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What does it take for you to walk away from a prospect?
I have an ongoing situation in which I am this close to telling this prospective customer that I simply cannot work with her. The red flags are beginning to pile up and I'm getting more and more nervous about the experience of working with her. Ultimately, I am afraid that the outcome will take one of two scenarios: either I cannot collect in full after the work is completed, or she will endlessly hound me with petty complaints until all the profit is bled out of the job.
So, fellow Letterheads, what is the threshold for you when you see a prospective job start to go sideways? I'm really interested in other shop owners' perspectives.
Thanks
-------------------- Brian Oliver Paxton Signs Fort Collins, CO paxton@peakpeak.com www.paxtonsignsofcolorado.com Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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listen to your little voice.....its there to help you. did you make her sign a contract??? did she agree to your pricing and terms???
there's no need to take on unnecessary headache from people who rub you the wrong way right from the start. and there's certainly no need to start a job that you feel will ultimately be detrimental to your well being...life is too short....just say "no sign for you lady...now get out." sometimes you have to be the sign nazi.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I hate to let money walk out of the door as much as anybody, but it sounds like you are curing a future headache.
You may want to "Step Back" and assess the feeling that you have about the client just to make sure they are valid and it's just not a matter of having a bad day on either of your parts. Sometimes people just make bad first impressions. And sometimes they are just buttheads.
I've walked away from a few prospective and existing clients that bothered me for the reasons that you've stated, and I'm still here, their work didn't cause me to close my doors.
Maybe I could have scored some good work, but I don't dwell on it....I just move on.
-------------------- Tom & Sharon Giampia Creative Image Design Port Chester, NY Posts: 285 | From: Port Chester | Registered: Mar 2001
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I thinbk you already said the bad word. "Her". I sometimes hate working with "Her's". Might want ask her, "So, am I the first sign shop you called, or have you worked before with a few others?". Or ask, if it applies, "What did the last sign shop provide for you?". You got to do this in a nice way.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3812 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Doesn't take much for me to walk away from a prospect anymore.
If they're a pain in the butt before the job is even given the green light, they're going to be much worse once money starts moving.
Simply tell them right now you're too busy to take on anything else and that you're booked for 2 or 3 months or whatever you think will shake them loose.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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For me it can be as little as someone coming in with a bad attitude. Something like "I'm getting six quotes on three 4" plastic letters and I want you to give me a quote and I'd like to see some sketches of what they'd look like." would do it. Someone that is really hard to deal with design wise; I don't fight for control with them. Cheapskates - hit the friggin' road! Others that just don't smell right.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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The owner of a shop where I used to work would say, "You know, I think you'd be much happier getting the work done somewhere else." She was always very polite. And though it surprised a few customers they usually left without much trouble.
-------------------- Tracie Johnson Signovations Ventura, California Posts: 444 | From: Ventura, California | Registered: Nov 2005
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When the little alarm goes off in the back of my noggin, I don't ignore it.
Sometimes, feeling that you are letting "money out of the door" can be the problem. If you sense that a customer will drag things out, play for the cheap deal and is difficult to deal with, they will bleed the money as much...sometimes more...than if you watched the door hit them in the butt on the way out.
There's no instant answer or solution to this. We each have our own set of rules and levels of tolerance that determines the point at which a potential customer turns into a potential disaster. Know your limits, and just before you reach it, let the client know they are approaching it. If they argue that point, take it as a sign that you're likely never gonna keep them happy anyway.
Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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A lot... I usually just keep dealing with the crap, trying to overlook it... being nice while seething inside... until one day they finally cross a line with some small comment, and I blow up in their face like an IED and they wonder what in the holy heck is going on.
Actually that's how it used to be when I worked for at sign shop years ago, because my boss would do absolutely anything to get a customer's money.. and I had to comply.
Nowadays, I'm much more adept at getting out of a job that seems on a course to be a potential headache, before it starts actually becoming a headache.
And I'm much happier.
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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Thanks for the responses, everybody. Yes, that little voice inside is one's better judgment and that can get drowned out or ignored when a sale is sorely needed. I guess I'll give it just one more red flag before I say to her "Thanks, but no thanks."
I hope I don't regret it.
Thanks again for your replies.
-------------------- Brian Oliver Paxton Signs Fort Collins, CO paxton@peakpeak.com www.paxtonsignsofcolorado.com Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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I think you need to ask yourself "How will I regret it if I do this?"....like you said. If you can't come up with some viable reasons, let her go.
In your first post, you said you had many misgivings. That would've been enough reason for me to get on with other things.
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
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Humans are gifted with an innate "gut feeling". Over time, for many reasons, we often learn to ignore it. Trust your gut. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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It very well could be, she as frustrated with you as you are her. Perhaps you could end the association without hard feelings or perhaps you would find a way to work together. Either way, I think a direct confrontation is necessary so both of you can get on with your work.
J.
-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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I have to go with W R Pickett. If you have a gut feeling about an outcome, follow your gut. 99.9% of the time you will be right. I have been down that road too, and my gut feeling was always dead on. Good Luck whichever way you go.
-------------------- Donald Miner ABCO Wholesale Neon 1168 Red Hill Creek Dobson, NC Posts: 842 | From: North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Jon Jantz: A lot... I usually just keep dealing with the crap, trying to overlook it... being nice while seething inside... until one day they finally cross a line with some small comment, and I blow up in their face like an IED and they wonder what in the holy heck is going on.
Thanks Jon... I was trying to decide how I would word my answer... but you did it perfectly.
When my patience filter gets clogged from surpressing too much of my true feeling about working with someone... I remove it... and *poof* ...the party's over!
[ February 25, 2007, 03:36 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
Today we finalized the design and the price (on which I did her no favors). I don't have a deposit check yet, and nothing will happen until I do, but she seems to have settled down a bit. I'm still nervous about working with her, and, of course, the job isn't complete until the final check clears the bank. I'm just going to hold my breath and hope this comes out OK.
Thank you, everybody, for your input.
-------------------- Brian Oliver Paxton Signs Fort Collins, CO paxton@peakpeak.com www.paxtonsignsofcolorado.com Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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Good luck to you. I've had clients like that(both sexes). Don't care to have them as repeats but did get paid.
-------------------- Lynda Yoder Wayne Yoder Signs & Designs 4735 List Rd Grass Lake, MI 5176884951 Posts: 154 | From: Grass Lake, MI | Registered: Feb 2007
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Brian! Deposit first! Never even turn on your computer or break out your brushes without a deposit. That's what my gut AND my brain tell me. She's not your client until you have a good-faith deposit from her...then she can really be a pain in the tush. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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You know... when I get to the point you're at I just tell the client that "I don't think I'm the guy for this project" if...they ask why I now have an opportunity to tell them my concerns. Now everything is on the table and the deal will "fly or die".
If they don't ask? well hey... they just took care of my problem didn't they.
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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