Just had a guy with a repair he could easily do himself(5 minutes). I told him what to do so he could do it. Would have been a $10 repair.I do this all the time. He took the rod with him to do the repair. Should I have not told him and done the repair or do what I did?Moral dilemma

I think Being fair with people will go a long way but .Is this your livelihood or your hobby ? Give the person the option of doing it them self or you would charge 10.00 dollars

Assuming he has to buy thread, finish, etc., he can't do the repair for $10. But I'm assuming we're talking about a guide wrap replacement. Beyond that there are some minor things folks can do for less than $10, but not much. The instant they have to buy a tube of glue or whatever, they're usually better off just leaving it with you.

And remember, without your instructions, he couldn't likely do it. Your knowledge and experience should be worth something. You don't get paid for what you do - you get paid for what you know.

.................

For 10.00 you should have just done it
How many rods has HE built ? And you
You also may have just lost a steady customer

Bill - willierods.com

I repair cars for a living and I certainly could tell people how to do it them selves (I'd like to see them try) but I get paid for my experience and diag skills . If its how you make your money take it. Period.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

And
10.00 is probably CHEAP for what you have to do

Bill - willierods.com

I think you should just do the repair, then you have another customer. Also to some people it's a burden to have to try to fix things themselves, even if they can do it. For ten bucks, you're doing them a favor.

Greg
Aptos, CA

I must disagree with the above. I feel you have gained a loyal customer who now knows you can be trusted to do right by him. He can't be the only fisherman he knows, plus being human he is gonna brag about the repair he made himself to others thanks to you. You passed on ten dollars today, but if you can't make that up several times in shear profit from your good business decision/investment, well I don't think you would have lasted anyway.

mike quinn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I must disagree with the above. I feel you have
> gained a loyal customer who now knows you can be
> trusted to do right by him. He can't be the only
> fisherman he knows, plus being human he is gonna
> brag about the repair he made himself to others
> thanks to you. You passed on ten dollars today,
> but if you can't make that up several times in
> shear profit from your good business
> decision/investment, well I don't think you would
> have lasted anyway.


This can go either way. How do you know the guy don't tell people I asked this guy to do something simple and quick and he could not be bothered?
Sure he can do it himself but does he really want to or does he have the time? He also does not get to experience your work so all he really knows is you give free advice. Some guys in my field do as stated above or make repairs for no charge and what becomes of it? You now have a client base that is used to not paying. Trust me I see it often.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/04/2014 06:00AM by Fred Yarmolowicz.

i get emails all the time
A guy Google's up Rod Builders Then sends out mail I would like such a rod - how much
Now he opened a can of worms What do you want to pay High end rod Plain Jane Plus a lot more
Give them a starting price ( and I have been told I am Cheap ? ) i wait No answer I ask No answer
A real PAIN !!
And for a lousy $10.00

Bill - willierods.com

If you are in the business you need to think you can do the repair better than he can even if you tell him what to do.

I guess I need to clarify a few things on the repair. The repair was merely gluing on a butt cap on a uplocking reel seat on a 20+ yr old sage rod. On any type of eye repair or tip I do not tell people how to do it. The client had said that he had not fly fished in 15 years and was only doing so because his son had arranged a fishing trip in Montana at the end of June. The rod probaly was not going to get used again for awhile. It also had on it a immaculate 1594 (left hand retrieve only) Plueger Medalist reel. Probaly not good business sense to not do it and charge, just could not do it in good concience.

Dick,
Always a good idea.
Follow your conscience.

Agree with Roger.

Yep
he can use the money for gas for the trip

Bill - willierods.com

I really feel giving both options is best. I would say hey you can give me the rod and I can do the repair for $10 or if you have 5mins to spare I can tell you how to do it yourself. I ran into this alot when I was working on TV's for a living. The DLP TV's have a lamp in them that go out ever two or three years. I would always give them the price of that lamp and the option to do it themselfs or we could come out for $79.95. This way once they saw how easy it was they couldn't say well he never said it was that easy. And for the customer whos time was worth more then there money, they couldn't say I didn't think they where worth there time.

I would have done it for nothing and I do a few a month for nothin. Its twice you see this person who you get to know and word of mouth is the best advertisment. When people say good things about you it sticks with them.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

I really think it matters what part of the country you are from. Where I am you give and inch they try to take a mile. Dennis I like your idea.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

I've had the exact same repair and faced the same question. I've told the customer "I can show you how to do it or since you are here and it's quick I can do it now." 9 times out of 10 I end up doing the job. I tell them to go out to the local coffee shop and come back with a coffee for me. I also tell them that this one is on the house but next time I'm charging you. Also I find it's a good time to look over their tackle and look for future or current problems or talk about the latest new rods and talk up a future sale.
In the end what did that job actually cost you? a couple of cents of epoxy and 10 min of time. You will hopefully get that back many times over.

Hi Fred, Yea I know some people will try and take advantage of you but we here in Jersey will reach right down thier throth and make them awhere of it. In a nice way , of course!

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)