Do you agree or not?

[ADillon]

Obviously and obviously there has to be a balance. A business exists to fill a consumer need and make profit. This business is unique in that the customer almost never actaully knows what they need...

[timebuilder]

Man, you guys can keep residential.

[dlove]

Man, you guys can keep residential.

AMEN

[marter]

AMEN

[zw17]

Does a business exist to "fix things" or to generate profit?

I'm not interested in guys who can't fix what they sell. But, selling is a required practice for financial survival and success.

When you now how to fix things, stuff tends to sell itself.

I work for a multi million dollar a year contractor and we have zero pressure to sell anything. We don't even offer things like humidifier or air filter packages.

Nothing, nada, zip...

We only do service work, PM's, and equipment replacement.

[ADillon]

That's awesome! I hope it stays that way for you guys

[DeltaT]

I don't agree with that statement as much as I use too.

We have two factors now involved in this world that we did not have many years ago.

One, we have a public less skilled and less informed due to the computer age.

Two, we have a public more involved in a "plug & play" instant gratification mentallity.

That's not to say certain folks of the analytical age still won't have some demand but as we, as a world, become dummer their is less demand for skilled, trained technicians in all fields.

Our reliance on computers has and continues to displace the individuals abilities to think & see for themselves. Pretty soon all answers will have to come from a central station or the folks will just stand around looking at whatever is in front of them because they can not and will not be able to self direct.

[tinknocker service tech]

found years ago in a weak market more isnt better
charge what you charge and hold level and the customers will still be with you when the market is better

a good tech is worth his wieght in gold but chage more to do the right job or the best possible job why??? do it right and chage your rate and keep thier loyalty

[tiger man]

I'll agree to a point on all accounts. I've seen to much back stabbing to get beyond the human element though.
Seems that it always catches up to them in the long run. Its only if you are willing to ride that wave.

But to charge more... people want cheap. Actually people want free. I've heard a story of a tech cleaning out a condensor unit,, just sprayed it down and got er' clean. The home owner comes out and states I am not going to pay you for that,, I could have done that. In which the tech states... but you didn't and I did.
Heres my bill sir.

No believe it or not, there are good quality customers who will glady pay much more for exceptional service. I would rather have these customers, and make more money, but you have to be there on a dime when they have a problem.

[John Markl]

No believe it or not, there are good quality customers who will glady pay much more for exceptional service. I would rather have these customers, and make more money, but you have to be there on a dime when they have a problem.

Yep...

[ironpit]

why does it sound like like sales is a bad word? sales is the educational process for better understanding, performance and satisfaction, for both the customer and the company. An intelligent, informed and honest, salesman knows how to deliver the proper product to the customer. Sales is a very encompassing "trade".

People often will buy and appreciate, an upgraded product if they are aware of the benefits of it. A poorly trained (or lazy) salesman is just as deplorable as a poorly trained service tech or installer, doing equally or greater disservice to the customer.

whatever the trade, sales is an important part of it and to be undisciplined in sales is just being lazy. Sales , especially the educational part of the process, is a convenience service that is possibly an obligatory part of the job.

Customers can't know everything, so they quite often trust us to inform them of important information such as rebates and benefits of various levels of equipment, enabling them to make a wiser decision in their purchase.

Our monetary return is just one reward for doing a professional job.

That dirty thing called PROFIT (or our wage) is a deserving part of it.

[ironpit]

hey markl. haven't seen you for awhile. is that a new dress?

[John Markl]

hey markl. haven't seen you for awhile. is that a new dress?

Yes, you like?