In reply to bmw88rider :
We always give you the estimate or tell you thanks for the opportunity but it's not the job for us, which is probably why we never advertise and turn down more work than we do.
i had a tree guy come over, he marked all the trees I asked for pricing on removal, then never sent an estimate or called back. So he wasted his time coming out and checking everything and some paint, and got nothing out of it.
MrChaos said:DirtyBird222 said:All Honda dealers seem like they don't want to take your money. It's surprises me how so many of them do business.
the local honda dealer here is the same way. The Combo Acura/Mazda dealer in a larger city near us sees so much business from our city they are amazed.
I went into a Honda dealer trying to buy one of the two Type Rs they had in the show room. Like check in hand, ready to leave that day. "You can be put on the wait list to make a bid." Mind you inventory tracking showed both these particular cars sitting in their lot for over two months. Plus they want to have a bidding war on a car where the hype has died down 3 MY later.
There's a seller of AMC Parts semi-near me that like clockwork, puts the same ad up every single month- but obviously never messages back, as he's been posting the same things for 3 years.
Woody said:Me to multiple places that sell firefighting boots:
"I currently have to wear these $400 boots for work, but I'm thinking about getting these other $400 boots. Do you have any in stock that I can try on?"
"No. They are all special order."
"How long will it take?"
"Seven weeks."
"What happens if I order them and they don't fit?"
"There is a 30% restocking fee."
(click)
!!!
I'm a medic and i've had similar issues getting mine! Those companies won't take back poorly-fitting boots when they have dirt on them. I finally found a local cobbler who had a pair of re-soled Redwings I got for $40 bucks and my feet have been so happy.
Ugh medic boots are the worst. I've never had a pair that fit comfortably and, like you said, no one ever takes them back because you didn't realize they were uncomfortable until the end of the day on your second 14 hour shift.
Back to the original point though. I used to own my own tutoring business and have several friends that own other service-related businesses. We've all realized that, shockingly, self-employed people are generally really bad at getting back to people, submitting quotes, and just generally responding to inquiries. Responsiveness is really probably step 1 in ensuring your business is successful. It can even make up for sub-par delivery if your customer feels taken care of.
My mother and stepfather also recently had someone contracted to check what trees needed to come down on their property and given them a bid on the cutting and removal. They marked them, but never spoke a word after- my stepdad and I will likely have to take them down ourselves.
penultimeta said:Ugh medic boots are the worst. I've never had a pair that fit comfortably and, like you said, no one ever takes them back because you didn't realize they were uncomfortable until the end of the day on your second 14 hour shift.
Oh god, Throughgoods right? I used to literally destroy a pair every year- they're nothing but plastic Faux-leather, cloth, cardboard and the tears of children's labor.
Funny enough, they were the final straw for me to leave EMS. I realized the Sam Vine's "Boots" theory of socieo-economics in real time when I was spending ~$100 a year on those, and over ~$500 on recertification every 2. When you're making $15/hour but have to spend that much to keep working, you get soured REAL fast.
$100/year is about what I spend on boots, too.
Won't mention the tool bills, at least I keep something for the money.
bmw88rider said:Most contractors. They will come over and take the time to talk to you and get your information and then never send the estimate.
I've contacted at least 10 contractors to get estimates to replace my roof that was ripped off 2 years ago by hurricane Irma. Less than a half dozen showed up to measure etc. and only one company gave me a verbal guesstimate which they would only honor if I went through some weird financing arrangement that sounded really shady. Three of the companies are the most well known roofers in town and they didn't even show up to measure after I went to each of their offices again a couple months after my initial visit to remind them I wanted an estimate!
I think I must've offended the maker of sport seats by inquiring about seat heaters. No response to initial query or followup noting that I could live without the heaters. They have a full menu of feature, harness port, and upholstery options, all done to order, so it didn't seem like a big deal to vary from "stock".
Which is a bummer, 'cause they seem to be about the only specialist doing seats that have attention to construction and safety while having a vintage vibe and a good selection.
As a bonus laugh, the local "dealer" has among the few things on their site a seat heater kit, though not necessarily for the make of seats I'm interested in...
(I put dealer in quotes because they specialize in a particular make/model and don't have a showroom as such, so might be useful as a liaison and possibly the opportunity to inspect and sit in whatever model they have in their own car, but that's probably about it)
In reply to Ransom :
Seat heaters are wonderful even when it is 95f outside, if you have a sore back.
Knurled. said:In reply to Ransom :
Seat heaters are wonderful even when it is 95f outside, if you have a sore back.
