Closing the Front Door

[jamj]

If you do it, get paid up front.

 

[Purli R]

Have not read all thread,so apologise if it has been said before........... Boff his wife then his Sister!

 

[DrWazzock]

We don’t know the other sides version of the story. The last couple of years haven’t been the easiest in farming or in farming diversifications due to weather and Covid. Maybe he’s sweated blood and tears to keep going and build his diversifications. He is behind on the paperwork because he has been firefighting and doing what’s necessary to keep core activities going. He seeks help from a consultant who seems ever so helpful at the preliminary consultation. Then he gets a quote in the post for £k which is half or all of this years profit gone.
He hits the roof. Quelle surprise!
For how long has the OP worked with farmers? Stand in the queue at parts counter and it’s a fairly normal reaction.

 

[DrWazzock]

And why do people draw the conclusion he is a bad payer? Some of the “ nicest “ people don’t pay. They are just better at holding contempt in.

 

[DrWazzock]

What people could do is have a bit of empathy in difficult times. I know swearing at suppliers is unacceptable but many businesses are close to edge as are the people that run them.
Have a thought, have a chat, come to an understanding.
I’ve seen people blow up many times. Farmers especially. It’s comes with the territory. The alternative is they turn in on themselves and nobody wants that.
He probably feels he is in a difficult corner. He was swallowed his pride, rung you up and tried to make amends in a small way.
Work with it, stay reasonable and you’ll earn a lot of respect.

 

[DrWazzock]

If you really are sure he’s a bad payer then tell him to do one though! Nobody needs those.

 

[TripleSix]

C?

"Oooh ahhh can you take your ring off?"

"That's my watch"

 

[dudders]

I'm with @farmerdan7618 - politely say no thanks, maybe give a recommendation to another provider. Preferably a crap or expensive one. As soon as someone gets abusive, it's time to move on and never look back. There might be reasons for his behaviour, but there are no excuses. A canny businessman keeps a wary eye out for potential troublemakers and keeps clear of them at any cost.

 

[DrWazzock]

I'm with @farmerdan7618 - politely say no thanks, maybe give a recommendation to another provider. Preferably a crap or expensive one. As soon as someone gets abusive, it's time to move on and never look back. There might be reasons for his behaviour, but there are no excuses. A canny businessman keeps a wary eye out for potential troublemakers and keeps clear of them at any cost.

They wouldn’t do much contracting work in Lincolnshire then.

 

[som farmer]

apologies profusely, you are ever so sorry, but you have just accepted a big 'job', and you simply wouldn't have the time, to spend on making a decent job, of his. No bridges burn't, nobody upset (much), and always another day.
Not to often i let rip over the phone, but i did a few months back, over a document cock-up, which i had thought they had sorted, it was, in the next 24 hrs, not sure how they did it, but they did. That's why it doesn't pay to mouth off, if you rarely do, when you do, people listen, and sort.

 

[Renaultman]

apologies profusely, you are ever so sorry, but you have just accepted a big 'job', and you simply wouldn't have the time, to spend on making a decent job, of his. No bridges burn't, nobody upset (much), and always another day.
Not to often i let rip over the phone, but i did a few months back, over a document cock-up, which i had thought they had sorted, it was, in the next 24 hrs, not sure how they did it, but they did. That's why it doesn't pay to mouth off, if you rarely do, when you do, people listen, and sort.

Totally agree it's nice to be nice, and when you are and some straw breaks the camel's back. People tend to take notice.

 

[Renaultman]

Saying that one of my favourite lyrics, from a Welsh rap group believe it or not, is 'I tried to see things, from his point of view, but I couldn't get my head up his @hole too'

 

[Farmer_Joe]

Do you really think he deserves a keen price? If he had called last year and politely said you were too dear, he was going to look elsewhere, then phoned now you would know you were reasonably priced the first time.
Personally I would quote fairly, on a signed contract, any abuse and the price doubles. Life is too short to deal with arseholes.

this

 

[som farmer]

Totally agree it's nice to be nice, and when you are and some straw breaks the camel's back. People tend to take notice.

rule 1 here, ultra polite to the person that answers the phone , presuming a company, carefully tell her the problem, and ask who is the best person to speak to, works wonders, and of course, the person answering, is not the one in the wrong.

 

[Baker9]

I have over 40 years experience in the food manufacturing industry and have had to deal with troublesome customers and they never get better, if they abuse you once they do so again and again, I suggest you decline the work and recommend one of your competitors that you do not like, I could give you a name of one in particular who is a complete money grabbing asshole.

 

[Tubbylew]

We don’t know the other sides version of the story. The last couple of years haven’t been the easiest in farming or in farming diversifications due to weather and Covid. Maybe he’s sweated blood and tears to keep going and build his diversifications. He is behind on the paperwork because he has been firefighting and doing what’s necessary to keep core activities going. He seeks help from a consultant who seems ever so helpful at the preliminary consultation. Then he gets a quote in the post for £k which is half or all of this years profit gone.
He hits the roof. Quelle surprise!
For how long has the OP worked with farmers? Stand in the queue at parts counter and it’s a fairly normal reaction.

I always ring before I get parts now, so I can have the tantrum at home an calm down before I pick them up!

 

[DrWazzock]

I always ring before I get parts now, so I can have the tantrum at home an calm down before I pick them up!

I always knew how high the price was going to be by the amount the store man raised his eyebrows before telling me. It gave me time to get hold of the counter.

 

[Johnnyboxer]

As soon as someone gets abusive, it's time to move on and never look back.

There might be reasons for his behaviour, but there are no excuses.

A canny businessman keeps a wary eye out for potential troublemakers and keeps clear of them at any cost.

Depends on the person & their behaviour

Some do it and others don't

You just have to know them and how to defuse/deflect it - never fall out with customers is a good maxim

 

[DrWazzock]

Must be a real luxury not to have to deal with difficult customers. Surely the art of business is to be able to manage these customers?
All of my customers have become abusive at some point even those that started out alright. I just thought it was par for the course. It doesn’t really bother me. As long as they keep paying they can call me an are sole for all I care. They are a customer not my best buddy.
I often think of ambulance drivers and such like taking abuse from patients. Personally I’d be tempted to drive off without them but if they can show patience and understanding with some of the low life they have to deal with then I can too.

 

[DrWazzock]

I’ll leave aside the fact that my natural reaction to a quote for £k for filling in a few forms might also have included a few choice words. Really what do folk expect?