Know what your service is worth, don't let customer take advantage.

**mrsamsonite** · 06-09-2012, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

Well this past week, my and my helper did a tenant move out clean out job about 30 minutes away.

The owner told me exactly what to take. I make arrangements for all the furniture to get removed. Should have been 2 hours total, 1 trip. Charged $165. Well it went from what was agreed to, to quite a bit more.

Went back the 2nd day, and when I went to have him sign my paperwork and pay me, he was like "Mr. Beale, I really appreciate your help, and I apologize!"...I said "Apologize for what sir" and he said "For all the EXTRA stuff. I had no idea it was like this. I told you, what I was told etc etc"....I told him, that it happens sometimes...no big deal.

He then handed me $200 more than expected and told me that my people and I did a fantastic job and he would highly recommend my company. All of that, made it worth while for me!

Then, after we unloaded all the junk at the landfill, I call another customer who has the wood burning stove, I told you guys about in another thread.

He said, that he hasn't had a chance to enter his cred card information. I told him, I was 20 minutes away, and I would be happy to pick it up, and when he got home, he could take care of the CC info...not a problem (Generally, I require the CC info, before doing anything).

He cocked an attitude with me and said that he wanted no one on his property without him there. I thought to myself "****, dude, I am just getting a stove that is under the deck in the back yard...not robbing you" but I said "not a problem. Let me know when".

Told my helper, that I didn't know who he thought he was, but he better be glad, that I wasn't there in front of him.

You get all kinds of people in this business, just like any other, unfortunately.

Ya I know what you mean about the different customers. Ive had $80 tips, tons of working free stuff given to me by clients, and then clients like the lady I mentioned earlier. Its a mixed bag.

**GeorgeB** · 06-09-2012, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by mrsamsonite

Ya I know what you mean about the different customers. Ive had $80 tips, tons of working free stuff given to me by clients, and then clients like the lady I mentioned earlier. Its a mixed bag.

My best clients ever was a sweet elderly couple, both retired lawyers, owned a lovely home, and about 5 acres or so.

They called me out once for metal removal (cant remember now if I even charged them or not). Anyway, the husband gave me like $150 or so dollars.

Then a month latter they called me for a junk removal job. They accepted the price. The guy kept staring at my trailer, and he was like "What is the cost again, if it is over 2,000 lbs" and I said,
"It would be an additional $65". He tried his best to give it to me. I told him like 4 times that it was not necessary, as most of the stuff was going to get donated. So, long story short, the job was for roughly $245. He wrote a check for $300 even, and then handed me $160 in cash. First, I was it was $40....then I got home, and I kept flipping open 20, after, 20, after 20. I was like "OMG!"

I called the client right away and asked him if he knew, he gave me $160 in cash?....he said "Yes, sir...consider it a christmas gift, birthday present, tip, whatever you like...you did a superb job, and we appreciate you being fair and honest with us and not trying to take advantage. Just our way of saying thanks".

I told him, that I appreciated it very much, and the $300 check was more than enough thanks.

It is never about the money that really matters to me. Just the stuff that people say to me to show me that they are really appreciate of what I can do for them.