I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always, always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate, knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......






--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 28/01/2014 17:49, The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always, always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate, knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......

You could have said that the job had taken less time than you had
estimated and knocked off the extra. It would have done wonders for your
reputation and they might have said to keep the extra anyway.

Colin Bignell

On Tuesday 28 January 2014 17:49 The Medway Handyman wrote in uk.d-i-y:

I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always,
always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural
thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate,
knowing full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......


It suggests that you are perhaps underquoting a little, normally. In
this case you have not conned anyone. Price quoted, job done, price
paid.

If a large proportion of your customer base are used to haggling, it is
arguably better to add a buffer, then allow then to feel that they've
"won" by getting £10-20 off. You're happy, they're happy, everyone wins.

Quoting the actual price you want and refusing to budge is clearly going
to alientate some of your customers, so that would be a wrong tactic.

--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal
coverage

On 28/01/2014 17:52, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:49, The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always, always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate, knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......

You could have said that the job had taken less time than you had
estimated and knocked off the extra. It would have done wonders for your
reputation and they might have said to keep the extra anyway.

Colin Bignell


+1
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

On 28/01/2014 18:37, Roger Mills wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:52, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:49, The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always, always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate, knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......

You could have said that the job had taken less time than you had
estimated and knocked off the extra. It would have done wonders for your
reputation and they might have said to keep the extra anyway.

Colin Bignell


+1

Nice idea, but how do you introduce that once you have already told them
the pre-haggle price...


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 28/01/2014 18:52, John Rumm wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:37, Roger Mills wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:52, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:49, The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always, always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate,
knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......

You could have said that the job had taken less time than you had
estimated and knocked off the extra. It would have done wonders for your
reputation and they might have said to keep the extra anyway.

Colin Bignell


+1

Nice idea, but how do you introduce that once you have already told them
the pre-haggle price...


You look a bit sheepish and say you feel a bit guilty charging the full
price, as it didn't take as long as you expected, then offer them a bit
back.

Colin Bignell

On Tue, 28 Jan 2014 17:49:54 +0000, The Medway Handyman wrote:


I feel slightly guilty now......

I wouldn't. If it's who I think it is then **** 'em.

"Cursitor Doom" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 28 Jan 2014 17:49:54 +0000, The Medway Handyman wrote:


I feel slightly guilty now......

I wouldn't. If it's who I think it is then **** 'em.

It will be who you think it is.
They are all the same. Not that I'm racist. The very thought ........

On 28/01/2014 19:51, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:52, John Rumm wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:37, Roger Mills wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:52, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:49, The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always,
always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate,
knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......

You could have said that the job had taken less time than you had
estimated and knocked off the extra. It would have done wonders for
your
reputation and they might have said to keep the extra anyway.

Colin Bignell


+1

Nice idea, but how do you introduce that once you have already told them
the pre-haggle price...


You look a bit sheepish and say you feel a bit guilty charging the full
price, as it didn't take as long as you expected, then offer them a bit
back.

Thinking about it... It would be a chance to present them with a "get
10% off your next job" voucher as a thankyou...

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 28/01/2014 21:18, John Rumm wrote:
On 28/01/2014 19:51, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:52, John Rumm wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:37, Roger Mills wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:52, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:49, The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always,
always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural
thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it
comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate,
knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......

You could have said that the job had taken less time than you had
estimated and knocked off the extra. It would have done wonders for
your
reputation and they might have said to keep the extra anyway.

Colin Bignell


+1

Nice idea, but how do you introduce that once you have already told them
the pre-haggle price...


You look a bit sheepish and say you feel a bit guilty charging the full
price, as it didn't take as long as you expected, then offer them a bit
back.

Thinking about it... It would be a chance to present them with a "get
10% off your next job" voucher as a thankyou...

Probably the best option. Vouchers really need to have an expiry date,
to prompt the recipient to come back to you within a reasonable time.
Perhaps a date stamp and words to the effect valid for X months from
date of issue. With any luck, they will have lost the voucher by the
time they come back, but will remember the gesture.

Colin Bignell

On 28/01/14 17:53, Tim Watts wrote:
On Tuesday 28 January 2014 17:49 The Medway Handyman wrote in uk.d-i-y:

I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always,
always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural
thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate,
knowing full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......


It suggests that you are perhaps underquoting a little, normally. In
this case you have not conned anyone. Price quoted, job done, price
paid.

If a large proportion of your customer base are used to haggling, it is
arguably better to add a buffer, then allow then to feel that they've
"won" by getting £10-20 off. You're happy, they're happy, everyone wins.

Quoting the actual price you want and refusing to budge is clearly going
to alientate some of your customers, so that would be a wrong tactic.

