How to remind customers to pay for a detail.

Oh. That explains it, then.
FUNX650 said:
•I must ask for your patience:

-I'm still in the finalization process of
structuring a taxonomization-system
that's designed for answering vaguely
articulated follow-up questions.

-TIA.



Bob
Click to expand...
 
Perhaps a good up front verbal 'contract' will help. Here are services... here is pricing and acceptance. expected at the time of completion. any questions?
I keep this as a basic idea because you can customize the up front contract for any selling situation. having a clear understanding before has always helped me understand their expectations, set my own, and complete a service with both parties satisfied.
 
wing commander said:
I agree about sissy advice. The thing to do is be polite and to the point. I am too nice (sissy?) so after I married my current wife she taught me to collect for our work and not to work collecting. Since I met her we do not allow people to owe us money. It is better to loose the customer than your time and money. We had a husband and wife team that agreed on 200 and when the work was complete we get from the wife "I forgot to stop by the bank so I will give you the other 80 tomorrow. I looked at my wife and the now bad faith customer and said you guys wait here a few moments as I take Kieth to the ATM. We got paid and rid of a bad customer at the same time. If the customer did not agree to the ATM trip I would eat crow for years because she warned me to collect upfront since they were a first time customer. My sissy problem is I think everyone is nice and honest. Thankfully she keeps me on alert for trouble.
Click to expand...

That's a specious argument, because you have absolutely no idea that you would not have been paid the $80 the next day.
 
sudsmobile said:
That's a specious argument, because you have absolutely no idea that you would not have been paid the $80 the next day.
Click to expand...

To your point I ask you to remember my job was to clean a car. I spent the next day working on a car not trying to collect from a unknown customer who already broke the agreement once. I was posting to help any forum member who may need encouragement to get paid from a bad customer. I wish that your business never experiences a non paying customer who runs you around so that this thread has no relevance to you.
 
wing commander said:
To your point I ask you to remember my job was to clean a car. I spent the next day working on a car not trying to collect from a unknown customer who already broke the agreement once. I was posting to help any forum member who may need encouragement to get paid from a bad customer. I wish that your business never experiences a non paying customer who runs you around so that this thread has no relevance to you.
Click to expand...


I wish that for you as well. But that's not what happened to you. That was what you thought might happen, which is my point.
 
Maestro Sam said:
So I detail from home
Click to expand...


Do you use any form of contract like the VIF I created?


Mike Phillips VIF or Vehicle Inspection Form


This is a form you can customize and cut out a lot of what you don't like or need, (I tend to over-write instead of under-write and thus you can delete portions you don't want to use instead of making you "write" out extra stuff).


Here's the first page, it has spaces for,

Service Recommended
Service Accepted
Signature of Approval
Original Estimate
Final Charge

If you fill this out and they sign it before you work on the car, if they don't pay at least you have a signed document that will hold up in small claims court.

Version_1_7.jpg



:)
 
I sent invoices to customers prior to vehicles being picked up from our shop, and I did not release vehicles to their owner without having been paid in full.

If you go to the dealer for service, they don't let you walk away with a $1000 invoice unpaid, do they?
 
Wow I hope you get paid.

You are WAY more trusting they I.
I do not release keys or the vehicle until I have cash in my hand or their credit card is swiped.

I also do random freelance graphic design on the side and my customer's don't get their finalized files until I am paid in full.
 
This is just crazy. Sorry man but they got one over on you. Hopefully you learn from this and take pointers from everyone’s advice on this thread.
 
Hey guys sorry for the late update! Busy for me paint correcting alone and had no chance to get back on the forum! After the initial text, the owner came to my house, handed me a check, and a $100 tip for doing a good job and for the late payment. Her husband is booked with me for a full interior/exterior detail. It is great to share these stories knowing that the autogeek community has your back. Thank you all for the support! I was paid $400 for the 12 hours of work for those that are curious!
 
What did I tell you guys?! Freakin overreacting.

If you have the possibility of getting screwed your mind, you’re likely to be screwed.. Be aware of your surroundings, but if you even have the slightest thought of being screwed over, then you’re just living in fear.

There was alot of talk about taking control of the situation in this thread.. More like damage control, but the way I see it, having control is not falling for such BS in the 1st place. If you’re dumb enough to get ripped off by someone like that in this situation, then you have to factor in how much you yourself are to blame for it.

@Maestro. Good deal, I told you everything was going to turn out fine. Just needed to have a little patience. Thanks for the update.
 
Great news!

Just try and get paid before handing the car over from now on... customers understand having to pay before getting the keys back to their vehicle. If they don't, then they are living under a rock.
 
Great news. Not surprised at all by the outcome. Aren't you glad you didn't file a lien against their property or send them to collections? ;)
 
Maestro Sam said:
Thanks man for the reply and advice! Spent around 15 hours on cleaning the interior froom the owner spilling 5 gallons for paint and sure as hell want my payment.
Click to expand...

By the way, what do you use to remove paint from the carpet??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top