Would you take my last dollar?

Brad Gosse · 05-28-2009, 01:06 PM

A potential client wanted to prepay for a 1 hour consult. His credit card declined and he provided another. It also declined.

He then said the cards were maxed out, and that he is broke and he would try to get me payment tomorrow.

I have since given a little free advice and then asked him to contact me when he is in a better financial position and can afford a few hours of my time to properly help him. After spending time with me he will still need to invest more money in his business. I don't want anyones last dollars.

Would YOU take somebody's last dollars?

Kim Davis · 05-28-2009, 01:22 PM

Part of me says it's not up to the seller to manage the buyer's money...I would feel bad for them being in that position...Probably a buck or two was spent on something not necessary...Now they need it for something necessary, and it's too late...it's a tough spot to be in....

megaresp · 05-28-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Gosse

Would YOU take somebody's last dollars?

No. I do find myself wondering whether or not I'd provide free advice to such a person.

Perhaps it would depend on the strength of the relationship? I suppose none of us know until we're in that situation. And of course, there are situational factors. Why is this person in the situation they're in? Is my help of any use to such a person? Who misses out if I spend time with this person?

Brad Gosse · 05-28-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megaresp

No. I do find myself wondering whether or not I'd provide free advice to such a person.

Perhaps it would depend on the strength of the relationship? I suppose none of us know until we're in that situation. And of course, there are situational factors. Why is this person in the situation they're in? Is my help of any use to such a person? Who misses out if I spend time with this person?

Usually no, but in this case he had purchased my marketing course so I want to help him succeed.

jkiley · 05-28-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Gosse

A potential client wanted to prepay for a 1 hour consult. His credit card declined and he provided another. It also declined.

He then said the cards were maxed out, and that he is broke and he would try to get me payment tomorrow.

I have since given a little free advice and then asked him to contact me when he is in a better financial position and can afford a few hours of my time to properly help him. After spending time with me he will still need to invest more money in his business. I don't want anyones last dollars.

Would YOU take somebody's last dollars?

No! money will come thru some other way...nature works mysterious ways...

Tom Brite · 05-28-2009, 01:32 PM

Usually if they have brought or helped me before or can help me then i will. If not then i generally do what you have done and ask them to come back.

After all time is money and if im spending time showing them how to make money without pay then im in actual fact loosing out myself.

It does get difficult though when it comes on a personal level and your emotions get in the way of business.

Tom Brite

Estelle T. Dunomes · 05-28-2009, 01:32 PM

"Cast your bread upon the water and in many days it will return to you."

"Give and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over; for with what measure ye mete, it will be measured to you again."

No, there's no need to take someone's last dollar (unless they give you the idea that they are entitled to your information without having to pay for it. That merits you taking their last dollar as payment for their arrogance).

On the other hand, giving to someone to help them places you in a position to receive - in kind- from other unexpected sources and without your having to work further for these benefits.

Do share, as often as you can, whenever you can and with whomever you can; then, watch life repay you with wonderful returns. The ROI will be phenomenal.

Am I saying to do this to the detriment of your profit making activities? No, but include them when your spiritual eye (gut) tells you its what you should do.

Try it. Then, share your results with the rest of us. I'm sure we'll learn a lot.

All the best to you.

Estelle

dlwebb610 · 05-28-2009, 01:36 PM

No i wouldn't take his last buck. Instead I would offer to help him for free. Why you ask? Simple, it's not about the money, it's about a fellow human being. And before anyone gives me a million reason not to do this I'll give two reasons to do this:

1. What goes around comes around.
2. He's a fellow being.

Marty S · 05-28-2009, 01:57 PM

Nice post Brad. I would have likely done something very the same, especially when when it involves personal contact with him. The truth is, though we have all probably took someones "last dollar" through automated sales processes anyway.

It's a karma thing I think, and your honesty with this situation will come back to you somehow.

I just want to keep feeling good about helping people online, and that's good enough for me. My poker videos have always been about NOT losing your money online and skill building slowly, so that the game doesn't invade your personal finances.

Gail Sober · 05-28-2009, 02:19 PM

I would think that someone spending their last dollar would be much more likely to take action on the information you provide than someone who has plenty of cash and is just throwing it around buying different things looking for a magic button.

So... maybe you would be really helping him out by taking that dollar.

IMChick · 05-28-2009, 02:46 PM

On the one hand, that last dollar has huge buying impact psychologically for him, and he would see tremendous results by acting on the information . On the other hand, you as the owner of the business need to spend your own time efficiently and have your business prospect only where the clients can afford the recommendations.

I would not give a freebie. It is not appropriate or necessary in this case. If you would like to work with someone to give them a lift up on the program that they previously purchased, that is a different consideration, and could be done by email so you don't involve yourself too heavily.

Be careful here of the great time-suck. This prospect likely knew about the maxed out cards and tried to use them anyway. So this would indicate desperation and a desire to seek something for nothing in other areas, and it may carry over to your relationship with him.

On the other hand, if you have zero other prospects and the potential for success after you assess the situation is great, then consider using this guy as a case study. Sign a contract and put him on a work-process schedule and go for it.

But no, just for a casual contact that merely has no money, I would not offer additional free/no cost services. I think you had the correct response.

Jason Moffatt · 05-28-2009, 02:49 PM

Here's the hard core truth of the matter right here...

If you don't take his last dollar, someone else will. And that someone else will probably not be as helpful as you.

In my mind, I'd rather take the money and give him something that I know is valuable instead of allowing him to run off and make a poor purchase that wouldn't be equal to the value I knew I could bring him.

As Steve Miller once said... "Go on take the money and run".

