I needed tires for one of my vehicles this week. I called just about everyone I could think of and when all was said and done, I bought the cheapest I could find.
I know we deal with people like me everyday and it drives us crazy.
I think this is the mindset of the average consumer and there is nothing you can do about it. In my view, adapt or die.
I'm just gonna throw this out there so dont get offended. Maybe if you charged a little more for your services you wouldn't have to be the raggedy van guy? And maybe you should market your services to a better clientele and not the "cheap charlies".
I personally believe in setting myself up to succeed. And that doesn't include having to buy tires twice because I bought crappy ones to get me by for a while.
What the heck is wrong with some of you guys. Not all of you but there is a select few in here that are constantly complaining that the sky is falling and you'll do what ever to get a job. Even if you have to low ball. I started out on my own last year and sure at first it was a little slow but I really push myself to get my name out there and its starting to pay off.
I use every possible tool, person and situation to get myself known. I seriously think that there are many of you that rode the "bubble" to its end and now your sitting in your shops staring at the phone. And I really think that many of you dont know what to do. Don't you guys have ANY people skills? How is it that me, ...a newbie has managed to make it work?
I even went as far as working with a caterer friend part time about 8 months ago because I knew she catered to very wealthy people and real estate brokers and such. And you can bet your bottom dollar that I introduced myself to as many people as I could. And let me tell you it has really paid off.
I also believe that I provide outstanding customer service. I try to exceed peoples expectations. If I have to cancel a date for what ever reason and I feel that the people are a little annoyed when I show up I usually bring them something small like pasties or coffee or what ever to make them smile. This type of customer service is almost unheard of in our industry. And I believe I get more referrals then most.
About a month ago I drove by a small building and noticed that the 26 high hats that went around the perimeter of the building were on in the middle of the day. I also noticed that they had incandescent bulbs in them. SO I went home and wrote that company a letter using my letter head and introduced myself to them, told them who I was, what my company does, and that I couldn't help but notice that there lights are on almost all day and included in the letter a calculation of how much this was costing them in wasted energy. I explained to them how they can reduce their energy usage and by installing a photo cell or timer with built in DST. And to my surprise I got a call from them. I really thought it was a shot in the dark but it worked. Yea sure It didnt make me a lot of money changing light bulbs and a photo cell but it got my foot in the door, and i gained their respect for saving them money in the long run.
At my local Home Depot I have worked up a pretty good report with the store manager and I have been putting it in her head that I can save her some money by doing her site light maintenance. I told her she is probably paying some big company way to much for what she has on site. I told her all the pole lights can be reached with a 16 foot ladder and she doesn't need to pay a big outfit with boom trucks top dollar to change bulbs and ballast.
And as I am typing this I just got a call from a contact I made with the caterer for a small kit reno. Anyhoo-
That my friends is what I talking about. In a Bull economy the work finds you in a Bear economy you have to go and get it even if you have to drag the customer out by the neck. (in a very nice way of course)
You need to think positively and stop programing your brain to think so negative. And I'm not just talking about this post but some of your other ones.
Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to attend a Tony Robbins seminar. A few years back Ken Hyman (a past employer of mine) paid for all of his crew to attend a weekend seminar at the meadowlands and it totally changed my outlook on life.
Don't wait to advertise when your phone has stopped ringing. Anticipate and react.
Yea sure man ADAPT or DIE but from the sound of it, and the negative wordage you peppered in your post (cheap, die, average mindset) it almost seems like you chose the latter.