We worked a variant of that on commercial situations, We bunged 15% on
top and gave them a '15% discount for payment in 30 days'

Worked bloody wonders on the cashflow.


--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

On 28/01/14 20:38, Mr Pounder wrote:
"Cursitor Doom" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 28 Jan 2014 17:49:54 +0000, The Medway Handyman wrote:


I feel slightly guilty now......

I wouldn't. If it's who I think it is then **** 'em.

It will be who you think it is.
They are all the same. Not that I'm racist. The very thought ........


well for me, it was the dear old jews. I loved doing business with
them.. My god they haggled BEFORE you did the job, but once it was done,
they paid on the spot, no argument.

And they never welshed on a bargain once struck.

If its racist to say I will always do business with a man of abraham,
then racist I am.

TBH the worst trouble I had was with large British and US companies.


--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

On 29/01/2014 10:04, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 28/01/14 17:53, Tim Watts wrote:

If a large proportion of your customer base are used to haggling, it is
arguably better to add a buffer, then allow then to feel that they've
"won" by getting £10-20 off. You're happy, they're happy, everyone wins.

Quoting the actual price you want and refusing to budge is clearly going
to alientate some of your customers, so that would be a wrong tactic.

We worked a variant of that on commercial situations, We bunged 15% on
top and gave them a '15% discount for payment in 30 days'

Worked bloody wonders on the cashflow.


And you were 2.25% down as a result of doing so

In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always, always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate, knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......


You could say the job turned out to take far longer/parts cost more than
you estimated when asking for payment. But then say as a goodwill gesture
you'll stick to the quote. ;-)

--
*I have plenty of talent and vision. I just don't care.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 29/01/14 11:04, Andrew May wrote:
On 29/01/2014 10:04, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 28/01/14 17:53, Tim Watts wrote:

If a large proportion of your customer base are used to haggling, it is
arguably better to add a buffer, then allow then to feel that they've
"won" by getting £10-20 off. You're happy, they're happy, everyone wins.

Quoting the actual price you want and refusing to budge is clearly going
to alientate some of your customers, so that would be a wrong tactic.

We worked a variant of that on commercial situations, We bunged 15% on
top and gave them a '15% discount for payment in 30 days'

Worked bloody wonders on the cashflow.


And you were 2.25% down as a result of doing so

no we weren't.

We were up as those who did pay late paid us more than we used to get.

the cost of running a trading overdraft aint cheap..

--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always, always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate, knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......


You could say the job turned out to take far longer/parts cost more than
you estimated when asking for payment. But then say as a goodwill gesture
you'll stick to the quote. ;-)

Wouldn't cut any ice with me - you're problem if you got the estimate
wrong.
--
bert

In article ,
says...

On 28/01/2014 21:18, John Rumm wrote:
On 28/01/2014 19:51, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:52, John Rumm wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:37, Roger Mills wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:52, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:49, The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always,
always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural
thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it
comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate,
knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......

You could have said that the job had taken less time than you had
estimated and knocked off the extra. It would have done wonders for
your
reputation and they might have said to keep the extra anyway.

Colin Bignell


+1

Nice idea, but how do you introduce that once you have already told them
the pre-haggle price...


You look a bit sheepish and say you feel a bit guilty charging the full
price, as it didn't take as long as you expected, then offer them a bit
back.

Thinking about it... It would be a chance to present them with a "get
10% off your next job" voucher as a thankyou...

Probably the best option. Vouchers really need to have an expiry date,
to prompt the recipient to come back to you within a reasonable time.
Perhaps a date stamp and words to the effect valid for X months from
date of issue. With any luck, they will have lost the voucher by the

Suppose the next job is ten times as big?

A 10% Off voucher might end up costing you a lot.

--
Sam

On 29/01/2014 16:17, Sam Plusnet wrote:
In article ,
says...

On 28/01/2014 21:18, John Rumm wrote:
On 28/01/2014 19:51, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:52, John Rumm wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:37, Roger Mills wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:52, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:49, The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always,
always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural
thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it
comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate,
knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......

You could have said that the job had taken less time than you had
estimated and knocked off the extra. It would have done wonders for
your
reputation and they might have said to keep the extra anyway.

Colin Bignell


+1

Nice idea, but how do you introduce that once you have already told them
the pre-haggle price...


You look a bit sheepish and say you feel a bit guilty charging the full
price, as it didn't take as long as you expected, then offer them a bit
back.

Thinking about it... It would be a chance to present them with a "get
10% off your next job" voucher as a thankyou...

Probably the best option. Vouchers really need to have an expiry date,
to prompt the recipient to come back to you within a reasonable time.
Perhaps a date stamp and words to the effect valid for X months from
date of issue. With any luck, they will have lost the voucher by the

Suppose the next job is ten times as big?

