Well...Another 'Pleasant' Enquiry...NOT.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Just thought I would share this one.

A bit of background first though.

Generally, when I get an enquiry, be it by phone or email, I always try to be as helpful as possible and give as much information as I can about what I do. I will get as much information out of the enquirer as I can and try to leave my quote until the end of the conversation. If there is anything else I can help with then I will try.

Right!

The phone rings this afternoon and it's a lady enquiring about Disco Entertainment for her wedding (in 3 weeks) at a venue I have done in the past. I did the usual bits as I have mentioned above (listened and then gave my information) and was very surprised at the end of the call.
When she mentioned the venue, I knew straight away that I would not go there although I didn't say anything at the time. I know for a fact that there are sound limiters and they are set at a ridiculously low level.

I asked the lady if she knew about sound limiters and explained what they did, how they can affect the function etc etc and she seemed very interested and also grateful that I was giving her the information. She said that she had paid a deposit for the venue today (wedding in 3 weeks? leaving it late eh!!?) and was not told about the sound limiter.

Ok, she was happy I had told her so I began to think we may get somewhere?

She informed me that there would be around 40 guests and the Disco was to run from 6.30pm - Midnight. I asked if she had called around other companies in the area and she said "Yes, you are the 3rd person". When I asked what she had been quoted so far (not that I undercut / price match etc....I was just interested)....Her tone changed totally. She kind of went off on one and started shouting saying "Look, you tell me your price and I'll see if I can afford it". I eventually found out that the highest quote she had got so far was £140.00!!!!! which she went on to say was "£50.00 more than I want to pay!".

To be honest, once she started shouting I realised that I did not want to deal her. There was no way I was going to her chosen venue again and I was definitely not willing to work for 5.5hrs for £90.00...no way! I also didn't like the fact that she went from quite charming to a real gremlin in the space of 5 minutes.

I was calm, explained that I could not meet her budget and ended the conversation as soon as I could. I spent 15 minutes on the phone with her and ended up quite peeved off. Now, that's the first time I have ever had someone call me up and say that they want to book a DJ for £90.00 for their wedding.

I have my doubts as to whether it was a proper enquiry or not and could've been someone just mucking about trying to waste my time. Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you.

Funny though....5 minutes later the phone rang again and I half expected it to be her again....it wasn't. It was someone calling back who I quoted yesterday for a wedding with uplighting as an extra so a good payer.

Funny old world isn't it!

[Megamix]

just feel sorry for the groom :eek:

[NKR]

My conversations always get very quickly via the usual location, length of time, what they require, to 'have you had any other quotes yet'. Followed by 'Are you looking for the best price or are you looking for best service'. Some can be quite stumped and when they are I interject with 'We are not the most expensive around, but we are not going to be able to beat your other quotes (obviously when they quote lower numbers), but if you want to run through what we do and why we are more I certainly can do'.

Weeds out the waste of time conversations.

Does it work - well we are well up on last year and some people like that kind of honesty as its their time I am saving too!

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Sorry Gary but why ask her what other people are charging? I couldnt care less its what I offer that is important.

I'm not sure why people are so surprised that "Dj's" will go out for that sort of price either just move on.

[ppentertainments]

£90, tbh I would of thought that quite a 'normal' quote.

Had an enquiry last week. I quoted £x50 and got the reply "Oh £50 is a bit much, the resident only charges £35" :D :D

This was for a wedding in a social club. Fair enough the hours allowed are only 8 till 11 but for this price it is incredible - especially for a wedding.

[Excalibur]

£90, tbh I would of thought that quite a 'normal' quote.

Had an enquiry last week. I quoted £x50 and got the reply "Oh £50 is a bit much, the resident only charges £35" :D :D
.
Bit steep, Chris. ;) In Hull, you can get a free disco with a venue. ;)

[mattydinx]

I don't agree in asking what other quotes people have had. Like the OP, I don't undercut or price match, so their other quotes are irrelevant to me. I offer my services at a cost which I feel represents the service I provide.

I've recently lost out to some work due to a venues 'resident jock' - One of my friends is moving to Australia, and was set on having a going away party. Being a good friend I told her i'd do the gig 'at cost' without my profit margin added on.

