Do you believe it's okay to fire a customer?
It’s OK to “fire a customer”. You must have enough self-respect that to allow a customer to disrupt your business, and one who is apparently never happy with the product or service you provide, goes against your very being. Do you agree?
360 Comments
Answers (51-60)
When a customer is 85% of your problems and only 15% of your business. IT'S TIME to fire him
YES! Life is too short to be full of aggravation. The only time it's not good is if your spouse is the client.
Absolutely. I agree with the other comments. Realize you cannot serve everyone. You have your own style, personality and mission. Clients may be consciously or unconsciously looking for results you cannot provide or a manner in which you cannot provide it. So, gently steer them in another direction. It is better for both of you if someone else serves them than to be caught up in a negative dynamic that is harmful and unsatisfying.
Yes, absolutely, and I have ~ with diplomacy and a referral to someone else.
Yes. No every client is a fit for you and your business model. If you can not provide them with your best service then it is not fair to your client nor you to do business together.
When I have an appointment to meet a client, it is not just them interviewing me, its also me interviewing them. Sometimes you know right off it will or will not work. Sometimes you are knee deep and have to take a step back and make that assessment.
Absolutely! An important element of any business mission should be identifying what kinds of clients/customers you want to do business with - your ideal client, if you will. If you have customers who are abusive, don't pay on time or are incredibly difficult to work with, you have every right, and even a responsibility, to fire them.
Years ago, I attended a workshop held by our local university. The speaker was a business specialist from this school. I never forgot a very important segment of her talk. She held up a large glass vase filled with small sparkling diamond like stones and some larger pebbles. She described the diamonds as the wonderful customers that you have and want to retain. She then talked about those pebbles which were the customers that you did not like and wish you did not have. Very quickly, she removed the ugly pebbles from the vase and replaced them with the diamonds. This she explained is that you must do. Make sure you have enough diamonds to replace those pebbles and you will gain your peace of mind. I have never forgotten this advise. I always try to increase my customers especially when there is a pebble I need to bid farewell. Evangeline "Evie" Maronitis Riegler
Yes. I agree. I started this business to follow a dream, do what I love and get away from the stress of Corporate America. I will not allow a difficult customer to add unnecessary stress to my dream.
Yes. And sometimes necessary.
Hi Steve, most certainly it is OK to fire a customer. Sometimes we have a personality clash and or sometimes customers can be so difficult that there is no way to please them. In that case, you are not doing anyone any favors by holding on. Although this has happened rarely in my business personally, it does happen. I always try to set them up with another agent in the company if it is just a situation that you don't get along personality wise but if they are just plain difficult then fire them.