[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

Just received this email -

"Good morning,
Following our telephone conversation yesterday could you please attend at the above property to clean all the carpets throughout the property. I know you said you where booked up for 2 weeks but we need this cleaning ASAP.  Attached is a works purchase order which just confirms the details in this email. Please reply to confirm your price of £210 inc VAT. Please take photographs of before and after cleaning to prove the clean has been carried out. Maybe a photo of the dirty water being poured away? Could you also take a photo of the outside of the property to prove it is the right house. Please pick up the keys from ........"

She was asking absolutely loads of questions on the phone too. I'm all for being thorough but photo's of dirty water! I was pretty insulted to be honest. My spider senses are telling me to steer well clear but what would you guy's think?

[jasonl]

Hi Mrs fussy fa nny

I would be delighted to carry out this clean .

Please find attached my invoice with bank details . Once Funds are cleared I shall attend and carry out a very thorough clean .

Regards

Ivor big 'ose

[Mike Gwilliam]

This is the type of people I steer clear of and is a good indicator that trouble lies ahead.

If she is so fussy and doesnt trust you (which she doesnt) why doesnt she come along to have a look at the job.

Is she gunna pay you for the extra time for the taking and processing the pictures. No...she won't care how much bother she put's you through, which would give me concerns about being paid in the end.

Just my two penneth 

[jasonl]

I send images to absent customers anyway , it takes under 10 seconds to take and email 1 image , they love it especially the dirt pics , they realise they are getting value for money , and after all I am in the customer service business.

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

Yes was thinking the same Mike. I don't mind taking before and after photos and I do on all commercials to cover my own back but I can see problems with this customer going off the phone call and email.  I  will have to have a think about letting/estate agents in general because they are a pain in the neck to be honest with payment and just they're general attitude. I knocked Asian jobs on the head this year which is a shame because it's a big part of the market but they are a nightmare to work with and just don't want to pay! I'm in the position now that I can be a bit more picky which is good. I can normally weed out the "problem" customers these days and I would of done this job when starting out but like you said Mike the warning signs are there to see!

[Mike Gwilliam]

I knocked Asian jobs on the head this year which is a shame because it's a big part of the market but they are a nightmare to work with and just don't want to pay!

Same here.....the last one I quoted for a floor job £350 and she said would I do it for £250  When they call now I either say I'm booked up for weeks ahead or something similar.

In one sense if you ain't got much work on and your struggling a bit to put food on the table, you could perhaps follow these jobs up. But when your booked up for a while and busy, it makes no sense in getting stressed about possible problem jobs.

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

Yes, I say that too  Normally the conversation goes like this - Can you give me a price to wash carpets. I need them doing today ..... I'm sorry we are fully booked and we are booked up for weeks   ....... OK! Then they hang up!

[Mike Halliday]

She has sent a 'works purchase order' so they are a company not an individual.

from a company who are not local I don't think these demands are too outrages, 

I would tell them you don't have time to set up your usual company credit agreement or carry out your normal solvency checks (that you carry out on all new commercial clients) so you are quite happy to follow thier conditions but will need payment before the work takes place

[Graeme Brown]

I have had personal dealings with many Asian people and have a great time with them but.. on a business front people of indian/ Pakistani etc origin always haggle on the price then want something extra done for free then usually pick over your work. It is obviously a cultural thing and they don't know this may offend us.
I simply see it as a basic cultural difference as they are always pleasant during the process. I always  and double the price to allow for the haggling and extra work and time and we meet somewhere in the middle

[neil 47]

Graeme

what's your No  ,you can gladly have all the ones that phone me.

your right it is cultural as lots are very wealthy and im sure if i had paitence i would make so good money but i cant be arsed with can you just do this can you do it for this much .

spot on as people but the haggling bit gets me down   

[Graeme Brown]

Neil. The commute to Barnsley would be a bitch sorry.
 Living in Scotland the population  percentage is tiny compared to down your way but I never refuse to work for anyone unless they are an Arse and there are arses of all  shapes sizes and colours.

[jasonl]

I have loads of Asian customers  the culture of not saying no can be used against them if worded right .

All across west and South Yorkshire there are thousands and I would have no business without this market .