Certain accents not worth quoting for?

[peterhyper]

I have come to the point that I no longer even waste my time quoting when I hear Certain accents who call me. No disrespect to any accent but I have concluded that I have wasted far too much of my time over the years not having the majority of my quotes accepted or wanting discount to the point it's just not worth doing the job.

I won't say what accents I am referring to as that wouldn't be PC, but I am happy to work for anyone including Zulu warriors providing they don't waste my time (not that I do many quotes for zulu warriors).

Am I leaving myself open for criticism admitting this terrrible thing, and should I continue wasting my time just to remain PC?

 

[peterhyper]

My use of the word prejudiced is one of definition. It's not a presumption, it's based on what you said. You have said you will no longer quote work for certain accents based on your experience. That is prejudiced by definition.
Much the same as if I said I will no longer work for builders as they are all arse holes I would be prejudiced against builders.

I never suggested you charged different people different rates.

Yes I was on about hourly rates or small jobs quoted over the phone. Obviously a larger quoted job must be seen. I win the large majority of them and don't regret the ones I lose.

Prejudice as per the dictionary: 'preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.'

Being I am not basing my comments on a preconceived opinion and it is specifically based on actual experience, then the word prejudice isn't appropriate.

 

[Andy78]

Prejudice as per the dictionary: 'preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.'

Being I am not basing my comments on a preconceived opinion and it is specifically based on actual experience, then the word prejudice isn't appropriate.

Exactly. You've had no personal experience with a customer you've never met, but have preconceived opinions about them.

As you say, preconceived ideas based on your experience of others though.

 

[Spoon]

I have to agree with @peterhyper about the definition of 'Prejudice'. I've also looked it up in the Oxford Dictionary and it is as he says.

I don't have much dealing with customers, like you guys do.
What I was referring to are phone calls to my home address, which 90% of the ones I get with a certain accent are dodgy phone calls. Therefore I am weary when answering the home phone and hear this accent.
If I'm at work then it's a totally different matter. I don't care about accents as we deal with people world wide.
I would not class myself as prejudice.

 

[Pete999]

I have found, through experience, that you get good and bad customers from all walks of life, all races, all religions. Just like you get criminals and selfless charity workers from all walks of life.
It really shouldn't matter to you at all unless it already matters to you from other personal beliefs or prejudices you have.

I do think I can tell some customers I would rather avoid from just a phone conversation, but it's nothing to do with accents. If you are making a judgement on an accent then you are prejudiced, and that's not a judgement on you personally, just how it works by definition of the word.

Certain cultures are more likely to haggle, but if that's not your style then make your rates and terms clear.

I make my rates clear before turning up to any job and never have a problem. Those that want me pay, and those that want it cheaper ring someone else.

I gave you a disagree mate. for one simple reason, many folk will give you the go ahead, only to haggle and complain on completion of the work, no matter how strongly you point out your terms and conditions.

 

[Andy78]

I gave you a disagree mate. for one simple reason, many folk will give you the go ahead, only to haggle and complain on completion of the work, no matter how strongly you point out your terms and conditions.

You don't have to explain your disagree Pete, but cheers anyway.

That's what terms and conditions are for surely, to protect the trader in the event of a dispute ? Maybe naiive on my part ?

I must admit I seem to live a charmed existence where customers treat and pay me well. I don't seem to suffer at the hands of customers as much as some.
I have had very few experiences in over 7 years of self employment of non payment.

I must admit these have left me with slightly prejudiced opinions against estate agents and out of town maintenance agencies.

 

[peterhyper]

Exactly. You've had no personal experience with a customer you've never met, but have preconceived opinions about them.

As you say, preconceived ideas based on your experience of others though.

Andy, To clarify the meaning of preconceived: An opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

Being I have decades of experience dealing with many hundreds (if not more) of people with the accents I refer to, who on average only around a third of whom has ever lead to actual work, compared to two thirds of non similar accent customers accepting my quotes, then that is not preconceived it is a fact.

