Do I fire a customer???

For me trashed 2 bedrooms apts are $250 each 20 bucks more if red stains are present. That's it they take or leave it. They are too much work to discount like that

In reference to my post above on "leach humans"

One got ahold of me yesterday. Long story short ,,, this was a 30 minute job that took me 4 hours. Made $75 plus the leach gave me a $5 tip.

$80 for half a days work. My good nature was tested to the limit. It will take 3 days for me to emotionally recover.

Did you cuss him out when you got in the van Andy?

Geeze'whiz ANdy, what could you be doing for 4 hours, for $75?!

Basically went on a wild goose chase for over an hour just to find the apartment. I got no answer at the address I was given, called and she gave me a different address, Wrong again, I called and said lets meet at the entrance, she said "I know where I live" and she guided me by phone to her apartment (this was in between the two I already went to.) WRONG again,

then I said lets meet at the entrance , she never showed up, called and went to voice mail, she never called back.

I left for home , then her room mate called and BEGGED me to go back, said they spent all night cleaning out furniture and really need this done. this went on and on.

Yes I should have just went home, but I had invested so much in to finding this apartment, that it became a game, and I just had to win.

Finally after an hour and half of playing the game I got there, turned out to be the first address I was given, she just didn't answer the door. lol

Apartment was trashed with junk all over, I picked up all the junk, and vacuumed the small junk, and then performed a miracle with the rotovac.

And I'm sure you can guess what happened after the job was done? That's right no payment, She told me her room mate would be home at 5 , or they could mail me a check. ( it was 4) I said no problem I'll just hang out here with you until your room mate gets home. (That changed her tune,) she said well I have money at my work but no car, can you give me a ride? lol

I driver her to her "work" I wait with van running for 20 minutes for her and her boss to have a conversation out in the parking lot. lol

She gets in the van and says the "boss" only had 50 bucks. But she can have her room mate meet me some where when she gets off work to pay me the rest. lol

I say, no problem I'll just hang out with you tell she gets home, we can find something on TV. That changed her tune again, she called her room mate, and together they figured out that they have a check book located in the dresser.

So I get a check for the rest plus a 5 dollar tip for my troubles. I thank her so much for the tip, "that's very kind of you, I really appreciate it" lol

TRUE story, and this is the short version. I remained nice and polite the whole way though, and played their game with good attitude.

I won the game, got money from them.

but like any sport , when you give 110% and perform above your skill level in order to over come a more powerful opponent ,

it takes days to recover.

What a wild goose chase that was?

Funny thing happened,  (regarding my earlier post on the leach human)    

I get a call from a nice lady saying that I was referred to her by her co worker,  She told me her co worker said I did a GREAT job.   WELL  turned out the co worker was the room mate from the night mare job that kept begging me to clean her carpet.

Any way I did the job for this lady,  I billed her $280 and she handed me $400 !!    Told me I was worth it.

She called that night and left a message , told me the carpet was dry, smelled , and felt great,   and wanted to say thank you.

What a weird deal!!  One of the worst customers I ever had referred me the best customer I ever had.   I love it!!

That's great!!

And something you/I have to remember........sometimes the worst leads to the best jobs.    

That is why I try to never burn bridges. You never know what may come your way. Andy, you handled it great. Hopefully more referrals from this new customer. Nice.