Charging for estimates…
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I don’t but was thinking of charging $5-$10 bucks for basically wasting my time. But, i would be selective,
charging some while not others. This would make me look like a racist as well, unfortunately…I’m sure it’s against the law but…
i think it would depend if other shops in your area charge for estimates here they dont so it does make ya look kinda bad if you do
I understand the implications but there are so many wasting my time almost everyday. Year after year…
just put up a sign that says you charge say $20 per estimate and that amount will be credited to the repair. you dont really have to charge for the estimates. the sign itself will get rid of a lot of people that arent really serious
I think it would be hard to charge for estimates. Most service companies will bid for work. I think the key is to use each estimate as an opportunity sell the job. You need to sell each estimate that you write to keep from wasting your time. Hail season may be an exception to the no charge. However, if you can pull it off, charging for then, that’s great.
It’s only one particular ethnic group that “uses” me so that they can collect whatever for themselves…
Sometimes, i just scribble nonsense on a piece of paper. It might say something like, “Repair and refinish left
side of car for $1200. Cash only.”I don’t need to sell each estimate/job, odd as that might seem. I encourage folks to get many estimates
and i do let them know that i’m not cheapest nor the fastest around. In a nutshell, i choose the customers.
It’s not an elitist thing at all. Rather, it’s about working with sincere and respectful individuals…Ding, i’ve done that in the past. But without a sign.
I’ve been had from various types of people for time wasting estimates. After completing one I had a girl tell me she has no intention of getting her car ever fixed, just wanted to go after the other party…I just bit my tongue.
But you never know what job you’ll end up selling, some longshots have really surprised me. I had one lady drop about $2500 into a 96 caravan that was in terrible shape, I thought I had a 0% chance of repairing the thing. This was just last summer.
It think you should maybe not advertise free or paid estimates either way. If you have someone you think is gonna take you for a ride you can mention a charge then.
I would charge especially if you think they arnt going to fix it and just pocket the cash from the insurance company, Why should you work for free? like it was said then if they have the work done there you reverse the charge and apply it towards he deductible or the final bill. Just makes good business sense.
Chasses away tire kickers which Free’s up your time to run your shop.
[quote]I’ve been had from various types of people for time wasting estimates. After completing one I had a girl tell me she has no intention of getting her car ever fixed, just wanted to go after the other party…I just bit my tongue.[/quote]
If they are up front about then i don’t mind. It’s absolutely their right to do as they wish with the check.
And there are times when i do suggest to keep whatever they get. Family and bills come first…Doright, this happens to me all the time. Sometimes, all day long with the same axx kissing rhetoric. They’d
say things like, “Write it as high as possible so that you can make a good profit.” And many variations there of.
I’ve heard them all… Still, i treat them all the same. I write my estimates with enough cushion just in case
they do repair the car with me. But knowing that my odds are low (100 to 1) for one particular group, I’m
very tempted to charge just this group only. And here in lies the danger. A moral/ethical dilemma…You do it for one you do it for all other wise your being racist and there’s no room for that in buisness.
If they could prove it you could have a lawsuit on your hands
Agreed.
I think i have a solution. And the type of estimate i write will be determined by attitude/approach.
Basically, it will either be done on my computer thoroughly or not so thorough by hand but still
in the ball park…You can usually tell the ones that are serious right from the start.. If i feel they are wasting my time I usually ball park the numbers in the my head and give them a verbal.. If they are serious I will usually write a sheet.. Seems to work for me and save a ton of wasted time..
If they need a written estimate for insurance company charge em 20 bucks I say Heck ask em if they really plan on fixing it if the answer is no whats the harm in getting paid for your time?
what i like ta do for the bargin hunters is ask em flat out “well what did the ins company give ya for this???? almost all of em will tell ya:rofl :rofl :rofl trust me works like a charm;) 😉 😉
Yes, they’re easy to spot. And i get at least 2 a day wasting my time. Sometimes, it’s all day long.
Trust me, this would get to you too.
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