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General Upholstery Questions and Comments => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mike on July 20, 2012, 01:13:07 pm

Title: Absentee customers.
Post by: Mike on July 20, 2012, 01:13:07 pm
Now i just did a job this week a back fly teo sest covers and a dash cover on a proline walk around. 30'
The colustlmer was up my azz the shole time shole insas installing.
Inhad ti ask hom to move several time as i had to get were he was standing.  Then today i figured an easy da mKing a new canvas for a portable gazebo i guy brought to me last week.
I forgot but today he is in wisconsin  till the 1st.
And ive also got one guy to do a mooring cover on a flats boat gone durring the same timline.
Title: Re: Absentee customers.
Post by: Mojo on July 20, 2012, 04:49:32 pm
I hated working on a project with the customer right there. My solar screen installs always involved the help of the customer and it drove me completely nuts. I used to get nervous drilling holes into the side of a 1/2 million dollar bus but it was even worse with the customer standing over my shoulder watching.

I love my current work. They send me the measurements, I make the toppers or awnings, they pay me via Paypal, I ship them out and that is that. Nice clean deal.

I once seen a sign at a business that said - " Our labor rate is $ 75.00 per hour. It is $ 125 if you want to watch ". :)

Chris
Title: Re: Absentee customers.
Post by: Mike on July 20, 2012, 08:16:27 pm
That. Great way to work chris!
Funny thing ive seen so mNy ill fitting canvas's  over that fit like a fent draped with wrinkles. Ut they accelt that   "it came on the boat tha way" and they wanted the boat so it sas ok but if i make a simple
Cover. Boy it had to be not to tight not to loose no erinkles at all.
I had a guy  oncerned if i used enought stalles installing hydem on a seat he wanted  more
Title: Re: Absentee customers.
Post by: scarab29 on July 25, 2012, 06:37:57 am
If the owner is up in my face while i'm working , I ask jokingly if he remembers our labor rates. Similar to the post above , If the customer watches it's double , if he wants to help it's triple. Of course there's our regular rae where I'll do a real nice job for you if you leave it and let me do my work !!
Title: Re: Absentee customers.
Post by: byhammerandhand on July 25, 2012, 10:39:21 am
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lolbrary.com%2Fcontent%2F198%2Flabor-rates-11198.jpg&hash=34a6225d3854f4876f15ab515ab18bf1)


A favorite clause:

•   Will perform the work specified independent of customer's supervision, being responsible only for satisfactory completion of the work.
Title: Re: Absentee customers.
Post by: SHHR on July 25, 2012, 10:50:05 am
It amazes me those who'll stand there and make suggestions while you're working. I told a guy once if he knows so $#@#ing much about this work why isn't he doing it himself and saving the money. They usually shut up and leave after that.
Kyle
Title: Re: Absentee customers.
Post by: byhammerandhand on July 28, 2012, 06:20:17 am
I love this article, and the "Waiter's Rule"

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2006-04-14-ceos-waiter-rule_x.htm
Title: Re: Absentee customers.
Post by: Darren Henry on July 29, 2012, 09:09:15 am
QuoteI told a guy once if he knows so $#@#ing much about this work why isn't he doing it himself and saving the money.


I used to hand them tools when I had my own shop. Saint Pat never the drove the rats that fast. LOL.

Chris has raised the bar on this whole e-whorld thing . When emailing pictures became affordable; my friend Jerry (caretaker on Lake of the Woods)  cut his payment time from 2 months to 2 weeks. He'd call customers and say ??" a tree fell on the old outhouse in last night's storm." They would then call family/friends who were in the area to look before they authorized the needed work. Then they would wait to hear from same before they mailed a cheque after he was finished. Now he sends them an e-pic "yup, that's a tree on your outhouse" followed by "there's the firewood piled up there and the new roof there. " "Please deposit $xx to the camp account."