If your toilet breaks...........

[sheshovel]

Originally Posted by QualityLawnCare4u

I agree and understand with what Matt did, even though could have been worded a little nicer. If its something that only takes me a few mintues and not a everytime thing would probably do it. Im not in NO position to tick anyone off right now.

Quality your not in "any" position not not in "no" position.

[QualityLawnCare4u]

Originally Posted by sheshovel

Quality your not in "any" position not not in "no" position.

I stand corrected Sheshovel, just wanted to see if you were payin attention!

[parkeeee]

I certainly would not want a customer taking advantage of me, my time or my equipment.

With that said, IMO Matt did the right thing by letting her know that he would mow the area next time after it is cleaned up.

The plumber analogy I could have kept to myself to keep a professional image intact.

[dlm17]

i havent been a member too long but i read the threads and the theme i see coming out most of the time is that your customers are all bothering you nobody ever writes about the customer who comes out and offers a cold drink or any thing nice they might do if you run your buisness so that its all about the money worried about getting paid for every single minute you work you need to get a hobby or something lifes way to short to sweat the small stuff do you wait until a customer is good to you before you are good to them , try not treating them like they are all pitas and see what happens, i like what i do and enjoy getting up in the morning

[Rons Rightway Lawncare]

I have a few good customers like that. I will start a new thread about it and Christmans gifts in a minute

[lawnwizards]

Originally Posted by dlm17

nobody ever writes about the customer who comes out and offers a cold drink or any thing nice

start a thread like that and see how many posts you get. you know why you won't get very many? because its boring. once you've been here a while you'll appreciate these kind of stories. there are only so many "which backpack blower is better threads" you can respond too. its threads like this one that keeps lawnsite fresh and inviting.

[petekief]

I don't really get it. We are a service provider. My customers are not expendable - they ARE my business. There are lines - sure - but i think i probably would have stopped and piled the stuff in one pile and mowed around it - a kind of comprimise i guess - maybe picked it up depending. Now don't get me wrong i would have been pissed but . . . I always pick up windfall i figure it's just part of the job, part of providing a valuable service sooo??? When i was with Xerox they called it Value Added, doing those extra little things, but i agree that Value Added can quickly become expectation on a customers part. Maybe the response was warented - but if Matt WAS an employee and not a partner you'de likely have been appologizing on the phone for what he said and because of what he said, having to decide whether to get someone out there or go out yourself to fix the problem or lose that customer. I guess being able to treat customers like that is a perk of ownership.

[MarkintheGarden]

Partner or employee, either way I would say, I understand your frustration, but scatological analogies should never be used when speaking with a customer.

[petekief]

now THAT'S funny

[impactlandscaping]

Originally Posted by dlm17

i havent been a member too long but i read the threads and the theme i see coming out most of the time is that your customers are all bothering you nobody ever writes about the customer who comes out and offers a cold drink or any thing nice they might do if you run your buisness so that its all about the money worried about getting paid for every single minute you work you need to get a hobby or something lifes way to short to sweat the small stuff do you wait until a customer is good to you before you are good to them , try not treating them like they are all pitas and see what happens, i like what i do and enjoy getting up in the morning

I like what I do as well, but I can count the number of times a client has brought drinks, etc. out to us.....ZERO...We run a professional, prompt landscaping business. 99% of our clients are at work when we come to service their properties. They understand our time is their money, and don't bother wasting either. If I had to chitchat with each person for 5 minutes per stop each day, I'd lose about 4 man hours in production per day, and never see anything being done.Different strokes..yada yada....