Petfinder.com forums :: View topic - Pretend you call a small business and... [ ]

You get a voice message. It clearly states that the small business owner is currently not taking new clients. How do you respond? Do you move on, realizing that there are similar businesses listed in the phone book? Does it become a personal challenge to see if you can negotiate your way in? Do you spew a stream of profanities even though you were not specifically named in the voice message and it's not a personal rejection? Do you leave a long message about how important you are and how you're friends with other important people?

Do you believe every business should try to accomodate every potential client/customer? Do you believe it's unreasonable for a business owner to set limits? If a business owner does decide not to take on new customers/clients, what's the least offensive way to inform people?

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:11 am Post subject:

I'm sure there are some businesses out there who feel that once they exceed a certain number of clients, they can no longer offer the level of service that they feel their clients deserve. Lets say there are two lawyers of equal ability and one of them only serves two clients at any given time to insure that they are well represented, while the other has no qualms about taking on ten clients at one time, because they don't want to turn away any business - which would you want to represent you? Or on a smaller scale, a fine restaurant that can only do a certain number of bookings on any given evening, because if they try to do too many, food quality and service will suffer and that will hurt business in the long run.

So yes, in some instances, I think it's not only reasonable, but makes good business sense to set limits. If I were a business owner who did this, I'd tell prospective clients that I limit my customer base to insure that all of my customers get the service and quality of product that they deserve and that while I'm not currently taking new clients, I hope that they'll understand why and will consider me again in the future.

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:38 am Post subject:

I chose hang up and call back 83 times to see if the message has changed. I would also wait until after the beep to hang up. Just because....

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:47 am Post subject:

If a rescue had taken in all the animals they could possibly take, knew their limits, and had a message saying they were unable to take any more animals I am sure people here would be for the most part compassionate and understanding about that. Same if they had several dozen calls on a very rare breed puppy and already had several great applications.

So I guess it would be a put yourself in their shoes kind of thing, I would move on. Not saying I wouldn't complain to someone else, spouse/friend etc. But wouldn't stalk the company. Laughing

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:12 am Post subject:

I'd move on. I wouldn't want to conduct business with a business that was too busy to properly take care of me. That'd be like dating a man with too many other girlfriends. Laughing

You might get something out of it, but probably not what you were hoping to get!

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:51 am Post subject:

I wish more business would do it instead of leading you on and giving you bad service. I checked out a boarding kennel that was considered to be one of the best in the country. I checked them out during the summer and as it turned out when they had to many people board their pets that week, instead of turned them down, they stuffed your dog in some tiny cage w/o your knowing it and charged you full price.

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:39 am Post subject:

I chose hidden reply # 6. I'd leave a voicemail with my info asking to please keep my information on file for when they are taking new clients. (That's what we like to hear being in a small auto parts buisiness.)

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:52 am Post subject:

I forgot one very important and apparently not uncommon option.

How many people would call a nearby business and ask them to leave a note for the business you couldn't reach? Confused

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:57 am Post subject:

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:31 am Post subject:

I voted for just hang up. I'm non-confontational. (well sometimes I am Razz

)

I might be offended at the message at first, but then I'd think it thru.....

I'd be glad that someone was honest enough to limit themselves to only those they could properly serve and not let greed get the best of them.

Then too, couldn't there be other legitimate reasons for the cut-off? Perhaps they are getting ready to go out of business? Or retire? Or a key partner/employee is ill??

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 11:04 am Post subject:

My husband and I run an electrical contracting business. There are times we do not take on new customers in order to service our existing customers better. We do not want to over schedule to the point that we will not be available for an emergency. We have stopped advertising in order to concentrate on our existing customers. I think if a business gets to the point that they cannot take on more customers they must be doing something right. It is cheaper to keep the customers you have than to find new ones. I would respect any company who chose to limit their customer base.
We could bring on more employees who are less qualified for the job in order to take on new customers. Which I am sure many businesses do. We prefer to have the best employees who give the best service to our customers. You are only as good as your weakest employee.
I think you should be happy a business is not doing everything to get your business and try them again in the future if need be.

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:06 pm Post subject:

There are many days that while I've sat waiting with a sick child for hours at the pediatricians office that I wished they'd start turning down new clients....

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject:

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

So I have to ask what kind of small business it was HF...

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject:

I'd probably leave my name and contact info anyway and ask that when they are taking new clients to give me a call. Otherwise I'd move on.

Petfinder.com forums Forum Index -> Public Forums -> General Community -> Pretend you call a small business and...
	Goto page 1, 2 Next

	Petfinder.com forums Forum Index -> Public Forums -> General Community -> Pretend you call a small business and...	All times are GMT - 5 Hours Goto page 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2