After 4 yrs. of dealing with this guy bending over backwards and even giving him Net30 terms I decided today was the day I will no longer do Net30. Last time they paid me 6 weeks late and blamed it on me. Well he decided to go postal on me and I basically said I'm sorry you feel that way but this is my policy and the way I need to do things for my company (pay upfront or minimum 50% down). Well needless to say we parted ways.
The funny thing is this is a big time operation poperty management corporation and everyone else that I work with in the other divisions pays me in full upfront.
He just wanted to stand his ground and try to trample me but for a change I stood up and fought back. After all, this is my company gosh darnit!
I feel better now. See ya jerk!
Have a great day!
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Good for you girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jeff Spradling (Member # 1615) on :
SHOW'EM WHO THE BOSS IS!!!!!!!
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Good going girl!
Feels good, doesn't it!
One of the most profitable things you can do is to say NO!
PS......... Don't be surprised if he shows up agian...on your terms.
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
I've got one of those customers...
Bringing in stuff late, expecting me to drop everything and drive out for a meeting to what could have been accomplished over the phone, and always complaining about the price. It's just like you say, it's a power thing...
Unfortunately this one happens to be my "best" customer and he knows it, but since I've decided that I don't care if I lose him or not, things have gotten better. He probably doesn't like my new attitude but that's just to bad, I know what I have to offer.
Like Si says...your guy might be back before you know it.
Posted by Cheryl Lucas (Member # 1656) on :
You've come a long time, baby!
You GO GIRL!
Cher.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
You're Fired!
Boy, that must feel good!
I'd do a little networking with the other guys you do business with at that corporation just to make sure he doesn't infiltrate your remaining relationships in an attempt to black-ball you...
Like Popeye says: "I tooks alst I can take...and I can't takes no more!" At least, I think he said that just before he popped Brutis in the eye...hehehe.
Posted by Greg McRoberts (Member # 3501) on :
Great for you Amy!
Sometimes ya just gotta do what'cha just gotta do, eh?
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
You absolutely did the right thing.
Who said anyone has to tolerate rude behavior??
To quote a famous line from Lonesome Dove's Captain Woodrow Call...:
"I cain't stand rude behavior in a man . . .won't tolerate it."
Post THAT as a shop policy. Posted by Susan Banasky (Member # 1164) on :
Amy, Hurray....I'm proud of you. Give yourself a pat on the back...doesn't it feel good to have the freedom to run your company the way you choose? Like Si said....he may be back.
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
Light em up!!!!
Posted by Jerry VanHorn (Member # 4704) on :
I was hoping it wasn't your 'big dog' customer.
Posted by Mike Milos (Member # 4743) on :
GOOD JOB!!
I had to send one of my better customers a notice of intent to file a claim in Small Claims Court. Basically that is nothing more than a Pay up or else letter. Boy he got his little panties all wadded up, called me a bunch of names, sent me nasty e-mail, but in the end I got paid the next day. Now he comes in a month later like nothing happened, orders some more vinyl, and gets all twisted up when I said 50% down. I explained to him that due to his past dealings I now require 50% from all my customers.
He still ordered the new signs and paid in full in advance.
Posted by Dale Manor (Member # 4858) on :
Way to take care of yourself there Amy...who needs the frustration.
You know what they say...
When one door closes...through the unruly customer out the nearest window....
Something more positive will come along!
take care,
Posted by William Holohan (Member # 2514) on :
Amy, Worked in the property management field for 30+ years.
Should this "meat head" return, remind him that he is in a very "money up front" business and should understand your position.
Tell him as a personal favor, you will do all further business with him based upon universally accepted property management standards:
Get paid 100% up front for his first sign. (First months rent)
Get paid 100% up front for his next sign, which he hasn't ordered or used yet. (Last months rent)
And a good faith fee equal to the cost of one sign, as an incentive to him to treat the signs you made for him with respect and proper care.(Security Deposit)
Feel free to use any part of this in any way you would like. I suggest that you print it, put it in a blender with a little milk and honey, mix thoroughly, insert in an emema bag....well you get the idea... Hopefully the meat head will also.
Be carefull though...If he is a property manager, he may be quite slippery and hard to hold down...
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
William - Those are terrific!
It's like the perfect retorts you think of and wish you'd said after a confrontation! Very funny!!! Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Amy..I am glad to see that you asserted yourself and I also hope that Si's "possibility" happens.
I, however, accept 30, 60 and even 90 day payment as the norm when dealing with larger companies. That is the way they do business and if I want to play in their league then I have to play their game.
I buy my supplies on a 30 day net basis. If I buy $100 worth of material on January 1 then I am "current" until february 1. Then on March 1 I have to pay for my supplies to stay within the "30 day net" guidelines that my supplier states, even though I have used the supplies for 60 days.
