Question Expectation of Privacy?

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Blackcat

Blackcat

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Posts
256
Loc
NC
Has anyone ever had problems from having customers with the same last name?

We recently lost a customer because we accidentally showed her work to another woman with the same unusual last name. Turned out the other woman was the wife of the first woman's ex-husband. The item framed was something the first wife made for the husband some twenty years prior while still married to him, which the second wife recognized as such and confronted the first wife about. Despite us giving her promises to be more careful and store credit (and getting the second wife to pay for some of her framing), she refuses to continue business with us because she can't trust us. She acts like we are a medical office bound by privacy laws. Since when do we offer promises of privacy?

Kicker is, she is the one who referred the second wife to do her framing at our store.
 
Sometimes no matter how careful you are "stuff" happens.
I have almost screwed up in the past when a framed item was a surprise gift and I called the customer that it was ready for pickup.
Luckily, I got one of the kids and not the person who was getting the surprise.
 
I've never worried about this issue other than if it is a gift... which I usually find out during discussions at the design counter.

I often display recently finished work in the shop... customers see this when they come in and many ask about recent projects and enjoy seeing how I've designed. If someone would prefer I didn't display their piece they are free to say so and I would obviously respect that request.
 
OK, a dentist aquaintance of mine was married to a woman named "Judy" and they were divorced and he married again to a woman named "Judy". Judy1 kept her married name while Judy2 assumed her new husband's name. They looked a lot alike...

Sounds like the parties involved have a bunch of baggage and they want you to help them carry it. You obliged, though not consciously. Get a POS and ask for first names and/or phone numbers for positive ID.
 
Any customers valuable, but down the line would you really want to deal with one that can be so petty?
 
Even if the name was Smith, an innocent mistake like this doesn't really warrant that kind of response. If privacy was a big concern, any of us would honor such a request.

I think we are sometimes so used to working overtime to keep our customers happy that we don't recognize when they are unreasonable. This dispute was never about you or your work. Usually folks that are upset and unreasonable come back after enough time has passed for them to stop being embarrassed by their reaction. In any case, it isn't worth worrying about.
 
I read your post a few times, but am confused about who was angry..first or second wife.

Either way; nothing you can do about it and nothing you did wrong. As if you can always remember every customer's face and name!

Like Dave, I display recent customer's work until they come in to pick it up. Should we now have every customer sign some paper that they agree to that????
 
Last week, I had a really good client get something framed for her hubby's birthday. She emphasized heavily that I shouldn't call the house when it was ready, so she gave me her cell phone, written down on a piece of paper, with "Kathy's cell number".

It was her husband's.

I've never tap-danced so fast in my life, but we kept the surprise going. Age creeps up on us. :)
 
I once "accidentally" called a customer after being told not to. He was a very regular customer and got a LOT of pieces done. It was for Christmas, but not the Christmas that was just 3 days before...it was for NEXT Christmas...he was doing it WAY early. But because Christmas had just passed, all of my brain cells were gone and I forgot. :( I think the wife was having a cow about how much money he'd been spending on framing.

Thank goodness the man had a sense of humor. He said "Please, the next time you call again...say you're "the other woman". My wife would be more understanding."

;)
 
That's funny, because the one time I called a man's cell and his wife answered, I didn't want to give away the surprise of her birthday present, so I just asked to speak with him and she got SOOOOO huffy.

"This is his WIFE!!! What do YOU want?????"

This is regarding a custom order that he had placed. (No hint of what kind of order). I will try him again in a few hours.

Whoa. Trouble in paradise?

I always display framed work. It's like when you go to one of those paint your own pottery places and they have recently fired customer work in their window. It keeps an assortment of interesting examples around. Most people are pleased to see we are proud of their finished product. But you can't please everybody all the time.
 
MabSadie2 said:
I always display framed work. It's like when you go to one of those paint your own pottery places and they have recently fired customer work in their window. It keeps an assortment of interesting examples around. Most people are pleased to see we are proud of their finished product. But you can't please everybody all the time.
Click to expand...

Always a good idea bu I guess the large "boudoir" picture I framed recently for a lady should REALLY stay away form such a display....;);)
 
Consider it a blessing in disguise, you won’t have to deal with her anymore, there are better prospects for customers out there that you can spend your time communicating with.
 
Paul N said:
Always a good idea bu I guess the large "boudoir" picture I framed recently for a lady should REALLY stay away form such a display....;);)
Click to expand...

Yes, along with the Popeye "doin' " Olive Oil poster.

The first shop I worked in also displayed the finished works. There were a few that I just couldn't. The above was one. Any TK's - just was sooo sick of seeing them and they all look alike to me. And the last was a child's portrait that had the creepiest eyes, I had to cover it.

Funny, two years later, I started working for someone else and the first thing I saw hanging in that gallery was another scary kid portrait by the same artist. Different kid but same creeeeeeeeeepy eyes.:eek:
 
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