Trouble with a client

Tina, I can promise you, I would treat your laptop with great care and tenderness, as I would your lapbottom and lapmiddle. And if anything spilled on it, it would be my fault.

to COG's elocution

Always two sides to every story. I would never keep my laptop in an unsafe location in the first place. Accidents happen, and sometimes a few "common sense" decisions could have prevented the accident from happening. Sounds like there might be a little carelessness on both sides. I would imagine there is an opportunity for a fair compromise, and the suggestion of getting it repaired rather than replaced is a good start. There may also be an opportunity to buy a used one that is comparable. I would think that two adults that value a good relationship could work out a mutually satisfying agreement.

I am sure that by posting this in the open forum I will have some people upset with me, but what the hell I've been there before.

When did the floor become a safe place to keep a laptop?
I think you are as much to blame or possibly more than he is.

Now lets say for a second that it is his fault and look at it from a business standpoint.

I have a retail business and often have things ruined by customers.
I have 2 options.

1. I can make them pay for the damage and probably loose a good
customer forever.

2. I can say WTF and just chalk it up as a cost of doing business. Yes I have suffered a loss but I retain a customer who will probably spend much more with me in the future.

As a result of making your post you will not only loose a good client, but there will be many of us who will be hesitant to call you in the future for fear of being drawn into a similar situation. Was it worth it?


Feel free to blast away, I am headed out for the weekend anyway. GT

I tend to not spill my drinks, that scotch abuse. I also watch where I step.

I haven't seen this lady, but it wouldn't keep me away. She was asking for advice and never mentioned the client's name.

"For three weeks i was promised it would be replaced, then for one week promised he knew someone that wold fix it."

I wouldn't see him again, I abhor liars. If he didn't want to fix it, he should have been up front about it.
There is NO safe place to keep a laptop. There is however, a safe way to drink your drink which is AWAY from all electronic devices. If he knew it was on the floor then he should of sat elsewhere with his beverage.
Point blank, he said he would do it, if he's not keeping his word then don't see him again.

Right on Allie! Your comment also says a lot about you. I knew you were no phony when we first met. As to the laptop, regardless of who is at fault, the client should keep his word. There are far too few in this world today that hold any value to their own word. If your word is no good, you have nothing.

Netbooks are fairly inexpensive these days. In my opinion, if he said he'd replace it, he should do so. However, one should never suggest saying they'll do something they don't actually plan on doing.

If this were a "friend only" meeting and not a "donation" type of meeting... I'd say to take him to civil court... however, in this case, cutting him off is your only recourse as well as giving him a fair but negative review to other providers, "usually a nice guy, but doesn't keep his word," sounds fair.

As a result of making your post you will not only loose a good client, but there will be many of us who will be hesitant to call you in the future for fear of being drawn into a similar situation. Was it worth it?


Feel free to blast away, I am headed out for the weekend anyway. GT Originally Posted by grayturner

I think there might be a few people who will shy away from seeing her because of this... but, I've heard nothing but great things about her... The way I see it, sure, she had it in an unsafe place--I don't keep my electronics where people can spill things on it... except for my camera because its weatherproof and handles spills well.

But, as soon as he said, "I'll pay to replace it," he assumed responisiblity for the device and the events leading up to it. So, at that point he's the one who should do something about this... not her.

There's no reason why any guy would read this thread and decide not to see her. She gave no personal information on the guy in question. She simply gave a lightly detailed version of her side and asked for provider opinions.

If I was a guy reading this and had wanted to see her beforehand, I'd still want to see her.

All this over something that can cost as little as 280 bucks? wow If she would properly address a wiener I would buy her one.

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/222097

I would guess that a Public Relations expert would have advised against starting this thread. Just my opinion though

If this were a "friend only" meeting and not a "donation" type of meeting... I'd say to take him to civil court... however, in this case, cutting him off is your only recourse as well as giving him a fair but negative review to other providers, "usually a nice guy, but doesn't keep his word," sounds fair. Originally Posted by FireSerpent

You can still take him to civil court. He's not going to say why he was there, and if he does he can't prove it, and you don't have to say why he was there, he was over to hang out with you.

That's what you charge for anyway isn't it... time? Anything else is between consenting adults.



Just sayin...

When did the floor become a safe place to keep a laptop?
I think you are as much to blame or possibly more than he is.
.
Now lets say for a second that it is his fault and look at it from a business standpoint.

I have a retail business and often have things ruined by customers.
I have 2 options.

1. I can make them pay for the damage and probably loose a good
customer forever.

2. I can say WTF and just chalk it up as a cost of doing business. Yes I have suffered a loss but I retain a customer who will probably spend much more with me in the future.
Couldn't have said it better myself :golfclap:

As a result of making your post you will not only loose a good client, but there will be many of us who will be hesitant to call you in the future for fear of being drawn into a similar situation. Was it worth it?
Originally Posted by grayturner

Well said sir!