[2cleanright]

Lovely old lady 86 - done several jobs for her, pressure washing drive / patio, cleaning carpets & upholstery. Never any problems. Loads of referal business from her.
She called yesterday, said bedroom carpet still wet from when you cleaned it. Said she doesn't use the room any more and only noticed it an hour ago. Looked up details, did it 7 weeks ago!
When I got round there, radiator leaking, carpet mouldy, must have been like that 4 a month. Phoned Brit. Gas to sort leak(insured) and house insurance to replace carpet. By the time I had finished coffee,  there for 2 hours!
What would you have charged? cos I did it for nowt :
But at least she doesnt think it was my fault any more!

[Art]

Good for you. Sometimes it's not about money.

I would've done the same.

Arthur

[Damian]

Good on ya fella. Wouldnt have charged anything as you can both relax in the knowledge that the prob is sorted. You will get recommendations from her family from that little bit of P.R! Nice touch-well done.

Damian.

[Ken Wainwright]

A classic example of what I call Kitchen Sink Marketing, or perhaps  it would be better to say you were doing the right thing.

Well done that man

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[AquaMagic]

Shes a valuble customer so i think you did right not to charge as this may have made you look like a penny pincher, most guys would have told her radiator is leaking and left but you went above and beyond the call of duty, well done.

Dene

[benny d]

Arise Sir Cleanright 

[Ian Rochester]

I think if you had charged her, you would be on crimewatch by the weekend.

Well done, it's not all about money,

Confusius says "Building small bridges can take you far!"  well, it was me actually, just thought of it!

[homenclean]

Thank God you sorted it where were her family! It amazes me how some people will allow old fokes to live, untill pension day or when there is a will to divide, then they are all round.

If there were more like you then this would be a better world.

John

[vangaurd]

i, would have charged her50..0call out
and 40.00 an hour
what does she think we are a charity!
i might be wrong but thats me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brights cleaning]

if it is a good client like you say then i too would have had the tea and not charged her either
your kindness will be repaid in spades with more referalls

 

[lands]

I go with the majority. sometimes you do a good deed and get nothing back but other times karma kicks in.

[Liahona]

While I agree with not charging her for what you did I must make a comment.

 Why on earth did you not charge her for the job you left behind??

Spray, extract, lift carpet, spray, extract, lift underlay, spray, load van, dump carpet, maybe pull skirting, dry floor, maybe seal the floor, dry walls, replace skirting, replace underlay, replace carpet......

You walked away from a job worth many hundreds possibly a few thousand.

What you did I feel was quite right, what you didnt do was criminal.  Best, Dave.

[carpetguy]

Criminal ?

Sometimes compassion has more value than money and sometimes being too concious of the monetary value of things, destroys your compassionate side.

Without seeking reward, for a compassionate act, gives an individual a greater reward, than presenting a massive, or even a small, bill.

[Liahona]

Rob, I agree with you 100% but I think the point was missed.  What I mentioned above would have needed doing and in the stated case would have been done by someone else.

 I didnt see the point in walking away from your OWN client for them to be serviced and maybe poorly by someone else.

The initial call to the insurance had been made and as the job wasn't discussed rest assured they were straight on the phone to Chem Dry or similar for the works to be done.

I am compassionate and understand the Agony Aunt/Carpet Cleaner was needed and very well done by 2cleanright.  I just didnt see the point in giving a job away which was "his" by association with the client.

Best, Dave.

[carpetguy]

I fully appreciate how you would have dealt with this scenario and would have done the same twenty years ago, but, the majority will never aspire to multi disciplines and will step back, rather than take a risk.

The difference is quite simple, as you're well aware. The tiny 4% will do everything to build and develop any opportunity that comes their way and YOUR nature, causes you, to alert the others to potential business opportunities.

While I do the same and always have, in a face to face situation, I just feel it's a bit risky for a mass of people, some of whom will try and buy, or invest in everything that comes their way.

rob

[PaulKing]

Are you sure you did'nt clip the radiator pipe as you were cleaning ?
 

[2cleanright]

Update on the whole thing;
No i didn't clip the pipe! It was the valve leaking.
Not a huge repair job to walk away from either, just the carpet and underlay to be replaced, and I don't (and don't want to) fit carpets. Have a mate who does it for me.

Her family live miles away, so couldn't help. She called me back this week to "sign the paperwork for the insurance". Has told her family all about us and is being really stubborn and insisting on buying us "Something Nice", despite our protests.

Dont think it will have done my rep. in the area any harm, and I sleep well vanguard!

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Spot on

try for a Porche if she really insists, remember

For everything you have missed, you have gained something else; and for everything you gain, you lose something.

Shaun

[2cleanright]

Very true Shaun. Problem I have is whenever I do something nice, something nasty happens to me in return - waiting for the poo to hit the fan!
And I bet its a nice floral tea set as a thankyou :

[murky]

Or a nice cardigan or a pair of slippers!