Awhile back we had a gutter quote/clean scheduled for a Monday afternoon. That morning the lady calls to ask for our address to send the check. Anthony tells her that he’ll be able to tell her the price after he gets there. She responds, “ Oh you’re not the one at my house right now? Oh well I’m sorry I guess I don’t need you anymore”. 
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I guess wasting 4 hours of my time just wasn’t enough for him
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yeah buddy it sure is, cause guess what I’m not an employee, surprise!!!
I’m a service business like one of your many food machine repair services you have to call endlessly, do you whine “that’s more than I pay my employees” or do you want to get your bread machine working so you can make some $?
while you’re at it, why don’t you cry to your landlord and tell him 12k a month for your shoebox sized store is more than you even pay yourself and you can only pay them $15
I think I’m gonna whine that your $5 footlongs are now $6 but after you make it I’m only gonna offer to pay $4
irritating people 
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Yeah, I seen that movie too.
When they start with all that garbage I try to keep from smiling and kinda glance at them when I tell them I don’t give discounts.
Real estate agents, people who sell houses-in my area they try that garbage ALL the time.
Its always the monster mansions too. “I got 4000 more of these just dying to pay you full price if you just do this 8000 sq. ft house with cut ups for 50 bucks. Whaddya say sucker? er I mean, pal…”
Too funny.
I don’t drive anywhere for houses EVER. Won’t do it. On the phone or not at all.
And then a deposit…come on guys…thats the only thing thats gonna keep that from happening.
If you are on the road, tell them after you get the address to give you 2 and a half minutes to call them back with a price. Go to google earth or Trulia to look at the house, size it up and when you call em back with your price and what it includes, and for what day they want to book… then tell them all we need from you is a credit card number to secure your job…is that visa or mastercard?
See, even if they find bucket bobs number, they already left an nonrefundable deposit. They ain’t gonna cancel.
Not one time have I gotton a cancellation after a deposit.
Just sayin…
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Thank you all so much for your stories and advice. I will take this to heart and learn and teach from this experience!
Did I mention toon how great it felt to say NO to him! I give military, firefighter, and senior discount… I’m starting to question the senior lol. Jk I want this discount when I’m old!! Let’s not be the ones to abolish it…
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our sales approach is never high pressure and im almost nonchalant about it. its serious business but im not desperate and it promotes confidence.
we have a high number of retired people so we are always getting asked for deals since they’re retired. i always say nope you’ve had longer to save for it. last one laughed and gave us the job
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I’ve tried the deposit route. It’s interesting to see how different things are from market to market.
In mine, you’ll quickly kill your own business expecting a deposit to set an appointment. Literally no one would put one down, because that’s just not the way it works here. Doesn’t work that way when you call other service providers here either. Matter of fact, I called the local garage door repair place recently (first time I have ever used them) and they are billing me. Didn’t even expect payment (and wouldn’t take payment) at the time of completion.
If you give me the run around like was mentioned, I’m gonna bill you a trip charge. I’ve only had it happen 4 times, and I got it paid 3 out of the 4.
You guys that can get deposits, great for you. I’m glad your market will allow it.
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Now that’s funny! 
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I have been trying to Save money for 30 years… I wont deny the fact that I buy stuff that allows me to have fun, and enjoy life because we only live once…
However, as long as im alive, I WILL ALWAYS ask for deals or discounts. Being a in a RETAIL leadership role for a great portion of my work life, I will tell you one major thing… (Retails stores slowly raise their prices on items, THEN ADVERTISE they are on sale for $40 less than normal… When really you’re saving maybe $5-10… still a savings lol…
Lets not even get into Cyber monday or Black friday… SUCH A RIP!
Point being is, when im 40, 50, 60, 70, etc, I will still ask for Discounts-coupons-and deals!!
Here’s an interesting factoid:
The vast majority of people have no money. As in don’t have a thousand bucks in savings.
As it’s been said by many people who have money, the reason people don’t have money is because they spend it all instead of saving/investing it.
I’m not gonna get into the subject. If people are happy, I’m happy for them. However, I no longer have pity for people that made decent money in their live up to a point of a life event and they end up broke, bankrupt, or in financial ruins. Hell, I’ve been there and it’s always been because of the poor decisions up to that point that led me and everyone else, there.
Nothing wrong with asking for a discount. I’ve done it at times too, when I thought it was the right situation.
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I disagree.
Medical reasons that are out of your control can destroy you financially.
But I do agree with this! 
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Reminds me of the “cheap customer” thread.
Everyone wants to think they are just getting a deal.
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So very true. That is what happened to me in 2014. I spent most of the year in the hospital and almost lost my house and everything. Luckily I was able to keep everyone at bay and got a loan modification on the house, and chip away at the rest little by little until I was well enough and work flowed again. It is devastating to watch the spigot of life run and run and the reservoir that feeds it drain so fast it takes your breath away as panic kicks in.
Now? I just bought a water fed pole setup and am current on all bills except a few medical ones that I can’t reach yet that went into collections. But I have hope to knock those out too. 
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See you must be in a market where the handshake is still good as bond.
If I billed someone for a trip fee, they’d call me just to cuss me out.
There aren’t too many others in my area that ask for the deposit either.
And I have had 2 or 3 over the years refuse to give me credit card information.
How long did you try the deposit thing?
I found out something when I first tried it. Because I didn’t think it was going to work at first and I think I got the idea from @Chris years ago, so even tho I KNEW it would work? I was freaken scared to do it because I need everyone who calls to hire me and it was a big deal for me to do this.
It was chris tho. I don’t know him to lie.
I don’t remember if this is WCRA stuff or not so Chris if it is please forgive the reveal but he said it was part of the incoming sales phone script.
I knew that if I did it a second time? I would lose the sale so I had a girl who worked for me do it. And it worked.
She told me that when I read the script, it sounded like I didn’t trust my own voice. Zero confidence I think she was trying to tell me in so many words.
I believe you, but are you sure that it might not have been the same issue I had?
If someone plans on hiring you, they’re gonna pay with the same card anyway. I don’t see what the big deal is, everyone uses their card for transactions online and over the phone.
You can explain about the huge loss we take because of cancellations.
But, it is what it is I guess.
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I disagree too. Ever hear of Dave Ramsey?
We are a culture of people who perpetually keep ourselves in debt. If we used our income to make us money, instead of spending it on stuff to “make us happy” we would all be in much better positions. We are a nation of DEBT.
How many people are saving 70% of their income? Only people who are wealthy, that’s who.
You may not be able to control a medical emergency, but you certainly can control your spending.
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Yes, I am in a market where a handshake and your word are your bond.
If someone wants to cuss me for billing them for the wasted trip they caused, good for them. I’ll still get my money.
I tried requiring deposits for a month with new clients. Not one taker. It wasn’t because I wasn’t confident, because I could really care less if I get a job or not, if it’s not on my terms.
You have to keep in mind though, 99.99% of my clients pay by check. I can count on one hand how few actually pay by credit card.
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Wow. Do people mail you checks or they give them to you right there after the job? If they mail it in, whats the average time it takes for you to get it after the job’s done?
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Residential is paid on the spot. Unless they are a 2+ year client and they aren’t going to be home the day of service. I have a few that give me the alarm code and have me clean while they are gone. Check is waiting on the counter for me.
Commercial I will bill, but the terms are a firm 30 days after completion. Most all of them get me a check in two weeks.
I’m not a bank, I’m a business. I expect payment at the completion of my services, like every other service company here.
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How many employees do you have?
That is what I love about residential. You either get paid on the spot or they leave a check if they will not be home. Can’t get any better than that.
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