Pat - can't come by Friday to pick up sign due to storm.
May be able to get it Saturday but just in case, are you open Sundays?
REALLY!!
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
No.
Posted by Don Hulsey (Member # 128) on :
Just tell her that if the storm continues on it's present course, you'll be in on Monday.
Posted by Craig Sjoquist (Member # 4684) on :
Well Pat I know your alot busier and working on weekends is just to much plus wanting days off with family, besides clean up from some hurricane debris since your near the coast.
But I'll work any day any time myself, you all are lucky you can say no work on weekends
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
Sure, I'll drop everything, and give up time with my family, and come into the shop on Sunday, just to accomodate your wishes.
You betcha............
Posted by Nevman (Member # 332) on :
For a $ 70 sign no less...
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Just like getting your car tuned-up on Sunday.
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
See what a weirdo I am. I always work on weekends. When I started waitressing at the tender age of 19, at Bob's Big Boy, I worked on weekends. While others were spending time with their families on Easter, Christmas Eve, Mother's Day etc. I was there feeding them on Sunday mornings. Up until, about 88' I was a waitress, working on weekends. Lots of people work on weekends. I have always been one of them. Also, being that my husband is in the restaurant business, to this day, he works on weekends quite a bit. Also, I have no problem working way after 5pm. This is my life.
Posted by Kelsey Dum (Member # 6101) on :
7 days a week for me too... but I'm an overachiever/ workaholic. I do one day see myself able to take weekends off but not anytime soon. I feel like I'm going to explode if I sit for too long... that's why I gave up my cushy advertising office job to work with my hands.
Wait, what am I doing here... back to work.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Sure come on over, just call first to make sure I'm back from my Sunday morning round of golf. I'll be here because I have no life. I have to accommodate every customer no matter what their demands are because the rotten, stinking, four flushing, arse biting, no good lousy economy as left me with more time than customers. It's so bad here that the stores that are closing up don't even bother to buy a going out of business sign. New businesses??? What's that? Upper Michigan is always the last area of the country to recover from a recession.
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
If it were just a matter of dropping in at an appointed time, spending 15 minutes there to load the sign and fill out an invoice, then fine. But what are the odds of the customer being right on time for the appointment?
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
In my working life I never had hours, only dollars
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
Dave you kill me man.
Alicia and Kelsey, balance. There has to be balance. If you guys enjoy your work as much as you enjoy your time off that's great. But does your family/friends agree? Or are they holding the bag because you are holding a brush and having a great time being a workaholic. I can say this because i am married to a workaholic. And yes it's great for him. But him working working working left me to raise the children, mind the house, meals, and yard, be active in family functions, oh yeah and run a little business here by myself. There was not a whole lot of balance here. But oh yes, he enjoys his work and is life not grand???? Yeah, a real treasure.
wow, a little on the bitter side this morning aren't I, sorry folks, I'm done now
[ August 29, 2011, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: Deri Russell ]
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
When I had a shop something like this would be a real pain. Nowadays there would be a good chance I would be off working a bike rally somewhere on that Sunday. Weekends aren't that big of a deal. I'd rather do something during the week when everybody else is at work. Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Dave - LOL.... I can tell you're a 'Home Alone Fan' too... you've got to the count of 10 to get yer rotten, stink, no good floor flushin carcass off my front porch - before I pump yer guts full of lead... 1... 2... 10!!" Ratatatatatatatatat.
[ August 29, 2011, 11:14 AM: Message edited by: Todd Gill ]
Posted by Tony Vickio (Member # 2265) on :
I guess I'm from the "Old School" and I am proud I can say that! Being in business 37 years didn't happen by telling a customer "NO"! I was taught years ago by Al Bradt (the sign painter who taught me)that when you own a business, you work to satisfy the customer, he is your business! I work when the opportunity calls for it, nights and weekends included! I'm not always happy about it, but this is the profession I chose and I deal with it. Years ago, when I still hand lettered, I did trucks for a company that had trucks on the road all week. Saturday & Sunday was the only time they were available. That's when I worked!
