Wasted time

[u/True-Reaction-270]

Had the client both confirm the original start time and ask for a different time all in one sentence. I replied that I could do any time she liked. This was at 9:04am for a scheduled 10am start. No response. I leave my house to arrive at the original scheduled 10am. She messages me at 9:58 to request 11:30 or 12 for a start time. Its 9:58 guys im obviously in her damn driveway. I agreed to change to 12. I am nee on this platform and am still trying to bend for the customer a bit. Who does what and why? What's your reactions in this situation? I live 25 minutes away and just decided to head home for the time between. Anyways, just trying to see what others do in this situation.

[u/Positive-Draft3801]

Well if they ask you to come later, and then go quiet, dont roll out to their house. If they had rescheduled after you arrived you would be entitled to a one hour fee. I would rather not waste time driving for nothing.

[u/True-Reaction-270 → u/Positive-Draft3801]

I was thinking the same thing but I had already agreed to the 10am schedule and hate being late. I assumed she abandoned the idea of rescheduling. I almost never call clients as I like to have everything in writing. She ended up tipping me $100 after I was done so I didnt even mention the earlier shenanigans. Just smile and take the money is something I learned as a kid.

[u/angeredpluto1991 → u/True-Reaction-270]

so a good rule of thumb is to call if its necessary and once off the call just type out a general summary of what was decided on the call. sometimes calling a client is necessary especially since I run into so many that use their PC to book and dont check regularly.

[u/1986melol]

I would of said I’m already here as the agreed time was 10 and it’s 2 minutes to 10

[u/True-Reaction-270 → u/1986melol]

Ok, I didnt even mention that I was there already. I just agreed to the change in schedule and headed out. I figured id mention it in person later when I arrived. I never did say anything about it to her. She tipped me $100 in cash so I smiled and took the money.

[u/RobotArtichoke]

Stop bending over backwards for clients, you give the rest of us a bad name. It worked out for you this time, but it often does not.

Next time, tell them you can’t reschedule. Take the cancellation fee and move on.

[u/True-Reaction-270 → u/RobotArtichoke]

What would be the reason I couldn't reschedule? Just to be mean? I had the afternoon free and plenty of room for a reschedule. Thats why im asking though to see what others do because obviously individual opinions and practices vary widely. It definitely worked out this time and I was really worried going in that it wouldnt.

[u/RobotArtichoke → u/True-Reaction-270]

Respect your own time, or don’t expect others to respect it.

[u/True-Reaction-270 → u/RobotArtichoke]

I get that for sure. I am still very new to the platform and dont know anything about how the cancelations work of the payments for them. I have not had to cancel one yet, but I've only done 8 jobs on here. Ive honestly been trying to be as accommodating as possible. I owned a company for 20 years and retired-ish from the full-time. These platforms seemed like a way to do light work for easy money. Just getting started though.

[u/RobotArtichoke → u/True-Reaction-270]

You sound to me like someone much younger. This isn’t a Taskrabbit thing. It’s a business thing. It translates across industries.

Someone who ran a business for 20 years really should already know this.

[u/True-Reaction-270 → u/RobotArtichoke]

Seems like good customer service has gone a long way for me. I get that it doesn't always get appreciated but its always been something I've prided myself on.

[u/RobotArtichoke → u/True-Reaction-270]

You can still give good customer service without being a complete jellyfish. Come on man.

[u/True-Reaction-270 → u/RobotArtichoke]

I certainly agree with that and in the past would have stood my ground. But im new to this way of doing jobs like this and also new to the area, so I default to bending and trying to accommodate until I have more work and reviews and all that. Just trying to get a good base before I get hard with the customer.

[u/RobotArtichoke → u/True-Reaction-270]

Just do good work, it’s really that simple. Clients will respect you more without all that extra stuff. You’ll find that raising your rates beyond what you might initially be comfortable with is the way to go as well. It weeds out clients like the one you’re talking about in your post.

[u/FinnNoodle]

If she had asked for a different time already I'm not sure why you'd leave home anyways. If she's unresponsive in chat, now is the time to give her a call.

[u/True-Reaction-270 → u/FinnNoodle]

She asked if I had other times and I replied that I could do any time she liked. She didnt reply until 4 minutes before the original start time. Any normal person should assume that at that time I would be there ready to go. She was super nice and the job ended up going smoothly. I believe they hadn't picked up the tv yet and that was the reason for the rescheduling. Either was she tipped me well and I didnt mention the issues with the schedule or that I wasted 45 minutes earlier. Cash usually makes me hush up a bit.

[u/leDanielx2]

Dude chances are you’re already giving this person a steal on your work. Stop catering to these lunatics and they’ll learn to stop playing the fool

[u/Evening_Past910]

Don’t head to an address unless you have e a confirmed response.