What was the worst customers you ever had?

[dtechm]

What was the most nightmare client you have ever had? Explain...

[CybFun.com]

I haven't seen one yet. It's up to your attitude.

[The Stealthy One]

Nightmare in terms of emotional trauma??

For instance, I had a situation with a customer where the customer blamed my company for a problem, even though the issue was nobody's fault (the "service failure" was actually due to two holidays). I get really angry at people who have no critical thinking skills and don't even possess basic reasoning skills in order to determine that a delay was caused by a couple of holidays that she herself (!) observed!

[TylerBakerllc]

Not my client, but my brother's. He owns a body shop and an older fella dropped his Cadillac off for repair. After 4 days the repair was completed and my brother called the guy to come pick up his car. When he arrived, he went straight to his car and sat in the drivers sear. After a moment, he emerged from the car irate. He asked my brother if he enjoyed the cruise in his car. My brother, baffled, asked him what he was talking about. The customer said that there was 1/4 mile more on his car than when he left it.

At this point, my brother attempted to explain that he details every car that leaves his shop for free... And that his pressure washer stopped working so he had to take the car to a car wash up the street. The customer didn't believe my brother, and left disgruntled.

For the record, there have only been 2 customers that H&H Collision hasn't been able to please in 12 yrs... He has a customer retention rate of over 95%! It's hard to believe but it just goes to show you that impeccable customer service and fair prices are invaluable in the collision repair business.

[Henryj]

Well my worst client was a person that well I did a service with him, he brought the copyright off the template I made. But he never built the site he was wanting to build with the template

So he got really mad and tried to get back the money, telling me that since he doesn't need the template any more he should get his money back. He harassed me for about 2 months every single day. One day he verbally assaulted me, so I just did the most childish thing I can do and, made his forum and site crash, spam his email, give him a virus, and blocked him

I know it was childish, but you guys should have been there and seen how much he was bothering me and how annoying he was being. I was 12

[Matagascar]

I've had a few bad clients, but none too bad that they stood out.

[PowerOfOne]

I completely agree. It's all
about attitude! Being
a successful entrepreneur
takes ENERGY. Focus that
positive energy on the
process, not the destination.
Avoid measuring your success
by strictly looking at your
bank account. This is an
incredible journey.
Grow in the experience it
brings. Create meaningful
relationships and things will
begin to fall in place. Enjoy it.
And savor the life's lessons
that will inevitably surface
during your trek.

Here's To Your Success,

Kary

[dtechm]

I agree it is all about attitude, but you are ALWAYS going to have a disgruntled customer. I don't care what you say, you can't make everyone happy.

[PowerOfOne]

Move on. Next... Think about all
the great people you've helped
and the ones that have appreciated
your product or service. That
is what drives me to help
people and make a difference
in this unpredictable world. Those
people aren't worth my time,
because they will find problems
and issues where ever they go.
They seek it out and attract it.
Many times I think we bring
it on ourselves by our mindset
and our own attitude as we do
business with people.

I choose a different path.

Great topic to discuss.

Kary

[Fanatik]

Kary, I think your MLM has left you blind. Might want to step away from that for a minute.

My 'worst' customer was about 1 1/2 yrs ago, when I owned an HID business. If anyone's every bought or owned HID's, you understand that even though they are 'plug and play' compatible, you should use the relay harness included (although some people don't, which is beyond me). Anyhow - the HID business was booming, and I was on my honey moon in St Lucia. Even on my honeymoon, I kept my cell on me, my laptop in my room always on.

The customer shot me a very nasty e-mail saying the HID kit didnt work and he wanted his money back immediately. So, I called him up and helped him through his trouble (we was not mechanically inclined, and screwed up the installation of the HID kit). Mind you - we say in plain english to have it installed by a shop if you're unsure of how to install it (even though directions are included).

The install worked, guy was happy. Then I get a phone call 30 minutes later that one bulb didnt work. I told him to recheck his connections. Sure enough, he didnt clip on the connector until it 'clicked'. Problem solved.

I get an e-mail 2 days later saying he doesn't like the kit and wants to return it. I told him no, the kit's already been installed and used, and he installed the ballast holsters in such a way that he modified them. A return simply because 'he didnt like the color' wasn't acceptable.

I get home from my honeymoon 8 days later, and there's a UPS box on my doorstep. Yep, he returned the kit. He tried disputing the charge w/ the CC company, but I told them the story and they denied his claim. I talked to the customer and told him I'd send the kit back for him, but he didnt want it... Go figure.

I had a 97% positive customer rate, but the bad customers were BAD. People ordering kits that have never touched a socket wrench, and trying to install them. Then wanting to return them because 'they didnt like the color'... sorry, the color was shown in MANY pictures on the site.

You can try to candy coat everything like Kary, or you can wake up and realize there will always be those few customers that you can never please. Just take the good ones, and know you're doing good business with some customers that really value it.

[Gene]

I've crossed paths with some annoying people, who get mad at me over something that I can't control. Sometimes I can understand their frustration (other times they're just being plain idiots), but once I explain the situation, it would be nice for them to let it go. But we're all human....maybe somebody "kicked their cat". Who knows?

[Gator]

where do I start.. lol