She was happy with the price, She knows what to expect from me, and i'd explained i'd meet up with her to sort out music choice, schedule for the night, etc. - the only reason the booking wasn't set in stone was because she was still looking for a suitable venue (which i'd suggested many)

This was until her partner, who 'knows someone at a pub' said they're having the party at a venue who provide the DJ for £60 - far from a rate I can charge, even doing things 'at cost'

What adds insult to injury is that the venue insist they order the buffet through themselves, and they're having to spend an absolute fortune on a buffet for a minimum of 80 people. (which is funny because I'm dubious the venue holds that many people!)

So what they've saved on a 'dj' they're spending more on food...the world's gone mad!

I know people are trying to save money, but this seems to be the growing trend :(

[ppentertainments]

This was until her partner, who 'knows someone at a pub' said they're having the party at a venue who provide the DJ for £60 - far from a rate I can charge, even doing things 'at cost'

Not wanting to get into a money thread, but apart from fuel money, what other costs would you have to factor in to make it over £60 ??

[Excalibur]

Not wanting to get into a money thread, but apart from fuel money, what other costs would you have to factor in to make it over £60 ??

HMRC, NI, downloads, depreciation, beer, kebabs, and of course five hours at minimum wage. ;) :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Sorry Gary but why ask her what other people are charging? I couldnt care less its what I offer that is important.

I'm not sure why people are so surprised that "Dj's" will go out for that sort of price either just move on.

I asked her because I wanted to get an idea of the kind of prices she had been quoted (d'oh..a bit obvious really mate as it was in the question! ;) ) to see if I was on the same wavelength and to see if I could do something for her (as I said, I like to try and help people if I can). As you rightly said...I only care what I offer but don't forget, I have other DJ's too that I can call upon and I needed to see if it was worthwhile me taking something on for them.


I don't want to get into the whole 'area' thing but I am sure some of the other operators in my area and the surrounding areas will totally agree that this sort of enquiry does not happen that often! That's why I posted it. Maybe I'll keep it to myself in future if it upsets you that much mate. :D

[funkymook]

Must admit if I was trying to hire a service (any service) and was asked what I'd been quoted already before being given a price I'd think 'cowboy' and move swiftly on. I'm not really surprised at her reaction to be honest, you informed her the venue was not great due to the limiters, then started being cagey about your price and asking what everyone else was charging.

[Excalibur]

I asked her because I wanted to get an idea of the kind of prices she had been quoted (d'oh..a bit obvious really mate as it was in the question! ;) ) to see if I was on the same wavelength and to see if I could do something for her
Understandable. If you're poles apart, ( As it seems you were ) then it's difficult to offer help.


Must admit if I was trying to hire a service (any service) and was asked what I'd been quoted already before being given a price I'd think 'cowboy' and move swiftly on. I'm not really surprised at her reaction to be honest, you informed her the venue was not great due to the limiters, then started being cagey about your price and asking what everyone else was charging.

Errr, no. I'd think Supplier who wants to know which set of rules we're playing by, and where the goalposts are starting from.

[Silver]

I agree, you should never ask what somebody has been quoted, smacks of a person fishing with the aim of trying to undercut the competition.

It's simple, you explain, sell your service and give them your price and wait.

"When she mentioned the venue, I knew straight away that I would not go there."

Surely if you knew that from the outset why continue with the conversation? You ended up getting "peeved off" when it could have all been avoided? You ended up wasting your time and getting stressed when there was no need to, sorry don't understand. http://planetsmilies.net/confused-smiley-17432.gif

[JTRS]

Interesting read, I don't ask people who enquire what they have been quoted as an upfront question, I give them my price and if they reply that it's high compared to others I ask then and if its ridiculously low then I try and explain the potential pitfalls.

JTRS

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Oh, here we go!
Looks like I've done the wrong thing eh chaps?
Let me explain again. I said I wouldn't personally go there again but that doesn't stop me trying to help her out.
I also said that I don't price match or undercut in my original post so why don't people understand that?

Funkymook - Not sure if I read your reply in the correct way but in no way whatsoever am I a cowboy. I asked (as I said already) about other quotes because I wanted to see if it was worthwhile me taking on something for someone else to do. I was not bothered about making any money out of it. I was more bothered about giving someone else some work. When £140.00 was mentioned in the first place as being too expensive then there was no way I could have got someone to do that particular gig for 5.5hrs for that price. Maybe with another £100.00 on top it could have been sorted but I doubt it.

