How can I compete with companies offering interest free credit?

[Jock Spanners]

Evening all,

I serviced a boiler and gas stove for some customers in September and warned them that their 16 year combi probably wouldn't survive the winter. They asked me for a quote and I gave them one for a Baxi then heard nothing until today when they asked me to fix their gas stove. So when I turned up there's a new Worcester on the wall. I wasn't happy - this is a family I've looked after for years - leaks, breakdowns the lot. I told them I could have fitted a Worcester. He said his wife had wanted one and got it on interest free credit. So I came away feeling miffed and undervalued. I felt like telling them to get whoever fitted the boiler to fix their stove. Then I thought: 'How can I compete with companies offering interest free credit?'

 

[SimonG]

They will have paid through the nose.

Just charge more every time you visit.

There are some companies who you can do it through. I don't know much about them but i think i saw gas app mentioned somewhere.

 

[Best]

You are only just to be used when the customer feels like it. They don’t really understand or care.
I agree just to charge a bit extra for other work you do. And try to take the service work if you do that sort of work.
As long as you get paid your choosen rate for every hour, don’t worry about who pays it.

To be honest, I have had worse, - not nice when you get asked to fix a toilet for a customer and then discovering they are getting some other plumber to powerflush their system for no reason and a few hundred quid.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

You can get contacts who can help you. One I remember is black horse. You can't actually "sell" the finance but they would contact the customer and sort it with them. You may get a commission for sending business their way. There is also no such thing as 0% interest

 

[Welder]

Evening all,

I serviced a boiler and gas stove for some customers in September and warned them that their 16 year combi probably wouldn't survive the winter. ....

Then I thought: 'How can I compete with companies offering interest free credit?'

Please don't think me rude Jock, but WTF?

Fact is YOU are their 'go to' person. That you didn't offer them credit left them no choice but to go elesewhere as they will have realised it's not somethng you do.

I would guarantee they more than a bit upset at having to go elsewhere. However you are taking it as some form of sleight and thinking only of yourself. If you put yourself in their shoes you'd see that far from taking the pi55, they actually trust you which is why they've come back to you.

By all means take the grown up view and throw your teddy oot the pram. Or you could take the other grown up view and see this for what it is - a genuine opportunity to open up what you can offer customers in the future.

My apologies for being blunt, but you're patently not daft just a bit miffed. Once you've calmed down you'll realise you've done the right thing to come on here and pig, because from it you'll be able to walk away thinking - this is a new and positive beginning.

All the best Dave

 

[Best]

Please don't think me rude Jock, but WTF?

Fact is YOU are their 'go to' person. That you didn't offer them credit left them no choice but to go elesewhere as they will have realised it's not somethng you do.

I would guarantee they more than a bit upset at having to go elsewhere. However you are taking it as some form of sleight and thinking only of yourself. If you put yourself in their shoes you'd see that far from taking the pi55, they actually trust you which is why they've come back to you.

By all means take the grown up view and throw your teddy oot the pram. Or you could take the other grown up view and see this for what it is - a genuine opportunity to open up what you can offer customers in the future.

My apologies for being blunt, but you're patently not daft just a bit miffed. Once you've calmed down you'll realise you've done the right thing to come on here and pig, because from it you'll be able to walk away thinking - this is a new and positive beginning.

All the best Dave

But sometimes Dave you don’t know your customers finances and can assume some of them have the money.

 

[Harvest Fields]

But sometimes Dave you don’t know your customers finances and can assume some of them have the money.

I’m all about the customer myself. If I put a price in and I am not in their price range they either let me know or go elsewhere. Don’t hold a grudge. If they are good customers they will be back to you before you know it. Like they where.

 

[townfanjon]

Evening all,

I serviced a boiler and gas stove for some customers in September and warned them that their 16 year combi probably wouldn't survive the winter. They asked me for a quote and I gave them one for a Baxi then heard nothing until today when they asked me to fix their gas stove. So when I turned up there's a new Worcester on the wall. I wasn't happy - this is a family I've looked after for years - leaks, breakdowns the lot. I told them I could have fitted a Worcester. He said his wife had wanted one and got it on interest free credit. So I came away feeling miffed and undervalued. I felt like telling them to get whoever fitted the boiler to fix their stove. Then I thought: 'How can I compete with companies offering interest free credit?'

I feel your pain pal
I have had that happen to me by a neighbour who I did everything for , half the time I never even charged them , I have never been the same with them since . “ nowt funnier than folk” to quote my grandad

 

[Best]

I feel your pain pal
I have had that happen to me by a neighbour who I did everything for , half the time I never even charged them , I have never been the same with them since . “ nowt funnier than folk” to quote my grandad

I have had a few customers, including neighbours, who got themselves in a pickle by getting plumbing and heating companies in who did seriously bad work.
After I have spent ages trying to get some of the plumbing in order and for little or no money, - they later get another plumber, again unknown to them, to do more work!
“You do top quality work” is typically what they tell me.
And I don’t charge them much.
Yet they only ask me to be the back up.
Strange isn’t it?

 

[townfanjon]

I have had a few customers, including neighbours, who got themselves in a pickle by getting plumbing and heating companies in who did seriously bad work.
After I have spent ages trying to get some of the plumbing in order and for little or no money, - they later get another plumber, again unknown to them, to do more work!
“You do top quality work” is typically what they tell me.
And I don’t charge them much.
Yet they only ask me to be the back up.
Strange isn’t it?

Er yes strange lol .
When we eventually move ( christ knows when) I have no intentions of working for any of the new neighbours. Already thinking of excuses.