Calling customers "Clients"

FunX said it best.
I go with clients. I think it's more personal. A grocery store has customers.
 
Wow this turned into quite a discussion! I can see everyones point of view for sure. Heres mine! I've got "customers" that i've had for years and will continue to do work for them. I've even become friends with a lot of them. When discussing work i've never felt i've needed to use the word client. To me it just seems like its an attempt to glorify what we do. Sure polishing is specialized work, but when it comes to interiors the only reason we make money doing that is because most people are too lazy to do it themselves! Don't get me wrong, I like detailing, i'm good at it, I have a good reputation and long term customers, but at the end of the day I just don't feel the need to sugar coat what it is I actually do for a living! I'm not going to be telling someone that I cleaned a vehicle for a client that liked to place boogers on his drivers seat, no i'm going to say I cleaned a car for a disgusting pig today!
 
Flash Gordon said:
I feel as if I've failed unless they consider me FAMILY


One thing I notice alot, is when MY customers...urrrr clients, wait, Family see me approach them they smile real big

On the other hand. I had a lady about 10 years ago ask her husband "Is he still washing cars?" when I was standing right outside their door waiting on the keys. Funny thing is, now he is in federal prison for stealing millions of dollars and their house was forclosed on. Its a b*tch how karma works sometimes :)
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Thanks Flash.... Being part of the Family is more of a heartfelt description than, say a Friend. (Although in every family there are some "unfriendly times" that can occur :bash:)

Washing Cars:
It's sad that no matter how successful someone becomes in their business, whatever it is, there will be detractors/nay-sayers.
Why is it that "Detailers" are often just referred to as car-washers? Many, many reasons could be discussed here, although, most of those reasons have been talked about on various forums for years.

:)

Bob
 
via Google = "Customer - A person or organization that buys goods or services from a store or other business."

via DLB = Client - A repeat customer. :D

I agree with FUNX pretty well though.

DLB
 
Sparkle007 said:
I'm not going to be telling someone that I cleaned a vehicle for a client that liked to place boogers on his drivers seat, no i'm going to say I cleaned a car for a disgusting pig today!
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I am saddened, but not too surprised, to see that you feel that way about people that pay good money for your services. Do you really believe that these "disgusting pig" vehicle owners can't sense that you feel this way about them? That when they show up for their detail session, your facial expressions/body language is not a dead give-away?


Here's a prime example of what I was referring to in an earlier post. And that is:
Most people consider "Detailers" to be merely lowly car-washers.


IMO...No mutual respect.


A Detailer's job is not to respect the condition of a vehicle. Rather it should be to "inspect"..then to clean/detail the vehicle [even if it means that there has to be a "disinfect" (pig sty) process, if one so desires to do so, that is].
A Detailer should respect the owner of a vehicle....they are human beings after all....and, they're bringing their vehicle to you. That's got to mean something. Good or Bad.

Here's my take on it:

The "a disgusting pig" is one description often said about vehicle owners. A Detailer gets paid for this type of clean-up...without them...their pay-scale would diminish. It's usually something a "disgusting pig" vehicle owner doesn't relish doing...That's why they come to you....To perform a "disgusting" duty they probably feel is beneath their dignity....But not yours! No Respect shown there, if that's being the case!


I know it would have to be a severe blow to a Detailer's pride/ego if they found out a "digusting pig" vehicle owner felt that a person (Detailer)that would actually "Detail" their "disgusting pig" vehicle is indeed:

-Nothing more than a car-washer....Just a tiny, glorified step above being a "shoe-shine-boy" on the "corporate/business" ladder-structure, in their way of thinking perhaps! No Respect would be shown there either!


And as you stated:
"but at the end of the day I just don't feel the need to sugar coat what it is I actually do for a living....I cleaned a car for a disgusting pig today!"
No respect shown there either!


How to gain that mutual respect has been disclosed in this thread, and others....no need for me to be redundant, then.


-Yes, you have stated how you feel about some vehicle owners.
-But...Even if I would feel this way about anyone, for any reason, I would never publicize it...Probably wouldn't be good for business (leads/customers/clients); or perhaps, even personal safety.


Bob
 
I don't know why but I seem to think of a customer as someone who is purchasing a product. And a client as someone purchasing a service.

But to mean I don't car what you call your clients, customers, patients, whatever. As long as their happy with you and your work I don't think it really matters. It'll come through in your work how you really feel about them
 
FUNX725 said:
Washing Cars:

It's sad that no matter how successful someone becomes in their business, whatever it is, there will be detractors/nay-sayers.
Why is it that "Detailers" are often just referred to as car-washers? Many, many reasons could be discussed here, although, most of those reasons have been talked about on various forums for years.

:)

Bob
Click to expand...

I think its because they don't know any better. I don't think it was anything personal at all. At least I didn't take it that way. Well, maybe I did for the first 8 years, but after that I forgave her

:)
 
To be clear, the disgusting pig comment was my way of lightening things up! I don't bad mouth customers or shame them for having dirty vehicles, that is stupid. I do the work, they are happy with the end results and I get paid for the job. I started this topic simply because I have found the whole "client" thing humorous and I was curious as to the reasoning behind it. Like i've said, I like detailing, I wouldn't have been doing it for as long as I have if I didn't. I guess I've never had the mentality that this line of work is serious business like say the medical profession for example.
 
