Be nice, they will come back. I was that very AV customer at one time, and many of us are that same customer with other trades (come on, how many of you have said NO to a painter because he was too expensive, only to curse your minimum-wage children who sucked at it). Takes awhile for regular folks to figure it out.

Or just hand them this from CEPro :)

[Link: homeelectronicideas.com]

well, yes, there's always that.

great link, thanx for postig that!

Thank Julie, but if you want more, go here instead.

[Link: store.homeelectronicideas.com]

On those days that your are slow, spend your time learning about new products, sharpening your programming skills and doing some cold calling for better clients.

Don't even think about doing one of those low bucks, non profit jobs that these type of people will try to push you into doing.

Be nice, let them down easy. Explain that your reputation is important to you and that you aren't willing to take the risk of ruining it by doing something that will be sub standard (well, maybe that's not nice?....lol).

Don't waste your time with some idiot.

A very nice turn of phrase, and plenty nice while getting the point across.

Thanks guys, and Julie!!

I was feeling pretty low today about telling a customer that I might not be the right installer for her project. Just came home and read the thread and feel a lot better.

I did receive another e-mail from her today...."why do I need a speaker selector switch box for $150?"

I have not replied to her yet...and I promise to be nice...

You folks are the best!

NH, good for you...
They'll be calling after their install is screwed up by some hack...
I just got a call the other day from a customer who told me that he paid 50,000 for his theatre system.
He asked me what I would use for wire to his surround speakers. I told him 14/2. He says "would you ever use category 5? I started laughing and told him no why? He tells me that that's what the company did that he bought the system from. he said that he asked them while they were running it, why they were using cat 5, and the installer told him that he ran out of the good wire. LOL....
He also tells me that his equipment is not where he wanted it. The company couldn't get the IR working.
I will be bringing my camera when I go look at the job.. Should be fun..

I got that same question not too long ago. "Well it worked before when they had it hooked up"

(The previously had 4 to 6 pairs of speakers "wire nutted" directly to a tuner.)

I refused to do the work, and suggested he get his grandson to do it. (I AM "ripping him off" after all)

I was given some advice once that might help. I also read the same information in a electrical trade magazine not too long ago. " If you land every job that you do a proposal and estimate on, history has shown that you are very likely to be out of business soon due to the lack of proper margins." I reviewed my closing % and made some adjustments, sold estimates came down to the 70% range and it made my total sales for the year go up along with the $ value of the jobs.

We have done some work for a remediation company from time to time. We handle the low and high electrical. A week or so ago I was called first to bid on rewiring electrical, phone, cable) this small house that had been flooded. Well it had the old Knob & Tube style electrical. So I bid the whole house and of course it was more than the general figured. So he askes this kid that works for him (that used to wire tract homes). He says that all they need to do is replace the fuses. Well needless to say that had a bunch of problems. I then get a call to go out to the same house and bid on running phone wire to all of the rooms because the sheet rockers covered up everything. Also he wants me to just run it on the outside of the house. Well I bid with my Idiot fee (Retrofit rate + $35), and I refused to run it on the outside. I would have taken me about 4 hours. Well needless to say I didn't get it because it was too much. Turns out this kid says he can do it well it took him two days for 4 rooms.

I have learned to just stick to my guns and sometimes it is hard especaly when money is tight. But we are as busy as ever and we are getting calls all the time. It usualy pays off.

Although I do have this one customer that haunts me. He calls every week trying to get us to do somthing for free. A constant reminder to sometimes walk.

Opposite of that, I have a customer that calls me every month with some new product he wants installed and he always has his checkbook ready. It helps that he has a son in the mobile installation business, so he appreciates how hard we all work in this industry. He has given me concert tickets and ball game tickets and he always invites me to his parties. I think he likes me. Any thoughts????

yeah he want to get in your pants...... does your ass get hot when he's around?.....lol. does your gaydar go off?....lol


ed

Thanks all who gave me advice!

I have a meeting with the customer in the a.m. and it seems that they will turn around and do what I suggest...which is what is best for them.

Who is this ceied guy? Sorry ceied, but you seem....well a bit...forget it!

Again, you guys are the best and gave me some ups when I was down and you helped me stick to what is best for the customer!

One of the comments here was to print/forward a copy of one of the threads to a customer. I have never done this and would think that it would/could be sort of "in your face". Anyone here ever done that?