Why do people have to lie?

[charlieB]

I have people that call to ask about my service and after I explain everything to them and tell them the fee, they just make up some story and tell me they will call back. BUT They never do. Why do they have to say they have to get another call or they have to check their schedule first? Why can't they just say thank you and hang up? I wouldn't even care if they say they are not interested in my service at this time. Or even just say your price is too high for me. Some do but some just have to make an excuse. I had one that just hung up on me after I tell her my price. I am just tired of those people!!!!

[kats_melody]

Get used to it and remember it is nothing personal. You will get the price shoppers who will say they will call back. Most won't. You will get the people who say you are too expensive. You aren't, they would complain if you charged shop prices. The ones that remain will usually be great repeat customers.

Mobile grooming is a luxury service. Give the customer the very best service you can provide and charge accordingly. The people who will complain about every nickel you charge and who will try to beat you down to slave wages are vexations to your soul. Leave them alone and don't worry about them.

Laura

[PoodleeDoo]

agreed

Laura gave good advice! I agree totally. You know if you worry about everybody who is a rude person, a PITA, a jerk,... you'll drive yourself into an early grave. Simplify: get a website, put up on your message that you have a website explaining policy and base prices, and have them check that; save yourself a lot of time on the phone. And or those who you are on the phone with, I'd get it down to a script: something where you can ask specific quick questions and then bang out the answer. I learned a long time ago not to take too much time on the phone with new callers unless they have booked an appt and even then -- book and get off the phone... you will need to take that time in the first consultation when you look over the dog, dont waste it on the phone. Book/off...or no book/off you have too much to do otherwise like live your life

dont let em get you down. And Laura is right, mobile grooming is a luxery service, and although most ppl can appreciate luxury, they all can't afford it or are too tight in the wallet to want to pay for it so let em go elsewhere.

[petgroomaustralia]

Dont let it get to you, some people are just like that. They are the clients that you dont want anyway so its natural selection...hahaha

[Jenneversage64]

I had a cllaer call on a Sunday

I actually thought it might be a friend, so I answered. I told her she was not in my area, then she proceeds to bash two mobiles I never heard of. I got tired of listening so I just hung up on her. When you don't even service their area, why continue a conversation? It is time consuming enough to return calls where they are in my area.

[elizo]

Poodledoo:
I am getting ready to go mobile next month and will be the most expensive in town. I'm not thrilled about it, but I feel like the few other mobiles around are undercharging at least 5 to 10 bones a dog. I thought about putting up a website with my base prices and if anyone got sticker shock by looking at it, it would save me having to talk to them on the phone only to end up having them hyperventilate at the price at the end of my speech! Do those who post prices on their websites have fewer price shoppers call them?

[wet noze]

Personally I don't post prices. Some people might take a look and never come back. When someone calls it gives them the opportunity to connect with a voice and gives you a chance to sell yourself and your services. I agree, you do get some time wasters but the positive outweighs the negatives IMO.

Don't fret about people that lie. They also lie about the last time the dog was groomed, what it weighs and how it behaves for grooming. Get used to it. lol

[Meesh]

Also, "I have to check with my husband and I'll call you back" is a long winded way of them saying "No" to booking.

Like WetNoze, I don't list my prices anywhere. You want to be able sell yourself and your services and prices are so variable, depending on the condition and disposition of the dog. Just give it your best shot when you talk up your service and know that the ones who really can't afford it yet book anyway would only be headaches as clients. They'll cancel at the last minute when they're running short, they'll try to get you to lower your price. So if they find you expensive, then saying no or lying to you even they are actually doing you a favor.

My favorites are the ones who are simply looking for a good groomer and want the convenience of mobile. The ones who have heard of me from their friend or neighbor and don't even ask my price during the phone call.

Remember, you only need about 150 dogs (less clients as many people have more than one dog) to be fully booked. There are enough people out there who want the premium, luxury service of mobile grooming and you WILL find each other!

Meesh

[Starshan]

I was frustrated with that till earlier this week I take a call while grooming which I don't do much. I go through all the asking questions etc, tell the price & get the comment back "wow, I found someone alot cheaper". Shocked me so much that all I could say was "ok, no problem" & hang up. I wanted to double check that the cheaper one she found was actually mobile but oh well, not meant to be.

