The reverse of the "Bad Client".... the bad contractor ( DJ? )

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Papa Deuce

Mac Daddy DJ
Aug 8, 2006
19,843
594
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Valley Forge Area
OK, I am not speaking about DJ's in this instance, but I bet it surely applies to all businesses.

Back Story: We have a cleaning lady who comes every 2 weeks. Her husband was a repair guy for a chain of apartments / condos. 4 weeks ago he was laid off or fired. Doesn't really matter which. Our cleaning lady asks us if we have work he can do. In fact, we do have some work that we were going to have someone do. He is still unemployed.

He makes an appointment to meet us. FIVE MINUTES before the appointment he calls and postpones till the next day. OK, I get peeved at stuff like this, but I don't say anything as I like our cleaning lady. Next day he shows up 20 minutes LATE for the appointment. He spends an HOUR OR MORE looking at the jobs I need done. He says he will be back in 3 days with a quote for each job.

It is now 6 days later, and we haven't heard a word from him.


I know that I make every effort to at LEAST call a prospect back by the next day at the latest. I do admit that I am "sometimes" a LITTLE slow in getting paperwork out - maybe I take 2 days. But I always tell the client that they should have the paperwork within a week - so my butt is covered.

Anyway, in the DJ world, are you prompt in keeping clients and prospects happy?

I put this in "Grow Your Business", because one thing that really irks me with any contractor is when they don't meet the scheduled time frames they give. In fact, I will NOT be hiring this guy just because of his lack of being on time.

If you can't live up to expectations BEFORE a contract, why, would I, as a potential client expect that you will live up to expectations AFTER I become a client?
 
Well... this could help to explain why he's unemployed.

Keeping current with clients is very important to us. Doing so is the seed for a positive review later. Always deliver on time or beforehand.

Next Friday night we'll be at a wedding rehearsal. We didn't have to attend... the bride wrote and invited us. For my part, I consider this to be an honor and we'll be glad to attend.
 
Papa,

Some people just don't have the background in customer service when they've spend most of their lives employed by someone else. Obviously this man ran on this schedule when he worked for the Apartment company. His wife gets it. He doesn't.

You may want to take his wife aside and explain to her that SHE gets it, and maybe he needs to get it too.

Best,

Dave

ps. You are in no way being unreasonable.
 
You're right.

Although, in his case he's not yet a business. He's only recently laid off and probably hasn't decided if he even wants to be doing this kind of stuff at all.

Don't forget - this whole things was his WIFE'S idea.
 
Papa Deuce said:
I know that I make every effort to at LEAST call a prospect back by the next day at the latest. I do admit that I am "sometimes" a LITTLE slow in getting paperwork out - maybe I take 2 days. But I always tell the client that they should have the paperwork within a week - so my butt is covered.

Anyway, in the DJ world, are you prompt in keeping clients and prospects happy?
Click to expand...

I am very prompt with calling them back and meeting if they require. I always arrive early but when it comes o paperwork I am on the slow end of things. I've tried hard to make improvements in this area this year
 
Proformance said:
You're right.

Although, in his case he's not yet a business. He's only recently laid off and probably hasn't decided if he even wants to be doing this kind of stuff at all.

Don't forget - this whole things was his WIFE'S idea.
Click to expand...

True, but it isn't like she makes a ton. I know what we pay her, and she has 7 other weekly clients - and she supplies all cleaning supplies.

They have a mortgage and 3 kids that live at home.... he better do SOMETHING.
 
Proformance said:
in his case he's not yet a business. He's only recently laid off and probably hasn't decided if he even wants to be doing this kind of stuff at all.
Click to expand...

sounds to me he's a follower and not a leader
when he WAS employed, he didn't have to deal with all the business,
he only had to do what he was told.
(whether he did his JOB well, you'll never know)

Personally,
I feel you can lose a gig anytime between the time it is booked and the time your start playing. So you gotta do the right things and make the client feel appreciated. Just as you would expect them to treat you.
 
