Make the Customer feel you earned your Fee.

[cledry]

I always tell people, I opened it quickly because I know what I'm doing and Im good at my job. For locks that take two swipes of a pick to open.... well, those I just stand there pretending I'm still working for a minute. Being that good isn't nice.

That is when you offer them a bit more security and make a bit of money at the same time. Every job should be thought of as a sales call.

For example I had to go out and quote a panic bar on the rear of a local Sprint store. I noticed on another door bent hinges. On another door I noticed a vulnerable mortise cylinder, leaking door closer and unsupported bottom pivot. I quoted my panic bar and added a quote for the other issues along with photos to corporate. Not only did we get this job, and the additional work but we also got work at 26 other locations. The store also mentioned us to other businesses in the same strip mall and we got work from two further businesses.

Another employee stopped at a Bank Of America and noticed a tech from a service provider working on a front door, casually he mentioned that he didn't like working on Steelhawks. The tech said he really wasn't familiar with them and asked for a business card. Since that chance meeting the company gives us about 3 jobs a day. So always look to sell your business.

[sentientsentinel]

I can't believe a hunting guide would be so dishonest he'd probably make a good politician.

[Jburgett2nd]

That was a great story about elk hunting, however I have to disagree, most people that are locked out are panicked and just want back in their house, the sooner the better. Now imho there is nothing wrong with taking your time with an installation measure twice, cut once.

[billdeserthills]

That was a great story about elk hunting, however I have to disagree, most people that are locked out are panicked and just want back in their house, the sooner the better. Now imho there is nothing wrong with taking your time with an installation measure twice, cut once.

Sooo true and take the time to make sure the strike hole(s) aren't going to land in a knothole too

[d_Random]

If the lock is easy to pick and I get it picked in just a few minutes, I purposely do not open the door. I will change picks and spend the next half-hour to forty-five minutes playing with the lock and purposefully do not get the door open. I am going to take a minimum of 45 minutes to get into the house .

This is a terrible way to do business.
1) People want to get back in their house ASAP.
2) You are being deceptive.

[2octops]

I charge by the job, not the hour on things like this.

The faster I am done the faster I can move on to the next job and make more money.

Some of you obviously have to much free time on your hands.

If you fiddle fart around for 45 minutes most customers I know will get bored with you quickly and wonder if you know what you are doing.

[MatrixBlackRock]

I charge by the job, not the hour on things like this.

That's good if you know what you are going into, but that is usually an unknown in retail/residential arena and doing so can really bite you in the behind.

Now, if you are dealing with a national or statewide account and they hammer you real good, then yea, you might be pushed back to piecework, but my suggestion is tell tem to take a hike, or if you can contractually bring them in as a filler, 10-30 days MTR, then use that work as backfill.

Wayne

[cledry]

National accounts won't want to be filler. They want service when they want it. We usually don't have time for filler, when we do have time we work on the service vehicles or the shop.

National accounts are contracted to pay a trip charge and one hour, with higher rates after 5 PM, weekends and holidays. Tonight for example I had a call that a store couldn't lock one of their 4 front doors. These stores use Jackson CVR devices. I got on site at 7:17PM, and was finished at 7:29. Another contractor had installed a kick down door stop and put one of the screws into the bottom rod. More common than you might think. Pulled the screw, tested the unit, went back to the truck grabbed a short screw installed it, do the paperwork take photos and on my way home. On night calls I split the call 50/50 with the owner of our company. Generally on OT jobs I aim to average @ $90 per hour in my pocket before taxes. That includes my travel time.

[2octops]

I charge by the job, not the hour on things like this.

That's good if you know what you are going into, but that is usually an unknown in retail/residential arena and doing so can really bite you in the behind.

Now, if you are dealing with a national or statewide account and they hammer you real good, then yea, you might be pushed back to piecework, but my suggestion is tell tem to take a hike, or if you can contractually bring them in as a filler, 10-30 days MTR, then use that work as backfill.

Wayne

Ask enough of the correct questions on the phone and you will know exactly what you are getting into 90% of the time.

I'm not sure what the rest of your comment meant or how it was related to putting on a show for a customer because you think if you work to fast they will not want to pay you as much.

We do service NSP accounts and they each have their own set of rules. Service call, minimum one hour labor and credit card up front for payment.