Hearthlist Digest #135 - Friday, April 10, 1998 RE: estimates by "Timothy James Nissen" <[email protected]> Re: Thelin by "Maureen Fallon" <[email protected]> Re: Estimates by "Paul Scott" <[email protected]> Re: Estimates by "Jim Butchart" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: RE: estimates From: Timothy James Nissen <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 20:45:24 -0400 (EDT) We do not charge for estimates but we work real hard to qualify the customer in the store before we go out. We're insistent that they visit the store first, and we quote them ballpark figures in the store. If we're in the ballpark, we go out and I'd estimate that we close the sale about 70-80% of the time. Where we get in trouble is when we give the customer a detailed parts break-down, listing all of the relevant measurements. They will occasionally take the detailed quote to a competitor, who knows it's right, who will discount the price enough to get the job without the cost of a site visit. Whether you charge or not depends to some degree on your style of doing business. I think we communicate confidence in our pricing and overall ability by not charging for the estimate; things are no doubt different in other markets. Tim Nissen Home Fire Stove Salem, OR [email protected]
(back) Subject: Re: Thelin From: Maureen Fallon <[email protected]> Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 11:36:57 -0400 (EDT) Dear John, Just a quick thought, but our experience makes me think if your having trouble getting the Thelin people to respond to purchasing there line-- what do you think will happen when you need some dealer support? Good luck! Kate Fallon Home & Hearth, Inc. At 05:25 PM 4/6/98 -0400, you wrote: >Hearthlist Digest #131 - Monday, April 6, 1998 > > Re: Hearthlist Digest #130 - 04/05/98 > by "JOHN BAILEY" <[email protected]> > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Subject: Re: Hearthlist Digest #130 - 04/05/98 >From: "JOHN BAILEY" <[email protected]> >Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 08:51:07 -0400 > >I would have liked to been at your show but could not make it. Our C.M.X >show in Toronto was very good but with the same problems some sales rep's >were more interested in themselves than customers.One thing I can't get over >after paying all that money for a booth only about one in a hundred call >after the show to follow up on the leads they received. Could anyone out >there help me get Thelin stoves in my store.We are just north of Toronto >Ontario.I would also like to hear your opinion on their products. >Thank You >John Bailey
(back) Subject: Re: Estimates From: "Paul Scott" <[email protected]> Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 11:39:25 -0400 (EDT) > Subject: estimates > From: DJ Billard <[email protected]> > Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 12:08:55 -0400 > > I would like to ask for feedback, should we charge for an estimate? Most definetly Unless you work for free if this is the case you can come work with us and we will asign all of the estimating to you. > At what time do we ask for estimate fee ? Before you leave out the door to do the estimate you should make the customer awareof your hourly rate before scheduling the estimate. > If your competition does it ,should you? I choose not to answer this one,I think this is obvious. > Should you return estimate fee if you get job? NO > How much should we charge for an estimate? Up to you,Why dont you do a P&L to see what you need to charge > Should we instead charge a deposite for job before we go out? > If we charge deposit for job, but do not get ,do we return all > of it I do not under stand the last two because I dont see how you can get a deposit on a job you havent even looked at? P.S.
(back) Subject: Re: Estimates From: "Jim Butchart" <[email protected]> Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 15:42:03 -0400 (EDT) -----Original Message----- From: Hearth Email List <[email protected]> To: Hearth Email List <[email protected]> Date: Thursday, April 09, 1998 2:25 PM Subject: Hearthlist Digest #134 - 04/09/98 >Hearthlist Digest #134 - Thursday, April 9, 1998 > > estimates > by "DJ Billard" <[email protected]> > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Subject: estimates >From: DJ Billard <[email protected]> >Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 12:08:55 -0400 > > I would like to ask for feedback, should we charge for an estimate? Well if you were a competitor of my store, I would say sure! Charge all you want. Your potential customers would then end up being my customers because I don't charge to give an estimate. I figure it is just part of the cost of the sale and a service that I provide. But the rule at our store is not cast in stone. If the situation looks shaky, for example they didn't even come into the store, or they live way out in the boonies, then we will quote a charge to cover our time and stipulate that the charge will be applied as a credit when they give us the order. That usually works. Jim Butchart On Fire!