The fact that around a third (with the said accent) do accept my quotes, I don't know when a person with that particular accent calls me if they are one of the 33% or not, but my actual experience tells me it doesn't make business sense to waste my time quoting when statistically I will only get a minority of jobs which in order to get can also often result in hassle wanting discount.

I live in a very multicultural area and as above I perhaps have more experience of dealing with people with the accent I refer to than some other people might have.

I have had regular customers who have this accent and they have used me for years and will hopefully continue to do so for many more years to come (obviously in the 1 of 3 who are happy to pay my rates).

I am grateful to now be in a position where I can be more selective of who I quote to, and it is two way traffic because customers are also in a position to decide who they want to quote them, and who they give the job to.

 

[Andy78]

Andy, To clarify the meaning of preconceived: An opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

Being I have decades of experience dealing with many hundreds (if not more) of people with the accents I refer to, who on average only around a third of whom has ever lead to actual work, compared to two thirds of non similar accent customers accepting my quotes, then that is not preconceived it is a fact.

The fact that around a third (with the said accent) do accept my quotes, I don't know when a person with that particular accent calls me if they are one of the 33% or not, but my actual experience tells me it doesn't make business sense to waste my time quoting when statistically I will only get a minority of jobs which in order to get can also often result in hassle wanting discount.

I live in a very multicultural area and as above I perhaps have more experience of dealing with people with the accent I refer to than some other people might have.

I have had regular customers who have this accent and they have used me for years and will hopefully continue to do so for many more years to come (obviously in the 1 of 3 who are happy to pay my rates).

I am grateful to now be in a position where I can be more selective of who I quote to, and it is two way traffic because customers are also in a position to decide who they want to quote them, and who they give the job to.

You didn't need to clarify any of that, I already got what you were saying.

 

[magnoliafan89]

Its the northern accent that does it for me.....also the east...that south lot too and lets not forget them from the west

 

[Squid]

Lol, prejudiced electricians whatever next, should I mention plumbers........

 

[Midwest]

I don't really why @peterhyper you have created this thread?

In you op you said 'Am I leaving myself open for criticism admitting this terrible thing', then feel required to challenge people who are critical of your postings. As others have said, its your business, do what you want, but don't choose to make some 'point' on a forum, which can be construed as xenophobic or racist.

 

[peterhyper]

I don't really why @peterhyper you have created this thread?

In you op you said 'Am I leaving myself open for criticism admitting this terrible thing', then feel required to challenge people who are critical of your postings. As others have said, its your business, do what you want, but don't choose to make some 'point' on a forum, which can be construed as xenophobic or racist.

I don't always understand why people create their threads, but it's their choice if they want to do so, and the choice of forum members if they choose respond or not. I am therefore entitled to respond to comments people make as that's the way forums usually work. If people are short sighted enough to construe my post to be xenophobic or racist then again then that's their choice.

 

[Electric Magic]

Not bothered about accents, but if I turn up to quote and they're ginger I just walk away...

 

[shaun1]

Have you actually logged every (or even most) calls you recieve and quotes you provide, and whether they have the accent you refer to, and if they have led to a sale/job. And then analysed the data to come up with the figures you mention? Or have you just thought back and estimated how many of these quotes have been succesuful for either catagory.

A pre existing predudice (perhaps originating from bad experiences with those possesing the accent to which you refer), may cause you to subcontiously remember more of the failed quotes from the acentees and more of the sucesful quotes from the others.

 

[Pete999]

Have you actually logged every (or even most) calls you recieve and quotes you provide, and whether they have the accent you refer to, and if they have led to a sale/job. And then analysed the data to come up with the figures you mention? Or have you just thought back and estimated how many of these quotes have been succesuful for either catagory.

A pre existing predudice (perhaps originating from bad experiences with those possesing the accent to which you refer), may cause you to subcontiously remember more of the failed quotes from the acentees and more of the sucesful quotes from the others.

To deep for me I'm afraid.

 

[shaun1]

To deep for me I'm afraid.

TL: DR Did the OP actually count the jobs scientificaly, or is he just basing it on his memory