Inconsiderate customers

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jeff48356

Senior Member
Location
Livonia, Michigan
How would you handle this scenario?: You have an appointment for an estimate at a certain time. You drive across town to look at the job, arrive 15 minutes early, knock on the door (or ring bell) and no one answers. You call them to tell them you're standing on their front porch, and ask them to come to the door -- only to find out they're not even home (at the supermarket), and they ask you to wait there for about 15 minutes when will be home. The appointment is, after all, in 15 minutes from now. Would you stay there or just leave right away? I find it quite inconsiderate for them to be out running errands near the time of such an appointment.
 
K8MHZ said:
Why would you consider leaving before the appointment time? That's just rude. It's not the customer's problem that you got there early. And to call them inconsiderate because they weren't home 15 minutes ahead of time? Again, I think that is rude.
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On the other hand, if you want to play "what if?" you can speculate that if they are on a supermarket trip 15 minutes before the appointment time they risk unforseen delays making them late. :)
Which would then make them both imprudent (not impudent) and rude.
 
K8MHZ said:
Why would you consider leaving before the appointment time? That's just rude. It's not the customer's problem that you got there early. And to call them inconsiderate because they weren't home 15 minutes ahead of time? Again, I think that is rude.
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I agree. Who knows the customer may actually make it by the appointment time.

From experience I can say the cusotmer probably won't be there for another 30 minutes. But you should at least give them a chance before getting upset.
 
infinity said:
Sorry to be blunt but it's inconsiderate on your part to show up early and expect them to be ready for you.
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That's why you should always bring a blunt with you to smoke while waiting for the customer then all your troubles go up in smoke. A Bob Marley CD may also be needed. Jammin.

This is kind of a joke and not ment to be taken seriously. I just couldn't help myself when the word blunt was used.
 
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At least they had a phone and answered it, sometimes things come up. But it would be different if you arrived and no sign of customer and unreachable by phone. I've had both. The worst is one that isn't there can't be reached, you wait and they never arrive, so leave and then they have nerve to cop an attitude when they call 2 hours later asking "where are you?", after leaving them multiple messages too that you were on site.
 
I never give an exact time for an appt. I might say between 8:30 and 9 or between 2 and 3.... this leaves it open to get there early. I agree with the others that if you are there early then you should wait. I also agree that they were being a bit inconsiderate also as they should know it would be hard to arrive at exactly the time you stated.
 
I had a customer do something worse. Had an 8 am appt or thereabout..... big nasty dogs out in the yard so I couldn't get to the door. I finally called them and they said they found the issue yesterday and didn't need me..... Now I was pretty PO'ed. They were on my do not work for list. I should have sent them a bill...lol
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I had a customer do something worse. Had an 8 am appt or thereabout..... big nasty dogs out in the yard so I couldn't get to the door. I finally called them and they said they found the issue yesterday and didn't need me..... Now I was pretty PO'ed. They were on my do not work for list. I should have sent them a bill...lol
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jesus, they let the dog on on you Den? .......whoa.....
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~RJ~
 
I would leave and if they called me again I would tell them I could be there in about 12 weeks.

Roger
 
I always call just as I'm heading out to the appointment.

As for dogs, I must be an animal whisperer. I've almost never met a dog or cat I couldn't befriend, often at the amazement of the customer. I've been told that the dog was never friendly with any stranger beside me, or that the owners can't even hold their cat like I was holding it. My son is the same way with animals.
 
LarryFine said:
I always call just as I'm heading out to the appointment.

As for dogs, I must be an animal whisperer. I've almost never met a dog or cat I couldn't befriend, often at the amazement of the customer. I've been told that the dog was never friendly with any stranger beside me, or that the owners can't even hold their cat like I was holding it. My son is the same way with animals.
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Nah the worst I've had is geese, they came running across the field and wouldn't back down. Even after owner came out and no matter how many times I had to cross to the truck they would run from the barnyard to try to get at me.
 
If I have an appointment at a certain time, and I plan on being early, I will call them as I'm on the way to tell them I plan to be there a little early. If they can't be there early, then I'll stop at a convenience store and get a cup of coffee so that I can get there right at the agreed-upon time.

In all honesty, though, I'm with Dennis. I give windows of time and I hate exact times because nobody is a predictor of the future. We need a little bit of slack sometimes, and so do the customers
 
First, If I was early ,I wouldn't even consider calling them until at least the appointment time, but probably give them five minutes before calling.
2nd, I'm with Dennis, I always give a 30 min window.
Last, I also hate when I have an appointment and either get there or call before and they tell me they already have it fixed! How hard is is to call and tell me that beforehand? :mad:
Any yes, they go on the "do not answer or work for list"!!!
 
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