Nightmare Customer/ Clients Stories

My Detailing Guys

My Detailing Guys

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Anyone have a funny or interesting story about that “Nightmare Customer/ Client? How did you deal with them?

I look forward to reading members replies:xyxthumbs:
Greg
 
Had a customer try to tell me how to detail his car, stayed around pretty much the whole time, then blamed his swirled paint on my wash technique, which the swirls were already there before, probably from his eagle one wax job, which he said was an amzing wax, never seen that much wax residue left over in the cracks and crevasis. Then found out through word of mouth he was talking about me to other people saying I was a horrible detailer and he would never let me touch his cars again. Guess we all cant be winners.
 
Excessive Detail said:
Had a customer try to tell me how to detail his car, stayed around pretty much the whole time, then blamed his swirled paint on my wash technique, which the swirls were already there before, probably from his eagle one wax job, which he said was an amzing wax, never seen that much wax residue left over in the cracks and crevasis. Then found out through word of mouth he was talking about me to other people saying I was a horrible detailer and he would never let me touch his cars again. Guess we all cant be winners.
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That's crazy... at that point I think it's more of a thing that you have to let your work do the talking for you. Especially to the people he was bad mouthing you to. I go around the car with the client before I touch the car and show them all the scratches and swirls that are already on their car, so I don't get blamed. Even though that still may not make a difference with some people...
 
Excessive Detail said:
Had a customer try to tell me how to detail his car, stayed around pretty much the whole time, then blamed his swirled paint on my wash technique, which the swirls were already there before, probably from his eagle one wax job, which he said was an amzing wax, never seen that much wax residue left over in the cracks and crevasis. Then found out through word of mouth he was talking about me to other people saying I was a horrible detailer and he would never let me touch his cars again. Guess we all cant be winners.
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If he thought he was such an expert at detailing, why hire someone to detail his car? I agree with you..."we all can't be winner's"... like him. :props: Sounds like someone trying to get something for nothing. Figured if he complains enough it might work??? I've run into those type of people in my lifetime.
 
Shew we, I could fill up 8 pages on this thread. I've encountered some real zingers over the years :nomore:
 
I probably should not be reading this it might deter me from my new business venture haha. No this would empower me to tackle the problems I would face from customers. So please go on...

I like fairlady's idea about having a "walk around" with the customer.
 
I had this one customer who had so much junk in his SUV it took me 1/2 an hour just to get all his stuff out . I kept coming across very weird sex gag type gifts you would give people as a joke. Then every compartment in his vehicle had dozens of extra large condoms EVERYWHERE. :wow:how many did he really need ?LOL Then he had this very long trench coat in the SUV too . I think he was kind of a feak or maybe an exhibishionist LOL I didnt want to know:eek:

It was very weird !!!
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Then I had this other customer who was very nice and a had detailed his vette a few times already but this time when I took everything out of his glove box there was something heavy wrapped in a towel and then I realized I was holding a gun in my hand :eek: I hoped it wasnt loaded !
 
Some guy hired me to do a car. he arranged for me to pick it up from X address and told me to call when I was done. So I picked it up Detailed the car and then called. no answer, I called 9 more times and he didnt answer.

So I just returned the vehicle. Well i went to the front door to let someone know i was returning the vehicle. A woman answered the door (i assume Mrs,XXXXXX)I said Mrs.XXXXX i was hired by your husband to detail this vehicle today. he told me to call but did not answer so i am returning it now. She said. thats not my car or his. That's his secretaries car :help:

She got really mad and started calling him. I apologized and she said it wasnt my fault, that she was glad she found out because she suspected something for a while.

Apparently sneaking around husband hired me so i could get secretaries car out of his driveway and so it would be a present for her. I guess he wanted to arrange a different drop off. Well perhaps instead of banging the secretary he should have answered his phone. It took me 5 weeks to get payment. Week 4 I told him that he should never screw with his detailer. He drove a brand new Porsche Turbo. I have chemicals that could really screw that thing up. I think a paint brush and some brake fluid smeared on the hood that says PAY ME. might have gotten the point across. Luckily he payed up, but only after i threatened legal action.
 
AndrewBall said:
ew Porsche Turbo. I have chemicals that could really screw that thing up. I think a paint brush and some brake fluid smeared on the hood that says PAY ME. might have gotten the point across.
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I can't tell if you are being sarcastic. :dig:
 
No horror stories but this is posted in my garage and I point it out.........

If you watch........$25 per hour above quoted rate
If you help...........$45 per hour above quoted rate
If you dictate.......$75 per hour above quoted rate
You don't know what you're doing or you wouldn't have brought your car to me.

It works but I'm nice and comical about bringing it to the customers attention. It's all in the presentation and the trust you have established with the customer. Never once has it turned someone away. It's not always necessary to point out the sign but for the "know it alls", it's priceless. If someone trips out (not happened yet) they can hit the bricks.

I'm essentially retired now but I still keep the sign........I enjoy it.
 
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