Notice To New Contractors

I’d just like to start off by saying that I applaud anyone who chooses to start a business and attempts to make their own way in this world. Bravo.

However, I do want to address this to some of the newbies that are undoubtedly lurking here on the forum and are maybe first-time business owners that aren’t exactly sure how to go about things like introducing themselves to competitors or asking their competition questions about pricing, services, etc.

I can tell you without a doubt that NO ONE appreciates being lied to. This includes your competition. Do not call your local competitors and pretend to be a potential customer and ask for quotes on different services in order to “price shop” your competition. It’s deceitful and will end up costing you exponentially more than it could ever help you.

For instance, a young man just sent me an online free quote request. Because I keep an eye on my local competition, I recognized the name from his multiple posts on local Facebook groups. So, I called him. I went through my normal phone script and when I got to the address portion he didn’t want to give me an address. Instead, he wanted to send me pictures. This is when I busted him. I said, “You are the same T. XXX that owns ‘Insert Generic Pressure Washing Company Name Here’, correct?” And, to my surprise, he actually fessed up.

I went over my distaste for what he was doing and how there are FAR better ways to go about things as a business owner. There will come a time when you have to rely on your competition. If you go around burning bridges by pretending to be something you’re not, lying or any other scummy tactics then you will figure out real quick how fast word gets around in your area. I speak to a handful of my competitors and am friendly with any of them that I encounter because I may need their help someday or they may need mine. If your name gets tarnished with one guy it will inevitably spread to another and on down the line it goes. Before you know it, NO ONE will help you in your time of need because of your scummy tactics.

Had this young man come to me and been forthright about his intentions I would’ve gladly helped him out. However, since he chose to lie and deceive, I’m not going to waste my time.

Another person pulled this exact same stunt with me just a few weeks ago and * I believe * is now a member of this forum. The difference between these two is that one is a young kid (maybe 21) who genuinely thought that was just how it’s done and the other is a grown man with a family and is just genuinely that scummy.

In short, be a good person like your parents raised you to be. You’ll be amazed how real Karma actually is.

ETA: I believe, since I don’t have verifiable proof.

21 Likes

Call him out to he can be avoided. No place for liars here.

1 Like

If I had irrefutable evidence of it then I absolutely would. But, I don’t. But, I do have a good gut and it hasn’t failed me yet in this world.

That’s a slippery slope, and could potentially open the forum up to liability.

What do you guys think, @squidskc and @Steve?

1 Like

How many vendors has IBS called out so far, let it rip son let’s hear it :face_with_hand_over_mouth::face_with_hand_over_mouth:

1 Like

Yeah, but his and many other’s experiences with those vendors support his statements. I edited mine to say " I believe" since I have no actual proof so it is merely my opinion and belief.

Besides, that’s not the point of my post. It’s just a piece of friendly advice to new guys. There are ways of doing things without stepping on toes and being deceitful. The young man actually texted me and apologized again. There’s hope for him yet.

Hey @DisplacedTexan sorry about asking for a quote to clean my van, it being down by the river it gets all kind of crap on it. Oh, btw treefiddy is way to much!

6 Likes

Hey, quality ain’t cheap, Coop. Besides, I don’t scrub rubber so I had to throw in a PITA fee.

2 Likes

I had some jerk falsely accuse me of illegally dumping trash in a dumpster this weekend. A dumpster I pay to use. I totally humiliated him and his nosy wife in front of everyone there.

Be careful calling out people online without rock solid evidence. as D-Texan said “Karma.”

Hey guys. I’m sorry, I don’t have much I can say to weigh in. I haven’t been here in months. Dani is 2 cycles into chemo and my wash schedule has been full a month ahead since May… Between those two things I’m months behind. Wish I could be more helpful.

13 Likes

Prayers for y’all, man.

2 Likes

Sorry to hear that. Prayers to your family.

I believe it. I had a guy try to give me a hard time about putting trash in the dumpster at a car wash. A car wash I had just spent $20 at washing my truck. And all of the cans at the vacuums were full and I don’t litter so I put my trash in the dumpster.

People are insane sometimes.

1 Like

It was some dumfounding craziness. I have seen people actually dumping illegally in that same dumpster and I don’t ever say anything because I know how to mind my own business, which is a lost art in America apparently. If it becomes a problem the owner of the industrial park can deal with it, is my philosophy.

1 Like

Very true.

Yes. And calling out a vendor is quite different from calling out an individual. You did the right thing by keeping it anonymous.


@squidskc Rowdie, my thoughts and prayers to your family. Keep up the good fight.

5 Likes

This post is great. I was really nervous when I was still brand spanking new, to reach out to my competitors at first, now I’m pretty friendly with 3 of them and they have helped me quite a bit since I’m new to the industry!

2 Likes

That’s good. I’ve flipped plenty of jobs to a couple of my competitors and had a few flip me some too. But being shady doesn’t sit well with folks and they won’t want to help you out if you shady for fear of their name being attached to yours. Do right by people and they’ll do right by you.

3 Likes

@DisplacedTexan, I wanted to comment on this, since I’m new and local to you.

I haven’t called you, even I though have contemplated calling around and introducing myself to local peers. I just haven’t gotten to that point, yet.

Message me your number. I’d definitely like to talk.

Get a rope, circle the wagons …

2 Likes