-
Another wasted morning
I find it extremely annoying when a customer books a van in to have signs done, then doesn’t bother to turn up on the day.
This happened to me again today. The job was fairly complex and I had set aside most of today for myself and Alison to do the job.
It never turned up at the agreed time and when I phoned the company to ask where the van was I was told it had been sent out on an emergency job. (If I hadn’t phoned, I doubt they would have bothered to contact me)I politely explained that I would have appreciated more notice as I have had to put off until next week, other vehicles that I could have been doing today. I was told to invoice them for my wasted time, and they would call again next week to arrange another day with me to have the signs fitted.
This problem crops up from time to time and I have ranted about this before. What can you do to make others more considerate. I just wondered how others deal with this situation.
-
8 Replies
-
Phil, it sounds like this customer has supplied the answer, by offering to pay for your wasted time.
i.e. When your next client books a van, request a deposit for that booking, explain that its non-refundable
in the event of a no show.
If you explain your reasoning and that this deposit will be deducted off the final invoice if they keep the
original appointment, I can see little reason for objections.Just my initial thoughts, but then I’m no business man – yet 😉
-
It’s a fact of life I’m afraid Phill.
The only thing you can do is to give the client a ring a day or two before to confirm that the appointment is still valid. It won’t stop last minute snags though it should help minimise them.
I have to admit to being guilty of this sort of thing myself I book my car in for a service and then forget all about it. Fortunately the garage know what I am like and if I don’t show by 9.00am they are on the phone to remind me.
PS. who’s that ugly git that gets his photo next to every single one of my posts?
-
i have a van for a grahams dairy depot far east of scotland.
its missing the rear graphics. (not our fault) anyway i said i would catch it in stirling.
they called monday to say it was in. i drove up, they sent it was out and unsure why.. i drove back…
they called tuesday, i drove up, they had it right up on ramps working on the underside.. so high i couldnt reach it from my ten foot tressles. it was also filthy.. i drove back…
wednesday they call at 12noon.. asking where was i? they had cleaned it and it was inside blocking the workshop that could be getting used for something else!!! i told the guy to blow.. it was a blizzard of snow outside and i wasnt driving up to stirling again.we will bill them for each trip of course but i could have been doing other work that is backlogged.. 😕 👿
-
Its a bit of a nuisance but it happens
Monday I had a van booked in and the driver turned an hour late and without the van
He came to explain that one of te other vans had broken down and so they were forced to use this one
I suppose I have to look at it this way, at least he popped round and told me so that I was not left hanging in the dark
I got on with other stuff I had to do and did the van the next day
But a good idea from the other John: Phone the day before to confirm with client
John
P.s. How was Florida Phil?
-
phill, i know how you feel mate! i had two rolls of vinyl specialy deliverd this morning as i needed them for tomorrow for a van, five mins after the courier left client rings up to say he needed the van this weekend & could i do it next week end instead (:) so now i have to pay the courier extra money for the urgent delivery 👿 eddie
-
I take it my thoughts wouldn’t go down to well with many clients then?
Told you I wasn’t a business man yet 😳
-
Happened to me last week,
VW garage (Wolsey) Ipswich, transporter van booked to be graphiced up at 8.30 am, had arranged for it to be in the workshop overnight so it would be dry & warm, got there 8.25am, grumpy machanic told me he couldn’t spare the space & drove it ouside in the RAIN, told me…. “you’ll have to do it outside mate…” T O S S E R!!! (chat.)Wasted 2 hours travelling & fuming 👿
Steve
-
Happened to us a couple of times.
As a small business we usually bring in casual labour to assist with vehicle livery jobs.
It helps when you run a couple of amateur football teams – cheap labour is always readily available – especially if they want to continue playing!
Very annoying when you’ve brought a lad in and end up paying him just for tidying up and making brews all day though.Don’t think we could get away with charging a deposit with some of our existing clients but may have a go at the next few new ones.
Log in to reply.