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Are you unemployed or just not interested?
By Charles Martin | December 9, 2009
Here’s an interesting one from someone that is usually pretty lenient on others.
Since 2006 we’ve had a service put up lights in our front yard for the Christmas season. It’s not a company really — just Bill and his crew. They did a marvelous job and Bill would always call a few days after Thanksgiving and schedule us. Then, a few days after New Years, he would come back and neatly put everything away. He was affordable and it’s my favorite part of the holiday.
Seems after many calls Bill sold his business to a guy who doesn’t want other business. I can’t imagine buying a list of Christmas light customers and then not calling them but that’s what he did. Apparently Bill got new employment as a cop in a city far away. He didn’t bother to send out an email or call when he handed us off. He said he would have the new person call me, but two days have passed.
Since the new guy hadn’t called, I needed a new service. Craig’s List is chok full of unemployed people that think putting lights on houses and trees is an easy and doable thing. They cut and paste pictures from those ads you see on TV with the mega-watt houses in millions of lights. Sure.
I called one that looked ok. “He’ll stop by at 3 to 3:30″, his wife said. ” Today”? “Yes, today. He’s coming by from his job”. [Seems he has a "day job".] uh oh. Time came. Time went. Called. “oh ya… he was actually near you at 2 so I called and called and your phone rang 25 times… no answer!” in a gruff voice. I said “sure lady”. I Hung up.
The next guy I found was out of an ad driven by what I thought was a more formidable company in NorCal. They had a crew doing work down in LA. Found more info — they are a window washing company with some good real photos of their Christmas light work.
“He’ll come around 10 ok?…and then… “hey Mr. Martin, this is Trevor… I’ll be an hour late…” Trevor showed up. He looked around for about 90 seconds and said “It’s a decent job. It’ll be $800″.
wwwwWHAT?! “oh ya… I just booked a $3200 job he said smugly…”
See ya Trevor.
Back to Craig’s List.
Ring.
“Hello? [loud TV in background]. “ya… saw your ad on Craig’s List…” “Oh ya… hold on”.
[screaming at kid for his phone not ringing properly]
“Hey this is joe”.
“Hey joe – saw your ad… – [interrupts] — “ya… can you shoot me your address by email so I can check a picture of your house on Google Maps before I waste a trip out there”?
“Well joe I can assure you I have a nice job. Been done 3 years in a row and there are lots of lights to do but nothing really on the house. It’s all yard…”
“Oh – well can you give me the address and I’ll call you right back after I check it out on Google…”
“NO!. Goodbye Joe”
You see, guys number 1 and 3 were guys trying to make a buck while working other jobs at something that doesn’t make the grade or they are doing this until something better comes along since they’re laid off. I can understand wanting to make a few extra bucks. We all do it. It’s a great idea. But do something you’re talented at and if you have never worked with the public, then stay away from the idea. And your wife doesn’t equal customer service. I saw an ad that was so misspelled that my 6 year old had him beat.
Guy number 2 isn’t working in reality. That CORPORATE gig at $3200 is fine but how loyal are they? I looked forward to Bill’s call. I have a nice house and I’m motivated to keep it looking great. Trevor was all of 25. He didn’t get it. He also revealed his overhead and then I saw a $500 markup. Your markup can be whatever the market will bear and if that’s $500 then you’re doing well my man. You’re not getting it here. I offered a much lower but nice number and he laughed at me. Cool.
Ron is going to help me. He took care of me in one phone call and answered another email in 2 minutes. He’ll be here tomorrow. Stay tuned.
The unemployed are not always employable.
Topics: Big biz, Mind and Planet | No Comments »