Sparkle007 said:
To be clear, the disgusting pig comment was my way of lightening things up! I don't bad mouth customers or shame them for having dirty vehicles, that is stupid. I do the work, they are happy with the end results and I get paid for the job. I started this topic simply because I have found the whole "client" thing humorous and I was curious as to the reasoning behind it. Like i've said, I like detailing, I wouldn't have been doing it for as long as I have if I didn't. I guess I've never had the mentality that this line of work is serious business like say the medical profession for example.
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:iagree: and understand what you meant. Its not my customers...urrr, clients, who are disgusting, it's their children who are filthy, disgusting little pigs :)
 
Flash Gordon said:
:iagree: and understand what you meant. Its not my customers...urrr, clients, who are disgusting, it's their children who are filthy, disgusting little pigs :)
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Thank you! Haha yes kids can make a detail project an unpleasant one! Sometimes i feel like I should be wearing a hazmat suit when doing jobs like that! :doh:
 
I agree with most on this topic. They start off as customers and end up as clients but most of my customers end up being good friends. Some of my clients/friends know me so well that they give me personal garage controllers and keys to their house, I take this as being more than clients since they have the ability to trust me. Some have written me letters of refferal to get into Universities and others are willing to write me letters if I decide to go into an officer program in the near future. I consider them good friends.

You also know a client is a good friend when they invite you to dinner or want to get to know you better by having some beers after detailing their ride :cheers:.
 
Rav777 said:
I agree with most on this topic. They start off as customers and end up as clients but most of my customers end up being good friends. Some of my clients/friends know me so well that they give me personal garage controllers and keys to their house, I take this as being more than clients since they have the ability to trust me. Some have written me letters of refferal to get into Universities and others are willing to write me letters if I decide to go into an officer program in the near future. I consider them good friends.

You also know a client is a good friend when they invite you to dinner or want to get to know you better by having some beers after detailing their ride :cheers:.
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Sounds like you're the man I'd prefer to have in order to take care of my vehicles then! :dblthumb2:

:)

Bob
 
Flash Gordon said:
When you see someone do you address them by client or customer? I usually address them by their name myself
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Well obviously you're not going to walk up to them and say "Hello, client!" but if you're talking with them about your work and say something like "Typically my clients ask for....." or "I had a client with a similar problem and I did ____ to fix it..." the word choice won't go unnoticed.

Rav777 said:
I agree with most on this topic. They start off as customers and end up as clients but most of my customers end up being good friends. Some of my clients/friends know me so well that they give me personal garage controllers and keys to their house, I take this as being more than clients since they have the ability to trust me. Some have written me letters of refferal to get into Universities and others are willing to write me letters if I decide to go into an officer program in the near future. I consider them good friends.

You also know a client is a good friend when they invite you to dinner or want to get to know you better by having some beers after detailing their ride :cheers:.
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:props:
 
FUNX725 said:
Sounds like you're the man I'd prefer to have in order to take care of my vehicles then! :dblthumb2:

:)

Bob
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Thanks Bob sure means a lot :) If you are ever in San Diego I'll hook it up on a detail. :xyxthumbs:
 
being a french canadian here, a client = your definition of customer

your definition of client = nothing here, maybe a repeated customer at most (we get them a lot at the liquor store i work at lol)

so customer or client in english = client in french which in turn = customer in english
 
Some popular definitions...

A person or organization using the services of a lawyer or other professional person or company.

The idea is that it elements the service provided with detailing as a profession. It may sound odd to some but it tries to emphasize a degree of professionalism and respect. Although in medicine they call them patients but what if they call them customers?
 
Bunky said:
Some popular definitions...

A person or organization using the services of a lawyer or other professional person or company.

The idea is that it elements the service provided with detailing as a profession. It may sound odd to some but it tries to emphasize a degree of professionalism and respect. Although in medicine they call them patients but what if they call them customers?
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At the end of the day, that's all they really are ;)
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Here's the rationale from a customer service and marketing perspective:

Calling someone a customer infers a very cold and clinical business relationship, basically saying "I see this as a one-time interaction."

Calling someone a client, on the other hand, expresses the desire/care to cultivate an ongoing business relationship that says "I am here to take care of all your appearance care needs at any time."

It's largely semantics, I know, but there is a psychological factor involved in terms of how you present yourself to the people who pay you. Also, if you are dealing with people who are lawyers/real estate agents/plastic surgeons bringing their cars to you, using the term "clients" with them resonates well because it's familiar to the way they run their own businesses, which puts them at ease.

Sure, it absolutely has to do with feeling important, but isn't that the goal of good customer service anyway? Making the client feel like they are important to you?

Just some food for thought.
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If I were a pro, Charly's rationale would be the model for me! Well done Charly!
 
My question still remains?!?!?!?!?!?

When have you ever called someone a customer or client? Why not just call them by their name?

Hi Mr Client,

I see your paint is all jacked up. Would you like me to take care of that for you?

How stupid does that sound :rolleyes: I'm sticking with Mr & Mrs ;)
 
Political correctness has gone too far. I was an 'employee' then I became an 'associate', but was the same person doing the same job. I'm also sure I was called a PITA in private conversations.

It may depend on the area you are located as to how people want to be referred to, but as long as it's done respectfully, what's the difference? AG has great customer service, so if we are clients, would it be called great 'client services'?

Just don't call them 'Late for Supper' lol.
 
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