So, apparently my review wasn't to Sam's liking, because he made sure to let me know that I (the…read morepotential customer) wasnt charged anything for the free consultation and estimate. Which....it was supposed to be free regardless, so congrats on sticking to that part.
You laid on the floor and literally leaned over, taking photos upside down.
There was one flexible duct (that could be relocated easily) that you, yourself .said that it would be an easy, straight shot.
I even suggested zigging or zagging if need be, but you were adament that the best and easiest way would be straight under the floor.
It went from "this'll be easy" to "well, we're looking at 7500 on the high end, because this is a complicated job".
It isnt just that it was a price i dont like, it was a price that would blindside anyone. Especially since your website claims that services BEGIN at $300. No one said they expected the job to be $300. But if thats the starting point, I would really love an itemized invoice of how much everything costs, if im being quoted between 6500 and 7500. I was prepared to pay up to 1500 for that job, which is on the high end of reasonable. But for coring 8inches by 4.5 inches into concrete, a 15ft connection with 4 right angles and a damper...7500 "on the high end, it could be a grand less" is way out of the ballpark.
In a nutshell, claiming that relocation services START at 300, it gives this client that notion that even the jobs you see as "complicated" wouldnt be more than 2000 "on the high end". Which is why i got the impression that you didn't want the job.
Please don't backtrack like you didnt ask me to show you what your own website says as a way to overcome an objection to a price estimate. It doesn't give much confidence to the client when you're saying that your web technician made some kind of mistake. I also work in sales. And when you have a starting price listed, the price quoted usually bears some resemblance. Like i said, i was prepared to pay up to 1500 for this job, maybe even 2000.
It sounds like maybe you just didn't like the review you got. You started great, and even the price was your perogative to charge, it's YOUR business. But don't backtrack, don't try and have two people give a review for a single interaction, and don't react to reviews that you don't like as though any normal person in any normal tax bracket wouldn't be offended by a 7500 quote when your site says services start at 300.
Its giving "intrigue people with a low base price to get me in the door, and then it doednt matter if im hired, charge whatever, because i'll either get to go to the bahamas on them, or i'll at least get two good reviews."
So im just letting people know. Sam is very personable, very approachable, and seems to really know what he is doing.
That said, don't expect a reasonable price estimate commiserate with the pitch on the website. And look for Sam to be offended if he isnt given an exemplary review. ?
For the record: ... It took four days because my mother was in town, and I waited until she left. Painting this picture of a potential client as though they maliciously attacked your business for pleasure is abbhorant. Especially when you said multiple times that you wanted a review. And especially since I simply said what happened and my impression. Just because you don't like it, doesn't make it an attack. There were things that i didnt like, as well. This has nothing to do with your level of work, because no work was performed. But you still stuck your qr code out and expected feedback. Which is what I put in my review. It's feedback. So you can be better. Right?
Why press for a review even though you know that no work was performed...what did you expect we review?
It's interesting, that in the week since, the website has changed, and there are no more free in-person estimates.
