Closing the Front Door

[DrWazzock]

The only thing that puts me off a job is if it’s going to wreck my equipment or lose me money. I couldn’t care less if the customer has a personality problem really. That’s their problem.

 

[deleted user 436632456]

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?

I quoted for 150 hrs work..he has quite a bit to do...

 

[DrWazzock]

I quoted for 150 hrs work..he has quite a bit to do...

Indeed, but please be aware that the sum you will have quoted is a big hit for many small businesses and it’s probably beyond his comprehension or experience that the figure need be so high. Did you forewarn him that the charge was likely to be high? Did you break it to him gradually and get him on side or just land a whopper on his desk in the post/ email?
In my view you’d be the bigger person by rising to the challenge not running away. Customer management is an important part of the job. Do a good job and he’ll probably be as noisy in recommending you as he was in sounding off over the quote.
Let something good come of it. Turn it round. He has held out an olive branch.

 

[Happy]

Go with your gut instinct.
That will be the correct answer.

 

[Wink]

Shouldn't they be writing their own haccp? There are templates readily available and it's an area that they will have to give the input to the manufacturering processes anyway to show they understand the processes?

 

[deleted user 436632456]

Indeed, but please be aware that the sum you will have quoted is a big hit for many small businesses and it’s probably beyond his comprehension or experience that the figure need be so high. Did you forewarn him that the charge was likely to be high? Did you break it to him gradually and get him on side or just land a whopper on his desk in the post/ email?
In my view you’d be the bigger person by rising to the challenge not running away. Customer management is an important part of the job. Do a good job and he’ll probably be as noisy in recommending you as he was in sounding off over the quote.
Let something good come of it. Turn it round. He has held out an olive branch.

It was mentioned to him at the first meeting about an approximate cost, there’s probably only 10% of difference between the verbal and written quote. I’m not the first consultant either.
I like being the go to guy for those in need, But he’s had 6years to sort out some of his compliance bits and pieces, times up with some of the regulatory bodies, that’s why the olive branch is out.

 

[deleted user 436632456]

Shouldn't they be writing their own haccp? There are templates readily available and it's an area that they will have to give the input to the manufacturering processes anyway to show they understand the processes?

Funny enough..
I actually suggested to him a few websites and courses he could go on, absolutely no interest

 

[dudders]

Abusive people are only like that because other people let them get away with it.

 

[DrWazzock]

It was mentioned to him at the first meeting about an approximate cost, there’s probably only 10% of difference between the verbal and written quote. I’m not the first consultant either.
I like being the go to guy for those in need, But he’s had 6years to sort out some of his compliance bits and pieces, times up with some of the regulatory bodies, that’s why the olive branch is out.

Well it's entirely up to you. You know him better than any of us. Depends really whether he is truly abusive or just abrasive. If you have doubts about being paid walk away. If he is truly a habitually nasty piece of work then walk away. If he was maybe just having a bad day then maybe give him the benefit of the doubt. And some people just don't like or have time for what they consider unnecessary paperwork, Doesn't make them bad people deep down.
As said, go with your gut feeling. Good luck.

Now do I drive my beet harvester up into the wolds this week to harvest 2 acres of rubbish beet then drive it all the way back again making no money at all on the job? Damn right I don't, but I still feel guilty about turning it down as I am the contractor of last resort. Funny thing, business ethics.

 

[MRT]

All of my customers have become abusive at some point even those that started out alright.

Really? Why? What do you do!?

 

[ollie989898]

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

The bloke isn't a customer. Yet.

 

[ollie989898]

Abusive people are only like that because other people let them get away with it.

Absolutely right.

 

[Sharpy]

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?

If it was that easy the prospective customer would have done it himself. Like you do your own repairs.

 

[DrWazzock]

Really? Why? What do you do!?

Nothing in particular. But wet harvests or bad winters or difficult stock lead to frayed tempers and even the mildest mannered person can sound off and often takes it out on somebody nearby. Anybody who hasn't gone off on one hasn't been farming for long enough. I have seen it all. Verbal abuse, punches thrown, brothers fighting in yards, always over something stupid and laughed about afterwards. Isn't it normal? Maybe not? Maybe I just live in a wild area.

