I have a customer who had his work truck lettered 3 weeks ago. I still have not been paid. I see him at the local coffee shop a few days ago and he begins to tell me his wife does not like the font of the secondary copy. He was at our shop twice looking at design ideas and gave the final approval. This is a digital print, laminated, and installed in a one piece layout. Now, to redo the smaller text it is a COMPLETE redo.
How would you handle this???
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Small Claims Court!
Wife doesn't like = he doesn't intend to pay tou!
How many times have you read, on here, YOU DON"T LET WORK LEAVE YOUR SHOP UNTIL YOU GET PAID!!!!
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
If he approved & signed off on the design, it's his, baby. I hate the old "wife doesn't like it" line. That's probably how he got his new kitchen cabinets for free too. Si is right. Either that or peel it off now while it's still fresh & write it off as a loss. You shoulda kept his keys until he paid you. Love....Jill
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Jerry,
I would inform him now is not the time to make any changes from the original job price. When he pays the original bill then and only then will you consider making any changes and at an additional cost. take a picture of the job and get yourself ready for small claims court.
Posted by Jerry VanHorn (Member # 4704) on :
I met with him a few minutes ago. I am redoing the doors, but getting additional $$$$. The last time he forgot his checkbook. I won't let it happen again. This is the first time for a LONG time I haven't been paid before the job left.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
...Just go ahead and make the sign that says:
All roosters must be accompanied by hens . . ."
LOL.
QUOTE: "He was at our shop twice looking at design ideas and gave the final approval."
Jerry by 'FINAL APPROVAL' does that mean you got a SIGNATURE?? I hope so. Otherwise you might not have a hen to stand on in small claims . . .
I have had this 'my wife' thing happen so many times it ain't even funny . . .ya know, it's normally a wonderful thing, how influential wives are . . .except that sometimes they are influential over the stupidest things....
I'm afraid I have embarrassed one or two fellas by makin' comments and askin' questions . . here's a few you of mine you can use . . .always said with a condescending smile & a chuckle . . .and sometimes I say ALL of these to ONE guy . . .LOL ...poor fella!! . . .His little wife' already stripped him of his manhood and then I'm tryin' to give it back to him by strippin' him again . . . LOL . . .but it's just that the ol' mama lion's gotta look out for herself and her cubs...I got WAY more motivation to get paid than he's got for dawgin' me out . . .
I'm not even 'kind'a kiddin' about these statements either . . .
~"Well unless this is HER name you signed here...you are past due on the account. Otherwise, I'm gonna call HER and I ain't gonna be as sweet as you are . . ."
~Who wears the pants in your business?? Well...ya should'a sent HER over here to order the signs then..."
~"Is she the one that's gonna be present in small claims court?"
(Jerry, pat him on the back and say....(If yer a woman you can do this... ~Pat him on the hand and say, "Well...just tell her that you're a big boy now, and YOU already made the decision on this layout and SHE'S JUST gonna HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT."
~"I reckon I can understand you wussin' out on me...since she's able to make you wus out on me. . .so I guess I gotta be MORE inlfuential than HER huh??"
"Tell ya what . . .I'm not too keen on gettin' involved in domestic issues....so...you just pay me....then you and her can hash this out at y'alls house . . ."
Jerry, I have never failed to be paid when confronting a man (or even a woman with an arrogant husband) in this manner . . .usually they laugh and realize how silly and unprofessional they've been...and all without me having to be ugly or get in a fuss, or got to court.
Also women put up with craziness off their husbands too . . .but I won't . . .
I'll never foregt this dude and his wife drove up and he wanted me to letter the back window of his dually . . .huge, big ol' pipe welder guy . . . as I was layin' out the stuff, they stood and watched and we were all talkin'....but anytime she commented or asked anything...he would just talk to her like dirt and cuss her and then kind'a laugh about it . . .after a few minutes of this I realized this was HIM all the time and I stopped ...stood up and said. "I'm done. Y'all can leave now."
He said, "But you haven't even really started...it's like halfway done right??"
Then I said, "I ain't workin' for NOBODY that talks to somebody like you do her. If she puts up with your mouth, your arrogance, and your stupidity at home, that's y'all . . .but you're in my yard now and I ain't havin' it."
He 'bout cried and begged me to finish promising to be nice...so I did...and he was much nicer to her . . .and I noticed his wife seemed to hold her head up a little more too.
I ain't the marriage police & I don't go around jumpin' in people's domestic issues . . .but when they bring it to the shop or allow it to interfere with a job I been hired to do, then I will say what needs to be said...and more.
Good luck Jerry . . mabey he just needs another guy to give him his ...well, you know...them thangs back. . .LOL....don't be as guilty as he is of cowerin' down and feelin' 'hopeless' about gettin' paid. YOU gotta be the man and teach him to be one too . . .LOL.
Posted by Barry Branscum (Member # 445) on :
Sheila, I LIKE YOU! Posted by Tim (Member # 1699) on :
Kill the wife! lol
Depending on how long he's been married, he might even help, or even pay you more! hehehe
just kidding of course.....
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Hey Jerry,
Ya shoulda just told him "Bring it by the shop and I'll fix it."
Then, when he drops it off remove everything, call him back up and say "It's all done!"
When he comes back and his truck has nothing on it, should be a nice surprise.
Just tell him "Hey, you get what you pay for!" (Nothing!)
Posted by Denis E. Renaud (Member # 4610) on :
Existing and potential futur customers need to like is advertising on the vehicle, NOT THE WIFE! She will cost him money , while customers give him money!