29 years of working at race tracks you find there are no Saturday & Sunday's, just days! I'd like to see you tell NASCAR "NO. I'll be there Monday"! HA! You'd be gone so fast Jeff Gordon couldn't catch you! I've read on this site, "There is no customer loyalty anymore!" Well, how about "Business loyalty"? It works both ways! I'm not saying I don't take any time off, but if anyone has to pick something up on a weekend and I'm not there, I tell them, "I'll leave it outside by the shop door. Stop by when you can". Can't tell you how many times I will find a note taped to the door with a big "Thank you!" on it.
I'm happy to see there are a few of the "Old timers" still around!
I won't get into "I fired a customer today" thing today. I'll wait until one pops up on the site!
Man, times have changed!
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
I was like Tony for a long time. Whatever it took is what it took. I missed family things because the customer is always the customer. One day I came home and the kids were wearing name tags.
And then more and more I worked Saturdays and Sundays because they had to have it first thing Monday morning because the weekend was the only time they could let go of the vehicles, or they forgot their Grand Opening was Monday (or Tuesday, etc.) and then Monday came and went and they picked their sign or vehicle up on Thursday.
I still make exceptions for those "real" emergencies, but the call is mine - not theirs.
The workload and income is still basically the same and I still have friends - both of them.
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
I think it's a matter of RESPECT, both ways! I would never think of asking my printer to meet me at his shop on a Saturday so I could pick up my cards or my t-shirt person to meet me after hours to get my order. However, if water was gushing out of the wall, NO problem calling the plumber! But THERE is the difference on what you call an emergency. I would think pinstriping your 50-60's car is NOT an emergency but I would run across town on a Sunday to let a trucker get his semi out so he can get on the road. AND it would also matter how this customer had treated me in the past. If they treat us well, we go out of our way to help people out. If they are arrogant and demanding, so am I! Posted by Nevman (Member # 332) on :
Customer (or business) loyalty was not in the equation on this one. The lady was from out of state and needed a For Rent sign for a subdivision that has very restrictive sign codes (yeah a HOA with sign codes.)
There are about 20 different HOA's with these kinds of restrictions around here and I pretty much do 90% of the work because folks are referred by the secretaries of the respective associations (who all love me BTW because I ALWAYS take care of their needs right away).
The woman & I had been responding via email for over a week and she finally approved the layout. She was up in New England & coming down for the rest of the year but she NEEDED to have that For Rent sign up THIS weekend - like the house was going to rent right away.
I have 3 boys - 10, 12 & 14 so my time with them is a little more valuable than pleasing a one time customer. Also, my Sundays are pretty full up with Church & Fellowship in the morning 'til about noon, then football practice, band practice, theater rehearsal, zoo educational events, or pick any activity that boys that age do.
Even though I'm not as old as some here (48), I started at my Dad's shop when I was 15 which gives me 33 years tenure. I did work a lot of weekends when I was free and younger but once the family came along I re-assesed my priorities.
In certain situations I will go the extra mile for a long time or potential loyal customer, but not one that won't ever call me again.
I was kind and respectful to her and she picked up the sign yesterday (Monday) with a happy smile and check in hand. I would never be mean or nasty to someone with a requst like that unless they start it.
She did want to know if I would buy the sign back once she rented the house though. I told her no but gave her a reason (what if you have to rent it again?) and another solution - to sell it to a neighbor & I could change the phone number for them for a lot less than a new sign. She like both ideas.
All-in-all, it worked out for both of us and there were no hard feelings at all.
Thanks for all of the responses.
Posted by Tony Vickio (Member # 2265) on :
I agree with you Neve on this one!!! Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
I am still amazed about how extremely urgent the need for me to get it done on a weekend ... BUT ... when I remind them that Saturday is time and a half and Sunday is double time ... all of a sudden Monday will be fine!
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
"She wanted to know if I'd buy the sign back.............."
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