So I got a call Thursday night. Tree needs to come down before the city contractor comes in for $$$$, right away. I knew I couldn't come to take a look until Saturday, and we scheduled an estimate.
I call her on Saturday, and she says, "Well, another company stopped by, and said they could do it next week for $$$, weather pending." I asked her if she had signed a contract. "No." I say I could still come take a look, if she wanted. "OK."
I show up, and it's 2/3 a days work. I say we could do it Tuesday, rain or shine, for $$. She tells me she will call me back. When she does, she says that the other company is "not happy" and that she is going to go with them. The other company told her that since she already put their name on the city paperwork that she could get in trouble (she never told me she completed the contractor documentation for the flagged tree).
45 minutes later, I get a text to my business number from the other guy. It reads:
"You're a snake bro. I'm just going to block your number now. Talking to homeowners the way that you do, especially after I already had her sign our agreement for work. Good luck to you in the future. Be safe."
I was a little floored. Clearly this woman was playing both of us, so why cut me down like that?
I can't count how many times I've gotten calls saying we found someone else, or shown up and the work is done. I hardly make people sign contracts anymore unless we are halfway to five figures/plus. I've found it to be a lot of hustle for little gain. I've been through small claims before. It was BS. I tell people that if they can find better service at a better price, just let me know. I feel that creates a situation of trust, and serves everyone better. I don't want to do the work for someone who already feels cheated.
Still, I feel partly credulous, and partly bothered. My initial reaction was, "What kind of snake am I? A Gartner Snake? A Black Mamba? I hope a Black Mamba because they are wicked cool..." But, I also feel some burn. I realized that I haven't been disrespected in almost a decade, and nobody has ever called me that, or anything remotely similar. I'm a dad, a business owner, and serious about trees. It also makes me kinda sad. I like getting along with people.
What is some collective experience here? I realize this is all just business, but is this just an occasional reality that I am going to have to deal with, or is there a better way forward? Does anyone have a good radar/checklist for staying out of these situations?
Just looking for a little guidance.
I call her on Saturday, and she says, "Well, another company stopped by, and said they could do it next week for $$$, weather pending." I asked her if she had signed a contract. "No." I say I could still come take a look, if she wanted. "OK."
I show up, and it's 2/3 a days work. I say we could do it Tuesday, rain or shine, for $$. She tells me she will call me back. When she does, she says that the other company is "not happy" and that she is going to go with them. The other company told her that since she already put their name on the city paperwork that she could get in trouble (she never told me she completed the contractor documentation for the flagged tree).
45 minutes later, I get a text to my business number from the other guy. It reads:
"You're a snake bro. I'm just going to block your number now. Talking to homeowners the way that you do, especially after I already had her sign our agreement for work. Good luck to you in the future. Be safe."
I was a little floored. Clearly this woman was playing both of us, so why cut me down like that?
I can't count how many times I've gotten calls saying we found someone else, or shown up and the work is done. I hardly make people sign contracts anymore unless we are halfway to five figures/plus. I've found it to be a lot of hustle for little gain. I've been through small claims before. It was BS. I tell people that if they can find better service at a better price, just let me know. I feel that creates a situation of trust, and serves everyone better. I don't want to do the work for someone who already feels cheated.
Still, I feel partly credulous, and partly bothered. My initial reaction was, "What kind of snake am I? A Gartner Snake? A Black Mamba? I hope a Black Mamba because they are wicked cool..." But, I also feel some burn. I realized that I haven't been disrespected in almost a decade, and nobody has ever called me that, or anything remotely similar. I'm a dad, a business owner, and serious about trees. It also makes me kinda sad. I like getting along with people.
What is some collective experience here? I realize this is all just business, but is this just an occasional reality that I am going to have to deal with, or is there a better way forward? Does anyone have a good radar/checklist for staying out of these situations?
Just looking for a little guidance.
and hopefully give the guy who owns the other company an opportunity to grow emotionally and not jump to conclusions and insult someones character in the future.