In a way its good to know she won't be calling me back but I almost feel it was rude. Oh well.

Shannon
The Soapy Puppy

[louie]

i had a potential client NOT use me because my van is a mercedes.......yep, i MUST be ripping people off if i can drive a mercedes van

[puppy love]

i had a potential client NOT use me because my van is a mercedes.......yep, i MUST be ripping people off if i can drive a mercedes van

What an idiot! He would have been a cheapo, never satisfied, PITA client anyways if that was his outlook...

[Hello Kitty FTW]

i had a potential client NOT use me because my van is a mercedes.......yep, i MUST be ripping people off if i can drive a mercedes van

So if you drove a Ford Pinto Mobile you're doing the guy a favor? Puhleeze.

I've had one, ONE, person make a nasty comment like that because I drive a Mini Cooper.

"No wonder you charge such high prices. You have a Mini!" to which I replied "Would you rather I'd ride a bike to save you money?" That shut her up pretty darn quick.

And to the OP, you can always come to us to tell us of your woes. I tend to take things personally, so no amount of "It's nothing personal" will change how I feel about the way people treat me and my business.

My husband has provided me with a cute little squishy ball that says "****** People" on it and I just chuck that at walls or squeeze it while I'm in the car. It helps me feel A LOT better.

[PoodleeDoo]

web pricin

Poodledoo:
I am getting ready to go mobile next month and will be the most expensive in town. I'm not thrilled about it, but I feel like the few other mobiles around are undercharging at least 5 to 10 bones a dog. I thought about putting up a website with my base prices and if anyone got sticker shock by looking at it, it would save me having to talk to them on the phone only to end up having them hyperventilate at the price at the end of my speech! Do those who post prices on their websites have fewer price shoppers call them?

Can only speak for myself of course, but I'm about to launch mobile too -- and prior to this it has been at home grooming. I not only had ppl take a look at the site prior to coming, but they complimented it and liked knowing policy,and yes, pricing before wasting their own time calling around asking about that issue. So I suppose it all depends on the person. One person thought I was too high and called to make sure it was not a typo LOL.

I do think it helps, yes. And if they never call, then they could not afford me to begin with. i had so many price shoppers that wasted my time i literally just put it on an answering machine and let it screen for me -- saying here is my website, min fee is XX and go up from there. Those who were interested, left messages or checked the site and called back.

worked for me... on occasion I answered the phone to price shoppers and still found they just wasted alot of time.... when I decide on a price, I stick to it... its not negotiable..I have to make a certain amt of money and time is money. So for me it worked. jmho

[blue]

I have people that call to ask about my service and after I explain everything to them and tell them the fee, they just make up some story and tell me they will call back. . Why do they have to say they have to get another call or they have to check their schedule first? Why can't they just say thank you and hang up?

I guess I have a different take on it. People who say "I'll check my schedule and get back to you" are not trying to be deceitful or string you along, picturing you huddled by your phone waiting to pounce on it for that return call. Lol.

They are looking for what they see to be an easy, graceful way out of a phone conversation. After hearing about your prices and services, they may feel that simply saying, "thank you" sounds a bit abrupt. Or they are embarrassed to say, "I can't afford that, thanks anyway."

I get these exit strategies a lot too and it doesn't bother me in the least. For whatever reason, they decided not to book, and that's fine. When I went into business it was never with the understanding that I'd make a sale on every call, and I don't begrudge people asking about prices or services.

[Fur Elite]

Ha! Meesh has what I used to get all the time "I have to check with my husband and I will call you back". We ALL know that is code for "Wow! That is more than I thought it would be but I don't want to sound cheap so I will make up this story to get off the phone" because we all know that the woman makes the decisions for grooming!

You know, though....actually ONE time out of the many I did have someone actually call me back and book the appointment after "checking with their husband". I was shocked. They seemed to appreciate me so I don't know what the deal was with that.

At first it was real frustrating to get those calls. But after being in business for five years, I don't accept new clients very often and when I do it is at a higher price than my existing and only for easy dogs. So now when I get an inquiry, I quote a high price and just sit back to enjoy the response. If they take it, I am happy to see them. If they don't, I am entertained by how they graciously get off the topic. Especially when they corner me at the gas station!