The only reason I got 'peeved' was because of the way I was spoken to. I was trying to help the lady out and that's all.

I don't expect everyone to agree with the way I went about the enquiry yesterday but when I have explained already that I don't undercut / price match etc etc and people still mention it, well it's annoying. She didn't know what my prices were, if she did then there would have been no way she would have called me in the first place.

[Excalibur]

Oh, here we go!
Looks like I've done the wrong thing eh chaps?
Let me explain again. I said I wouldn't personally go there again but that doesn't stop me trying to help her out.
I also said that I don't price match or undercut in my original post so why don't people understand that?.

Dunno. Next question please. :confused: :confused: :confused:

[mattydinx]

Not wanting to get into a money thread, but apart from fuel money, what other costs would you have to factor in to make it over £60 ??

Wage & Tax Allowance
PLI
PAT
Yearly Music Costs (estimated)
ProDub (none of my tracks are currently covered so that's a fair expense this year)
Equipment Depreciation (10% per year)
Spares/Consumables (Lamps, Fluid, Cables, etc)

I've got a bigger expenditure this year due to replacing equipment that I sold last year after I thought my DJing days were over

The sum of all that, divided by my predicted yearly workload (I don't plan on working every weekend due to band commitments) comes out more than £60. Obviously next year I won't have equipment to buy (or at least not as much), and the ProDub license will be considerably cheaper

[Excalibur]

Wage & Tax Allowance
PLI
PAT
Yearly Music Costs (estimated)
ProDub (none of my tracks are currently covered so that's a fair expense this year)Equipment Depreciation (10% per year)
Spares/Consumables (Lamps, Fluid, Cables, etc)


Not applicable. Same price whether you sit at home watching telly, or go out to work. ;)

[funkymook]

Just thought I would share this one.

A bit of background first though.

Generally, when I get an enquiry, be it by phone or email, I always try to be as helpful as possible and give as much information as I can about what I do. I will get as much information out of the enquirer as I can and try to leave my quote until the end of the conversation. If there is anything else I can help with then I will try.

Right!

The phone rings this afternoon and it's a lady enquiring about Disco Entertainment for her wedding (in 3 weeks) at a venue I have done in the past. I did the usual bits as I have mentioned above (listened and then gave my information) and was very surprised at the end of the call.
When she mentioned the venue, I knew straight away that I would not go there although I didn't say anything at the time. I know for a fact that there are sound limiters and they are set at a ridiculously low level.

I asked the lady if she knew about sound limiters and explained what they did, how they can affect the function etc etc and she seemed very interested and also grateful that I was giving her the information. She said that she had paid a deposit for the venue today (wedding in 3 weeks? leaving it late eh!!?) and was not told about the sound limiter.

Ok, she was happy I had told her so I began to think we may get somewhere?

She informed me that there would be around 40 guests and the Disco was to run from 6.30pm - Midnight. I asked if she had called around other companies in the area and she said "Yes, you are the 3rd person". When I asked what she had been quoted so far (not that I undercut / price match etc....I was just interested)....Her tone changed totally. She kind of went off on one and started shouting saying "Look, you tell me your price and I'll see if I can afford it". I eventually found out that the highest quote she had got so far was £140.00!!!!! which she went on to say was "£50.00 more than I want to pay!".

To be honest, once she started shouting I realised that I did not want to deal her. There was no way I was going to her chosen venue again and I was definitely not willing to work for 5.5hrs for £90.00...no way! I also didn't like the fact that she went from quite charming to a real gremlin in the space of 5 minutes.

I was calm, explained that I could not meet her budget and ended the conversation as soon as I could. I spent 15 minutes on the phone with her and ended up quite peeved off. Now, that's the first time I have ever had someone call me up and say that they want to book a DJ for £90.00 for their wedding.

I have my doubts as to whether it was a proper enquiry or not and could've been someone just mucking about trying to waste my time. Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you.



Oh, here we go!
Looks like I've done the wrong thing eh chaps?
Let me explain again. I said I wouldn't personally go there again but that doesn't stop me trying to help her out.
I also said that I don't price match or undercut in my original post so why don't people understand that?

Funkymook - Not sure if I read your reply in the correct way but in no way whatsoever am I a cowboy. I asked (as I said already) about other quotes because I wanted to see if it was worthwhile me taking on something for someone else to do. I was not bothered about making any money out of it. I was more bothered about giving someone else some work. When £140.00 was mentioned in the first place as being too expensive then there was no way I could have got someone to do that particular gig for 5.5hrs for that price. Maybe with another £100.00 on top it could have been sorted but I doubt it.