He's a big boy. And just because it's his last dollar now doesn't mean he won't acquire more in the near future. Ebb and flow, ebb and flow.

05-28-2009, 01:06 PM	#1
Brad Gosse Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Orangeville, Ontario Posts: 2,906 Thanks: 1,311 Thanked 1,071 Times in 567 Posts Social Networking	Would you take my last dollar? A potential client wanted to prepay for a 1 hour consult. His credit card declined and he provided another. It also declined. He then said the cards were maxed out, and that he is broke and he would try to get me payment tomorrow. I have since given a little free advice and then asked him to contact me when he is in a better financial position and can afford a few hours of my time to properly help him. After spending time with me he will still need to invest more money in his business. I don't want anyones last dollars. Would YOU take somebody's last dollars?
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05-28-2009, 01:22 PM	#2
Kim Davis Ghostwriter War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 393 Thanks: 26 Thanked 80 Times in 68 Posts Contact Info	Re: Would you take my last dollar? Part of me says it's not up to the seller to manage the buyer's money...I would feel bad for them being in that position...Probably a buck or two was spent on something not necessary...Now they need it for something necessary, and it's too late...it's a tough spot to be in....
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05-28-2009, 01:32 PM	#6
Tom Brite Banned War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UK and France Posts: 1,103 Thanks: 261 Thanked 188 Times in 100 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Would you take my last dollar? Usually if they have brought or helped me before or can help me then i will. If not then i generally do what you have done and ask them to come back. After all time is money and if im spending time showing them how to make money without pay then im in actual fact loosing out myself. It does get difficult though when it comes on a personal level and your emotions get in the way of business. Tom Brite

05-28-2009, 01:32 PM	#7
Estelle T. Dunomes HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Midwest, USA. Posts: 295 Thanks: 91 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Would you take my last dollar? "Cast your bread upon the water and in many days it will return to you." "Give and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over; for with what measure ye mete, it will be measured to you again." No, there's no need to take someone's last dollar (unless they give you the idea that they are entitled to your information without having to pay for it. That merits you taking their last dollar as payment for their arrogance). On the other hand, giving to someone to help them places you in a position to receive - in kind- from other unexpected sources and without your having to work further for these benefits. Do share, as often as you can, whenever you can and with whomever you can; then, watch life repay you with wonderful returns. The ROI will be phenomenal. Am I saying to do this to the detriment of your profit making activities? No, but include them when your spiritual eye (gut) tells you its what you should do. Try it. Then, share your results with the rest of us. I'm sure we'll learn a lot. All the best to you. Estelle

05-28-2009, 01:36 PM	#8
dlwebb610 The Scribe War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Punta Gorda, FL USA Posts: 71 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Would you take my last dollar? No i wouldn't take his last buck. Instead I would offer to help him for free. Why you ask? Simple, it's not about the money, it's about a fellow human being. And before anyone gives me a million reason not to do this I'll give two reasons to do this: 1. What goes around comes around. 2. He's a fellow being.

05-28-2009, 01:57 PM	#9
Marty S Screencaster Yoda War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,454 Blog Entries: 11 Thanks: 241 Thanked 317 Times in 213 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Would you take my last dollar? Nice post Brad. I would have likely done something very the same, especially when when it involves personal contact with him. The truth is, though we have all probably took someones "last dollar" through automated sales processes anyway. It's a karma thing I think, and your honesty with this situation will come back to you somehow. I just want to keep feeling good about helping people online, and that's good enough for me. My poker videos have always been about NOT losing your money online and skill building slowly, so that the game doesn't invade your personal finances.
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05-28-2009, 02:19 PM	#10
Gail Sober Advanced Warrior Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 741 Thanks: 59 Thanked 45 Times in 37 Posts	Re: Would you take my last dollar? I would think that someone spending their last dollar would be much more likely to take action on the information you provide than someone who has plenty of cash and is just throwing it around buying different things looking for a magic button. So... maybe you would be really helping him out by taking that dollar.

05-28-2009, 02:46 PM	#11
IMChick Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 589 Thanks: 16 Thanked 65 Times in 48 Posts	Re: Would you take my last dollar? On the one hand, that last dollar has huge buying impact psychologically for him, and he would see tremendous results by acting on the information . On the other hand, you as the owner of the business need to spend your own time efficiently and have your business prospect only where the clients can afford the recommendations. I would not give a freebie. It is not appropriate or necessary in this case. If you would like to work with someone to give them a lift up on the program that they previously purchased, that is a different consideration, and could be done by email so you don't involve yourself too heavily. Be careful here of the great time-suck. This prospect likely knew about the maxed out cards and tried to use them anyway. So this would indicate desperation and a desire to seek something for nothing in other areas, and it may carry over to your relationship with him. On the other hand, if you have zero other prospects and the potential for success after you assess the situation is great, then consider using this guy as a case study. Sign a contract and put him on a work-process schedule and go for it. But no, just for a casual contact that merely has no money, I would not offer additional free/no cost services. I think you had the correct response.

05-28-2009, 02:49 PM	#12
Jason Moffatt Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: West Hollywood Posts: 2,998 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 7 Thanked 622 Times in 209 Posts Social Networking	Re: Would you take my last dollar? Here's the hard core truth of the matter right here... If you don't take his last dollar, someone else will. And that someone else will probably not be as helpful as you. In my mind, I'd rather take the money and give him something that I know is valuable instead of allowing him to run off and make a poor purchase that wouldn't be equal to the value I knew I could bring him. As Steve Miller once said... "Go on take the money and run". He's a big boy. And just because it's his last dollar now doesn't mean he won't acquire more in the near future. Ebb and flow, ebb and flow.
	My Bloghttp://www.jasonmoffatt.com