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  • I'm afraid it's all part of the job. We would get a few when we had a Thompson entry. Frustrating, but you can usually tell within a few minutes of your visit. Funny part is that I would occasionally get it wrong and feel really guilty that I misjudged them.

  • Used to get this a lot when doing design work. You soon got to spot the signs of people who were just after free ideas, and I was very limited in what I'd suggest on a first visit.

  • Why do you ask Lee? What is/has been the issue?

    I was recently asked to quote whereby DDA comes into things. 80 minutes later I made my final call and left the property. My final call was (asked three times during the 80 minutes beforehand....WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET PLEASE?)

    Sometimes, and regardless of circumstances....you need to deliver the question and a) wait reasonably for an answer....and/or...b) follow up with a polite email addressing the FACT you have more (profitable!) work on and you will be unable to meet their expectations in the time frame allowed.

    You have completed the cycle (A...contact....B...response/visit....C .....confirmation).....and your pride/diary is intact.

    They all come along but pitching yours services consistently also weeds out those who are 'flicking through'.

    And we all know the 'flicking few'....oooppps...slip of the tongue :->

    Cheers, Eugene

  • Yes. Mostly from people who find I run a landscape gardening business and feel an urge to "kick a tyre or two". A couple of questions usually blows their cover and an answer such as "We have a minimum order size of £xxx. Can you justify that expenditure for what you need?" or even better, "We don't have an hourly rate, sorry." and "We don't do that kind of work, sorry." is usually sufficient to confuse and deter them.


    P.S. What does DDA stand for?
  • Quite often get this, it's normally when we are on a commercial contract and someone will approach us. Generally you quote and they don't come back or as previously said you can weed them out using a few questions
  • Mike....DDA....Disability Discrimination Act.



    Mike Goodman said:

    Yes. Mostly from people who find I run a landscape gardening business and feel an urge to "kick a tyre or two". A couple of questions usually blows their cover and an answer such as "We have a minimum order size of £xxx. Can you justify that expenditure for what you need?" or even better, "We don't have an hourly rate, sorry." and "We don't do that kind of work, sorry." is usually sufficient to confuse and deter them.


    P.S. What does DDA stand for?
  • Thanks Eugene. And in what context might it come in?

    Are you disabled and they were worried about whether they might meet legislative criteria?

    Were they sugesting you advertise for a disbled member of staff to do the job then lay on the facilities to enable whichever disability the necessarily disabled winning candidate may have to cope with it?

    I really don't understand the point your potential customer was trying to make. Do you?

  • PRO

    You need to read the little "Green" or "Blue" Books readit.gif lol .... about considering & catering for DDA when designing/building landscape projects

    Mike Goodman said:

    Thanks Eugene. And in what context might it come in?

    Are you disabled and they were worried about whether they might meet legislative criteria?

    Were they sugesting you advertise for a disbled member of staff to do the job then lay on the facilities to enable whichever disability the necessarily disabled winning candidate may have to cope with it?

    I really don't understand the point your potential customer was trying to make. Do you?

  • Aha. Tick, tock, clang! That was the penny dropping.

    Thanks Gary. Nothing on the horizon which may require it (i.e. nothing public or commercial sector which may pose access or use challenges) but I'll keep an eye open for anything that comes up!

  • PRO
    ....It doesn't need to be public or commercial to implement paths that are wide enough, slopes that can be handled in a w/chair, steps etc, space to swing around, materials to pave or path with.

    "Designers" should exhibit best practice, although for domestic projects there is not the compelling legal requirement unless current occupants require it or is a Housing Assoc etc.

    Mike Goodman said:

    Aha. Tick, tock, clang! That was the penny dropping.

    Thanks Gary. Nothing on the horizon which may require it (i.e. nothing public or commercial sector which may pose access or use challenges) but I'll keep an eye open for anything that comes up!

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