Have ya been shopped AFTER getting a verbal commitment?

[CharlieCobra]

I was chatting up a sailor who's boat is in the yard for a repower and bid on both taking the bottom paint to glass and re-doing it right and a complete paint. Saturday he came over and committed to us doing the complete job and I lined up a spot in a building and extra crew to do the gig. Monday I show up to find some youngster eyeballing the boat. After talking with him, I find the customer, who had committed to me, had called him, shopping me around. Not only did he shop me, he gave the topcoat to this youngun and expects me to still do the bottom strip, barrier coat and paint. My crew is PO'd and doesn't want to touch the boat after that little trick. They are of the opinion "Why eat a side when you were supposed to have a meal".

I'm inclined to agree.

What do you think? Should I still trust this guy after a stunt like that?

 

[kloudie1]

Wouldn't touch the paint stuff but would do the repower.. Separate the work.. Get a signature on the commitment.. It is sad that there are folks like that who have absolutely no idea that they are being donkeys (or jackasses) .. explain why you aren't doiing the paint.. ya don't want to be the excuse for the other guys mess ups..
best to ya Charlie

 

[tommays]

I give out a LOT of work and while we pretty much use the same people for task X we do always try and get several prices

We never procede without paperwork as its a sure way to cause problems

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Sounds like he is doing the right thing the wrong way. He is shopping for the best price which is prudent but might have communicated it better to you.

 

[CharlieCobra]

Yeah, money is paramount to this guy and he only has so much of it to go around. I understand his concerns but just don't concur with the method.

 

[PotomacDaysailer]

You don't commit while shopping around. Elementary courtesy.

 

[CharlieCobra]

Wouldn't touch the paint stuff but would do the repower.. Separate the work.. Get a signature on the commitment.. It is sad that there are folks like that who have absolutely no idea that they are being donkeys (or jackasses) .. explain why you aren't doiing the paint.. ya don't want to be the excuse for the other guys mess ups..
best to ya Charlie

Somebody else had the repower job. I came along and hustled up the paint work from him.

 

[CharlieCobra]

You don't commit while shopping around. Elementary courtesy.

Exactly. Shop me all ya want but if ya say the gig is mine, don't shop me afterwards....

I'm guessing it was buyer's remorse.

I'm a pretty effective sales guy, always have been.

 

[RichH]

Written agreement/CONTRACT is always best. Saves a lot of hassle for both parties.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

When the client commits to you, whip out a contract, have him sign it and pony up a non-refundable deposit (10% maximum in California, your state's contract laws may differ). That underlines his commitment. No deposit = no contract = no job.

Also, having your people work on a boat they would rather not spells trouble. There's no way they'll do their best work.

 

[CharlieCobra]

I can mollify the crew on this one I'm thinking.

Ok, I'm going to recalculate the bottom work in order to cover my butt and make some change. He will have the option to accept or deny it. The ball will be in HIS court....

 

[Old Skool Neil]

I'd suggest you require the bottom work be completed prior to the application of any topsides paint to avoid inheriting any blame over imperfections. CYA.

 

[kloudie1]

It used to be that a handshake was binding.. I've done some pretty major work for my company with handshake deals.. No problem.. contracts followed, of course, but the work started without a contract other than the honorable handshake..
The other thing I'd do is let the other craftsmen in the area know exactly what this guy did.. nothing slanderous, just the facts of what happened..
If he wanted to do the work cheaply as possible, he should have done it himself.

 

[Alan]

Agree with the contract part. Used to be that a verbal OK or hand shake was good enough, still is with me, but some fellas aren't wired that way. My reps have been getting their checks like clockwork and all on a hand shake. On this one I'd get a signed contract or just walk away.

 

[CharlieCobra]

I just printed the new estimate with a spot for the customer to accept the work. It will function as a contract as well if he signs it. While I function on a handshake as well, this will be the new process from here on.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Agreed. I'm an old skool handshake sort myself and the vast majority of my business is conducted that way. Sometimes you get a feel about a potential client so out comes the formal paperwork. And this guy has already shown his colors.

 

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

Charlie...

If I understand this correctly:
you quoted
he accepted
he reneged

If I were you, I'd walk away from this guy and make sure he understands why!

Paul
PS I'm in my mid-sixties and was taught "business ethics" by my Father and Mother, who owned and operated their very successful retail business.

 

[Ross]

If the man isn't good for his word then he probably isn't good for his signature. I put almost everything in writing and ask for a signature. I also draw payments for certain percentages of the work. A small payment when I start and then a payment at the end of each week. I have had a couple of occassions when I had to get a judge to tell the owner to pay the man. Not bad for 32 years.
Sometimes I am asked to give price for each phase of the work, which I do but rarely do I get those jobs. I try to err to my benefit.

 

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

if The Man Isn't Good For His Word Then He Probably Isn't Good For His Signature.

Agree!!!

 

[bffatcat]

Times change

Before I retired in 05 I was involved in situations where orders 5 figures and larger were not uncommon. What usually happened was the purchaser wrote up the order on his order form or sometimes mine was used. In either case the norm was nobody signed anything.
The written unsigned order was shipped. No deposits were required Terms were all on credit
to rated companies. I didnt do business with anyone that was not credit worthy. I took many
smaller orders over the phone and shipped them on a verbal commitment only I dont know if I would do that today