business loyalty

[orange peel]

This is a question for all you old school business men. How do you guys feel when you lose your business to corporate america?

I have been in business for over 10 years and it seems that my main jobber is starting to use another source. I am a one man band. I take pride in my work and my ability as a painter. I am selling my product for a better price. My turn around is quick. No job is too big nor too small. I am always there when they need an estimate or to talk to one of their customers. They always seem to drop the ball. I'm confused on how do act or think, times are hard and my pride is too big to lower the price. I have been in the game for a long time and I know what the customer wants, just frustrated!

Any advise would be good!

 

[Jim]

Orange Peel,I'm not a business owner but,what's happening to you is what's happening everywhere.It seems it's all about who you know.We were useing a great machine shop at my old work then one of the foreman who was a farmer, kept calling in a local,rumors had it he was getting his own farm related stuff fixed for free.Had an engineer who used the same bad contractors at work for projects,as soon as it was time to bring it online,he was gone on a free vacation somewhere,was never there for the start up.I don't think it's you,someone with authority there probably played golf with someone and there you go.Days of "loyalty" are diminishing,If someone does me right or goes above and beyond for me,I'll keep going back!

 

[orange peel]

thanks for the input....

 

[big stinkie]

Seems it is becoming a thing of the past, but not with me. I am fiercely loyal to my local businesses...especially the locally owned ones. I could go into town and buy my groceries for less, but I elect to get them at the local grocer. Same with dog food. I have a number of dogs, all of which eat a lot. It's cheaper in town than at the super stores, but I'd rather give my money to someone that lives down the road from me than some corporation in another state...or country. Same with the mechanic. Got a couple local guys here - one for motorcycles, one for cars - and I always go to them. Got a local paint store for automotive paints. I could get them cheaper through the internet, but for reasons stated below I choose not to.

The way I figure, the more money I pour into the local economy and home grown businesses the better. I'll benefit from the taxes those businesses pay, more people will move to my community because of thriving business, more tax base, and so on. It is an upward spiral. In the long run it's probably cheaper for me to buy local and keep the locals in business than to pinch pennies out of town.

My wife is neutral on the subject. She says "Why don't you go into Kansas City and buy that for less?" My answer is always "Because I live in Gardner...not Kansas City."

(Don't get me started on foriegn cars, either...Grrr) Funny thing, though. I bought my good ol' Chevrolet Suburban...a nice all American automotive icon...and found out it was built in Mexico! But I digress:

We've got a WalMart that's going up in Gardner in a year or two, and I'm afraid many of the citizen's are going to opt for convenience instead of loyalty, and shop there for things that are already available in 'downtown' Gardner. Could hurt some of the already established businesses. I hope not.

Sorry for the long winded rant, but I get wound up on subjects like that.

Andy aka Big Stinkie

 

[DaveK]

Thats an intresting post Andy.... by the way, wondered if you wear calone (spelling?). Anyways... that might be a problem with the PPG...lol. te to get started here on this topic but, here goes. What if the local guy you do business with drive to Kansas City to spend your money. Maybe not a good example but, the point here is that everybody wants the best deal. Thats the damnocrazy society we live in. I look for honesty first and then price second for certain things like AC repair work. But, I'll buy a pool a Walmart for $400 that the local guy want $2300 for the same pool. Times are and have changed a lot in past few years. Not sure where its headed but, manufacturing will leave this country for a large part and pehaps become a store front country like England. I guess that concerns me more, keeping the money in USA. Kinda like the Suburban thing. Although... I am guilty as hell. I drive a VW built in Brazil but hey, thats still built in America, be it south..

DaveK

 

[Duleyman]

I own a paint business in Elkhart In. I paint very expensive retirement vehicles " buses- motor homes for the wealthy. I am constently busy, I only work 40 hours per week, 8- 4:30 and absolutly no Saturdays, I talk to all of my customers face to face, and treat them like they are my friends, and many have become a friend. I always deliver more than I promise, on time, and give a 100% satisfaction guarantee. I am not the cheapest in town but probably the opposite. I get to know all of my customers, I send x-mas cards etc. I try to treat them like they are the most important person involved in my business. I turn down more work than I can possible do. I keep them wanting me. kind of like the girl you cant get a date with. I do not promise anything I can't deliver on. By doing this these people have been refering me to all of their wealthy friends and It just gets easier and easier. I used to be the cheapest in town and was always looking for work, then I raised my prices 4 fold and my quality 2 fold and my business went through the roof. People seem to prefer to pay more for a quality job than less and not get what they want. So go plan your work and work your plan. stick with it and listen to succesful people in your own line of work. Sorry for rambeling on but I feel good about my life and what america has done for me. And remember there is no work done that is not gone out after. You must be driven to put out a great product and it doesnt have to be cheap. Build it well and they will come. America is great, look what we have, we can do anything -just do it.

 

[TWISTED]

I occasionally get a job or two from my jobber ( I have been going to the same shop I went to with my dad when I was a kid) He will always let me know when he has something better than what I asked for even if it's less expensive. He sends a lot more business to some of the other local guys but I don't mind because they are all good at what they do and we all get along pretty good. Most of my work comes from customer referals and past customers that want another paint job.
I think the problem that you are running into Orange Peel is that the other guys are spending more money at the jobber and it is better for his pocket to send them the work to keep them coming back. Don't let it get you down and don't sacrafice your quality or pride over it.
Hey Stinkie, my 97 Honda Valkyrie has a big MADE IN THE U.S.A. stamp right on the engine block and the frame. What's up with that

????

 

[big stinkie]

I bought some VHS tapes a while back. The Fuji tapes were made in the USA, and the Kodak tapes were make in Japan. Go figure...

We built a house in 1990, buying materials and labor from local people when possible. Of course, just like anything else, I'm not going to screw myself just to keep my money local. There were times when I'd save substantial cash by getting something from far away, and I chose that option. I'm loyal...not crazy!

You guys are right about quality work vs cheap. I've been burned by cheap work. I ended up spending as much or more as quality work by having it re-done several times. On the other hand, years ago I hit a deer with my Suburban (Sub won - deer lost) and took it to a local, reputable body shop. Said it would be about 2 weeks. Two weeks later he said 'gimme another week." My Suburban is black, and as anyone that has a black vehicle knows, black shows every defect. He wasn't satisfied with the job and wanted to redo it. He told me he usually doesn't make any money on black cars because he spends so much extra time making it look perfect. He said he prefers to put out quality work and get return customers. I haven't needed his skills since, but if I do he's getting my money.

I know, I know...I should paint my own car if needed, but Suburbans are so much bigger than motorycycles. Way too much real estate to sand.

 

[orange peel]

All you guys are great! Great advise! The main thing is to stay focused. Keep my mouth shut and don't burn my bridge, it makes me want to work harder. I am gonna paint the most wicked flame job that I can do.

kicking apples and taking names!

Trample the weak, hurdle the dead!

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[G0rdyb1ker]

"manufacturing will leave this country for a large part and pehaps become a store front country like England" hell even our stores are rubbish

Its the same in the UK for the most part there is no loyalty. I'm lucky in that my customers come back time and again - I dont advertise and give them realistic prices(I sell Harley & chopper parts). But even so I'm quiting the UK and heading for the mountains of Austria where the people still want to pay a fair price for a quality service and they buy locally.