I figure I "play" the game just like my clients do.
I am sorry to say this, and I am sure that many will jump all over me for saying it...BUT, if you act like a small time operator, then you will remain one.
If you run your business like a "business" then you will build a business.
There is a LOT of money to be made catering to larger companies. But you have to be willing to wait for payment. Once you get over the initial shock of waiting for payment, then it is easy...the receivables from 60 days ago keep rolling in and cover the expenses of today!
This topic of "payment" and "getting work" is something that I find very interesting. I am far less talented, as far as artistic things go, than most here. But I AM pretty good at the business end of things.
It is a shame that I don't have BOTH things going for me and it is a shame that many of the more artistic folks don't either.
I guess it is a case of not being able to have the best of both worlds!!!!
Sorry for my ramblings...but Amy...Please start to try to think like your clients do, as far as financing and payment.
Trust me, you will really flourish if you can get past the idea of "pay up front" or "pay on delivery".
Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :
A few thoughts.
Biggest company I ever fired was local Pepsi Cola. They were chintzy to the max, did not want me to "make" a dime. Sent two major employees to pick up banners that weighed nothing, ergo wasted more money that way than they ever "allowed" me to earn. I never missed them.
When, by standing your ground honestly, you create a vaccuum in your customer base, even if it is a big one --- the universe will fill it quickly, always.
I had a big, major customer who was absent for the last 2 months, and I know they tried out a competitor over price. Now they are back. My plate was almost too full to even care.
It is way more important to be ethical to your own standards, than to bend over backward to those that want to use you because you, like me, might come off as a small enterprise.
I do though fully agree with a lot of what Dave Grundy is saying. I have customers who simply don't pay for 60 days. But they pay. Without fail. And I integrate them that way, and carry on.
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Hey Myra...
I hear you about Pepsi being cheap. The local distributor in our county approached us about doing privilege panels and metal signs for them and told us what they were going to pay us to make her signs... I think not.
They also asked about doing the poly banners for them. We weren't interested in those, either. Now they just give them to their customers and give them a set of the cheapest ugliest stick on letters you ever saw. Hahahahahahaha!
Nice to see things are the same all over, eh?
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
I agree with dave and Myra...large companies, that pay in 30/60 days are not a problem! It's the medium size ones with someone trying to be a 'big shot' pay up front! If you get a Purchase Order Number, you will get paid!
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
The thing is I never minded the Net 30 terms until they started screwing around on getting me my $$ last time. The biggest reason I decided to change it and dump him is because he always gives me little piddly jobs and expects me to jump through hoops and do everything his way. I wanted him to know that I'm not some little ant that he can stomp on. It's not like this guy was making me rich. I think the most I ever made off him was $200 maybe in the last four years. The other divisions do pay me upfront and I have made a lot more off of them without having to touch a thing because it is all subbed out.
I did try to stay on good terms with him hoping that one day that big job would come my way but then I keep watching all the good work go up and I was never even asked to bid or anything. Screw him! I'm done with him.
I not a total hard***. I'm actually more of a pushover. I mean I let him go on Net 30 terms when I was brand new at this with no Net 30 for my suppliers.
I'm not sweating it. He'll never find someone to bend over backwards like I did for him, at least not around here. They'll resort to signs with unfinished edges and the backs not painted that they didn't get delivered or in the correct colors. HE HE, I don't care. Now he has to find someone willing to match the existing things I've done. Hope they have the fonts! HE HE.
Now I'm going to Bike Week in Daytona for the day and throw back a few beers and just have fun! See ya!
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
Great feeling, isn't it Amy?
I felt so exhilarated after I fired my first customer. I made OK money off him, but it was the same thing...he expected me to drop everything when he waited til the last minute.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
I have a customer who's accounts payable department is notorious at being a slow/late pay....the guy I dealt with told me to immediately send him an invoice before starting/finishing the job and he would get it right in to help shave time off the process in my getting paid.
This has worked out well...however, you need someone like the contact guy willing to help ya.
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
Amy Brown, CEO of Ambo Design. The Hatchet Lady! Dont look back Amy, I think you did the right thing. Customers like these do nothing but stress you out.
Posted by Dawn Ellis (Member # 3529) on :
Congratulations to you Amy. It's empowering to make a stand and not allow some bully to take advantage of you. Have a great time at Daytona and new, better clients will be there for you when you return.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Dave, I agree but also disagree with you. I give terms to certain companies. They don't abuse their terms like Amy's customer did.
The difference with our suppliers is that we are purchasing material from them that can be sent back if not used, albeit with a restocking charge. When we make a sign it is custom and no good to anyone else. With custom made goods, money down is the norm.
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Those are terrific!