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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Austin Powell-Allen on May 2, 2012 at 23:58

I think its bad too its just begin rude i have got stuck in traffic but have tried to call to inform the customer. I have had the same with customers in the past to and they have not had the respect to call and cancel.

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Jen@A&J Owenwindows&gardens on May 3, 2012 at 10:05

Whatever way round it is, just bad manners - pure and simple. We had a customer approach us to do some work last week. We gave him a price and said we'd e-mail to confirm price and start date for this week. Sent e-mail, he agreed time, we turned up, no answer. Sent an e-mail - nothing.  I am resisting the urge to send him an e-mail thanking for wasting our time and petrol!!!

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Austin Powell-Allen on May 3, 2012 at 17:24

Hopefully you did not buy any materials as I would post him an invoice for labour to cover cost of returning them and your time. Hopefully they will not want you again.

I did work a while ago and they only part paid me. for some reason spent ages chasing it with no joy its only £40 but its the princable of it as your cant go to Sainsburys and say im going to pay 50p for this loaf when its a pound! If they ring back i will tell them the invoice needs settling before i commence work again and this is what you get for helping people out prior to a party! 

Jenny@ A & J Owen Gardening said:

Whatever way round it is, just bad manners - pure and simple. We had a customer approach us to do some work last week. We gave him a price and said we'd e-mail to confirm price and start date for this week. Sent e-mail, he agreed time, we turned up, no answer. Sent an e-mail - nothing.  I am resisting the urge to send him an e-mail thanking for wasting our time and petrol!!!

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Permalink Reply by phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com on May 3, 2012 at 21:14

i agree there is a lot of time wasters around, not only contractors, but customers aswell, it annoys me when i spend my time to go and look at a job, return home and sit down sometimes for best part of an hour working out the prices then type it all out on headed paper, then either email the quote to them or deliver it if local and then the customer doesnt even have the manners to let me know they are using someone else, they dont even need to speak to me they can text or email, very annoying.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Lawrence on May 3, 2012 at 21:28

Just a though Phil, why not just give a verbal quote?

If quote is accepted then write it up and provide customer with a copy. Might save a bit of time/hassle in future.  
 
phil smith yewtree landscapes said:

i agree there is a lot of time wasters around, not only contractors, but customers aswell, it annoys me when i spend my time to go and look at a job, return home and sit down sometimes for best part of an hour working out the prices then type it all out on headed paper, then either email the quote to them or deliver it if local and then the customer doesnt even have the manners to let me know they are using someone else, they dont even need to speak to me they can text or email, very annoying.

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Permalink Reply by phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com on May 3, 2012 at 21:52

would never just give a verbal quote, in my opinion its not professional, its not realy the time it takes, the bit  that annoys me is the customer cant even be bothered to get back in touch, or even a quick email to say thanks for the quote, its just manners.

i am not saying people shouldnt give verbal quotes, its just not my way

Andy Lawrence said:

Just a though Phil, why not just give a verbal quote?

If quote is accepted then write it up and provide customer with a copy. Might save a bit of time/hassle in future.  
 
phil smith yewtree landscapes said:

i agree there is a lot of time wasters around, not only contractors, but customers aswell, it annoys me when i spend my time to go and look at a job, return home and sit down sometimes for best part of an hour working out the prices then type it all out on headed paper, then either email the quote to them or deliver it if local and then the customer doesnt even have the manners to let me know they are using someone else, they dont even need to speak to me they can text or email, very annoying.

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Permalink Reply by Justin Hemming on May 4, 2012 at 12:16

I've just been to see a new customer, first thing she said "Thanks for turning up"

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by David Cox on May 4, 2012 at 13:05

I picked up a new customer back in Feb, whos first comments were "Please say you'l do my garden" - I was abit puzzled - until she explained she had accepted 3 quotes over the past year, and each gardener had disapeared without a trace without telling her!

I think alot of this impression may be caused at this time of year by the dozens of have-a-go's who spring up each spring, win a few jobs, realise its bloody hard work and quit /  dont quote because the jobs beyond their abilities etc

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Dan Frazer Gardening on May 6, 2012 at 20:44

You need to back up a verbal quote with a written one which also explains your terms; specifically how you accept payment and frequency of visits. It is important to get these basic items across in writing so they don't forget or question things later on.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Lawrence on May 6, 2012 at 22:51

As per my comment, give a verbal quote, if accepted back it up with written quote before work carried out. That's not an unprofessional way to work.  
 
phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com said:

would never just give a verbal quote, in my opinion its not professional, its not realy the time it takes, the bit  that annoys me is the customer cant even be bothered to get back in touch, or even a quick email to say thanks for the quote, its just manners.

i am not saying people shouldnt give verbal quotes, its just not my way

Andy Lawrence said:

Just a though Phil, why not just give a verbal quote?

If quote is accepted then write it up and provide customer with a copy. Might save a bit of time/hassle in future.  
 
phil smith yewtree landscapes said:

i agree there is a lot of time wasters around, not only contractors, but customers aswell, it annoys me when i spend my time to go and look at a job, return home and sit down sometimes for best part of an hour working out the prices then type it all out on headed paper, then either email the quote to them or deliver it if local and then the customer doesnt even have the manners to let me know they are using someone else, they dont even need to speak to me they can text or email, very annoying.

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Permalink Reply by phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com on May 6, 2012 at 23:07

the reason i would never give a verbal quote, is because i would not except one my self, personaly i would rather put it all down in writing from the start, then there is no quibbeling about what you might have told the customer on your site visit, you give them a verbal quote and then when you have spent the time sitting down and working the prices out and putting it all down on headed paper, when they recieve the quote you then get a call or email saying well you told me i would be getting more done than is on your written quote, for me my way works, from the start all written down, you have a copy and the customer has a copy then there is no quibbeling at the end of the job, i understand a lot of people on here are maintenance men & women and have a set hourly rate so it is easy to give a verbal quote but when priceing for a complete one off project is very differant

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Permalink Reply by Andy Lawrence on May 7, 2012 at 18:23

Hi Phil,

Yes, I deal in maintenance (like hell I work on an hourly rate though, price per job). Was thinking it was the same for you but just checked your profile and I see you are doing hard landscaping etc.

So yes, fair enough I can see why a verbal quote wouldn't work in that situation, was just trying to help.

 

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