 but really only cost me about $20 in fuel. That's what I call pure profit....especially if it's paid in cash....

Personally I think the owner knew he was screwing you, otherwise he would never have backed down. Many people will go out of their way to screw people when they are in trouble because they think they can. To me he had a truck sitting doing nothing, regardless of the size, and it wasn't your problem that he decided to send his biggest truck to so such a small job. If it were me I'd have sent whatever I had that could do the job, as long as it was going to make me some money, vs letting the truck sit and make nothing. In your case he took advantage of his own decision and tried to screw you, and you didn't just 'bend over'. Instead you stood your ground and offered a fair price for the work done. Wether the guy took it or not was his own problem, not yours.

But, that's just my .02 as a self employeed person that stays in business, and still makes money, by treating my customers right.....

Replies:

• Re: Can't figure some people out Teakettle 12:11:14 08/01/13 (0)
• Re: Can't figure some people out Mike M 05:02:04 08/01/13 (1)
  • Re: Can't figure some people out NCWayne 08:30:01 08/01/13 (0)

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