T whiting
Well-known member
How do you deal with can you just from customers if today's had had anymore it would've been dark before I left
Quattromike
Well member-known
Cough cough (pound notes)
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
"certainly sir , that'll be £80/hr plus VAT .... now what did you want doing, before I leave, having finished what I was contracted to do "
hiluxman
Well-known member
At 3pm my machine makes its way to the trailer regardless, same with the 432, I'm picking up the buckets and heading to the exit....I don't work late
Storrsy
Well-known member
I don’t get that kind of thing for some reason. Not very helpful I know. Certainly no expectation to do it for free anyway.
Storrsy
Well-known member
What time do you start on site out of interest ?
JD450A
Feral as Fk 🐾
A costly hourly rate....... I still get it but it's accounted for.
hiluxman
Well-known member
Leave the yard at 7.30am, usually back in the yard for 4/4.30pm.
Routy56
Well-known member
Great topic and close to my heart - see my members blog 
In my view for good customers, the answer is always, "Yes, no problem"
Most of the time, these extra little jobs can be sorted during the working day.
I always make it clear, when on a day rate, my hours are 0800-1600hrs.
IF, I am asked to do extra work before packing up the, I will highlight how long it will take
AND, "Do you want me here tomorrow as well" etc .
OR, "Yes that will take extra time. But I can easily do that for an extra £50 for you"
Sometimes a 10 minute, "Can you just pull out that tree stump while you are here" goes a long way to repeat business
Once you know yer customer, if he/she are taking the piss, then good humoured banter will make them realise that.
So, while yer groundwork's are cleaning and polishing their tools at 3pm, remind them that you too need to get packed up etc etc.
But at the end of the day, a positive "Can you just" can show great customer service
In my view for good customers, the answer is always, "Yes, no problem"
Most of the time, these extra little jobs can be sorted during the working day.
I always make it clear, when on a day rate, my hours are 0800-1600hrs.
IF, I am asked to do extra work before packing up the, I will highlight how long it will take
AND, "Do you want me here tomorrow as well" etc .
OR, "Yes that will take extra time. But I can easily do that for an extra £50 for you"
Sometimes a 10 minute, "Can you just pull out that tree stump while you are here" goes a long way to repeat business
Once you know yer customer, if he/she are taking the piss, then good humoured banter will make them realise that.
So, while yer groundwork's are cleaning and polishing their tools at 3pm, remind them that you too need to get packed up etc etc.
But at the end of the day, a positive "Can you just" can show great customer service
doobin
Well-known member
I just make very clear at the start (on the disclaimer sheet they sign) that they get seven hours on site (after allowing half hour for transport each way). I'm usually happy to stay late so long as paid for pro rata on an hourly basis. Works well- I'd rather not be driving back to do another hour the next day and they'd rather not pay for two days.
It probably helps that my daily rate puts off chancers. Yesterday was £425 plus VAT for a micro plus track barrow and muck truck for the customer and his mate to drive. They respected my skills, paid attention to the job, gave me a cracking lunch and regular coffee, we were done and dusted by four inclouding a couple of extra bits. Bottle of beer on the way home. I really like days like that. Only downer was that we didn't start till 9 due to a car fire on the A27, but that's one of those things.
It probably helps that my daily rate puts off chancers. Yesterday was £425 plus VAT for a micro plus track barrow and muck truck for the customer and his mate to drive. They respected my skills, paid attention to the job, gave me a cracking lunch and regular coffee, we were done and dusted by four inclouding a couple of extra bits. Bottle of beer on the way home. I really like days like that. Only downer was that we didn't start till 9 due to a car fire on the A27, but that's one of those things.
doobin
Well-known member
My personal favourite has to be "Sure, and if you stick a broom up me arse I'll sweep the job clean on the way out too"Once you know yer customer, if he/she are taking the piss, then good humoured banter will make them realise that.
Furniss
Well-known member
Im all price work but for those on day rate it sounds ideal... in practice I dont see how it works though.
hiluxman
Well-known member
I've worked those hours for years and I get the once in a blue moon comment about it. My reply is thus; "When you leave what do you do?" Normal reply is "go home." My reply to that is "I don't, I have to go back to the yard, diesel up, sort out any issues then get everything ready for tomorrow before I can."
There's lots of unseen hours of work as I'm sure you know and that all has to be factored in hence my working hours are what they are.
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
's a fact ...... and why the self employed man is on peanuts, compared to the rest of the 9 - 5 world
Average Joe just doesn't have a clue
F
fred
Well-known member
really don't envy you guys having to work for customers.
Just don't have the patience for it.
Just don't have the patience for it.
Furniss
Well-known member
As you say I know how much there is to do besides been on the job and im not trying to be pedantic but you go at three and come back next day even if you've got an hour or so to do to finish the job ?
B
Brendan
Well-known member
Use to get
Fair play it's a struggle to get anywhere near those rates here
doobin
Well-known member
I have a lot of people who say 'I'll get back to you mate'. But f**k em.
hiluxman
Well-known member
Yes within 3 to 3.30 we are out of there.
Stay late for one then you doing it for everyone.
Same as for them booking a day then it been 2 days or mores work. I've others booked in the following day so what do you do? I always say to tell me it's more days as I'd rather get done sooner as I can always fill the gap than be letting the next one down because of my other customers bad planning ect ect.
I'm not saying I don't bend over backwards to help customers as I do and I do constantly jiggle things to help them out.
Gunners
Well-known member
Staying late is fine as long as its paying. It can pay in two ways,
1. More money
2. More work in the future.
Personally I like a bit of overtime occasionally. Sitting at home is so boring, no idea what you're supposed to do with all that spare time, might as well fill it with some more work!
Today I was on price work till 4pm, then daywork till 7pm. Makes for a good days money, and a lovely way to spend an evening
1. More money
2. More work in the future.
Personally I like a bit of overtime occasionally. Sitting at home is so boring, no idea what you're supposed to do with all that spare time, might as well fill it with some more work!
Today I was on price work till 4pm, then daywork till 7pm. Makes for a good days money, and a lovely way to spend an evening
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