Export thread

interesting situation here

#1

Mike88se

Mike88se

I have a voicemail from a potential customer. The voice sounded familiar... lots of ums and uhs. Then she said "My name is Catherine" and that rang a bell too. I checked the phone number and it's a woman who stiffed me about a year ago. I'd cut her grass and couldn't get her to answer the door afterward. She wouldn't answer the phone or respond to voicemails. I figured she probably did this on a routine basis. I guess she's gone through all the other locals and saw my CL ad and didn't remember my name or number from last time. I'm thinking about how to respond. Best idea so far is to tell her I remember her and I'll cut her grass if she pays me for the last time and for this time up front.
I know a few of you guys are pretty "creative" with situations like this :wink:
What would you do?


#2

gfp55

gfp55

Mike88se said:
I have a voicemail from a potential customer. The voice sounded familiar... lots of ums and uhs. Then she said "My name is Catherine" and that rang a bell too. I checked the phone number and it's a woman who stiffed me about a year ago. I'd cut her grass and couldn't get her to answer the door afterward. She wouldn't answer the phone or respond to voicemails. I figured she probably did this on a routine basis. I guess she's gone through all the other locals and saw my CL ad and didn't remember my name or number from last time. I'm thinking about how to respond. Best idea so far is to tell her I remember her and I'll cut her grass if she pays me for the last time and for this time up front.
I know a few of you guys are pretty "creative" with situations like this :wink:
What would you do?
Click to expand...
I think you have come up with the best idea. But I'll bet she says "what are you sure, why didn't you let me know before, I was not happy with your work. I've has people do that to me in the past. I just make sure I get CASH before services rendered and take a picture after each mowing/trim or she will have you redoing things because she will find something wrong so you have to come back in 4 or 5 days after the work has been done. And stick to your word, to you and her. "But thats just me" Good Luck and keep us posted.


#3

S

sjessen

If you even want to pursue this you might set up a meeting. When she answers the door then hit her for both services. Not sure it is worth it even then. Keep us posted.


#4

Ric

Ric

Mike88se said:
I have a voice-mail from a potential customer. The voice sounded familiar... lots of ums and uhs. Then she said "My name is Catherine" and that rang a bell too. I checked the phone number and it's a woman who stiffed me about a year ago. I'd cut her grass and couldn't get her to answer the door afterward. She wouldn't answer the phone or respond to voice-mails. I figured she probably did this on a routine basis. I guess she's gone through all the other locals and saw my CL ad and didn't remember my name or number from last time. I'm thinking about how to respond. Best idea so far is to tell her I remember her and I'll cut her grass if she pays me for the last time and for this time up front.
I know a few of you guys are pretty "creative" with situations like this :wink:
What would you do?
Click to expand...


The best thing you can do with a situation like that is to leave her and it alone. If you know for a fact that it's the same woman that stiffed you before or a year ago then let it be end game for that account. It will just end up being a problem child no matter what you do.


#5

gfp55

gfp55

Ric said:
The best thing you can do with a situation like that is to leave her and it alone. If you know for a fact that it's the same woman that stiffed you before or a year ago then let it be end game for that account. It will just end up being a problem child no matter what you do.
Click to expand...
I stand corrected........ Ric has the best answer to this whole thing!


#6

S

Shughes717

gfp55 said:
I stand corrected........ Ric has the best answer to this whole thing! P.S. Ric I like your new avatar, nice truck.
Click to expand...

Ric is right on this one. If she is doing this consistently, then she will come up with something else when you approach to get paid. I would leave her alone and let her mow her own yard. Not worth the trouble. Remember the old saying "fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.".


#7

Ric

Ric

Shughes717 said:
Ric is right on this one. If she is doing this consistently, then she will come up with something else when you approach to get paid. I would leave her alone and let her mow her own yard. Not worth the trouble. Remember the old saying "fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.".
Click to expand...

For some people it's just a game to get free lawn care. For others it could be just the fact they could have fallen on hard times lives by herself and try to pay the bills herself and can't afford to pay for a lawn care business. If the latter is the case then yes you could help her out, it's something you'd have to judge for yourself.


#8

Mike88se

Mike88se

gfp55 said:
I think you have come up with the best idea. But I'll bet she says "what are you sure, why didn't you let me know before, I was not happy with your work. I've has people do that to me in the past. I just make sure I get CASH before services rendered and take a picture after each mowing/trim or she will have you redoing things because she will find something wrong so you have to come back in 4 or 5 days after the work has been done. And stick to your word, to you and her. "But thats just me" Good Luck and keep us posted.
Click to expand...
That is probably exactly what she will do... she won't remember or I have her mixed up with somebody else ;) But it's her alright.

Ric said:
For some people it's just a game to get free lawn care. For others it could be just the fact they could have fallen on hard times lives by herself and try to pay the bills herself and can't afford to pay for a lawn care business. If the latter is the case then yes you could help her out, it's something you'd have to judge for yourself.
Click to expand...
Yeah I get that part and with her it may be a mixture of both. She's just kinda flakey. The house is literally falling apart. Siding missing, trim rotted away exposing the frame etc. I have construction experience and I offered to fix the worst of it and work with her on the price and payment along with a low price for the yard which is more dirt and weeds than grass. Then she stiffed me on the payment for the lawn.
I will call her back just to mention that. Theres no money or satisfaction in it but people should have to answer for their actions. Or at least be confronted about them.


#9

exotion

exotion

Let the last one go you will never see it . Go to her demand payment up front for this mow if she pays then great If she doesn't then leave


#10

M

Mower manic

Fool me once......

Surely you have heard the adage: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
I would not waste another dime on this woman. You should call or email and inform her you will need the money she owes you to even consider woking for her again.
This is the type of customer you want your competition to get.

The woman needs help, you could consider an act of kindness and help her out. This is something only you can decide.


#11

Z

Zeroturner

Folks like her often take advantage of caring people.

Don't feel guilty.

Obviously she didn't while taking advantage of you or she would've tried to make amends...

I know that maybe sounds hard-hearted, but I've been extremely poor in earlier years and never resorted to scamming people.

Were I old, (hey wait...) I wouldn't start either.


#12

Mike88se

Mike88se

I would like to talk to the woman. If for no other reason than just because she never answered the phone or responded to voice mails when she stiffed me.
As far as helping her out well... like I said I offered to do that when I saw the condition her house was in. She isn't some poor little old elderly lady living on a pension. Looks to be in her late 30s early 40s. I think she's just flaky and in her thinking she has found a good way to get her grass cut for free.


#13

LazerZLandscaping

LazerZLandscaping

Mike88se said:
I have a voicemail from a potential customer. The voice sounded familiar... lots of ums and uhs. Then she said "My name is Catherine" and that rang a bell too. I checked the phone number and it's a woman who stiffed me about a year ago. I'd cut her grass and couldn't get her to answer the door afterward. She wouldn't answer the phone or respond to voicemails. I figured she probably did this on a routine basis. I guess she's gone through all the other locals and saw my CL ad and didn't remember my name or number from last time. I'm thinking about how to respond. Best idea so far is to tell her I remember her and I'll cut her grass if she pays me for the last time and for this time up front.
I know a few of you guys are pretty "creative" with situations like this :wink:
What would you do?
Click to expand...


Don't reply and stay away.:smile:


Footer Links 1

Top