Difficult Customers

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:03 pm

Now that is funny Steve.

rocket · Post by **rocket** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:20 pm

simso wrote:I think the problem is, too many people come into this trade not really as a builder first or with a background in wood but merely as a player, they assume that because they can play a guitar then they can repair a guitar,

A customer I had about a year ago, asked can he watch us set his guitar up, he asked a thousand and one questions, where did we get these tools from and so forth, he now calls himself the guitar whisperer here in perth and does setups and repairs, really!!

Then on the other end of the scale you get the ones that think that you can't possibly build a decent instrument if you can't play one WTF??
Rod.

Ormsby Guitars · Post by **Ormsby Guitars** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 10:30 am

simso wrote:I think the problem is, too many people come into this trade not really as a builder first or with a background in wood but merely as a player, they assume that because they can play a guitar then they can repair a guitar,

A customer I had about a year ago, asked can he watch us set his guitar up, he asked a thousand and one questions, where did we get these tools from and so forth, he now calls himself the guitar whisperer here in perth and does setups and repairs, really!!

Or the guy that had only ever done basic electronics, and setups, then went straight into refretting 60's and 70's guitars. Or the $2500 'handmade' customs he offers, which are just prepainted warmoth bodies and necks.

Clay Schaeffer · Post by **Clay Schaeffer** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 12:44 am

Not selling my services, I guess this is easy to say.
I think you should bite the bullet, finish the job as quickly as possible consistent with a decent job, and bill him accordingly. Handing him back a half finished job even at no cost isn't a good solution. Knowing that I did the work properly and never having to deal with him again would make me feel the best in the long run.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:11 am

Clay Schaeffer wrote:Not selling my services, I guess this is easy to say.
I think you should bite the bullet, finish the job as quickly as possible consistent with a decent job, and bill him accordingly. Handing him back a half finished job even at no cost isn't a good solution. Knowing that I did the work properly and never having to deal with him again would make me feel the best in the long run.

Customers like this, I think you will find, are never going to be happy with what ever it is you do and even if Steve put himself out and did an A++ job, the guy wouldn't say what a wonderful business Steve is running and be a verbal billboard for him, he will still find something to moan about not only to you, but others also "The job took to long" "They did it the wrong shade of black" "Charged me a fortune!" e.t.c, e.t.c. Some people you bend over backwards for and they still go away grumbling, usually haven't been the best customers while you are doing the job for them either (as in this case).

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:52 am

Clay Schaeffer wrote:Not selling my services, I guess this is easy to say.
I think you should bite the bullet, finish the job as quickly as possible consistent with a decent job, and bill him accordingly. Handing him back a half finished job even at no cost isn't a good solution. Knowing that I did the work properly and never having to deal with him again would make me feel the best in the long run.

Your argument taken on board Clay but I disagree. Finishing the job is giving in to a queue jumping bully with an overly inflated opinion of his importance and influence on the Perth music scene.

tippie53 · Post by **tippie53** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:57 am

this is proof that God sometimes makes more horses asses than horses

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Sep 17, 2014 6:12 am

tippie53 wrote:this is proof that God sometimes makes more horses asses than horses

inoz · Post by **inoz** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 11:41 pm

Hey Steve,
I get my share of wankers too and I don't know how to deal with them very well either.
I just hope this wasn't one of the customers I referred to you,

, sorry if it was.
Ray.

simso · Post by **simso** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:43 am

Nah all good,

I just had to vent at the time.

Customer has taken his job to Mark, I called mark and gave him a heads up

Ormsby Guitars · Post by **Ormsby Guitars** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 11:09 am

I love your replies on another forum, when he said he had proof, so you called him out and he disappeared

simso · Post by **simso** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 12:30 pm

Perry, you cant please everybody.

That was just one of those really rare cases that I just was not tolerant with.

That being said I probably am getting crankier as I get older

Steve

Ormsby Guitars · Post by **Ormsby Guitars** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 4:29 pm

We all do

I found the less tolerance I had for customers crazy ideas, the better my clients became.

DarwinStrings · Post by **DarwinStrings** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 4:54 pm

: fortippie.jpg (29.06 KiB) Viewed 26493 times

Jim

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 4:56 pm

Trees, sheeps and arseholes....

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 6:50 pm

kiwigeo wrote: Trees, sheeps and arseholes....

Mak'in ya feel a little home sick Marty??...

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:38 pm

Kim wrote:
kiwigeo wrote: Trees, sheeps and arseholes....
Mak'in ya feel a little home sick Marty??...

Ya wont be cracking the kiwi jokes in a few months mate.......I'm in the process of becoming an Australian Citizen.

DarwinStrings · Post by **DarwinStrings** » Sun Oct 05, 2014 12:23 am

So is my partner Martin. I have heard they will swear her in so have been teaching not to say fook.

Jim

rocket · Post by **rocket** » Sun Oct 05, 2014 11:35 am

Congrats will be in order, down the pub for FUSH,N,CHUPS to celebrate then Martin!!

Rod.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sun Oct 05, 2014 4:01 pm

Onya Marty

rocket · Post by **rocket** » Sun Oct 05, 2014 7:14 pm

It'll be a puss up!!

Hic!!!
Rod.

jeffhigh · Post by **jeffhigh** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 12:13 pm

Had a customer come in today complaining that the nut slots were too high in a nut replacement I had done for him 3 months ago (twice cause the first time they were too low for him)
They were now actually fine perhaps slightly low on the e and b which he thought were high.
They actually seemed lower than I recalled leaving them

Then he revealed that he had had it refretted by someone else in the meantime....

I was just glad it was not me

simso · Post by **simso** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:57 pm

Yes we are all glad not to get those customers.

The guitar left my possession unfinished (about 90 percent actually finished) and went to mark here in perth, the owner passed away 2 weeks later,

So there was more to this story, and probably explains his state of mind at the time,

Steve

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:14 pm

kiwigeo wrote:
Kim wrote:
kiwigeo wrote: Trees, sheeps and arseholes....
Mak'in ya feel a little home sick Marty??...
Ya wont be cracking the kiwi jokes in a few months mate.......I'm in the process of becoming an Australian Citizen.

Ceremony confirmed for Jan 26th..Australia Day.

rocket · Post by **rocket** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 7:04 pm

Ya must like the place Martin!! congrats,, Australia day 2015 is the big day hey! how long did it take to fill in the paperwork? enjoy the moment!!

Cheers Bro!

Rod.

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