Anyone been in this situation before? - Page 2

mcc · 05-13-08, 05:09

Sounds like you've already taken a lot of the advice to heart, but I'll throw my 2 cents in as well. I own and run several businesses currently, and have had many others in the past. Anytime a customer wants to tell you how to do your job and what to use, run away as fast as possible. They likely won't be happy with anything you do, and if you think their demands at first are bad, wait until you get in the middle of the job. Then they know they've got you at the point of no return, and it just gets worse.

If anyone wants to tell me exactly what to do on a job, then they can pay me hourly as an employee, which means they can also pay my insurance, withhold taxes, provide worker's comp insurance in case I get hurt as their employee, etc. If not, then I'm not going to be their employee and work with them standing over my shoulder barking orders. Actually, I won't do it regardless, but you get the point.

gtpaul · 05-13-08, 05:23

He could have mixed sand in his products to screw you over, and hold you liable.

toyotaguy · 05-13-08, 05:25

what about doing a side by side comparison and showing him what results your products will produce, and what his will produce...at the same time you can estimate how long the detail will actually take...

12-16 hours sounds more like a reconditioning rather than a maintenance detail by the way

jayjacque · 05-13-08, 06:47

I've got a little bit different answer than most. I've been in business for years and years but not detail biz, so take that into consideration. I suggest that after you get a good look at his vehicle and his products that you propose a compromise. Use some of his products, ones that you don't feel you're taking as much a risk with, along with some of your own you're more confident in. That way he feels he's contributing and you don't go in completely blind. Some customers just got in their mind they want things done a certain way. But make sure you get covered for your trouble a minumum $50 per hour (or even more) as has been stated. And don't subtract anything for using some of his products rather than your own.

Through the years I've had customers with idiosyncrosis and they're not all necessarily going to jerk you around. Some even offer more money because they realize they're making you go the extra mile.

Holden_C04 · 05-13-08, 07:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayjacque

I've got a little bit different answer than most. I've been in business for years and years but not detail biz, so take that into consideration. I suggest that after you get a good look at his vehicle and his products that you propose a compromise. Use some of his products, ones that you don't feel you're taking as much a risk with, along with some of your own you're more confident in. That way he feels he's contributing and you don't go in completely blind. Some customers just got in their mind they want things done a certain way. But make sure you get covered for your trouble a minumum $50 per hour (or even more) as has been stated. And don't subtract anything for using some of his products rather than your own.

Through the years I've had customers with idiosyncrosis and they're not all necessarily going to jerk you around. Some even offer more money because they realize they're making you go the extra mile.

This is a bit of an off topic post but, jayjacque...I would be a little iffy about hiring a knife-wielding chucky with the slogan "You WILL like my work".

jayjacque · 05-13-08, 07:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holden_C04

This is a bit of an off topic post but, jayjacque...I would be a little iffy about hiring a knife-wielding chucky with the slogan "You WILL like my work".

Possible responses:

I'm not a monster. I'm just a cute little doll.

No, that's not a knife in my hand, it's a wash bucket.

Aw now you hurt my feelings

You're gonna pay!

Hmm, maybe that's why I haven't been getting too many responses from my business cards and flyers.

themightytimmah · 05-13-08, 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by TH0001

I wouldn't go to a doctor and tell him what medicine to use on me.

But Todd, that's the only way to get the good pills

Accumulator · 05-14-08, 08:18

I find this topic interesting as I've often wondered what I'd do if I were somehow unable to detail our vehicles

I dunno...correcting paint is something you don't want botched up and I wouldn't want somebody learning on *my* vehicle; so telling somebody to use unfamiliar abrasive products sounds risky. But if somebody said there were gonna correct my S8 with something I'd never heard of (or had a low opinion of), I'd sure think twice about letting them do it.

So I can see this from both sides...but it's not like Menzerna is some snake oil product. I don't use it, but if somebody who's familiar with it wanted to use it on my vehicles I wouldn't really have a good argument why they oughta use my beloved 3M/1Z stuff instead and I'd be forcing them to ride a whole new learning curve- on *my* paint.

When ebpcivicsi did my Denali XL (long story why), he used compounds and polishes that I don't use (Meg's and Menzerna). OK by me for the above reasons. I did have him do a 845/476S LSP job, and he ended up loving the stuff and adding it to his arsenal. So he and I were able to find a middle ground that worked out for both of us. If the pro and the (opinionated/knowledgeable) customer can't come to an agreement like that, it wouldn't surprise me if one or both ended up unhappy.

Accumulator · 05-14-08, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtpaul

He could have mixed sand in his products to screw you over, and hold you liable.

Heh heh, what...a psycho customer who would deliberately mess up his vehicle just so he can go through the hassle of suing a detailer to collect compensatory damages?

That'd be one nutty individual and you'd know after the first partial panel that something was goofy anyhow.

Holden_C04 · 05-14-08, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Heh heh, what...a psycho customer who would deliberately mess up his vehicle just so he can go through the hassle of suing a detailer to collect compensatory damages?

That'd be one nutty individual and you'd know after the first partial panel that something was goofy anyhow.

It wouldn't surprise me, nowadays. I have met more than my fair share of strange and odd individuals. It's an extreme example of the type of fraud that occurs daily.

TH0001 · 05-14-08, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by themightytimmah

But Todd, that's the only way to get the good pills

In that case my glaucoma is acting up doc and I need.....

twitch · 05-14-08, 12:35

Hmmm it sounds like the guy wants a detailing buddy more than anything