[mrmustang]

I understand your frustrations, I get this all the time especially when I'm running a $199.95 paint special. You cannot imagine the people coming in expecting the world for that price, or worse yet, trying to get me to drop the price further, as if they can find a cheap price to paint their car anywhere else (Earl Schieb is not within 40 miles of me). As far as the customers calling you to let you know you did not get the job, these days that may be an unrealistic idea as they themselves may be overworked. Would it be nice if they did, sure, but again, I give out roughly 25-60 free written estimates a week with a roughly 65% retention rate, does anyone else call and tell me that I did not get the job, maybe once in every 1,000 quotes, and usually those are people canceling an appointment for one reason or another. I too follow up within the first week of giving a quote (for those not retained or appointed), usually send out a reminder or thank you card for them stopping by. Sometimes this is all that is needed for them to pick up the phone and call me (I am the only one who answers the phones at my shop by the way)...Simple and cost effective to keep my business in their minds. As for your agreement, honestly, if I was your client and you handed this off to me, I would not likely bother to use your service, as the vendor is never supposed to "make demands" of the customer (other than to get paid for the services rendered), and something like what you posted above I would view as a turnoff, regardless of if we did business in the past or not. As for myself, I have the same values that you do, believe in doing business on a handshake and someones word. Does this effect me these days doing what I am now doing, I'm sure it does in a negative way as most business people like myself push for a deposit for an appointment where I still do not. Opting to take someones word instead of cash up front. Again, just my two cents from someone who was in the computer networking business in the NY/NJ metro area, where at the time there were only two major competitors (Sun and HP) competing against the company (SGI) I worked for the business in which we were going after at that time.

Perhaps a simple follow up post card thanking them for the opportunity to bid on their business (sent out the same day you met with them) is in order, as not many other companies do this, and it would set you and your services above the rest.

Hope you find this helpful.

Bill S.