does this happen to everyone all the time?and why do most people think animal removal is a free service?
in three years ive only had two costumers that were greatful for my work and even gave me a tip. i dont expect anyone to tip me.
it seems like every call i get goes the same way,i give a more than fare price , make the appointment ,and a hour or two later i get the cancelation call.

Tire kickers...

you got that right!lol

Some folks have referred to getting the credit card number over the phone ahead of time, I'm sure they will chime in.
They can still cancel but I'd bet it cut down on their "drive offs."

In a service business the "tire kicker" is just one of many negatives that is commonplace. I've gotten better at how
to talk it through and figure out what will come of it, but you still have folks you feel are solid that end up running away.

Just happens, hopefully less and less as you adjust your strategies and methods.



Justin

Competition is under cutting you. Probobly by 5 bucks. Do yourself a favor and get your gas money out of an inspection fee. That can always come off the final bill if they hire you. Once you are already there they will more than likely hire you if you arent a slob, and have fair prices.

Thats a good idea Justin ..thanks

jobs seem to be getting harder to get,most of the time i dont even charge a inspection fee. ill make it a point to start charging for that..

My thoughts on the subject is that someone under bid you. Of course, I always feel that way and then a week later, after the customer has screwed everything up, you suddenly get a call from the same guy who thought he could do it himself. It only took me seventy years to learn, but I finally did; I am not a plumber, electrician, a cable guy, a telephone guy, a computer guy, but the one that I always get the most cheers for is that I never tried to be an auto mechanic! If they charged me ten times as much as the job was worth, I was still be money ahead. I guess, maybe it's time that our customers learned that too.

Paul, thanks for the laugh, I'm with you on at least two of those categories!

I agree as well that some folks simply decide, too much, I'll try it myself how hard can it be, plumbers
and all the others see that all the time when it goes wrong.

Waco, what you'll also find funny at least I do, is the person who says "I can't stand this anymore, these (pick a species)
are driving me crazy, I need them gone."

A few minutes later on the phone after the price is given, its "oh, I'm not sure I can afford that."

Everyone has their tipping point with issues and sometimes they aren't there yet.

I waited a week in the peak of summer to get a part for my central air that we knew we could swap out rather
than have the AC guy come and hit me up for 4 times the cost of the part. Everyone has their point.

i missed a call last summer for a groundhog,well i call the lady back asap,and she "allready found someone to do the job.two months after she call me i get another call from her.it goes like this" mr Stone do you think you could come catch the groundhog ,the other guy couldnt catch it"..so i go to her house set my traps catch a skunk,$$$ a opossum,$$$$ on the thrird day i get the groundhog,$$$$..i ended up making 750$ on this job with the exclusion..
the other trapper caught the skunk and turned it loose in her yard!!!!

Cancellations happen all the time in this economy because the cancellationee stayed at a Motel 6.

I just became a Doctor...... Dr. Phil. Broke my hand, is called "boxer's fracture." Am setting and splinting myself. At the drug store getting supplies, clerk asked how did that? Told her it happens when you punch something real hard. Then gave Annie a look. Then Annie punched me. The clerk looked frightened. Probably will get a visit from some agency now.

Yeah, you're going to get a visit from the AMA for practicing medicine without a license.

I hope its leagal to practice on yourself! Been going to the vet for years to save money...im a Dr too, Dr Cheapskate!!!!!!!!!

Don't know that I'd try to set a broken hand myself...a hand is a pretty important thing to have. I don't think I could sue myself for malpractice if it goes wrong and I end up with claw-hands.

I am a beekeeper and do removals,about 70% of the time its wasp,hornets or yellow jackets which I don't do. Spent alot of time chasen bad calls, so now I try to get photos by phone or email before I go out. I charge a service call fee which is deducted from the bill if hired, weeds out alot of tyre kickers and dead calls. Jim