Customers trying to manipulate the system

[kellie]

Does anyone, besides myself, have customers that try to get you to groom their pet for cheaper because your gonna be in that neighborhood? What I mean is I have clients that will say, "If your going to be in the neighborhood anyway, then do I have to pay the mobile price" I try to explain to them that it takes gas to run the generator and generator runs everything else, I have a set price for each breed. Now I give a price break if they bring them to my house (I have a little shop setup at home too) It's like they all think if a few of them get together and have their pets groomed around the same time they get a discounted price. I'm just curious if anyone else has the situation come up and what you say????
Kellie

[Doug]

Doesnt really work that way

A simple no usually works. But if you want to get rid of her quick just tell her the newest one has to pay for the travel fee and it will be double the normal price to be fair to the others who are already established in the area.lol

[TAILSRWAGON]

If I don't have to move the van, I give neighboors a 5% multi pet discount.
But I don't move they bring them over to me. I only have a couple that do this so It's no big deal. And it's not the gas, it's the travel time, whether it's one block or more than a mile. It takes time to shut everything down and move then bring everything back up.

[azoci]

Same neighborhood

I have a coupleof places like that...one that I go every 2 weeks, do 2 dogs, then across the street, do another, then every 4 weeks, I catch the neighbor nest door to the #2 house. No, I do not give a multi dog rate, I move my rig each time. I charge the same price for the 3 dogs that get done every 2 weeks, but the every 4 week dog pays full price, wich is more then the 2 weeker's.

No one has had a problem with the price I charge.

I also have another set, 2 St. Poodles, then around the block to a Pom and a Pug, same thing, they pay full price every month. I don't offer multi dog for same neighborhoods.

[diamienono]

If I don't have to move or use my gene then I will give $5 off the price. If I have to move or use my gene then NO!

[mobil 1]

Costumer Not Always Right!

Some people will try anything to get a cheap deal...We had this lady call one time asking about our services, then when we told her our price she then ask that if she bathed and dry her dog if we would charge 1/2 price!...I said no way..lol

[Crystal]

Just simply say no the price is not just travel, it includes the maintenance and fuel as well- so the price is not negotiable.

I am sick of customers asking for a break or deal. The gas pump doesn't cut us a deal- the price of everything has gone up and so has our expenses.

[baddog]

Some people will try anything to get a cheap deal...We had this lady call one time asking about our services, then when we told her our price she then ask that if she bathed and dry her dog if we would charge 1/2 price!...I said no way..lol

The same thing happened to me! I told her that washing and drying a dog properly is essential to a good grooming, and that I would nit put my blades or shears to a coat I did not personally wash and dry....she paid up! People can be so stingy!

[mustluvdogs1]

People that ask, kind of turn me off.I have onle moved the van across the stw/ gen, on cuz Iuse a/c or no need to shut off. I do one easy dog more than kaiser (dead now) and Max. Then Peanutbutter girl, I call her is five cuz they put pbutter all over hand..dog licks it while I trim nails. I am still ther close to one hr. Catch Pb girl...on phone.slow...takes my time. I have gone out just for that family ,as she is hard to reach, and the Schn always ;booked 5wks out. A next door once so far w/ 2. Another Schn around cornwer.#35miles round trip . I don't like to do that many in one dy.6 trims and one nails only.Good income day, but across st neveravail. I don't even tell her I'm comong anymore..cuz she isn't timely in cslling back to say ok.Up scale area..noone ever asked asked for disc. no one asked cuz 2 Schn..A yr ago paid 10 more cuz of gas prices. Stick to your prices.Be Tiffanys..not The Dollar store...so to speak.

[mustluvdogs1]

Generator on for A/C, no discounts

Just now got a call for nails only....can't move that van 10 20 miles round trip for nails...must do complete groom. Not my area sent her to another groomer who also won't do Just nails. lThey start "What do you charge" like nothing else is important..yrs of experience etc. Yesterday a lady only wanted to pay 25 for pom lion trim. I have not charged that low since I started w/car in homes..yrs ago. Said California was cheaper....not in My experience.By Mid April the Gen will run w/ AC on All day til last dog.July will I have had offers for bath etc. I say no. Full service.Fur has to be brush and dry indirection fur grows totrim properly...takes a pro to do it correctly..I think these people move from state to state and their relatives...we all get them.

[diamienono]

It is funny. Do they go to Red Lobster and ask for a price break if they don't have the rolls and salad. NO. I don't offer price breaks unless there are more than 3 dogs or I don't have to move and use my gene. That is it. I have had a few people tell me that I have nerve charging my prices. I just simply say that I offer something that other groomers in a shop can't and would you like to talk to the owner? Oh yeah that's right. I am the owner. hehe. I also tell them that mobile is not for everyone.

[Meesh]

I don't give discounts. Invariably someone will have to reschedule at some point and they're off the same day anyway.

[dogsr4luv]

I charge by the hour plus a convenience fee for going to the house if a neighbor makes an appt. at the same time I split the convenience fee in half so each one pays part of it. But they still get charged my normal hourly rate. This seems to work out great because they think they are getting a discount but in they are really not getting that much of a break. The catch is that I don't move from whereever I parked in the first place they have to come to me.

[Fur Elite]

That is precisely why I don't quote a price that breaks down a grooming charge and mobile fee. People around here will do anything to try to get a few bucks off (I have had several ask if they could bring the dog to ME and save money). I just quote them a fee and tell them that includes xy and z plus the convenience of having the grooming done right outside their home. Even so, a few have tried over the years to inquire about getting a "neighborhood discount". I just say no. I also have inquiries about a senior citizens discount, which I refuse as well. Harsh you might say? Well, I live in a town where 75% of the residents are senior citizens and 95% of my client base is made up of these senior citizens. I can't really afford to give all of my clients a discount. So I tell them that the price i quoted DOES, in effect, include a senior citizen discount as we live in a retirement community and my prices are set for the majority of the population. That way I save myself getting the lecture about the horrors and hardships of living on a fixed income and the insensitivity of young people (can you tell I been there done that?)

[Rozie26]

Makes me crazy

hey guys, I am so tired of people asking me for a discount if i'm already in their neighborhood. I have these two dogs on the same street and now that i am REALLY booked like six weeks out i told them i need to try to keep them on the same schedule as it's a bit further out than just ten minutes or whatever, so we all three got together and got all the dates and all that together, and as i'm done with the emails and scheduling i told them both thank you for letting me getting them together. Later that night the one lady emailed me to ask since they worked to make it more convenient for ME do they get a discount. I was appauled. I replied with NOPE sorry just happy healthy clean pups. and left it at that. makes me nuts i hate it. so don't worry your not the only one.