Re: 81 Glastron SX-190 Transom and Engine- PICS Galore Update 11-8
Ok, so this is totally off topic but I just have to vent. As many of you know I own a customer home theater business. Now I have been doing this for about 20 years, and I have a large client base and my services are in high demand due to my level of service. My prices are VERY competitive for the level of service and quality I give. During the economic slowdown we started doing some mailer advertising through a magazine called the "Home Mag". It goes to about 200,000 people in the Dallas area. Now I have never done any advertising at all, but we wanted to try other things since we had some time as we were thinking about hiring a sales guy just to take on the advertising leads, and I would handle our referrals. What I have some to find out is that this type of advertising brings a different buyer. The cut throat price shopper. I am no stranger to getting shopped, or competing against the next guy, but lying to my face, come on. How can some people live their life this way taking advantage of other people. I will not tell you all of my stories, but the one today takes the cake.
This customer called me last week and had me come out at night so that the whole family could be there. I usually have a strict policy about meeting in the evening. People are not really in the buying mood at that time and they usually are just kicking tires and dreaming. Most people that are ready to make a decision will meet you at any time. Well I googled this guys house and it was in the millions, so I broke my own rule. Anyway I met these people and spent about two hours in their home going over customer cabinets, paint, and audio equipment. This was a big system, and like an idiot I gave them the cabinet guys number and the painters number so they could meet them. BIG MISTAKE!!!! So I went back and spent 4 hours designing cabinets and a cool system. I even gave them several options. Well after a few days of sending over the quote I called them to follow up. He was glad to hear from me and was ready to move forward.... with one catch. They were Direct Buy members and had purchased all the equipment that I specified and just wanted me to do the labor. This guy knew he was going to do this to me from the start. He wanted me to design the system so he could cut me out and hope that I would still put it in. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was floored. he said don't you make all your money on the labor anyway? WRONG AGAIN!!!!! I explained how once I have a crew, a van, and all the tools rolling, labor is nothing to shake a stick at. I then explained that it was a package deal and we make a little on everything, and what he did was taking away how I make my living. He was speechless. I guess he thought this was just the way you do things. He still could not understand why I would not do the job. I asked him how he built his house. Did you go to home depot or the internet and buy the wood and other materials, and then have some one just do the labor? He seemed to understand, but the deed had been done. On top of all this, I contacted my painter and cabinet guys and is still going to have them do their part. I wonder if he is going to get his paint at Direct buy.
Just before we hung up the phone I told him that their would be a design fee for all the work I put in, and he said what? My last few words were....
You would pay and architect wouldn't you?
If you read this whole thing, thanks.
Please do not waste peoples time if you have no intention of buying from them. This is how people make their living.
Would you mind taking your boat and moving up to Skibum's for a couple of months....I need some warm weather down here already! 
