Extra charge for running roads.

[titaniumneck]

if a customer cannot wait for a part to be ordered and demands that you go pick it up from where it is do you charge extra

 

[GA_Boater]

Look at it like this.

A shop has X number of employees with each adding 100 bucks an hour to the bottom line. Take one of those employees and put him in a truck to get a part, burning gas, along with wear and tear on the truck, plus he isn't generating that 100 bucks an hour. In the meantime, a customer boat is sitting there and the customer is foaming at the mouth about the long repair time.

If you were the business owner, what would you do?

 

[titaniumneck]

Charge normal rate??

 

[Scott Danforth]

if you didnt charge more, for taking the resource and sending them on a parts run, then without the extra thru-put from the missing employee's contribution, the money coming in is less with fixed overhead costs.

charging the same would mean that you as the business owner probably don't eat that day after you paid the employees, put gas in the truck, paid the insurance, and kept the lights on.

 

[wrvond]

There is always a surcharge for rush delivery. There is also a world of difference between "cannot" and "won't". Finally, is the seller of the part not able to provide rush delivery?

 

[titaniumneck]

Yes, Rush delivery always available, but being a newbie at the business part of it we have got to learn how to relializes, can't get a boat on Wednesday and promise it will be ready for the weekend.

 

[mr 88]

UPS next day and give customer the bill so he can pay it. It also depends on how much the part is, what's your mark up ,how much do you value the customer or how much business does he give you in a year. If you are selling a boat and making a decent buck on it then yes,you get that part so the sale doesn't fall through ,he changes his mind in the meantime or something else comes up in his life and the deal goes sour during that no part time.

 

[frantically relaxing]

I'm self employed and work out of my house, and I'm not sure I understand the question-- around here if a part (engraving part, car part, boat part, fishing pole part) is close enough that I can go 'pick it up where it is', then typically the place 'where it is' will deliver it, probably in less time than if I go fetch it....

And if someone's in a bigger hurry than that, HE can go get it

 

[titaniumneck]

Your not going to get any boat shops around here to deliver to our location. My location is 47 miles one way for one place, 55 miles the other.

 

[Tnstratofam]

if a customer cannot wait for a part to be ordered and demands that you go pick it up from where it is do you charge extra

Yes.

If you have given the customer a price based on the part being shipped to you, but the customer can't wait then you inform them there is an extra charge for you to go pick it up. Figure the cost of paying an employee for their time plus the coat of fuel and ad 20% to that total. If the customer still wants you to pick up the part then send for the part.

If you haven't priced the part yet to the customer then just add the cost of delivery to the part's final price.


One thing to consider if this becomes a regular request by customers is to hire a part time parts runner. Or have someone on standby, perhaps a retired person looking for some extra money.

 

[Yegboats]

I think it would be unreasonable for him to expect this service for free. Yourself or an employee will be driving over 100 miles round trip during business hours? Promises are ok to make so long as you explain to the customer this is for a straight forward job barring any unforseen issues. From time to time things do come up where you will have to order additional parts, or the repair is a bigger job than anticipated.

It all comes down to how much your going to charge him to pull someone off their regular duties so they can drop everything and go on a 2 hour road trip.I don't think it would be fair to charge a skilled shop rate for this figure out what you want to charge. By mile, hour, lost time idk whatever you think.

If he doesn't agree to pay the extra fee do like Frantic suggested and ask him if he can go pick it up. If he can't pick up the part and is upset about the charge, remind him that to this point you have done everything in your power to get him on the water for the weekend. He brought his boat in Wedesnday, you looked at it the same day determined it needed a part and your still willing to work with him so he can have his fun on the weekend. Needing this part was an unforseen circumstance.

 

[redneck joe]

If i was your customer I'd bring it too you

 

[JoLin]

As a customer, I've made the parts run when I was in that much of a hurry.

Is this a good customer who drops a bunch of money with you every season? If there's a legitimate reason he can't get it himself, pick it up for him gratis.
Is he a cheap PITA who's always pressuring you for something? Charge him, or have hm pick it up himself.

IMO, attitude (yours and the customer's) is everything regardless of what business you're in. Steady customers who were willing to work with me always got extra attention.

My .02

 

[redneck joe]

oh and I've paid for the part and overnight shipped for them.

 

[GA_Boater]

I think the back story would be helpful.

 

[airdvr1227]

if a customer cannot wait for a part to be ordered and demands that you go pick it up from where it is do you charge extra

I think the OP has answered his own question. I ran a car repair shop for awhile. I put up a sign...

Our repairs are good, cheap, and quick.

Good and quick...won't be cheap.
Cheap and quick...won't be good.
Good and cheap...won't be quick.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Have an Uber or a taxi pick it up and bring it to you.
When I drove a cab I did this kind of thing often.