Carpet Retailer

[Goldenboy]

I have a carpet retailer that only refers his clients to me. Best carpet retailer in my area. Well respected name. His customers that he refers are always the best to do work for. He sends out a newsletter two times a year. Says it costs him 2 to 3 grand. He offered me to be in it. They also advertise in the newspaper. Also said I could join him in his ad. He wants to sit down for lunch and work something out. How should we work this out so its fair for both sides? Pay for part of the ads or cut him a percentage from the jobs?


Golden Boy

 

[diamond brian]

Pay for advertising. Offering to pay him for referrals may insult him.

 

[KevinL]

pay for whatever part of the ad you cover. He shouldn't have to wait for your success and it would be a pita to figure his cut off each job. jmo

 

[vincent]

I would just pay a percentage of the total cost. Its his newsletter, you're just advertising. Forget the % per job.

 

[-JB-]

Be careful!

 

[harryhides]

Send your wife to have lunch with him - hopefully she won't sit there saying "Dude" !! or get drunk before his eyes.

 

[Scott]

Listen dopehead....

Oops, sorry...was just trying to relate...

I would hear him out before doing anything. Sure you can play some scenarios through your head before your meeting, but he may just want a couple of g's instead of the k's you may be expecting.

Remember this - "He who speaks first, in negotiations, loses."

Scott

 

[Desk Jockey]

We have done that with a carpet retailer before.

It went to his client list and we put in a coupon that Wayne designed for us. It worked out ok, nothing to jump up and down about, but I think if you did it on a regular basis it could be a good deal.

What he charged us just subsidized the retailer's costs. No percentage on the jobs.

 

[The Preacher]

listen to Scott, he's smarter than most of the BDCC's here!

 

[steve r]

thats good advice scott. ive been talking with another cleaner in my area about me purchasing his buis. or some how doing something together. hes well established and im just getting started.we talk alot but neither of us ever talk money, yet.

 

[A. wilson]

Waldo,
Do you send a Newsletter to your clients?

If so, just tell him you will list him in yours for no cost if he lists you in his. This way, if no real referrals come from it, nobody has any hard feelings or added cost.

I do this with a few local businesses I trust and it works real well. I prefer to do biz the old fashion way with trust and knowing who you are working with as opposed to him charging me, hoping to get a %, etc.

 

[alazo1]

This may or may not be a good thing. If the guy is insisting on you helping out and you don't feel too good about it it can ruin the relationship. On the other hand if it sounds good to you then all is good but damn, I'm not sure I'd want to be put in that spot. I guess it just depends where the guy is coming from.

Albert

 

[XTREME1]

spruce up his showroom at a discount or if there is enough business free

 

[Scott]

thats good advice scott. ive been talking with another cleaner in my area about me purchasing his buis. or some how doing something together. hes well established and im just getting started.we talk alot but neither of us ever talk money, yet.

In my experience, you're smart by not bringing up price first. That advice, which belongs to Harvey McKay by the way, has saved and made me a lot of money over the years.

You can tempt, bait, cajole, and try to move the other party into negotiations, at which time - if he bites - he loses. I'd rather know now, if possible, so as not to waste time. Mine or his.

Scott

 

[steve r]

scott,
right now im not in any rush but he has some things in the works.
he wants to help me earn more money and i appreciate that im just not that motivated yet,lol. weve even talked about an employee type of thing but i like being on my own right now.but things change and do so quickly at times.