Rush Jobs
A Rush Order
A Rush Moving Job
Yesterday I had a client who was going move this weekend. She was calling us because, as they were moving their sofa, she wanted to drop it off at our place, have it repaired, and then take it to the new play. She wants to drop it off on Saturday, the day that they will be moving. I told her I’d call her back. I was feeling pressured because I have a lot of other work booked ahead of her. I suppose I could do it for her, but it would interfere with my other work. After thinking about it, and especially after talking it over with Emmy, I decided to give them an option. I told them that I was booked out about a month to a month and a half right now. I told her that the cost would be somewhere from $100 to $200. And, If she wants it quick, there would be a $75 rush-fee, because I’d have to move aside my other work, etc. She said that she hadn’t even thought that I would have other work in the shop that she would be interfering with, and she was very understanding. She then said that we could just put her on our schedule. I told her that I would need a signed work order before I could put her on the schedule, and she was OK with that. I have no idea if I’ll actually get the job, but I emailed the Work Order to her and am waiting for her to mail it back.
Client: I'll Just Drop it Off
Clarifying My Response
This extra time helps me to get mentally prepared, to think out my other responsibilities, before I talk with the client. This time of preparing myself really helps me to talk calmly and honestly with the client(s).
Too many times, when I give "instant" answers, I live to regret it. I speak from the emotion of the moment (of wanting to help (or to be the "hero" )) and not taking time to look at the bigger picture.
A Rush Fee
Having (and Using) Faith
Taking Time Before Answering
At Least Three Issues
Evaluation of Costs
Shop costsExtra work involved in organizing and straightening up.Effects on other jobsEffects on family lifeConsiderations
Affect on shops reputation: It would not be wise to charge an outlandishing charge just to get rid of the client or to "put the client in her place". Everything that we do will ultimately be part of our reputation and how client's percieve us.
Our Responsibililty to the Clients: We have a responsibility to treat our clients politely and fairly. Sometimes we just won't be able to meet their needs, or .... but ultimately, we are obligated, as part of a responsible society, to do what we can to be kind and courteous the the client, even if we can't do anything else for them.
Being Fully convinced in one's own mind
What's reasonable. What's fair to the our shop and also fair to the client. This would be based partly on the Evaluation of Costs, Partly on the tempermate of the shopowner,Base partly on knowledge.Write out a paragraph or an article about why you charge a Rush Fee. (this is as much to convince myself as it is to explain it to the client.)What is a Rush Fee. Besides explain why I charge a Rush Fee, explain what a Rush Fee is and and what it covers.Establishing a Policy.
Putting the Rush Fee charges on the posted hourly rates signsPossibly putting it on your advertising flyers.Research Presedence
What do other shops charge?What is common in the trade?Look it up on the Internet. See what other trades and businesses charge.The most recent version of this can be found here.
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