Is this really how to treat customers?

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I have been a 100% commissioned sales person in a highly competitive field since 1991. The best advice I can give you is focus on what you do best and not what your competition does.

Case in point, last year I was competing for a $45,000 order in a Budweiser distributor for some new machine stretch wrappers. My competition was quoting the same exact machines. So it would be like both of us selling Rupes against each other. I got the sale and I didn't cut my price. I outsold my competition so the customer decided to partner with me and my company.

Forget about "the competition". Do what you do to the best of your ability. Focus on customer service and your customers will come back and they will give you referrals. Will that be because your shining up their car better than the other guy for less money? Probably not. Chances are the average customer can't tell the difference. Give your customers a better overall experience. That is what will make them come back. You'll need to invest some of your time on how to market your business and how to effectively engage your customers. Focus on what differentiates you from the so called competition. And never bash the competition, that usually backfires. That's selling 101. And stop trolling them and wasting their time. LOL.

PS, If your personal mission is to educate and convert everyone of your potential customers as to paint correction, etc you're doomed to failure from the get go. 99% of the general population could care less. Nor do they want to be up sold or lectured to. The average car owner wants a clean shiny car and could care less about swirl marks. If that's your strategy you are limiting yourself to that 1% and you'll be starving for work.

But seriously, good luck with your business, I wish you many years of success!
 
I've had 'customers' contact me (landscaping business) and try to get 'in the weeds' about what I do, what I use and what I charge. I try and be polite, answer all their questions....but if I get a whiff of a competitor trolling, I offer to meet them at their home and discuss how I could be of service to them. That usually ends the conversation.

I do not debate/negotiate with anyone over what someone else charges/uses....I explain that this is what I charge, and I will make every effort to make sure they're happy with my work if they hire me.
 
Billy Baldone said:
So.... Ok, I run a boutique service from my home, like a lot of us do. The other day, a young fella 2 towns away from me noticed by Beeds sticker on my car. Made it a point to say hello and asked if I liked it and gave me a card( he does about what I do, just not to the level of ocd that I do.) I gave him a card and we talked a bit, instead of us feeling threatened by each other, I think I have made a friend, that in the future we may work together, or at least bounce ideas off of each other. I have since given him some Blacklight, and text back and forth. There are several brick and mortar shops that cater to the 95percent of the population that I don't cater to. I have a really good idea what they do, and what they use. I would never on purpose, call or email "trying to call them out" if you will, to get an idea of what they use. You know damn well about what they do for $175, you are on here enough to figure it out. I think you acted inappropriately.
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I agree!

I also don't worry what anyone else charges. I charge what feels right for me. If someone doesn't want to pay what I quote them, then I'm ok with it. Last thing I want is to bust my ass on a detail for less money and feel like I cheated myself and not enjoy the detail.
What I'm trying to say is try is go with your gut and charge what feels right to you and don't worry about what "they" do.
 
@custmsprty. Great post.

But if OP really wants to scratch that itch and troll, I mean find out about "the competition" without sticking out like a sore thumb... I'll give you an idea. This is how you approach them.

You call em. Your deal is you're a single dad, and you and your ex wife just bought your daughter a car. But since you no longer live with both of them you don't have the time or opportunity to do it yourself.. Plus the cars a complete mess and you don't want your own daughter to be sitting in who knows what could be in that filthy car. You just need it detailed. Inside and out. Then you can ask just about any question [except for the obvious "hey I'm really just trolling you" questions such as rotary, pads, brand of compound] lol.

That's how you do it. You're welcome...
 
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