For once I stood my ground

[Tenbears]

Everybody loves you till somebody else comes along. Those guys that will refer you to ALL their buddies and believe  me I can send you a bunch, are your best buddy until someone else will give them a better deal.   when someone ask me if my price is the best I can do.  or some such thing I usually walk outside and take a look at my sign. just to make sure someone did not replace it with one that says Monty Hall Taxidermy.  And I tell them that.

[Bubbas]

We had a guy this week call me and ask if we could do him a discount on a bear dont know the guy from Adam. He said that we do all his friends stuff and how great it all looks but we are higher then the guy in the next county over so he wanted a deal. I told him that the best I could do was give him directions over there. It takes all kinds I guess.

Kim Collins
Bubba's Taxidermy

[Trophy Specialist]

If someone were to bring me a bunch of work and I wasn't already too busy, then I would cut them a slight price break if they requested it.  I also run a fishing charter business and if someone books more than one weekday charter, then I give them a discount.  It encourages people to fish more days, which is good for my business.   

[George Roof]

If I'm not busy and a guy comes in with a bunch of work looking for a deal, I tell him to go elsewhere.  If I give him a deal, I'm back to being swamped again and making even less to do it.  Where's the sense in THAT?  A couple years back, opening day of deer season, a buddy of mine operates a hunt camp for a "day fee".  He calls me up and tells me he has two "special" clients he's sending over with deer and asks if I'll take care of them.  I tell him that if they're that special, I'll charge them exactly what he pays me for his mounts ($400).  Here comes the guy into my driveway with two good bucks but nothing spectacular.  The guy hops out and says, "I'm here for my deal."  I tell him that it's $400 and he says that great.  I expected to pay more for both of them.  I said, "NO! That's EACH".  Then he starts.  He tells me he'll give me $300 for each of them if I can promise them by Christmas.  I told him that it would be $400 each and that I'd guarantee it by Christmas NEXT YEAR.  Then he says, "WELL, I guess you don't need my work."  I told him I didn't need his work or his attitude and if he'd move the truck, the guy who'd just pulled up with his deer could get into the shop.  I went inside and called my buddy and let him know that not only did THEIR deals go with them, if he EVER sent me anyone else looking for a deal, his would go as well.

[mrdux]

This is the hardest issue I currently go thru in my shop. I have been too quick to be talked into "special deals" or discounts from folks who would have no trouble paying and ended up at my shop because they had heard of my quality and turn-around times. Funny thing is I have no fishing guides that have ever asked for anything and send all their customers' work to me. It's always a buddy,family member, or someone who "can send me lots of work" Yea sure!! I know it's always easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. It's also always easier to never get a bad habit started than it is to change. I'm in the change mode right now.

Anybody got an idea for a sign in my shop that isn't too smartazz but gets the message thru that there will be no discounts to anyone? I want it to be catchy but firm. Thanks.

[coyote]

Super Piggy;
 Great that you're nos saying no to the Hagglers! Now you can get the Big Scorpion Award!


  Coyote

[Evelyn Billington (Superpig)]

Anybody got an idea for a sign in my shop that isn't too smartazz but gets the message thru that there will be no discounts to anyone? I want it to be catchy but firm. Thanks.
[/quote]

I have thought about that very same thing for the past few days. Can't come up with anything either that wouldn't offend the customer but gets the message across. Anybody out there with a good idea?

[Kim Owens]

Ok, here's a quote for you- it's old as heck but it does get the message across-

"The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long after the Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten" 

Danny had a guy call once on wanting a discount.  He said "what do you think you want to pay?"  the guy says $125 (on a pheasant) and Danny says "sure, no problem.  For your $125 I won't wash it, I won't degrease it, I won't split out the wattle, I won't put it on driftwood but I will cut up a coathanger and put it in the back so you can hang it on your wall.  It ought to last you about 6 months or so before your wife makes you throw it away."  Of course, that's not the kind of mount he wanted.  He paid the $300 and now is a great customer, never asks price.

[David Patton]

Here are a couple of brainstorm ideas Evelyn. Maybe you can get develop something from these quotes:

To Give Real Service, You Must Add Something That Cannot Be Bought Or Measured With Money, And That Is Sincerity and Integrity.

Always Give People More Than They Expect.

You Can't Be Number One By Doing What Everybody Else Is Doing.

There Is No Traffic Jam On The Extra Mile.

Service Has To Be A Forethought, Not An Afterthought.

If It Isn't Obvious to the Customers, Then It Is Irrelevant.

When Dealing With the Customer, You Are Only As Good as Your Last Encounter.

Service is Not about Making Promises Or Grand statements. It Is All About Keeping The Promise.

[fishwork]

I used to keep the business cards of other shops on the wall right next to the door...if someone wanted a deal, I would tell them that their were a couple of other guys close buy who could probably give them the deal they wanted and that they could find their phone numbers on the door on the way out.

[mrdux]

Kim, I got that saying years ago while in Marcus Zimmerman's studio in PA. I use it on my cards and have it posted above my shop door. It seems to have an impression on some, others could care less. It's the couldn't care less group that I'm trying to reach.

Ive been leaning toward

"Monty Hall doesn't work here. Let's Make a Deal is down the road!"

My wife doesn't like it but what does she know?

[George Roof]

MrDux, I'm afraid it goes back a bit farther than that.  It's credited with having been put in Poor Richard's Almanac by Ben Franklin.  It's #37 on his Mage list

One I had for years was borrowed from an old taxidermist long gone. It says, " I can't aplogize for charging more than others for my work. They're a better judge of how much their work is worth."

[Matt]

The next time someone wants a discount or a break on something, ask them to call your morgage company, phone company, electric company, gas company, and everyone else and ask them to give you a break on your bills. They won't ask for a disount anymore.

[Sawtooth Taxidermy, Todd]

Gunny, The steelie came from the Clearwater River in Idaho. That was one of the smallest landed. She was 40 inches. The bucks we were landing were mid 40's.

[Terry V]

We don't need to deal with those type people. Most of the time you can't satisfy them anyway.