I declined this job. Would you have done the same?

[Coppersmith]

Today I received a lead from one of my lead services. It said "customer has six AFCI circuit breakers. None of them work when pressing the test button. They want them all replaced." I declined this job. Before I tell you why, tell me if you would have accepted or declined and why.

 

[480sparky]

I can't answer the question as I don't use lead services. All they do is create another layer between me and the customers, and that merely increases the price.

 

[Coppersmith]

Why don't you make believe the customer called you directly and told you this story.

 

[James L]

For me, it would depend on the lead service and their history of lead quality.

I used to get leads from 2 different services, and both were gimmicky in the way they generated leads. Too many tire kickers.

So, buy a lead for a $1,000 job and have them start trying to pick at you for how to do it themselves

 

[jeff48356]

I would decline as well. It seems as if the customer has no idea how those things are supposed to work, thus, there's probably nothing wrong with them.

 

[K8MHZ]

"None of them work when pressing the test button" I'm not sure what that means.

 

[480sparky]

Why don't you make believe the customer called you directly and told you this story.

I would probably be able to TS it over the phone. A couple of minutes, and I might well have a loyal customer.

 

[Hv&Lv]

Today I received a lead from one of my lead services. It said "customer has six AFCI circuit breakers. None of them work when pressing the test button. They want them all replaced." I declined this job. Before I tell you why, tell me if you would have accepted or declined and why.

NONE of them work? I’m not sure I would want to fool with this either. Number one, lead service. Won’t do on a lead service.
Number two, already diagnosed by the customer “wants them all replaced”. Perhaps the AFCIs have the wrong neutral in them, or installed wrong altogether. Don’t want to fight with a customer that already knows what the “problem” is..

 

[McLintock]

What is exactly meant by “pressing the button and nothing works”?


“ shoot low boys their riding shetland ponies”

 

[K8MHZ]

NONE of them work? I’m not sure I would want to fool with this either. Number one, lead service. Won’t do on a lead service.
Number two, already diagnosed by the customer “wants them all replaced”. Perhaps the AFCIs have the wrong neutral in them, or installed wrong altogether. Don’t want to fight with a customer that already knows what the “problem” is..

 

[readydave8]

What is exactly meant by “pressing the button and nothing works”?


“ shoot low boys their riding shetland ponies”

circuit doesn't work after pressing button?

 

[sw_ross]

I would probably be able to TS it over the phone. A couple of minutes, and I might well have a loyal customer.

I agree it might be something simple that could be dealt with through a phone conversation, but with the lead service involved you might not get a chance to have a phone conversation. They might only tell you an address and a scheduled time to be there. That’s the problem with the lead service situation.

 

[AC\DC]

Would not take. They work until test button is pressed . There working fine.

 

[Hv&Lv]

Would not take. They work until test button is pressed . There working fine.

Wait...

I assumed they meant the test switches wouldn’t trip the circuit..I never thought the OP could mean what you just stated...
Maybe I misread the OP...
Either way, I’m out.

 

[AC\DC]

None of them work when pressing the test button.

You can read it either way, it’s a home owner you never know with them.

 

[Little Bill]

I had a customer that called and said his GFCI for his pool pump was bad. I explained how to reset it but he said it wouldn't work. I get there and it is tripped. I reset it and it holds. I tripped it several times with the test button and it tripped & reset every time. I let the pump run for about 30 mins. with no problem. I told the customer I couldn't find anything wrong and ask him how he was trying to reset it. Here is what he said............
"I turn the breaker all the way off, then back on, then push the little white button, nothing works"

 

[electrofelon]

I would not accept. I would not want to "own" tripping AFCI issues the rest of my life. They could be having problems and want to pin it on you.

 

[ramsy]

I would probably be able to TS it over the phone. A couple of minutes, and I might well have a loyal customer.

In Coppersmith's case, he could talk his JW thru the finer points over the phone, and perhaps charge for the service call.

 

[Little Bill]

So I would have tried to fix the OP customer over the phone. I would explain how to re-set and what the test button did. Also explain if I come and all that I do is reset them, they will receive a bill for the service call.

 

[Fred B]

So I would have tried to fix the OP customer over the phone. I would explain how to re-set and what the test button did. Also explain if I come and all that I do is reset them, they will receive a bill for the service call.

This type of job would never pay for the lead charge, they charge based on how customer words what they are interested in, not on what they actually need done.
And like @James L said too many tire kickers using those lead services. My experience has been 70% or more are "I was wondering how much to do X" but no real interest in having it done, and everyone of them costs me money. I get more bang for the buck from a website presence and good Google placement. I would consider helping if got this type of call as a result of my web, but not worth it from a lead service.