The One that Got Away

There's nothing quite like word of mouth. Within the last six months Mark has performed six warranty inspections in the same neighborhood. It's not just because we sent them a special offer. We did, but so did a number of other inspection companies. They wanted Mark because word got around that he does a really good job for a reasonable price. So I wasn't surprised when I got a call from another homeowner in the same neighborhood. I had his name, address, email address - everything I needed to enter the appointment into the schedule - when he asked me about the price. Of course - it's a special offer that includes a number of premium options. We charge a flat rate on a warranty inspection - and the special included the sewer-cam and zip level measurement (which normally cost an additional $250) at no additional charge. Most people think it's a good deal (because it is). But this guy seemed to think that other people were getting a better deal than he was being offered. That's happened before. After giving a caller in January the special price, he told me that he wanted to pay the same price that his friend paid. He gave me his friend's name and I looked it up. His friend had his inspection last October, before the special pricing took effect. When I told him the price his friend had paid, he was more than happy to go with the special price.

But not this guy. He was insistent that I was overcharging him. He told me there was a special price for people in his subdivision. He even gave me a promotion code. I don't know whose promotion code it was, but it wasn't ours. And he insisted that his friend had paid $100 less than the price I was giving him. I asked what his friend's name was and confirmed that his friend had paid the going rate, but he didn't believe me. But the price he wanted was $100 less than our minimum charge - without any premium options. And we never but NEVER discount $100 below minimum charge. Bottom line - he decided to use an inspector whose base price was $100 less than our minimum price.

All I could do was remind him that the other inspector may not include an infrared scan, probably will not include a digital foundation plot and most definitely will not include a sewer cam. To which he said "O-Kay".

Seriously, I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the guys in this neighborhood get together. It seems they regale one another with tales of what a good deal they got, even though it was the same deal everyone else got. I think they should take up fishing.