Posted by Phil Armitage on June 02, 2003 at 00:10:59:
In Reply to: Re: Beginner Owner Behavior posted by Eric Wilt on June 01, 2003 at 02:00:53:
: : : : : Which by the way they should have gotten from you when first booked.
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: : : : : : Just my thinking,
: : : : : : Ray Miller
: : : : : They got one...
: : : : : The iron hanger that did the work is p.o.'d because I have been coming into "his barns" lately and charging about fifty bucks more than he does per horse.
: : : : : We've had a couple barns around here go belly up and the clientele has scattered to new barns (one new owner is accpting new horses) where he feels he's "entitled" to all the new horses that come in.
: : : : : Should prove to be an interesting few encounters, at least.
: : : : : But you're right. I considered copying the guy that did the work but also considered it a waste of time (possibly).
: : : : : The funny part of the equation is that the guy that showed up has given me a lot of clients because he WON'T show up at after a while. He just did it (drove over an hour, one way) to honk on me...
: : : : : Any of you guys have nerds like that around you?
: : : : : I've tried to be kind and invite him in to the local assosication... but he says he "don't need to be no lawyer to shoe horses".....
: : : : : Hey... I just got off 6 days vacation... eat your hearts out.
: : : : Yea this has happened to me and I scratch my head and wonder how the heck does a good farrier have the time to do this? I would just let it go and move on. I would not bother to call the other farrier, I think your right it is a waste of time. As far as the horse owner, if they call you back, you get them when you can, but they go at the bottom of the priority list. If they do not call you back, then even better, there out of your hair. If they lose a shoe from the other farrier and they call you, you should make that one real expensive shoe to put back on. What happened to common sense and courtousy? I do not bother to do a letter of agreement, I only keep the cutomers who already know how to treat others without it.
: : : : Just my thinking.
: : : : Phil
: : : I agree with Phil,let it go for now. What goes around comes around, and it's a real easy and no brainer to raise prices next time! Fellow farriers whether certified or not, as long as we respect each other and our work should step in for each other when we can! Just this morning ,I called a farrier friend in a town an hour away, and asked if he'd go by and put a hind shoe on a roping horse client of mine that lost a shoe yesterday ,so he could rope tonight and Jerry went by and fixed it for me! Thats the way we all should help out each other IMO! Just my thoughts, Gary
: : The only thing that will pull us out of most situations is to take responsibility for what happened. You went out of town and could not be reached by a new client. They don't know you are out of town and may well have been stood up by farrriers in the past and expected you to do the same. The other farrier has already made it clear to you that he is unprofessional. You need just a tiny bit more ammo to come out of the situation.
: : Here's the deal. When you will be away from you answering machine for a time, say so in the message so they know when to expect a call back. This way you are still there for your clients, giving them personal information and making them feel important. This is a small, but very powerful move on your part and will net you many rewards in the future.
: : M. W. Myers, D.V.M.
: If you think about it,almost every time we take on a new customer,theres a farrier out there getting the axe.Like the song goes,"Sometimes youre the windshield,sometimes youre the bug.".Some farriers want to work for the people that got the most horses,or the most money,or the best horses,etc... but I want to work for the guys that think Im the best there is.Those are my best customers,and youre best customers may feel the same way about you.I can be late,I can be slow,I can raise my price,I dont have to worry about them,because they appreciate the quality of my work and will settle for nothing less.(Im not bragging about my work,but Im bragging on my best clients for feeling that way)
: New clients,ship-ins,walk -ups,they dont know the difference between my work and anybody elses.To them Im just another 'able body'.How much did it cost,how long did it take,how long did the shoe stay on,after that they dont know the difference between us anyways for the most part. Thats where the fancy rigs and clean clothes,being on time and over-charging comes into play.Its not my style,but it aint a bad system.
: To me if a new client doesnt call me back,I dont care if they fall off the face of the Earth.I dont rely on those folks to pay my mortgage anyhow.
: Those people needed their horse shod,and you werent the only game in town.Theyre entitled to call whoever they want.They werent convinced you were worth waiting on.Good customers dont just spring up,they have to develop.This new client was still'green'.The other horseshoer was cheaper,and available,but if youre right about him,he'll eventually let them down.When that happens,those people might realize they were wrong,and try to come back to you.I would leave them alone,if they call you later,they might make better clients. Good luck, Eric Wilt
I have to agree with Eric, good customers are developed and so are good farriers. I have often thought of leaving a message on my machine for my customers to let them know that I am away, until I read a tip that this is not a good idea, because anyone can call your number and learn that your away and rob your home. I like people who understand that we are all buisy with our offtime activities and work and that it can take a few days or a week to call back and you have to be patient. Farriers have hobbys, family, pets and horses also and our pets and horses get sick, go lame, loose shoes and screw up our plans just like everyone else, it happens to everyone and you have to learn it is not the end of the world. Most of the time a farrier will put a customer ahead of there owne emergency, until the wife gets sick of it, there are a lot worse things that can happen than to loose a shoe. The way I look at it, thank God the shoe came off and left the foot in tact. Now that I am thinking of it, my horses are overdue and my wife and 15 year old daughter are not going to be happy with me when they realise it.
Phil