Service providers-how many "second chances"?

[TownsendPLocke]

While this could be inclusive of the type of "service providers"this site is most concerned with I would like to open it to a broader perspective if possible.

I had my car washed last week(just in time for the rain ) at a place I have had less than wonderful results at before.This time the fella drying/finishing the car was a supervisor and he did a terrible job.Rather than go over the things he missed on the car I just took the keys pulled up a little bit into a secluded spot and fetched the owner-I went over what was missed by the supervisor,told him it was the third time in a row I had less than good results from his business and that was why I was taking my business elsewhere.I was very calm while doing this-and I was not looking for a redo or a free car wash.I was trying to be helpful to a small business owner.

So, how many "second chances" do you give to service providers-and yes,feel free to talk about the type of "service providers"this site focuses on,but also everyday experiences as well.

[caeron]

Obviously it depends, but I tend to be of the second strike out rule.

One time could be an anomaly. The second time it's a pattern.

For escorts, I don't hire enough these days to create patterns, so if something goes wrong with the scheduling, I just make the presumption it's a pattern and move on. This has as much to do with the fact that I typically hire when I'm on the road, so if I give them a second chance, if they are a flake, then I've probably lost my chance to hire.

Our local dry cleaners, for instance, has had issues over the years. They pick up and deliver, which I love, so when delivery and pickup got really spotty for a couple of months, I just nagged the owners until they got it sorted out, since switching would have been worse than dealing with the flaky driver.

[Guest Rian]

Obviously it depends, but I tend to be of the second strike out rule.

One time could be an anomaly. The second time it's a pattern.

For escorts, I don't hire enough these days to create patterns, so if something goes wrong with the scheduling, I just make the presumption it's a pattern and move on.

Although I have never had to cancel any of my bookings, I have been cancelled on before. Like yourself Im the second strike out rule...Sometimes people postpone for whatever reason and reschedule. I could say most times the ones who cancelled did show the 2nd time. I'll maybe do 3rd chances with buddies...but when it comes down to business I know most of genuine clients are organized and serious enough to have their schedules worked through, if not the 1st time around then the 2nd.

Anymore than that, I find they're just taking the piss...

[Guest TNTTed]

There really are a lot of “it depends†to this question. Like the dry cleaning example, if the issue remains unresolved and if there aren’t a lot of convenient alternatives, well, then I’d probably manage my expectations and learn to live with it.

Same “it depends†with a car wash. How many car washes are in a small town? Where I live (part of the time), there’s only one so there’s damn little incentive for him to do a top-notch job, or for me to consider “second chancesâ€. So I take it like it is, (or sometimes do it myself – yech!).

If you are going to register a complaint, though, it has to be at the highest level – preferably the one whose wallet will be affected. I don’t think it’s fair to count “chances†until you’ve done that.

[RA1]

I agree, it depends. Good examples of how and why it might depend are listed above.

If I go into a restaurant and the food comes out not as ordered, I complain to the wait person if I think they can fix it; or, I ask for a manager and explain the problem. I figure if they don't know, it is part of my duty as a customer to tell them. Then, when I come back, if it isn't fixed I figure they don't care and it is adios. Two times is generally my limit. I have been places where they gave me a free steak dinner but because I had already tried them twice I didn't even bother to cash it in.

I do think it important to try to be a good customer. That includes timely, appropriate and factual criticism given in a matter of fact manner. Good criticism is called a bigger tip.

If the service is bad I have no problem leaving a very modest tip. If the food is bad, I complain and leave a reasonable tip. If both are bad, I try to escape before they poison me or otherwise provide me with bodily harm.

As far as escorts are concerned: As a client, I have never cancelled. I did send one home early during my early days. Now I just try to use my accumulated experience or take advantage of very good advice offered elsewhere and that is, go for an hour before you go for overnight or a week-end. It is far better to part on good company with a minimum of expense as opposed to ruining a good week-end, making an enemy or disliking a person and wasting much more money. But, as the saying goes, you pays your money and you takes your chances. Not good English but a fair statement of fact.

Best regards,

RA1

[Guest Rian]

There really are a lot of “it depends†to this question.

I know this is about service providers but im familiar with situtations like this. You do have a point there is alot of depends. At some point the shoe ends up on our foot and we want the 'other chance'. Not that every situtation deserves additional chances, but if there's little to lose (except sanity!) its up to you to decide how many chances they get.

[Guest voke]

It is not just about service providers, but those who provide service. I recently took advantage of the down economy and negotiated a great deal on a new car. I paid 50% cash down and financed the remaining balance. When the finanace company called me to verify all the stuff they verify, they asked me the mileage on the car. I said it had 1550 miles when I drove it off the lot. They told me the dealership reported that it less than 500 miles. It may not seem important but it impacted interest rates. I called the dealership's new car sales manager and asked him what is up with this discrepency. Hums and ohs later, he asked me what would make me happy. (I would have asked for other things, but he was not my type ) I told him I would call him back. I put a list together after I calculated what the .015 increase in interest equalled. Long story short, I got custom made seat covers (they had to be made because of seat inbedded airbags), a year of fully paid oil changes and washes, mud flaps and a year of netflix movies (I saw the promotion in their showroom when I was car shopping.) I figured I made out okay, because I have no idea what custom made seat covers cost. I can only guess they were more than the $275 their little oversight about the mileage cost me. Guys, it is not just about service in restaurants and venues, but don't forget about the large purchases and how you can get screwed (and not the nice way.)