My wife thinks heated seats are the *most* important part of any automobile.
Car rental companies (especially off airport).
Book Rental car online. Check!
Receive confirmation. Check!
Drive 45 minutes to the closest rental company. Check!
Oh, sorry Mr Olemiss. We wont have any rental cars for the next 2 months. What type of outfit do you think this is? A place you can just walk up to all willy nilly and expect to have what you ordered months in advance? This is run more like a gloried lottery where you must be present to lose even if you call before you leave. We assign available cars based on the second letter in your last name thus you will have to check with the vendors close to your destination to see if they have any available.
DirtyBird222 said:MrChaos said:DirtyBird222 said:All Honda dealers seem like they don't want to take your money. It's surprises me how so many of them do business.
the local honda dealer here is the same way. The Combo Acura/Mazda dealer in a larger city near us sees so much business from our city they are amazed.
I went into a Honda dealer trying to buy one of the two Type Rs they had in the show room. Like check in hand, ready to leave that day. "You can be put on the wait list to make a bid." Mind you inventory tracking showed both these particular cars sitting in their lot for over two months. Plus they want to have a bidding war on a car where the hype has died down 3 MY later.
My mantra is anything, anywhere anytime, this would take considerable obzervation
On the flip side....
I went to buy a motorcycle at a bike show. I had $6000.00 cash burning a hole in my pocket. Rode all the big three but I really liked the CR 250. Hummed and hawed and talked about it with the salesman, and suddenly he said "look are you buying it or not! I'm busy!"
I went home with a spanking new Kx250.
Knurled. said:DirtyBird222 said:MrChaos said:DirtyBird222 said:All Honda dealers seem like they don't want to take your money. It's surprises me how so many of them do business.
the local honda dealer here is the same way. The Combo Acura/Mazda dealer in a larger city near us sees so much business from our city they are amazed.
I went into a Honda dealer trying to buy one of the two Type Rs they had in the show room. Like check in hand, ready to leave that day. "You can be put on the wait list to make a bid." Mind you inventory tracking showed both these particular cars sitting in their lot for over two months. Plus they want to have a bidding war on a car where the hype has died down 3 MY later.
Ah dealers artificially inflating prices of "rare" or "desirable" cars.
For medical and fire boots - is there a standard kind of boot you have to have?
I don't recommend Nike or Oakley boots if that's the case. I love my Asolo's and Merril's. 11k ft elevation, 90lbs pack, 14+ miles in Merri'ls and feet feel great.
DirtyBird222 said:For medical and fire boots - is there a standard kind of boot you have to have?
They have to meet NFPA standards
These are the ones that I am currently wearing:
They are infinitely more comfortable than the standard issue boots:
https://www.thorogoodusa.com/product/807-6000/
Fire gear is already so heavy and awkward that every bit of weight reduction or comfort increase really adds up. Especially as the years accumulate on your body.
dculberson said:So, so many similar experiences. The only reasonable conclusion I can come to is: some people just don't like to make money.
Small business owner flipside: customers are the worst (especially since Amazon/box store expectations are placed on small/craft business owners)
Sometimes it's better to NOT have the business, more work than worth it.
I can't speak to the other experiences, but I have a bit of insight into the Honda thing.
If yall were looking for a new Honda, most dealers don't actually have what's listed on the website. They're putting up incoming/not yet built units, and 90% of those are pre-sold. Granted, the "Business Development Centers" at most dealerships are absolute garbage, so that's always a possibility as well.
We have had to tell a lot of potential customers no this year, they can be pretty rude. We definitely struggle with the Amazon effect of I should be able to order whatever I want and get it tomorrow.
If I continue to add new business my current customers will get poorer service because we've struggled to get people and equipment. Also we don't have unlimited money to invest in equipment for marginal accounts.
In reply to calteg :
3 year old thread
Paul_VR6 (Forum Supporter) said:dculberson said:So, so many similar experiences. The only reasonable conclusion I can come to is: some people just don't like to make money.
Small business owner flipside: customers are the worst (especially since Amazon/box store expectations are placed on small/craft business owners)
Sometimes it's better to NOT have the business, more work than worth it.
I've said no to many customers, but someone with money to spend and a good attitude is always welcome but there's plenty of businesses - small and large! - out there that make it next to impossible for that person to give them money. There are a lot more businesses that are great, but I'm always confused by the ones that don't return calls, don't show up for jobs, and just don't actually do what they supposedly are in business to do.
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