The only reason I got 'peeved' was because of the way I was spoken to. I was trying to help the lady out and that's all.

I don't expect everyone to agree with the way I went about the enquiry yesterday but when I have explained already that I don't undercut / price match etc etc and people still mention it, well it's annoying. She didn't know what my prices were, if she did then there would have been no way she would have called me in the first place.


Yes - you explained to US that you had no intention of doing this gig yourself, (and were trying to help and don't undercut etc etc) the problem is you didn't explain any of that to HER.
How was she to know what your (commendable) intentions were?

So just maybe, from her perspective, all she heard was you telling her that the venue (which she had already booked) was a bit rubbish because you cant turn the music up and then you asking what anyone else had quoted before you'd give her a price! Can't you see how it might have sounded to her?

If you had explained straight away that it was not a venue that you cover but if she gave you her budget you might be able to recommend/pass the enquiry on to someone - then once she revealed what she was expecting to pay a polite:

'I'm sorry I can't recommend anyone to you in that price range, my colleagues start from £xxx - but I hope you find someone suitable and have a great wedding day and reception'

would have ended the call on a much better note.

And you didn't understand my earlier reply, so for the sake of clarity:

If I had someone (anyone, not you, or DJ's in particular) tell me that something I had already got was a bit rubbish, and then wouldn't give me a price until I told them what the other quotes were (without any explanation of their good intentions etc) my alarm bells would start ringing and I'd not want to deal with them.

[funkymook]

Must admit if I was trying to hire a service (any service) and was asked what I'd been quoted already before being given a price I'd think 'cowboy' and move swiftly on..



Errr, no. I'd think Supplier who wants to know which set of rules we're playing by, and where the goalposts are starting from.

It's what I think! It's fine if you think something different but don't be so presumptuous to say 'Errr no' as if I don't know (or am not entitled to) my own thoughts!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Funky - You're entitled to your comments mate. Maybe I should have explained the whole situation rather than just post straight away in my 'peeved off' state of mind and forget things.

I DID tell her that it wasn't a venue that I would personally visit again because of the problems I had encountered with it on a previous visit. On that particular occasion I had been to visit the venue beforehand and there was no mention of sound limiters, I didn't even see one to be totally honest with you until I was all set up and ready to go.

I explained to the lady yesterday that in's and outs of the sound limiter / noise limiter and what it does and the reason it's there. I also explained that it isn't just down to music volume but also down to the volume of the guests (clapping, cheering etc). I explained a scenario from another function I did in a venue which coincidentally is just around the corner where I did a 25th Wedding Anniversary. It was a surprise party and the idea was to play the couples favourite song when they walked through the door to everyone shouting "SURPRISE!!". Well, you can guess what happened!
I also explained that more often than not, people would think it's the DJ's fault and to be honest, what else could they think? They're not to know are they?

The lady (at the time) was very appreciative (as I said) because she KNEW I was trying to help. One of her comments was "Well, I don't like the sound of that. I don't want the music to keep stopping" and she also said that she would contact the venue again for her own piece of mind. This was BEFORE I had even gone on to speak about pricing etc and as I said, she took all the information I had given her in the manner that it was meant and she thanked me for it.

She didn't rush me to get a price out of me and she was quite pleasant. This is why I found it so weird that her manner changed totally.
Lastly, I DID say to her that although I couldn't help her personally, I would take her details and try to help her out if I could. She gave me her email address and phone number.

I decided not to help out because I didn't like the way the enquiry suddenly turned.

[funkymook]

No probem. Perhaps it was all getting a bit much for her by that stage? Three weeks to sort out her wedding, just found out about the limiter, possibly previous DJ's she had contacted hadn't been brilliant in their customer service, so you're efforts to help might have made her realise the task she had in front of her - could've been the straw that broke the camels back (she certainly had the hump!). You never know, she might get back in touch when she realises you were actually going out of your way for her.

[Danieleastwood.com]

Sorry Gary but why ask her what other people are charging? I couldnt care less its what I offer that is important.

I'm not sure why people are so surprised that "Dj's" will go out for that sort of price either just move on.

Got to agree with this one.