 

[ollie989898]

One of the interesting things I often note on TFF is how attitudes or opinions differ across the spectrum of members here.

In this instance, some members seem to be of the opinion that a guy serving up steaming bowls of verbal abuse over the phone would be acceptable in their view based on whatever circumstances or problems the individual may be facing at the time. This is an entirely understandable opinion and it is true that some people face stressful circumstances and may react in a way that is quite out of character for them.

This of course contrasts hugely with, say, how a managing director would fare if he offered the same kind of abuse to a shareholder, customer or even a member of his own staff. In some big companies, who value their organisational beliefs more than any individual they may employ, the individual in question may well be obliged to clear his desk by 9am the following morning as a result of his actions.

Interesting to see how members interpret the situation I must say.

 

[som farmer]

sometimes, getting somebody out of the deep and murky, can be good advertising.
The covid virus, goes to show why it is a good idea not to burn your bridges, work wise. So many people have closed their businesses down, furloughed staff, working reduced hours etc, for a self employed, advisor consultant etc, much of the work has simply disappeared, your bills haven't. So, one may be glad of any work.

 

[DrWazzock]

If it was that easy the prospective customer would have done it himself. Like you do your own repairs.

But to somebody in the know it should be easy. Well that's the impression I as a farmer have. When somebody is charging me £25 / hr plus for something and I am maybe grossing £10 / hr for arguably as difficult a job then I resent it. If all I had to do all day was complete this paperwork then I would probably be an expert at it. From where I sit it feels like highway robbery backed by government legislation. Probably wrong but that's the impression I as a farmer have.

 

[som farmer]

One of the interesting things I often note on TFF is how attitudes or opinions differ across the spectrum of members here.

In this instance, some members seem to be of the opinion that a guy serving up steaming bowls of verbal abuse over the phone would be acceptable in their view based on whatever circumstances or problems the individual may be facing at the time. This is an entirely understandable opinion and it is true that some people face stressful circumstances and may react in a way that is quite out of character for them.

This of course contrasts hugely with, say, how a managing director would fare if he offered the same kind of abuse to a shareholder, customer or even a member of his own staff. In some big companies, who value their organisational beliefs more than any individual they may employ, the individual in question may well be obliged to clear his desk by 9am the following morning as a result of his actions.

Interesting to see how members interpret the situation I must say.

slightly off subject, local builder, used to get ALL the 'odd' jobs, from the senior age group (pc), including my grandmother, all careful with their money, esp gran, asked him how he actually managed to keep them so pleased, the answer- 'well my boy, tis like this, i do stick 15% extra, on the bill, and when they complain, i do knock 10% off, works a treat',

 

[Sharpy]

But to somebody in the know it should be easy. Well that's the impression I as a farmer have. When somebody is charging me £25 / hr plus for something and I am maybe grossing £10 / hr for arguably as difficult a job then I resent it. If all I had to do all day was complete this paperwork then I would probably be an expert at it. From where I sit it feels like highway robbery backed by government legislation. Probably wrong but that's the impression I as a farmer have.

If you are good at anything it looks easy, but to be good takes experience, experience takes time. Thats what you pay for, or at least thats what my lawyer says.

 

[DrWazzock]

I used to be the in house consultant for hazardous area electrical equipment.. All this meant was that I had read the relevant British Standards and got my head around the various explosion protection systems, certification etc. After a month or so I had it at my finger tips but I was paid the same as all the other engineers.
Yet now people set them up as consultant in such and such and expect to be paid twice as much as everybody else. I don't really get it. Same with accountants and solicitors. Yes, its a specialist job but so is a nutrient management plan.
I find folks generally charge not in proportion to the difficulty of the work and certainly not in proportion to the value they bring but in accordance with how far over a barrel they have you. Sadly I find this thread slightly gloating at the business owners predicament and the power these "clipboards" now wield over such people. Slightly sad really.
I'd say either get on with it or move on but no need to keep turning the knife.