posted
I had a similar story to Michael. Guy came in with his cute little daughter. She was well-behaved, not getting into anything.
At one point she quietly asked her father to use the bathroom, and I pointed them to the grimy hell-hole that was the bathroom at the time (I rent space inside another guy's sign shop).
Apparently it was too disgusting in there for the girl to take care of business. We got back to discussing the sign and at some point I walked over to another part of the shop to show him something.
I saw something in my path and began to do what I usually do when I see something on the floor in the shop - scoop it up. It looked like a large walnut.
My arm stopped in mid-scoop. It wasn't a walnut...
The guy was mortified but I just handed him the roll of paper towels and he cleaned it up. I didn't want to make a big scene and traumatize this sweet little kid. After all, it wasn't a big deal, really. Kids have accidents.
On another level, I know your frustration in dealing with customers who disrespect you. It's as if everyone else is allowed to make a living, except the sign man/woman.
I can't walk into the dentist and say, "$1000 for this root canal? You'll take $500." Or the convenience store: "$1.25 for a cup of tea? Make it 75 cents and I'll buy two."
Ahhh, don't get me started on this topic...
[ March 12, 2005, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: Peter Manzolillo ]
posted
I have no problems with the kids in my shop. For one thing, I have a dog, so most kids either play with the dog, or are terrified of the dog and hang onto their mom's skirt.
If a child starts to misbehave in my shop, I set them straight, on no uncertain terms.
My shop can be a dangerous place for a kid. And it's my ass on the line if something happens.
-------------------- Steve Purcell Purcell Woodcarving & Signmaking Cape Cod, MA
************************** Intelligent Design Is No Accident Posts: 900 | From: Cape Cod, MA | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
If this happened to me, I'd would pay more attention to the kids then the customers. Then I would just say the lettering will be about $300 dollars. I would NOT! even go near my computer, I would purposely pay more attention to their kids, just to show then what a distraction they are to me. If they say $300 is too much, I'd ask them what their budget is. Tell them what they could get in their budget. I hate spending time talking to people about a lettering job. And if they bring their kids, well now we're not working anymore, we're playing baby sitter.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3850 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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