Lost a customer today !

[MyLaundry]

I felt little helpless when I lost a commercial customer today.

I made pick-up and delivery to this customer every Monday since 2002. She wanted to pay at the end of every month. That was OK originally if she would pay on time. But ten days after due date in August, she still had not cut a check for me last week. I was little upset at her office because she was behind in paying. I told her secretary that I had to stop pick up if they didn't pay on time. Today, when I delivered to her office. The boss told me they had to terminate the business with me because I was rude by telling her secretary such and such last week.

Apparently, I felt sorry I lost a customer. But then, at a price of $0.75 per lb (average 40 lbs each pick up), pick up and deliver to her office in downtown with virtually scarce parking spaces along the streets and strict parking regulations. Sometimes I had to circle the blocks just to find a parking space or I had to park far away, and hand carried her laundry stuff to her office. Wait for the elevator in the building, and wait for the secretary to give me their dirty laundry. All the time, meter parking, and labor spent, did it worth the business ? All I want was their payment on time, but they did not respect my request and they fired me today. :-(

Does anybody want to take over this customer ?

[Gary C]

Not a chance. Not all customers are good customers. Sounds like you are better off now. Don't sweat it. It will fell good on the next p/u / del. day not to do them.

Gary

[JBTcajun]

Don't worry be happy!

All that trouble for $30.00 gross.

They don't respect you enough to have you're payment on schedule. (would they do this to the water co.?)

You are better off without them! Use this time every week to make sales pitch to better costumers. You may end up with several larger accounts in an area you chose to deliver.

[Anonymous]

Hi MyLaundry:

Curious as to where in the USA you are?

Do you charge for pick up / delivery, or does .75 cover it all?

I believe every buck is important, but dealing with downtown delivery seems extreme without an added charge.

[pete f]

I felt little helpless when I lost a commercial customer today.

I made pick-up and delivery to this customer every Monday since 2002. She wanted to pay at the end of every month. That was OK originally if she would pay on time. But ten days after due date in August, she still had not cut a check for me last week. I was little upset at her office because she was behind in paying. I told her secretary that I had to stop pick up if they didn't pay on time. Today, when I delivered to her office. The boss told me they had to terminate the business with me because I was rude by telling her secretary such and such last week.

Apparently, I felt sorry I lost a customer. But then, at a price of $0.75 per lb (average 40 lbs each pick up), pick up and deliver to her office in downtown with virtually scarce parking spaces along the streets and strict parking regulations. Sometimes I had to circle the blocks just to find a parking space or I had to park far away, and hand carried her laundry stuff to her office. Wait for the elevator in the building, and wait for the secretary to give me their dirty laundry. All the time, meter parking, and labor spent, did it worth the business ? All I want was their payment on time, but they did not respect my request and they fired me today. :-(

Does anybody want to take over this customer ?


In a prior business I lost about 40% of my customers one year. The ones that did not pay one time I stopped selling to. It saved me a huge amount of money! Of course I lost all that profit, but if you don;t get paid, then pay taxes on profit you never really made, somehow I caught on. Work the profitable accounts twice as hard.

[mike]

MyLaundry,

Your last paragraph reminded me of all the reasons I never did pick up and delivery.

We just do drop-offs, and now I remember why, thanks !

[Kitty]

I can feel your pain and confusion. Most business people want to retain 100% of their clientelle. THis is a goal that is unattaninable, When people put outrageous restrictiions or hardships on you prior to providing them business, it should be farely easy to understand their high manitnenance attitude and bail on them fairly easily. As much as you want to accomodate and succeed, doing so solely by those that lrequire far more than your average bear should be dismissed asap. You should know your limits bevore they are tested and not challenged

[Andy]

Don't regret it. A business relationship is a two-way street. You will be better off.

[MyLaundry]

Thanks for all your good words.

This was one of the first few customers I started PU&D a few years ago. At that time, I was unaware of what market rate had to be. I started at 75c per lb for these few customers. Then, I learned from Coinwash.com and other sources that I undercharged them.

If I had to do it all over again, I would charge more than 1 buck. Any new account from now on will get $1.05 to $1.50 depends on geographic locations.

I do not have separate PU&D fee, just to keep things simple.