Customers "planting" valuables

**EBPcivicsi** · 02-17-2009, 06:29 PM

Just wanted to pick everyone`s brain about this...

I have a really good customer (actually it`s an entire family) that only likes for *me* to do the work on their cars. They don`t mind if my guys help, but I must be there when they drop the car. Whatever...

So yesterday I am away for a bit and the customer wants to drop the car. He calls me, I tell him I am away, he decides to drop the car anyways--cool. I check back in the shop that afternoon and my guys tell me that there was a $50 bill under the driver seat. OK cool, we put it in the cupholder and let the customer know that we found it(he`s lucky it didn`t get sucked up in the vacuum). When I tell him he proceeds to tell me that he put it there on purpose to test my guys.

I took offense to it really. I wouldn`t have guys working for me if I thought for a second that they would take customer`s money. Heck, we even take the change out the cupholders and put it in bags for them.

Anyone else have this happen to them? Thoughts?

**imported_smprince1** · 02-17-2009, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by ebpcivicsi

Thoughts?

A good business relationship is founded in trust on both sides.

I`d say unless this customer had a reason based on prior experience not to trust you or your crew, he was not dealing in good faith. I`d rather work for people who inherently trust me .... not somebody who sets traps for me to see if I`ll fall into one.

For what it`s worth, I`ve never had it happen to me that I know of. I`ve found a few things of value detailing cars, but I don`t think it was ever a deliberate set-up.

**slckrsx** · 02-17-2009, 06:38 PM

I wouldn`t be offended, if anything it proved the guys you have working for you are trustworthy.

**Setec Astronomy** · 02-17-2009, 06:47 PM

I would take offense as well. As you alluded to, you are your business, and that includes the guys who work for you.

**wfedwar** · 02-17-2009, 07:08 PM

I wouldn`t worry about taking offense as much as the possibility of not catching it if he pulls that crap again. What if it had been sucked up in the vacuum? He`d be raising hell, not wanting to pay, and saying you owed him fifty bucks. Hell, he`s trusting you with a lot more than $50 by dropping off the car. I`d let him know how easily his $50 could have been vacuumed up and it just might if it happens again.

**Altered-Image** · 02-17-2009, 07:33 PM

As if anyone just drops a 50 under a seat and doesn`t miss it. Anyone with half a brain in their head would say "if i wanna keep my job i`ll make sure this gets returned." If i hired people to work at my shop, id plant a 50 in a car myself and see what they did with it.

If i find anything over a $5 bill i find it pretty suspicious, and i would hope anyone working for me would do the same.

**brwill2005** · 02-17-2009, 07:41 PM

That never happened to me specifically. I DID have a guy follow me after I picked up his car. Why, I have no idea. I guess to see of I was going to drive reckless with his car. Some people are just overly paranoid. I prefer not to do business with those types of people.

**Twista616** · 02-17-2009, 08:00 PM

I would be extremely offended! I would confront him and let him know that yourself and the guys you work with are 100% trustworthy. Obviously he doesn`t trust you or the guys you work with. I know it will happen to me and I wont realize i sucked it up or something! Then you just lost a customer for an honest mistake.

remember, everyone is trying to sue everyone these days. It has become one of the easiest ways to receive money. its sad.

**BigAl3** · 02-17-2009, 08:39 PM

that`s not right...

**Envious Eric** · 02-17-2009, 08:48 PM

or you could look at it as a test you passed with flying colors and he will continue to send you business and praise your trustworthiness

"guys, take your car "here". This one time, I left a $50 bill in the seat and the guys over at "here" were completely up front and honest and returned it to me. I would let them take my car anywhere because I know I can trust them"

I wouldnt be upset over it, rather joke it off and ask "did I pass" with a chuckle.

Remember, you are in business, and if you lose that customer, you may lose more than him!

**Faccto** · 02-17-2009, 08:51 PM

I`d be offended.

**MrRumble** · 02-17-2009, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by wfedwar

I wouldn`t worry about taking offense as much as the possibility of not catching it if he pulls that crap again. What if it had been sucked up in the vacuum? He`d be raising hell, not wanting to pay, and saying you owed him fifty bucks. Hell, he`s trusting you with a lot more than $50 by dropping off the car. I`d let him know how easily his $50 could have been vacuumed up and it just might if it happens again.

x2, well said... I wouldn`t be too pleased with anybody trying to set me/my business up.

**Scottwax** · 02-18-2009, 12:01 AM

I`d be offended.

The only way what he did would not be offensive is if he`d had something disappear out of his car in the past was trying to narrow it down to where it happened.

**Banacheq** · 02-18-2009, 12:25 AM

I would make it clear to the customer that his "test" could have resulted in an employee being falsely accused of stealing and even being terminated (had it actually been vacuumed up or otherwise disposed of unknowingly). He (the customer) had no idea of how you might react to the situation. I would say he owes, at the very least, an apology to your guy that found the money. I might even go so far as to warn him that if your guys refuse to work on his car, which I would allow them the option, then he might have pay a higher rate for you to take care of it personally.

Hopefully he realizes how wrong this could have gone and gives your guy an apology and the $50.

**IBStoney1** · 02-18-2009, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by Scottwax

I`d be offended.

The only way what he did would not be offensive is if he`d had something disappear out of his car in the past was trying to narrow it down to where it happened.

I totally agree and he better come clean very quickly as to why he did this and if he is taking any kind of smug, snotty attitude this is his last appointment with me.

Smile, take the money for service performed and a one handed wave goodbye as they leave. Knowing that a couple of fingers would be balled up into my palm presents the proper wave I would be using.