Buddy of mine does a lot of home repair, remodeling, siding, etc. and he is busy, busy, busy all the time, even during the winter.

Why? He does good work, is affordable, and while others that do the same kind of business fail to respond to their clients, he stays on top of it.

Like other have said, some people just aren't cut out for "customer service" on their own and need someone else (like his wife, possibly) to light a fire under his butt to get him motivated?
 
From working and having worked for and with people I have always found it frustrating when some people expect one thing of you (like being paid) but are unable to meet your expectations (like showing up to earn the pay).

Based on what you have said (OP) you have said nothing in 15 days which means he is still under the impression you intend to hire him. You expect him to be prompt and communicate effectively with you, yet you have not done so yourself.

You should have informed him you were not going to use his services when you made that choice. How he or his wife provide for them selves is none of your concern, I know this is a hard way of looking at it, however this lady works for you and you say you like her and she does a good job and you know what she makes as well as understanding the basics of her financial situation.

Are you paying her what she is worth to you? Because you seem to be very (and reasonably so) concerned. She may see you as being an excellent employer and she put her faith in you that you would give her husband a job based on her work for you and the respect you have shown her.

By agreeing you have set an expectation and by not communicating to him, you have implied no limits in your patience. Maybe you were not clear or firm enough in your expectations of time. You do not know why he was late, so obviously you don't talk to his wife about this situation so she is probably oblivious to your concerns.

Are you afraid of offending her and losing her quality of service or service all together? If so why? If you pay her a good fee and have always treated her well as you say she will most likely understand your reasons for not hiring him and in all likely hood be on your side.

I am sure by now you have let him or his wife know his services are no longer required and why. (I am not sure I would have checked his references in regards to his last employment either. But after reading your post and how he is not respecting you I think I would in the future do so.)

This sounds like simply an instance of trying to do someone a favor and getting burned, which is a shame.
 
TJtheDJ said:
From working and having worked for and with people I have always found it frustrating when some people expect one thing of you (like being paid) but are unable to meet your expectations (like showing up to earn the pay).

Based on what you have said (OP) you have said nothing in 15 days which means he is still under the impression you intend to hire him. You expect him to be prompt and communicate effectively with you, yet you have not done so yourself.
......
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Well, to finish it up, which I sort of did in a different thread, I finally hired a different contractor. I also told our cleaning lady why we didn't hire her husband when she asked me why. She was pissed.... at her husband.

And, BTW, he was told up front, that we wanted the work done ASAP. I don't go begging to employ people.
 
Fred Wright said:
Well... this could help to explain why he's unemployed.

Keeping current with clients is very important to us. Doing so is the seed for a positive review later. Always deliver on time or beforehand.

Next Friday night we'll be at a wedding rehearsal. We didn't have to attend... the bride wrote and invited us. For my part, I consider this to be an honor and we'll be glad to attend.
Click to expand...

Hey Fred
In a lot of cases it is an honor to be invited to the rehearsal but we have had some brides invite us to the rehearsal because they didnt have a planner and they needed someone to "block" the ceremony and then we werent invited to rehearsal dinner at the same place...

We did it with a smile, didnt get a tip but a gracious thank you letter.

Papa-
Im sure this goes without say but dont hold your regular cleaning lady responsible for her husbands actions obviously she does a great job for you. On occasion ive hired a friend of an employee or even a significant other and its hard to cut the responsibility ties because they arent a two headed monster?

I hope this makes sense

Kyle
 
1cdj said:
....

Papa-
Im sure this goes without say but dont hold your regular cleaning lady responsible for her husbands actions obviously she does a great job for you. On occasion ive hired a friend of an employee or even a significant other and its hard to cut the responsibility ties because they arent a two headed monster?

I hope this makes sense

Kyle
Click to expand...

Nope, in fact she is here as I type this. And I just wrote out her check. :)
 
Hard to find good honest help sometimes. Keep what you have. Sounds like a gem.
 
Papa well he wont be getting work from you then ....
 
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