Dealing with rude clients, help from any other self -employed person??

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   moneyfairyposted 11 years ago

   I have recently advertised at a senior communtity in their local news letter and 2 different times in the last week I have had people call make an appointment( that same day,just hrs. before) and when I showed up they had either found someone else and didn't bother to call me back and tell me or they weren't feeling well and didn't bother to call me to cancel. So I drove 45 min. out of my way and they never appologized, never answered their phone again . It just went into voicemail. I was so ticked off, wondering if they would have done that too, for a Dr.'s appointment or other service providers or if it is just the way they treat everyone. Some people are just so very rude, like my time and efforts to drive out of my way to see them during the busiest time of year, didn't matter to them in the slightest.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have had several very loyal and wonderful clients for over 20 years, so being out their again drumming up business is tough enough in and of itself without having to deal with rude and disrespectful people.  I guess I have been truly blessed with wonderful clients most of my career. Have any of you ever had to deal with rude and disrespectful clients and if so what did you do?

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      Pearldiverposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      If that happened to me... it would show me 2 things.. firstly, I need to change my terms of trade and when you redo your new TOS... ensure that you have a discretionary fee for cancellations without notification!
      
      Secondly, I would advise the 'client' that they have bought shame upon themself... unfortunately, because of what that shame represents... you are now having to publish their details on your blog, so that other clients and industry friends do not get 'caught' by them again!  That there is a $50 fee for 'unpublishing' the article, which represents the costs incurred to cancel other clients, just to visit them! And, "btw... my site has 10000 views per month, so I guess a lot of people will see you in the Bad Client section!"
      Believe Me.... People Don't Muck you around like this... if they want to sue you... it costs more than the $50.... For real people... they will appreciate this and your service! 

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         moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Pearldiver i don't think she even uses the internet so all that blogging stuff wouldn't make a difference to her, but if or when she calls again I just won't return her calls and she'll get the message. But i really doubt she'll call again. I really don't need that negative rude energy in my life and since then I have gotten 3 new wonderful clients. So all forgotten and moving on. Life is just too short.

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      A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The worst thing you could do is take it personally and show yourself being ticked off by not answering the phone or voicemails.
      
      You would be utterly stunned to know that some of the rudest people you might ever meet wind up tossing massive amounts of business your way, and can be the difference between success and failure.
      
      Let all that flow off your back like water on a duck and never show any negativity towards potential clients.

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   Alphadogg16posted 11 years ago

   Like Moneyfairy, I have alot of loyal customers, but there are always going to be rude people. I choose not to deal with them. I don't believe in the cliche "the customer is always right". You treat people how you want to be treated.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You are so very right. I will never answer their phone calls again as they have totally lost my respect for not being there when we had just made an appointment, they are a waste of my time.  I have too many other loyal clients that deserve my time and respect!!!Thanks Alphadog16.

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   moneyfairyposted 11 years ago

   If you have a dentist appointment or a Dr.'s appointment and you are sick or can't make it for some reason don't you always call to cancel?? I do.

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   atechwizposted 11 years ago

   This is certainly frustrating.  I guess coming from a customer service background I would explain to the customer that I am not a large corporation and that I have now lost money because of this.  I suppose on the other hand I would be tempted to double check via phone call with customers before driving out to perform the work.  Not that any of it is your fault, but just to perhaps curb that in the future.  As you know, your loyal customers you don't have to worry about...just the new ones.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      atechwiz: I did call her at noon on the same day I was supposed to see her at 5pm. The thing that really irked me was that she never even apologised for not canceling. I think she just went thru the ads in her news letter and whoever got their first she took. But it was beyond rude. Well I'll just keep her on my do not call list. Once you disrespect me you don't get a second chance. I don't need that kind of business and since that happening I have gotten 3 more new clients that are wonderful . So it goes to show that none of us self employed individuals need to put up with rudeness or disrespect. It's just not worth our time. Life is too short.

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   moronkeeposted 11 years ago

   I have met customers like that  in my own business, I tend to go an extra mile to get a feedback and find out why they didn't call or respond.As for me, when I meet the rude and critical clients, I try to get closer to them because they challeng me and from my experience, most of them eventually become my friends who connect me to other clients.
   
   Please don't feel bad about what happened.Move on.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      thank you moronkee I have moved on!!!

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   paulburchettposted 11 years ago

   Think the senior generations are bad, how about these younger generations? Although they are more loyal and considerate, they sure are out of touch to the reality of what services cost. Maybe they are not as financially stable as the older folks. I agree it sure gets frustrating running around bidding on jobs. I just take the bad with the good and try not to let it bother me.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's what I have done. It really makes me appreciate my loyal clients that much more!!!

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