ANNOYED: Ring Ring

[CHEESE2009]

The phone has always been a major annoyance to me, considering I am stuck with clients who treat me as if I were a care center for the lonely. "scrub my arm pits good, and salt my walkway too" My phone has been waking me up every day for the past week. Why? I am a subcontractor for another company, they give me a list of properties that need shoveling done, and my duties include nothing more than to shovel. pictured above: the only thing I do during the winter Apparently, one client had called the company I am subbing for to have some 'salting' work done for his walkway/driveway. This company made the decision to give the client my phone number, which would soon ruin my winter. I accepted the clients request to salt his walkway, as I had thought it would be a one time thing, and the client had also caught me off guard. The day I arrived, I had to stand through what felt like eternity as the client would describe in great detail how he would like for the salt placed down, as if he were writing a sex novel. It didn't matter, because as soon as he went inside I did the ol' toss around the salt until things look right method. ANYWAY, when I was finished salting like a champion, I ventured back towards home. The client had instantly called complaining that I didn't tell him that I was finished salting. I found this to be kind of obsessive, and creepy to some degree. I suppose he would have liked for me to read him a bed time story after changing his diaper. "are we going for ice cream now?" The facts: It took forever for me to actually get the work done, the client does not shut up. I was told over the phone that he wanted his walkway salted, when I had arrived it soon became, "walkway & driveway". Anyway, I have now once again refused to answer my phone, just like during the summer season. This old man can find someone else to sprinkle fairy dust on his property because I don't have the patience to be treated as some lonely guys wife. I have already received a call with him saying, "the bucket I put the salt in on my walkway has frozen to the ground", this is probably the least interesting thing a person could hear. My response, "kick it". What could be worse? The company I am subbing for is continuously calling me, on behalf of this one client who I refuse to answer from. Making it difficult for me to answer my phone for them. What am I gonna do? I will most likely be writing an email to the company I am subbing for, explaining that I am not interested in salting. "I HATE YOUR FACES!"

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Last edited by CHEESE2009; 01-22-2012 at 03:23 PM.

[TiedemanLLC]

Lawn care business tips

I have run into a lot of clients like this in the past. Normally I am pleasant as possible and be honest about everything. I ask them direct questions and need exact answers. It can sometimes be a pain, but also some of these clients are lonely and just want someone to talk to, or someone to complain too. This is what I do: 1) "What is it exactly that you need done today Mr. Smith?" A) After they answer this I then explain to them that their way may be good, but my way may be better. 2) They like to talk A) I explain to them up front "Mr. Smith, what can we get for you today. I am pressed a little bit in time, and I need to get to Ms. Salleys down the street because I am behind schedule today (I am actually not behind schedule, I just say this as an excuse to move along quickly)." 3) I make sure to always tell them this. A) "Ok, if there isn't anything else that needs to be done I am just going to finish up, and I will be on my way, unless you want me to knock on the door afterwards" This basically gives you an out, but at the same time giving them an option so they don't feel like they are being brushed aside.

[Steve]

Scott,

What was your view on them giving their customer, your phone number? Was there anything about doing that in their agreement with you?

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Steve

Scott,

What was your view on them giving their customer, your phone number? Was there anything about doing that in their agreement with you?

There was no agreement that I would be doing any salting work for them. I suppose they assumed that I would want the work for myself, so they referred me. I am pretty upset about the referral, but I can see how it was a mistake.

I would have liked to know ahead of time, or the chance to say no thanks.

[shadrach]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

There was no agreement that I would be doing any salting work for them. I suppose they assumed that I would want the work for myself, so they referred me. I am pretty upset about the referral, but I can see how it was a mistake.

Maybe they already knew client was a PITA & was trying to pawn them off on you.