On knowing your worth.

The message: Don’t be a Richard.

Most service businesses have PITA pricing for special clients.

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This is so true!

MX1825 wrote:

The message: Don’t be a Richard.

Most service businesses have PITA pricing for special clients.

This is so true!
[/quote]

^^^x2
I also raise my pricing when I go to Minneapolis an Saint Paul because the inspectors are such a bunch of clowns. There are certain nationalities that Always asked for a discount so I raise my price up 20% show my proposal they ask if I can do any better and I cut it by 10% and get the job

Sounds like he could of mowed that lawn for $5 and the husband would still bitch about something. Take good care of the good customers.

Great story. Good to see your son working at that age. Brings back memories of mowing lawns, raking leaves and bailing hay with my older brother. I think the best part is where the guy wanted to monitor the grass height by the Ring camera. “I’d like you to mow the lawn……………………………now!”

The guy could be crotchety/particular but my financial advisor says many of his clients need to learn to spend money in retirement and some actually struggle with it. People work and save for retirement and some have trouble flipping that switch. I kind of went through it but I blame it on having parents that went through the great depression which instilled a frugal mentality in many. I retired 3 1/2 years ago. My son mentioned to me several times that I’m spending money on things I wouldn’t have before. My mentality now is if it makes my life easier/more enjoyable it’s in play.

Netguy wrote:

Great story. Good to see your son working at that age. Brings back memories of mowing lawns, raking leaves and bailing hay with my older brother. I think the best part is where the guy wanted to monitor the grass height by the Ring camera. “I’d like you to mow the lawn……………………………now!”

The guy could be crotchety/particular but my financial advisor says many of his clients need to learn to spend money in retirement and some actually struggle with it. People work and save for retirement and some have trouble flipping that switch. I kind of went through it but I blame it on having parents that went through the great depression which instilled a frugal mentality in many. I retired 3 1/2 years ago. My son mentioned to me several times that I’m spending money on things I wouldn’t have before. My mentality now is if it makes my life easier/more enjoyable it’s in play.

I’ve been calling that the “Fun Train” and freaking love it!

I saw there was a guy on youtube that raised his prices by 20-30% on certain customers calling it “liberal pricing”

Your boy will have nothing to worry about with the lessons he’s getting now. I like to think my teenagers are a bit more savvy, like Tommy. I talk to some of their friends and it’s like it’s the first real conversation they’ve ever had with a person. It’s astounding how inept a lot of kids are with even basic communication skills; most of their interaction with anyone is electronic. I tell my boys that if they can be inner-personal communicators and are willing to work that they will be a thousand miles ahead of most of their peers.

MX1825 wrote:

The message: Don’t be a Richard.

Most service businesses have PITA pricing for special clients.

This is so true!
[/quote]

Not that I know it all but, when running a business with a customer like that, your better off telling them “no thank you” to doing work for them… explain that they are too difficult and demanding. Inflating a price just says, I will deal with you but it will cost you more, when in fact, you don’t want the work. Also, being a Richard, means he will tell everyone who will listen about your trying to price gouge him… costing you potential good paying customers in the future. He won’t go around telling people he was refused service because he was a dick !!! (just my .02) Good on your son to know when to say no, I am not here at your whim !

ThunderLund78 wrote:

I talk to some of their friends and it’s like it’s the first real conversation they’ve ever had with a person. It’s astounding how inept a lot of kids are with even basic communication skills; most of their interaction with anyone is electronic. I tell my boys that if they can be inner-personal communicators and are willing to work that they will be a thousand miles ahead of most of their peers.

X a bazillion

I occasionally interviewed potential workers where I worked. Some of the young men were actually difficult to talk to. They might have been great technically but you gotta be able to communicate.
I said the same things I quoted from ThunderLund78 to my kids.

Curious of Richard was his real name or his earned name? Reminds me of my uncle Dave.

Tommy understands how to bid jobs that you don’t really want to win. If you add a sufficient PITA upcharge, then you don’t mind (at least as much) that your client is an actual PITA.

This is classic! Thanks Grouse!