How can I compete with companies offering interest free credit?

[Best]

I understand mate. I was just saying what I do, that’s all.

You are really correct. No point in assuming all customers will stay loyal.
Business should ideally be totally non personal.

 

[Best]

This is what makes us different. My view is not to sully my life with them. Someone decent always replaces them

I agree that if you have plenty of work, then no point in working for difficult customers if decent customers are being turned away.
But for those that are not overbooked, then take the more troublesome

 

[Welder]

I agree that if you have plenty of work, then no point in working for difficult customers if decent customers are being turned away.
But for those that are not overbooked, then take the more troublesome

Sorry Best but I must disagree. I have never, ever, found a disagreeable one who was worth whatever I earned from it - ever ever ever.

 

[WaterTight]

There is a spectrum of disagreeableness and there is a spectrum of value earnt from doing the job. There will be various intersections where you should consider it worthwhile. Mildly disagreeable person who happily pays top dollar for an easy quick job and you never hear from them again might intersect similarily favourably to a sweet old dear who means no harm but phones you 6 times on a Sunday because she thinks she has a leak but it's cat pee and you can't stand to charge her for the visit.

 

[Welder]

There is a spectrum of disagreeableness and there is a spectrum of value earnt from doing the job. There will be various intersections where you should consider it worthwhile. Mildly disagreeable person who happily pays top dollar for an easy quick job and you never hear from them again might intersect similarily favourably to a sweet old dear who means no harm but phones you 6 times on a Sunday because she thinks she has a leak but it's cat pee and you can't stand to charge her for the visit.

Of course, and mildly annoyingly , you are quite right WT.

That said, I confess to never having met your "mildly disagreeable person who pays top dollar". In my experience those sorts are a figment of an over active idealogical mind After so many years however, one definately develops a binary, green/red, 'go/no go' meter for customers. When I talk of "disagreeable" they have flicked into the red zone - to be trapped for eternity in my, oh so, humble opinion