RedBaron
Aluminum
- Joined
- May 11, 2008
- Location
- Richmond, VA
I sell services including things such as bearing packs rebuilt, arbors trued, etc. Each case involves some head scratching, a little bit of TLC, whatever it takes to get it right.
So I often get emails and calls from (potential) customers asking "can I just buy the bearings from you", or a particular component, or "can I buy the spring washer from you, and Oh, and since it's small can you put it in an envelope with a stamp on it?"
This usually involves quite a bit of back and forth with the emails-- "what do you got? -- What model is it? -- Well it depends....? etc, etc, And, of course, their follow up questions, "How do I....?"
Now, I like to do business and get money, and I like the idea of being helpful, but these (mostly) email requests are consuming an increasing load of time, most often with no follow thru because they're surprised when it cost more than 5 bucks.
Solution? Just say no? Sell a kit?, (which I do in some instances), but many times these rebuild projects are not conducive to a simple one-size-fits-all kit in a plastic baggie.
I get an average two of these requests a day and figure 30 minutes back and forth with emails, that's an hour a day wasted. 5 hours a week. I'm not in the business of being a retailer and I don't keep alot of inventory, just enough to keep the workflow smooth.
Suggestions, how to say no without being rude?
So I often get emails and calls from (potential) customers asking "can I just buy the bearings from you", or a particular component, or "can I buy the spring washer from you, and Oh, and since it's small can you put it in an envelope with a stamp on it?"
This usually involves quite a bit of back and forth with the emails-- "what do you got? -- What model is it? -- Well it depends....? etc, etc, And, of course, their follow up questions, "How do I....?"
Now, I like to do business and get money, and I like the idea of being helpful, but these (mostly) email requests are consuming an increasing load of time, most often with no follow thru because they're surprised when it cost more than 5 bucks.
Solution? Just say no? Sell a kit?, (which I do in some instances), but many times these rebuild projects are not conducive to a simple one-size-fits-all kit in a plastic baggie.
I get an average two of these requests a day and figure 30 minutes back and forth with emails, that's an hour a day wasted. 5 hours a week. I'm not in the business of being a retailer and I don't keep alot of inventory, just enough to keep the workflow smooth.
Suggestions, how to say no without being rude?