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
The slightest disparaging remark about one's wife could have unexpected results. Safest to leave her out of it. The pertinent facts are - you had an approved layout which you followed, and making changes now could get complicated. No need to angst over how it happened, (as long as we're clear it's not your fault), and there's 2 possible ways to fix it - redo completely (very expensive), or make a new strip to cover just the offending portion (far cheaper and quicker). How much does it really bother you?
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
What if you redo it and his daughter doesn't like it I'd just calmly explain to him that people have different tastes and that his wife not liking it is not a reflection on it's value or your workmanship, that he had the opportunity to change it before it was printed and that you require full payment. If you wish to give him a discount on a replacement, fine, but don't let guilt or pressure keep you from making a reasonable profit. Chances are this is going to be a PITA customer that may not be worth keeping.
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
I cant fault Jerry for not getting paid on the day he put on the signs. Sometimes you are caught in a situation where it happens as he described it. The one thing I would have done different was to call the guy the next day, and tell him to stop by with payment. Now they have had three weeks for his wife to nitpick the layout and she finds something wrong with the secondary copy. Tuff titties. I cant count how many times Ive had problems with a customer because he brought his wife with him, and she changed everything we had agreed on, for the worse. I dont know if its a power trip thing, or if they just have bad taste. Whatever it is, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I thought about putting two signs in my shop showroom. One was, "PLEASE HOLD ON TO YOUR CHILDREN. MY PIT BULL UNDER THE COUNTER IS ASLEEP." The other one was "PLEASE LEAVE YOUR WIFE AT HOME WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT SIGNS. SHE KNOWS MORE THAN I DO, AND I DONT WANT TO GET EMBARRASSED."
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
Sheila I like you too although I do think there are some times it's best to not insult the wife. Like when she's the one that writes the checks and he doesn't even know where the checkbook is kept. That being said, how about...
Gee, I didn't know your wife was in the sign business. Sorry dude, but the curiosity is killing me, forgive me for prying but since she's a sign professional, why isn't she the one lettering this truck? Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
quote:The slightest disparaging remark about one's wife could have unexpected results
...For who Joe...Me?...or HIM??..'Cause I definitely have his 'unexpected results.'..
and BTW: This goes for WHOEVER they drag into the deal...ie: '3 meetings-signature-approved-art-down-payment-job-complete' later and, uh-oh..."Well uh my business partner......Our committee chair person......The rich old coot who funds us.....WHOEVER. SHOULD'A thought of them PRIOR to the COMMITTMENT...HELLO?
Hey I hear y'all . .. 'don't insult the wife . . .'
Sorry. Too bad so sad.
The cowering wus insults himself AND HER when he brings her into the deal as his excuse not to pay up . . .I simply make it plain with a little true-humor that I can't tolerate their shoddy & rude behavior. . .if they don't like my so called 'insulting' approach they can stop by for a visit with a marriage counsellor on the way to another shop . . .
People bring this stuff to you ...you don't have to go lookin' for it . . .you just have to deal with it.
And to reiterate ...we're discussing people who are tardy with payment! . . .This is already an insult when you've been straight up and straight forward, sociabley business like, spent time to prepare ideas which have been approved, have contracted to conduct the business, spent more time & money to produce, and met your end of the deal!!
After that get's rudely tread upon, all bets are off as to my hospitality . . .
Of course, it's always obvious that you can change something for more bucks . . .but as far as I'm concerned, that's not open to discussion until after the original bucks are PIF on jobs where someone is fidgetin' around with the $$.
So, again, as hospitable as I can tell folks... Don't start no mess...and there won't be no mess."
I'm so sorry y'all had to see me get SO red...but I just can't tolerate rude, coniving people who try to get out of paying their debts with silly excuses... since Jerry did ask, -» 'how would you handle this?'
[ February 19, 2005, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: Sheila Ferrell ]
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Sheila, this thread & your fixes to it is already worth the year's resident's fee- thanks for the novel approaches!
As John says, sometimes, you just get caught in this kind of situation. Generally though, I find human nature accommodating & signs leave here & the cheque arrives a week or two later with no problems.
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
How does one respond to this dilema?
First I whould ask if they can make a appointment to come in and dicuss their troubles. Next, politely I whould ask if they mind to bring myself a Coffee!
After they have shown up with my coffee in hand I thank them and say......Now you have made a down payment on the work that has been done. Please forgive myself but there is a matter of the rest of payment before we can resolve the issue. Direct your conversation to the Wife only!
What is the problem with this line of copy? Is it the font style or do you believe that people can't read it? If she says that problem is "can't read it" then go outside and grab 2 passing people to ask if this is true. Their statement will be clear as they read the copy.
Now ask her if the font style was any concern as to people looking at it?
Walk back to your office and have an employee on hand to remove the graphics if needed.
Tell them that now the vehicle is on your property you have the right to remove all graphics if they refuse to pay the balance in full.
Case closed! No payment then removal! Take the lose and inform them of your future telephone calls to others of their nit picking.... Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
This one happens all too often. It's best to leave the wife out of it, he's lived with this behavior for so long, pointing it out is only gonna rub salt in the wound.
Simply ask him to bring the truck in and leave it. Tell him to leave the keys, you might have to move it. Fix the offending line of copy in whatever fashion it takes, either replace it or do a total makeover. Charge him accordingly. Call and tell him the truck is ready, that the charge is $$$xxx and do to the difficulty you had in regards to mayment prior, you will only except cash. DO NOT hand him the keys until you get payment. Get the ball in your court, the game is much easier to play Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Baseball bat on the headlights...
...but that's just me. Rapid
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
Thermonuclear device ,, in gas tank
Posted by Bruce Williams (Member # 691) on :
"The cowering wus insults himself AND HER when he brings her into the deal as his excuse not to pay up."
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