People suck

[A.P.W.]

Does any one else have an issue with people not getting back to you. I have answered 21 emails in the last two weeks, people lookin for quotes or asking questions about paint. Out of those 21 people 2 got back to me. Is it too much trouble to respond to an email? I mean c'mon I've taken time out of my day to give some one a price or answer some dopy question and you can't even respond to say you got the email, or you'r prices are out of control, or go screw yourself, something. A little courtesy is all I'm askin is that too much? Anybody else have to deal with this or is it just me? Sorry for the rant.

:angry-smiley-030: :angry-smiley-030: :angry-smiley-030:

[Airbrushkid]

Well thats how things seem to be ever since the internet started. Some are window shoppers. And the others just ask paint stuff. Don't let it get to you.

[GCA]

I think we all go through that, especially when most of our business comes through the internet. I have to answer a ton of e-mails before one actually translates into a purchase. It's a little annoying when they don't right back, but it's no big deal. It's like talking to people at shows. Not everyone who takes your card is gonna call you back, and not everyone who says so is going to bring you his tins. I'm more bothered by annoying inquiries than by people not responding.
I'll tell you which e-mails really bother me: the ones in all lower case, no punctuation and no signature. I don't bother answering those.
I have considered doing my own follow up , though. Something along the lines of "Dear so and so, Recently you inquired about getting your motorcycle custom painted...." My purpose in this inquiry would be to find out if I was underbid, if they found someone whose art work they preferred. or if they changed their mind altogether.
One more thing, don't be surprised if every once in a while you receive a package from someone you never heard back from. The last time this happened to me was over Christmas, when i received a box from someone I e-mailed in August.

[colourshift]

I hear ya Chip, and I've only just gotten started....half o box of business cards and two calls. Nature of the beast I suppose. Good thing the cards are mostly free (vistaprint.com).

[ABD]

Yup happens to me all the time also.....I don't mind an email or phone call...Talk thigs over and then they never get back to ya......But i seem to get people that really like to waste time....Calling every other day, Setting up times..(be there on thursday, type stuff).....Had a guy a month back..After 5 phone calls, he was sending his wife to my place to drop off a helmet...He tells me "She'll be there 4'oclock on Monday".....Never showed or heard from them again....I've had multiple situations like that.:banghead:

Could be life catching up to them?...Maybe changed their mind?...Or they get a kick outta wasting my time? I dunno??...I gave up years ago trying to figure people out. Just isn't worth it....Just keep on keepin on, do your thing and let them do theres...Hahaha

[colourshift]

I was told once by a pro, to create a feeling of urgency...in a laid back fashion, of course. That you'd have to check your schedule, see if you can find the time to fit it in...that kind of thing.
Kind of fits in with that late night "And if you call NOW we'll include...." TV ad crap.
I guess if you deliver it in a laid back style, you don't come across as some sort of cheesy sales guy....

[gphood]

Hi Chip

It's par for the course I'm afraid. Most of my enquiries come in by email and I've learned to expect no reply and am then pleasantly surprised when somebody does come back to me. The responders usually end up being customers too.

[A.P.W.]

I guess I'm just in a mood. I've been dealing with this for years. I don't mind at shows because at least you are speaking to someone, there seems to be a begining and an end to the conversation. Weather or not they do the job is not the issue, you can usually get a feel for someone if you are talkin to them directly. The email thing just wears me out, " how much to do this"? Then you answer them with the speach about whats involved and a time frame, then nothin. The fact that it's open ended drives me crazy, is it too much $$$, are you just shopping, are you waiting on parts? what the..... I think I'm just gonna start calling people instaed of emailing them back, then they have to talk to me and at least I can try to gauge what they are up to.

[jason prouty]

i get this too, but not as much,

try putting the next course of action in their court, at the end of the proposal ask them a question about the project that you already know the answer to, but don't leave it just on the email...phone them too, some people don't respond well with visual concepts when they read, but if they hear it from you, and especially more than once it gives you more of a shot. if it's a money making project it's worth the effort 1 email and 2 calls

sell it man, as if it was water in the desert

your work is great, if they aren't getting back to you then they probly can't afford it

[colourshift]

this may not be appropriate, but on some sites I've seen a 'form' the customer fills out...would this expedite some of the tedium? I think a lot of people are truly shocked when they find out how much all this costs...I honestly think some have no idea...and they're floored.
Stick to you're guns, you're a huge talent... lovely work.... (wait, isn't this you usually telling this to me? lol)

[Whit]

"It's only got a couple of "little" dents in it",,, "How Much ??"
By e-mail or by phone,,, this is the one that gets me !!!:music-smiley-019:

[ABD]

"It's only got a couple of "little" dents in it",,, "How Much ??"
By e-mail or by phone,,, this is the one that gets me !!!:music-smiley-019:

Hahaha!....How about "Don't want anything fancy, just make it match my coat".....Usually follwed by "i only paid $50 for it, don't wanna spend more than that", hahaha!

I tell those people to get a spray can and chalk it up to a learning experience!

[Ambo]

A.P.W.
It's catch 22 isn't it...
Like Whit said in another thread, "Your always gonna get your tire kickers" regardless of how they do it.. net, phone or come by your shop.
On the other hand if you don't take the time to reply to quotes/enquiries etc.. where does that leave your business.. potential lost work.
Treat it as a necessary evil.. plow thru them & I hope you reap the rewards of steady work flow.

[LucBoivin]

Yep, same here and not just for quotes, I have that for classes as well. Very very frustrating.

Luc

[Saint]

I do agree, it's the unfortunate nature of the beast.
The tire kickers, the wanna haves, the big talkers.....

I have to admit, I use the , "hmmmm, let me check my schedule, I think I can sqeeze you in"....even if NOTHING was booked.........

But, yes, I've also had the ones that 'geez, I only paid $50 bucks for it'
or, my favorite...."It would be so easy for you to do".
I even had this one guy (the freakin nerve...) when I wouldn't come down to his "price" which apparently was 'FREE'....he thought my ego would get to me when he said that what he wanted was so easy that , hmmm, why he could do it himself....
I blew that outta the water, by telling him that I thought that was a GREAT idea, he should do it himself.............
Of course, now hold onto your keyboards folks..........
the next thing he says is, "Well, how about this........you let me use YOUR STUDIO, paint and equipment, and I'll paint it there, myself."

uh, no.:devil-smiley-033:

Just when you think someone has so much nerve, ahhh, they surprise ya.
ok, not always in a good way.







Saint

[colourshift]

oh that's ballsy...sheesh. you gotta be kidding...no, wait, I know you're not.
wow, did you ask for his picture for your "ass of the week" gallery?