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Need help with an important text message

by donza
7 replies
Hi,

I have a very wealthy female client who about a month ago wanted me to repolish some areas of her marble floor. I'm 90% sure she just wanted me to do the work because she was bored. There isn't really that much wrong with the floors. Unfortunately when I went to look at the floor I couldn't do the work right there and then, which she wanted, as I had other work I had to do.

Anyway, we set a date for a few days following and then the night before the work is due to be done she texts me to tell me that she is going away and will contact me when she gets back.

Since she got back I have texted her twice(it's the only way she communicates with me) and she has replied she is too busy; I know her well enough that if she had decided not to get the work done she would just tell me.

It didn't worry me before but this week, after a cancellation, I have no work on and I really need the money.

So I need help crafting the perfect text and sending it at the ideal time.

This is what I know about her
She's very wealthy BUT reasonably cost conscious
She spends alot of time at home
Her kids are all at varsity, except one who is in his last year at high school
She detests the established stone companies( mainly because she thinks they are extortionists and they do charge big dollars)
She knows me as I fixed some problems with her external terrazzo when I was working for another company. The company did not do marble and when I saw all her marble inside I told her to give me a call if she ever needed some work done on it.
I think she was quite impressed by me

Thus far my texts have consisted of, "Ready to get your marble done?" Yes I know they are hardly compelling calls to action but I was just waiting to hit her on a bored day. This is my improvement

"Hi, I'm free to polish the marble, remove that ugly etch this week. After that I may be going to "???????" to work and I don't know when I'll be back "

The moving part is true. One of our largest cities is going through a rebuild at the moment after a major earthquake and there is a tonne of work there
The large etch mark is the only significant defect in the marble the truth is
I can't make the areas I'm working on look too good otherwise it will just make the areas I don't touch look bad.

Anyway, any help will be much appreciated


Cheers Don
#important #message #text
  • Profile picture of the author Eddie Spangler
    After putting myself in a concentration spell and
    experiencing your situation in my mind, This is what I would do.
    Call her up and tell her the truth.

    Hey Mrs. Ugly Marble.
    I know we normally text each other but this is important so I wanted to call you personally. I did confirm that I will be going to earth quake city next week
    so If you want me to get the marble for you I can do it either Tomorrow or the next day.

    I know you have been busy but I also know that you want to work with someone who you can trust to do a good job and treat you fairly so I really want to help you get this done before I leave.

    If she is still wavering or wont commit or she is like well we will just have to wait till you come back then I continue telling the truth

    Okay it sounds like you really are busy. Tell you what , it would really help me as well to earn some extra money before leaving so if you can make the time for me to come by I can give you a one time xxx discount. Now I know you cant turn that down Mrs. Thrifty.
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  • Profile picture of the author squadron
    I'd send her a message like: "I'll be dropping by later on today to get more details about the work you asked me about. See you soon."

    I bet you will get some sort of response, one way or the other.
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    • Profile picture of the author talfighel
      Originally Posted by squadron View Post

      I'd send her a message like: "I'll be dropping by later on today to get more details about the work you asked me about. See you soon."

      I bet you will get some sort of response, one way or the other.
      And if she does not reply back, and this is how I see things, then she changed her mind about the job. She may even got someone else because she probably wanted to get the job done on her time and not yours.

      If that text goes to her and she doesn't reply back, then just move on.
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      • Profile picture of the author donza
        Thanks to those who took time to respond I appreciate it.

        Originally Posted by talfighel View Post

        And if she does not reply back, and this is how I see things, then she changed her mind about the job. She may even got someone else because she probably wanted to get the job done on her time and not yours.

        If that text goes to her and she doesn't reply back, then just move on.
        There is no way she got someone else to do it. She might be capricious but
        she's also honest. The sort of person who if they make a verbal agreement with someone she will honour it eventually........

        I know this because my old employer had a lot to do with her. over the years, and although he had some negative things to say about her he also said a lot of complimentary things about her such as her integrity. BTW my old employer doesn't do this sort of work, he specailises in polished concrete and doesn't have the equipment, or knowledge, to do this sort of work

        Originally Posted by squadron View Post

        I'd send her a message like: "I'll be dropping by later on today to get more details about the work you asked me about. See you soon."

        I bet you will get some sort of response, one way or the other.
        This tactic might work on some people but I know her well enough that if I tried it on her I would just aggravate her. "Dropping by! who does he think he is!"

        Originally Posted by Eddie Spangler View Post

        After putting myself in a concentration spell and
        experiencing your situation in my mind, This is what I would do.
        Call her up and tell her the truth.

        Hey Mrs. Ugly Marble.
        I know we normally text each other but this is important so I wanted to call you personally. I did confirm that I will be going to earth quake city next week
        so If you want me to get the marble for you I can do it either Tomorrow or the next day.

        I know you have been busy but I also know that you want to work with someone who you can trust to do a good job and treat you fairly so I really want to help you get this done before I leave.

        If she is still wavering or wont commit or she is like well we will just have to wait till you come back then I continue telling the truth

        Okay it sounds like you really are busy. Tell you what , it would really help me as well to earn some extra money before leaving so if you can make the time for me to come by I can give you a one time xxx discount. Now I know you cant turn that down Mrs. Thrifty.
        This is pretty good advice. I think I'd leave out the "needing money" angle though. She'd probably look upon it as a form of begging.

        Anyway, thanks for the advice everybody. I appreciate it
        Cheers Don
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  • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
    Here's a little something to remember....

    Love the one your with!

    You have no idea what the next one holds...(in your case it was a cancellation)
    So, love the one your with.
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  • Profile picture of the author SashaLee
    Hi there,

    Why don't you try this approach,

    Tell her she has a unique style of marble and that you're putting together a brochure and would like to feature her marble because it is unique. (Of course, all marble is unique). Tell her she must have really known what she was doing when she decided to have it refinished. Boost her ego. Tell her how her friends will go "WOW" when they see it, but more imporantly because you want it for your brochure, you'll give her a 20% discount if she calls you back by Friday. On Friday you leave to go look at very similar marble you think you'll be able to use in your brochure.

    Make her feel important and give it a sense of urgency.

    All the best,

    Sasha
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  • Profile picture of the author Eddie Spangler
    Okay a little psychology here. I am well aware of why a person would not want to use the "I could use the money" angle. Here is why a person MIGHT want to use it.

    1. They really need the money.

    Often when dealing with richer older ladies where there is a strong likely hood the money was inherited they can have a disconnect with the struggles of regular people.

    They can also figure that anyone who owns their own business "has money' so they dont feel like the delaying is that big a deal on the service providers life.

    The prospect is in no hurry to get the job done , she will get it done when she is good and ready BUT wants it done by the person that she LIKES

    When you approach them from this angle 2 things happen.
    They see this as an opportunity to do something good for a normal person who they like as a favor AND benefit themselves at the same time with an extra discount.

    To reject that request is much harder to do than just delay the work getting done.
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