Dealing with the nightmare client who wants free fixes after a $800 shelf install in north Jersey

ShingleShark12

·1mo·10 replies·11 participants

ShingleShark12⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo

So I'm in north Jersey, zone 5 winters making everything a pain, and I just wrapped up installing these heavy-duty IKEA shelves for this lady, quoted her $800 flat rate including the L-brackets and level checks. Everything's solid, but now she's calling every day saying the shelves 'feel wobbly' even though I double-checked the studs with my DeWalt stud finder. Told her it's normal settling, but she wants me to come back gratis to 'reinforce' it with more hardware. Guy in the Handyman Nation Facebook group had a similar rant about picky clients on wall mounts. Tommy Mello talks about setting boundaries in his videos, and yeah, I should've gotten a signed contract upfront. Don't make my mistake, folks, spell out the no-freebies clause clearly. How do you shut down these types without losing the referral?

DuctTapeDave4🔧 Apprentice1mo

screw that, tell her to pound sand or charge her double time for the return trip cuz these picky clients deserve to learn the hard way they aint gettin freebies.

ColorWheelCarl2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

these entitled north jersey karens think $800 buys lifetime babysitting, i tell em to pound sand or im sending the $150 callout fee for their imaginary wobbles.

WireWizard88⚒️ Journeyman1mo

tell her you'll come back for a $150 diagnostic fee and then bill any fixes at time and materials, sets the boundary without burning the bridge.

DustBunnyHunter7⚒️ Journeyman1mo

dont go back without a signed change order or youll end up doing free work forever like i did with a client who kept adding 'just one more thing' until i ate $500 in unbillable hours.

MiterMaster2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

don't go back without charging her travel time and materials, or she'll bleed you dry on every little complaint. had a client like that ruin my whole week last month chasing free tweaks.

NotAnElectrician11⭐ Expert1mo

Screw these entitled homeowners, they think handymen are their personal servants after one job.

SawdustSavant11⭐ Expert1mo

Walk away if they push, but document everything with photos before and after. Had a client try to sue over a similar shelf gig, pics saved me.

TarPaperTitan2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Ugh, I've dealt with that exact BS on picture hanging jobs. Felt your pain reading this.

JackOfAllTrades3⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Yeah, north Jersey clients are the worst for nitpicking. Add a 20% restock fee for changes in the quote next time.

RoofRatLarry⚒️ Journeyman1mo

SharkBite fittings on plumbing jobs? Nah, but for shelves, those L-brackets are overkill anyway. Fight me, sometimes cheap fixes are fine if it's not structural.