Custom Remap/Badger5 Bookings - Deposit Required when booking in

[badger5]

Folks.. It is regrettable that I will have to introduce this.

There have been a number of occasions where I have been asked to book cars in for work, custom remapping etc, only for the people to not turn up, nor contact me to say they are unable to make it, and avoid my calls thereafter..

This costs me money.. Where I take bookings into the diary, it is a busy diary where I am typically booked 10-14days a head.

I cannot continue to take bookings like this where folks simply do not turn up. Its ignorent and costs me lost bookings for others.

It is the minority who as usual screw things up, but a growing minority it seems, who seem to not care less about what not turning up means to the likes of me.


So...
What I now ask of folks (at my discretion eg: those who I already know have the option of deposit and the 5% overall discount) is those who would like to book in, do so by also placing a non-refundable deposit @ time of booking, which becomes part payment against the final bill. For those doing this, and paying this 50% deposit, I will offer a 5% overall discount off the total bill.

Where I have quoted for a custom remap for example, I will ask 50% deposit with the booking. It is non-refundable, but transferable to a subsequent booking where I have been given at least 48 hours notice to their booked in date. The final bill will benefit from a 5% overall discount for those paying this deposit.


I have had enough of time wasters. It cannot continue. I'm sorry.


TIME WASTERS NAME AND SHAME:
Final Straw: today someone called Ash off the 8L forum wanted an S3 hybrid mapped... no show, no contact.. A completely wasted booking day for me.

22nd August: Adrian with an S3, no show and hangs up when calling to confirm if there is an issue.. another no show.. nice..

Feb 24th 2014, Phil c**ten, LCR stage 2... no show, no respond to call, answer phone or text..

March 4th "Jose", ibiza cupra..... no show, called, "cant talk driving", not to here I add, "will call you back"........... yea right! time waster!

 

[JD09]

Sad to see, Bill, but understandable. My old local place started doing this. We chatted over a coffee when my S3 had an MOT when I first bought it in 2009 - he trusted me, but every phone call he took while we were chatting involved "there's a deposit system in place".

Those that have a problem with this are the minority that are likely to not bother turning up. I have no issue and look forward to finding a time for some servicing work/meeting you. And I need to stop reading your/Welly's/Paul's threads on FMICs and other mods that reduce my house deposit!!!!!


Jamie

 

[Prawn]

bit of a disgrace really, that people would call you up and book in, only to not bother turning up.

I've had to cancel bookings with people in advance, and always given as much notice as possible, it's not hard is it? ''sorry, I can't make it'' is all it takes.

*******s.

 

[[Dave B]]

Unfortunate, but genuine punters won't mind, it'll only put off the barryboys who have no respect for others, win win!

 

[Squirrelofdoom]

Mate, I think you are entirely within your rights to do this and as said above it won't cause a problem to those who are genuine folks. Those who lack the respect to let you know ahead of time that there will be problems with the booking deserve worse!

 

[kwistof]

That's completely fair enough Bill...

I'm sure all the genuine customers such as myself will be very happy that you are offering the 5% discount as well - which is a very nice gesture from you

I will be calling you in the next few weeks to get booked in and make my mission across the country again! Your knowledge and experience of VAG is well worth the full tank of petrol it costs

 

[jitvv]

As other have said, will fish out the time wasters! i think its a good idea.

 

[Hammy999]

+1 for all the comments above

 

[jojo]

More than reasonable to ask for a deposit for custom remapping Bill, time is money!

 

[firestorm]

Unfortunate, but a reasonable policy. It'll deter the time wasters and the genuine customers will understand.

 

[badger5]

Thanks for the supportive comments. The 5% for those who do place a deposit is to give some appreciation for doing so.

It's at my discretion and is likely to apply to the folks I don't already know unless they want to of course to get 5% off the bill.

I hope folks understand why I have to do this.

