subject: When Making A Decision Does Choosing Price Over Great Service Save You Money [print this page] Recently, I have been a bit perplexed about how people choose who to use for any number of services. As a service provider myself, it has always been important to me to provide the type of service that would bring a client back to use my service again and to refer my services to their friends, family and co-workers.
Sometimes I wonder if any amount of good service is enough.
Scenario 1 - Great Service
Let's say you need a contractor of some kind - a roofer or a plumber or an electrician - and you get a name from the phone book (or Internet) or maybe a friend or neighbor. The contractor shows up and it turns out that he or she is: on time, thorough, competent, friendly, and, just for the heck of it, let us throw in honest.
The guy may have told you that you do not need the $1,000 fix, that the $500 repair will work just fine. He does a good job, you like him and when he leaves you feel your needs were taken care of at a fair price.
The contractor may even put you on his eNewsletter list or send you a refrigerator magnet so you will know how to reach him the next time you need him or refer him to someone.
Time goes by.
Scenario 2 - Price
Something else goes wrong or,in my case, you just need my help again. However, this time something has changed:
Some friend or co-worker has told you about Brand X contractor who is really, really cheap. Or they have a big rebate for first time customers. Or something other pricing scheme that makes them look really attractive for no other reason but price.
You remember this first guy - personable, honest, competent - but hey, this other guy is cheap!
Decision, so what do you do?
Obviously, you may try to be subtle with the first guy about his pricing (remember, it was fair at the time you needed him) and, maybe, that works.
If the contractor holds firm on his pricing, do you dump him and go for price? And hope for the best.
