about to meet a strange customer

[alan0269]

I deal with nut jobs daily as well. I've found that people with demands like this guy's (don't look at the pictures, don't talk to the kids, don't bend over the wife, etc) can go one of three ways:

1) They have either had a bad experience with, or heard a story of a bad experience with, a contractor/sales person/whatever it is someone does for a living in the past and they are now over protective of themselves, their family, and their belongings, and once you build up a level of trust or respect they lighten up a bit and seem more normal.

2) They pay up easily as they don't want confrontation and the attention it brings.

3) They are a true nut job that may never pay, and they will have you do any work over and over until it is exactly what they want (usually the first or second attempt matches, but they don't know until at least the seventh or eighth attempt).

The trick is figuring out which they are.... Colorider's advice is spot on.

It sure would be nice if there was an outlet for contractors/etc to report issues with customers, much like customers do with the BBB and online feedback sites.

[alan0269]

Sorry, forgot to ask - does anyone know if he made it out, or do we need to send in help???

[Squeeze]

...It sure would be nice if there was an outlet for contractors/etc to report issues with customers, much like customers do with the BBB and online feedback sites.

^^^THIS. Alan, you might be onto something here. Why not start an "Angie's List" style site for douche-bag, nut job customers?

[Irving]

Because that would require posting up their person information?

[brutal]

It sure would be nice if there was an outlet for contractors/etc to report issues with customers, much like customers do with the BBB and online feedback sites.

I had a thought some time back about just that. Sort of a reverse Angie's list for good/bad customers. Didn't think it would go over too well in the online community considering angie's list is a big scam. However, it's already been done. http://www.clientlisted.com/ I'm sure there are others.

[Irving]

While we're waiting for CapLock to surface, tell us about Angie'sList being a scam. I've never used it and have no ties, so I have no dog in the fight. Is it just a free version of Martino's list?

[generalmeow]

I too am in customers homes every day dealing with weirdos. I have to tell ya, I would probably quote a price that is higher then your normal bid because you are going to pay for it in the long run. In my experience, customers that act like that before you even show up are a major pain in the ass during and after the job is complete. A lot of times, they are NEVER happy and you are doing everything in your power to please them just to get the rest of your money.
Think wisely instead of with your bank account on this one. Yes, the job is income, but it may also not be worth the massive disaster that will occupy your life. Some people are put on this earth to make our lives miserable. BTW, I am in 6 or more homes a day. Have owned the business for 9 years. I get a good feeling when I know a customer is going to be a giant dickhead or pain in the ass and I simply tell them I don't think my product or service will meet their expectations. Their reactions are always priceless. They don't like being fired.
Once in a while I will get gready and price things much higher to compensate for the horrible treatment that they will be giving me. When the job is done, I always kick myself in the face for doing the job.
If there is a way to find out if there are any liens on his property that would be a great start. A lot of times these type of people don't pay contractors because they are never satisfied with the work. Also google his name and address. See if he is the type that complains on every website about everything he has ever purchased or work he has had done.
Just some tips I use.

Yup.

My first clue is usually when they bitch up front about previous experiences with people in my industry. I've learned that the problem is usually them. If you had a problem with the guy before me, it pretty much doesn't matter how well I treat you, by the end you're going to have a problem with me too.

[generalmeow]

Apparently I got the pop-up from a torrent site I had visited earlier and it opened in its own window in the background.

sure you did.

[brutal]

People dump bad reviews on AL and the only way for a contractor to get their rep restored is to buy subscriptions for people to give them good reviews. It's extortion on a grand scale.

[Irving]

So the site is free for users, but contractors only have a certain amount of reviews for free, and must pay for space for the rest? Genius.

As a contractor, I would immediately fill my allotted comment space up with facts about Angie's List and how it operates.