 

[Buzzer]

Seems to be common practice in most companies across the board, but seem to skip the motor trade/garages for some strange reason. Times are bad enough now without having the afternoon wasted by no shows.
I work in retail and will not order on anything without a 50% non refundable deposit.
At one stage we had €250,000 of one off special orders just sitting in our warehouse, and nobody
coming back to collect them.
Your bottom line will defo be the better for this move, best of luck.

 

[smurfworth]

What's a guide price for you to map an a3 AUM Bill and what sort of figures would be achieved?
cheers

 

[badger5]

What's a guide price for you to map an a3 AUM Bill and what sort of figures would be achieved?
cheers

my custom mapping is £250+vat for a stage 1
gains will be relative to mods and what it starts off with power wise.. If healthy, 150bhp should get to 200-210bhp with 220-230lbft

 

[VAB]

+1 we have the same problems in OZ . - Now take full labour deposit at time of booking due to too many no shows. We also only do special orders with payment up front. What I find amazing are the people who order something / put it on hold, pay a deposit and never come back.

 

[Sam_]

Good price for a map! Hopefully you'll get less time wasters now!

 

[smurfworth]

my custom mapping is £250+vat for a stage 1
gains will be relative to mods and what it starts off with power wise.. If healthy, 150bhp should get to 200-210bhp with 220-230lbft

Thanks Bill, would be nice to have it done when the car stops costing me so much money. Seems you are closer to me than r-tech too. Can you map out the code for decat too?

 

[badger5]

Can you map out the code for decat too?

yes

 

[badger5]

another timewaster today no shows.. another S3 owner off here - (Adrian, you know who you are)


sadly further reinforces the deposit with booking.

some people are "thoughtless"

***

 

[badger5]

another timewaster today no shows.. another S3 owner off here - (Adrian, you know who you are)


sadly further reinforces the deposit with booking.

some people are "thoughtless"

***

I have to post this.. Its almost unbelieveble.

Receive a call on landline today from an S3 owner with a stage 2 hybrid.. wanting to book in.. which I do for a week or so on next available slot.

No problems so far, however, the badger sense is tingling.... the voice sounds just like Mr Adrian Timewaster... but this time his name is christopher... Gives the same contact mobile phone number.. which matches Mr timewaster Adrian from previously..

So.. I call back, ask for the guys name...
Replies> Adrian..
Strange, 3 mins ago your name was Christopher.
Replies> Thats my mates name, I was booking in for him..
(yea right, same voice too... coincidentally)

I ask for 50% deposit especially given he no showed last time..
Replies> nope... can I come down now..
No I am fully booked until the date I gave you earlier..
Replies> I heard you are a bit of a plonker...
Yea right, I hang up


This is the sort of person I do not want as a customer... and the Exact person for the deposit requirement.
thoughtless
inconsiderate
ignorent
liar

And said person is on this ASN 8L forum

 

[thebluefox]

Username? Name and shame time - its just rude IMO. You're trying to run a business, have a busy diary and these people are just taking the ****.

 

[warren_S5]

Sorry to hear this Bill; too many fantasists out there these days.

You'd at least think they'd have the common decency to call and say 'I can't do it', but then we live in an egocentric world where people would rather stick their head in the sand rather than do the honorable thing.

Think the deposit scenario should really help weed out the dreamers.

 

[bigal 1]

Sorry to hear this Bill. There is always one or two idiots who spoil it for the rest. Its the way of the world now. It may be someone who has it in for you.

I would publish the last four digits of his contact numbers. We can find out then

 

[coatesy]

what a *****, there is no need to waist peoples valuable time, you should just sign his phone up to loads of cold callers tbh, or i will if you do me his number lol im not bothered, shame you don't have his address.

you should seek info from dan (beachbuggy) to find out who he has made turbo's for as it seems most people have been getting there hybrids off him and sort together the info to point out who the fool is amongst us 8L owners!

 

[STEALTHQUATTRO]

Fair play bill, am self employed sparky and time is money! Can you draw up accounts so I can pay on the account at leasure and used it once the required amount is in there?