So David I'm back. I don't do rules well, NB or other system rules, traditional rules, or my own rules.
In a lot of ways, but with shoeing the horse must leave better than when the other guy did him or better than the last time I did him. More later.
I keep trying to set up for a "next" appointment! But alas! I always get the response: "I'll call you." Some times they do and mostly they don't.
I don't know how you can run a business and make a living like that. Have you tried explaining to them that your prices are based on a six to eight week shoeing schedule, and beyond that additional charges might apply? Regards
Rick at lot of us in our area probably have 75% regular clients , 50% re~book , the others phone when they think (or can afford ) that they need our services , the other 25% phone around for the cheapest or the farrier that will turn up first , it is not uncommon for somebody to turn up and find out it was shod yesterday by somebody else
I don't see how you could possibly run a business and keep your sanity with clients who don't schedule. I schedule the next appointment before I leave but it's not set in stone. If the client or I need to move the appointment around it's not a problem. I won't work for people who won't schedule.
That must be difficult. All of my clients pre-book. I guess I'm quite fortunate in that. Not to say I don't have to make a lot of changes in appointments - life happens. I try to schedule the appointment when it is convenient for the client. If they need to change, they might have to take a less convenient time, so most don't change. They will often have someone stand in for them. I have to reschedule at least once or twice every week, but that makes room for someone who had to postpone from the previous week. I know which one have financial difficulties, so I'm more lenient about holding them to their appointment. The gal who calls up to reschedule because she has a hair appointment has to take what she can get. The worst part of this profession I find is scheduling, and the time I have to spend on the phone. I guess this means I have some flexible rules. Regards
Rick there 147 qualified farriers within a 35mile radius of where i live , its not a densely populated area , mainly agriculture , i do not have a problem with work but many are not finding it easy , i have a well know farrier mate 25 miles from me who has even more farriers within a 30 mile radius , the client remember ,can take their business (money ) wherever and to whom they want , i try to keep my work to the highest standards all times to keep them on my book , several "top" farriers have tried moving in and setting the rules , so to say , and not one lasted , it is about working together , to many farriers shoeing horses have an "attitude" , it dont wash in my book
Chris, is that a common occurrence in your or others practice? to answer you directly,if i have the time ,materials and inclination, i d shoe the xtra's, but would certainly ask why the common courtesy of letting me know of the xtras could not have been exercised. if i didn t have the time,materials or inclination, i d ask out loud how important could it be,considering no planning was considered. so i guess my rule would be to let it be known what i think of the situation regards ray
its not uncommon Ray , racing and polo can be awkward because of the movement of horses around stables , it gets done , thats what the boss pays me for , not many work my hours , not many have as much time off , not many get my perks , to sum it up , the good times more than compensates for the bad
I can smile any day of the week if I'm earning, there will always be the people who are rigid about how customers should do this that and the other, good luck to them, here in the UK you will be short of work reel quick if you are to dictatorial, I'm much more laid back now than I used to be and have stayed busy as a result. One thing I am religious about is when I get home I right down in the diary what I did to each horse, and what I charged, I total that up each day each week and each month, that is my un breakable rule.
147 qualified farriers in a 35 mile radius? Jeezus, how many horses are there over there? At a minimum book 0f 200 horses, that would by 29,400 horses in a 35 mile radius. An average book of 300 would be 44,100 horses. Methinks there are a lot of unemployed farriers over there. Are you guys using that "European math" again? Regards
David, in the UK, would it be considered dictatorial if one requested to be informed that circumstances may have changed so that a worker could prepare for the changes,either in time ,materials or schedule? thanks Regards ray
Ray some peoples own short comings are reason for them to change. In the service industry which we are in, the client can be organised or not. Sometimes the mere act of pointing this out can be enough for them to change. I just smile do as many as I can and schedule the rest. After all extra work is higher income. Going somewhere to do 7 and only doing 3 is expensive to me, and that happens too. I try to be organised and text clients in the morning and check how many there are to do. Other yards I turn up check all the horses and shoe what's required. We are farriers in a market where there lots of farriers, I don't save lives!!! The more cheerful I am the higher my market share, I think that is important when dealing with people's leisure time.
When you get a bunch of newly qualified lads (and lasses) of this size released into the market every six months, you will eventually reach saturation point... especially when horse numbers are falling.