A 10% Off voucher might end up costing you a lot.

It would be 10% off the quoted price, so that would only need to be
adjusted to suit. Although I was thinking more of a cash sum off, equal
to the haggle mark-up on the job just completed.

Colin Bignell

On 29/01/2014 16:17, Sam Plusnet wrote:
In article ,
says...

On 28/01/2014 21:18, John Rumm wrote:
On 28/01/2014 19:51, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:52, John Rumm wrote:
On 28/01/2014 18:37, Roger Mills wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:52, Nightjar wrote:
On 28/01/2014 17:49, The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always,
always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural
thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it
comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate,
knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......

You could have said that the job had taken less time than you had
estimated and knocked off the extra. It would have done wonders for
your
reputation and they might have said to keep the extra anyway.

Colin Bignell


+1

Nice idea, but how do you introduce that once you have already told them
the pre-haggle price...


You look a bit sheepish and say you feel a bit guilty charging the full
price, as it didn't take as long as you expected, then offer them a bit
back.

Thinking about it... It would be a chance to present them with a "get
10% off your next job" voucher as a thankyou...

Probably the best option. Vouchers really need to have an expiry date,
to prompt the recipient to come back to you within a reasonable time.
Perhaps a date stamp and words to the effect valid for X months from
date of issue. With any luck, they will have lost the voucher by the

Suppose the next job is ten times as big?

A 10% Off voucher might end up costing you a lot.

Not if you keep customer records, and record which customers have the
voucher. You can then adjust the quoted price up in compensation in
advance. If it then turns out they don't haggle as expected, and also
don't produce the voucher, you have the option of extra brownie points
by reminding them that they have a voucher and making the deduction
when it comes time to pay...

or not depending on how free and easy they were with the tea and biccies ;-)


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 29/01/2014 15:50, bert wrote:
In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always, always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate, knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......


You could say the job turned out to take far longer/parts cost more than
you estimated when asking for payment. But then say as a goodwill gesture
you'll stick to the quote. ;-)

Wouldn't cut any ice with me - you're problem if you got the estimate
wrong.

An estimate is just that - if you agree to proceed on an estimated
price, then you have to accept the final price may be higher or lower.
If however you asked for a quotation, then its indeed the suppliers
problem. (although expect the supplier the include extra contingency in
the quotation, and if the job turns out to be simpler than expected, you
ought not expect any reduction).

Its the difference between a "cost plus" and a "fixed price" contract.
Its important to understand which you have entered into.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 29/01/2014 15:50, bert wrote:
In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always, always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate, knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......


You could say the job turned out to take far longer/parts cost more than
you estimated when asking for payment. But then say as a goodwill gesture
you'll stick to the quote. ;-)

Wouldn't cut any ice with me - you're problem if you got the estimate
wrong.

If its an estimate you may have to pay.
If its a quote its different.

In message om,
"dennis@home" writes
On 29/01/2014 15:50, bert wrote:
In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
I often work for people of a certain ethnic origin, who always, always,
always haggle about the final bill. It's a deep rooted cultural thing.

Even though you have quoted a price for a job in advance, they will
always, always, always try to get a few quid knocked off when it comes
to payment time.

So I've adopted the tactic of adding £10 or £20 to the estimate, knowing
full well they always, always, always haggle.

I did that today - and they just paid up, no haggling!

I feel slightly guilty now......


You could say the job turned out to take far longer/parts cost more than
you estimated when asking for payment. But then say as a goodwill gesture
you'll stick to the quote. ;-)

Wouldn't cut any ice with me - you're problem if you got the estimate
wrong.

If its an estimate you may have to pay.
If its a quote its different.
Yes I was a little bit casual with my choice of word.
--
bert

In article ,
bert ] wrote:
Wouldn't cut any ice with me - you're problem if you got the estimate
wrong.

If its an estimate you may have to pay.
If its a quote its different.
Yes I was a little bit casual with my choice of word.

Bit of a problem if your word is your bond. ;-)

--
*Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 01/02/14 16:20, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
bert ] wrote:
Wouldn't cut any ice with me - you're problem if you got the estimate
wrong.

If its an estimate you may have to pay.
If its a quote its different.
Yes I was a little bit casual with my choice of word.

Bit of a problem if your word is your bond. ;-)

I've always found glue makes a better bind than words


--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
bert ] wrote:
Wouldn't cut any ice with me - you're problem if you got the estimate
wrong.

If its an estimate you may have to pay.
If its a quote its different.
Yes I was a little bit casual with my choice of word.

Bit of a problem if your word is your bond. ;-)

Sticky situation
--
bert