Which is Harder?

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carladea

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Sep 25, 2000
Posts
119
Loc
Weaverville, NC USA
Which is harder, or more accurately, more stressful for you: when a customer spends forever at the design table choosing and picking and deciding, or, when a customer drops work off and says "just do it".

Personally, I love "just doing it", but I am nervous about whether they will agree with my taste or not. Lets face it, I don't necessarily like every design made--some people know what they want and are stubborn about it. Period.

But, I have never had anyone just drop something off and not like it when it was picked up. It does feel good to be trusted.

How about you?
 
I absolutely love it when a customer just drops off work and lets me "have at it." The people that do that are usually ones I've worked with many times before, so I know what they like and they know what I do. They usually have a pretty good idea what it'll cost, too. I call these customers "patrons" or "benefactors."
smile.gif


I have more customers that will bring in a few projects, let me play with them for a few days, and then come back to see some ideas. This is my favorite way to do design. I can work on it for a while and if I get stuck, go do something else and come back later. I think the customer gets my best ideas this way and I can make more efficient use of my time.
 
Hardest for me is a long taking client who doesn't offer any help. Someone can spend all day at my counter if he or she is making a series of choices..."That's too wide...do you have one that's like this, but darker?"

What drives me nuts is no feedback except "Nah, I don't like that one. . .nope. . .Nuh uh."

I don't get too many people who leave the art and walk out, but enough go with my first suggestion to make me feel as if I have a pretty good sense of what my clients want.
 
I love the customers that drop things off.
If it is a customer that I know well, then sometimes I just do it.
If not, they are called in for approval before the orders are placed.
I agree with Ron, drop offs give me more time to think about what I'm doing and come up with the best design.
 
I love it when customers get excited while your designing..."that looks great!" "What a difference" etc. Trusting yet participative. The "you do it" drop offs, unless I REALLY know the customer drive me nuts!

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Amy, CPF
CBF Portland,Maine
right on the Bay
 
Time is money. I ask a few questions with everyone that walks in the door regarding their tastes, what they are looking for, eliminating 90% of what I have. Are you interested in wood, gold, metal? Rustic or a fine furniture finish? Dressy Rustic? Go from there. Are there any colors you want to pull out? (though I hate for people to match their furniture). If they are really difficult (rare with this quick process), I just ask what it is about the frame or mat they don't like and immediately put it up/away so they don't confuse themselves. This usually works. About half my clients just drop items off. These are my favorites.
 
Most stressful-the no-feedback customer.
 
I do not read minds very well. I am not comfortable in either of this scenerios. I would not let them leave until I asked a bunch of relavent questions.

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Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the =^..^= cat.
 
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