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PSA: The 'just be honest' approach with clients almost lost me a 6 figure contract
Ngl, I used to think being upfront about my moving rates was the only way to go. Last spring in Dallas, I told a commercial client straight up that my price was $8,500 for a 4 truck job with no wiggle room. They walked away and hired some guy who promised them $6,200. Three weeks later they called me back begging for help because that mover tacked on fuel surcharges, stair fees, and overtime that brought the total to over $9k. Now I still give my real price but I frame it different like 'here's what you're getting for this number' instead of just saying it's firm. Has anyone else found that being too blunt upfront actually pushes clients away?
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jana50916h ago
Yeah breaking it down piece by piece makes a huge difference for sure.
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adam41419h ago
My buddy runs a tree service back in Ohio and he tried the same straight-shooter thing. Told a lady her huge oak removal was $1,800 firm because of the power line risk. She hired some kid with a chainsaw for $600 instead. Kid got his truck stuck in her yard and dropped a branch through her sunroom. My buddy had to go out there anyway to clean it up (for a lot more money, of course). Now he sends people a little one-page breakdown of what each price covers before they even ask, like a menu for tree work. It weirdly makes people feel more in control even though the number is the same.
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