Beth n Rod

Well thank you! Rod is the one who actually suggested a new avatar for us. He was tired of the other one. We don't get dressed up too often, just for a special occasion. Glad you like the avatar. :) Beth p.s. there is a larger version of it in our profile as our profile photo.

Jon, AMEN! Beth

FYI....the fee would need to be communicated and agreed to prior to a trip to the residence. Not something you drop on an unsuspecting homeowner. Beth ;)

For clarification. The basis for the fee would be if the prospect didn't accept the proposal. Otherwise, the fee would be waived upon acceptance. Also, noting the reason for the fee would add understanding to justify it. It may result in an increase in phone calls for over the phone estimates to get by the estimate fee but we cannot in all good conscience resort to making additional charges after the job is done because we couldn't take all the necessary information into consideration before hand. Its all under consideration for our next local Round Table discussion. Let us know what you think? Rod!~

Hey Jim, Very interesting thoughts! Something more to consider. Thanks for sharing. :) Beth

If we decide to do it, we'll let you know how it goes. Again, we have talked about it for a few years now, but have yet to do it. We may test market it this year in one area...not sure yet... Beth

Depends also on your call volume and the amount of time you have to give estimates.... Beth

Well, it's not the norm but think of it from this point then...plumbers have a fee just for showing up, electricians do too, HVAC technicians have one. Why are pw'ers exempt? Because we set the standard in this just to get people to call. Times are changing and with it free estimates are getting harder to afford. I have heard of companies who give estimates by phone and quote a price, but then they bill the customer for anything extra afterwards once sq-ft have been confirmed and other conditions taken into consideration. Not an option we would like to pursue. Maybe your area won't support it Jeff, but we are looking into whether ours can. It depends on how affluent your demographics are there. Beth put it very well in the fact that we are trying to increase our closing rate and lower the travel time to those areas that cannot necessarily afford us and make giving estimates more productive. In other words, I am trying to rule out those who cant afford us to begin with from wanting to get an estimate they most likely will not accept. Thats the picture. Rod!~

Go Steelers! Go Panthers!

Jeff, Consider this.... What if: you had a set radius where they were free (for example 10 miles - primary service area) you had found that outside of that radius the number of clients accepting your proposals dropped Under these circumstances, would you perhaps consider having a small fee for the estimate, that would be deducted from the total if they go with the estimate? Would that possibly: reduce the number of unproductive trips farther away from your central service area increase your close rate in that outlying area Food for thought...we think about this every year, but have not put it into effect so far. We never rule it out. Beth

With costs rising, its getting to the point that we may have to charge a fee for estimates outside of a pre-specified radius. The time it takes to get there and the fuel expended can really add up. In a way this will help other contractors as well because it encourages local customers to seek local contractors and if they want someone from outside a service area, then they would be subject to a fee to entertain a price comparison. This applies according to region and demographics to support it and would not necessarily be acceptable everywhere. Its an idea and I think its time has come for further consideration. In addition, the estimate fee could be waived if the prospect accepts the contract otherwise they will be billed for the estimate after the estimate period expires. Input, ideas, thoughts??? Rod!~

Very nice!!! Everyone should have one of them. As hard as we all work we can all use that at the end of the day. Beth p.s. love the rubber duckie

Hope you had a great birthday Mike! Beth

Either of those will work, or if you have sprayer like a deckster or shurflo that works too. Beth

Phosphoric acid from Delco Rod!~

Anyone doing as Seymore suggested? Beth

We take credit cards and are very glad we made decision to do it. It has made quite a difference to our bottom line. Beth

Yo Roger..... Way cool work. Beth

Happy Birthday!

Cool, How do you feel about the results. Rod!~

Thank you Brent!

Not that I think all of the ones I am cheering for will win but.... Go Redskins! Go Panthers! Go Steelers! Go Broncos! Beth

Ken, The reason I found out is because I tend to ask the questions I need straight away and thats how I found out they were not an actual employee. Questions like "How much does a (fill in the blank) cost?" "Can I get an estimate today?" etc. When asked questions such as these, it falls out of the realm of their qualifications for the most part. They are only supposed to collect the information from the caller so the business can return the call. Does this answer your question? Regarding your second question, it does set a bad taste in my mouth because to me, when I call a business number, I expect to get someone who works for that business and is either capable of answering my questions or will connect me to someone better qualified. Otherwise, it just seems to be a runaround and I for one do not like leaving messages with anyone unless the answering person presents themselves as proficient to get the message delivered. An answering service probably is very good at this, but it is not an actual employee. I am just used to conducting business a certain way. Rod!~

Jim, This is a pretty ignorant statement. I am not saying you are but the statement is. I keep hearing that you must learn 'how' to use the product but that is in direct contradiction to the products slogan "goof proof" which implies anyone can use it and get the results as labeled. This is clearly not the case as I have heard, read and experienced all too much controversy where this is concerned and the fact that anyone would publicly make this statement after someone has posted an experience with it for others to be aware of is not setting a very good example of integrity for the product.Instead, how about sharing how to avoid the problem and helping the product? Otherwise, you are playing a card that others may see as deception and ruining the image. I myself have used this product and noticed that it does not dry, and given a temperature drop causes the wood to exude the stain for exposure to the situation Ken noted. Is this mine or Ken's fault the product didn't dry? Is it either of ours fault that the wood pushed it back out? Is it my fault perhaps because I applied it to saturation as I was told in order to get the color to last for more than an hour after application? Or is it the customers fault that they waited the time specified and the product didn't set up like they were told to expect? Come on Jim, anyone who is in this business will tell the customer the time period for drying which is standard at 24 hours to 48 hours if is it really humid. I cannot respect a statement like what you have made because it demeans the applicator in preference to a product that isn't 100% perfect and has a track record of problems associated with it. Need I mention them? Now, in respect for you Jim, if that is not what you meant, I will entertain an elaboration for clarification. Proceeding from what you have posted and the position of your posts in the past regarding this product I can only draw from it literally with this understanding of your history and position with ready seal. People would love to hear from someone with 10 years experience applying this product and not encountering any problems. We have seen photos of your work and they look great. Do ready seal a favor and share your technique for all to benefit from. Rod!~

A competitor 'who shall not be named' uses this kind of service. We have heard feedback from prospects that call these people expecting to get someone who works in the company become disturbed by the fact that they felt the owners were unreachable. We answer our own calls and that has been pivotal for a number of our clients who say that it is because they got someone on the line who was actually a part of the company. This seemed an important feature to people and we make it a benefit to our customers. I have also heard in passing conversations during conventions the same thing. I guess it depends on how it is handled that determines its acceptability to a prospect. Our position is that it is worth it to hire someone to take calls as an office employee than to farm it out to someone who legally has to state they are an agency and are relaying the call when a customer asks. They do, I did and I know how it affected me that the person I was trying to contact was perceivably unreachable. Rod!~