Home/Rants/🎨 Painting/Client from hell just tanked my 10-year streak - anyone else?
Client from hell just tanked my 10-year streak - anyone else?
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SawdustSavant
·4mo·59 replies·58 participants
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SawdustSavant⭐ ExpertOP4mo
108
Been painting houses for a decade now, mostly interiors with Benjamin Moore Aura, and this one client in the greater Atlanta area turns it into a nightmare. We quoted $4500 for the full kitchen repaint, cabinets and all, using that ProClassic hybrid paint like in those Idaho Painter videos. But the guy changes his mind mid-job on the color, demands we redo everything for free, and now he's threatening bad reviews on Angi. Saw a similar rant in the Painting Contractors Facebook group last week, but damn, this one's got me second-guessing taking referrals. NGL, I shoulda walked away sooner. Anyone got tips for dealing with these types without losing your cool?
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PaintSplatterPro⭐ Expert4mo
23
man that sucks, had a similar client last year who wouldn't pay the final $800 until we 'fixed' imaginary drips.
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LeakHunter3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
dude paid up after i showed him the contract clause on changes.
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SpringSpecialist3⭐ Expert4mo
14
congrats on the 10 years though, that's a solid milestone.
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RoofRat874⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
yeah hitting a decade feels good, especially if you've got repeat business.
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VentMasterMike⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
screw these picky homeowners, they think we're artists not contractors.
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FlushForce2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
exactly, atlanta's full of 'em with their mcmansions.
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ColorChaos2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
preach, they watch one hgtv episode and suddenly experts.
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PipeLord4204⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
hgtv ruins everything.
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DeckDog⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
for real.
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AmpedUpApprentice⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
i get it, first big job i lost a client over color mismatch.
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TileTitan2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
13
keep pushing, you'll hit 20 years easy.
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DoorJamJam2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
24
proud of ya for sticking it out.
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FlushMaster5⚒️ Journeyman3mo
14
these clients are the worst, always want more for less.
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CircuitSnake2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
22
had one demand gold leaf trim for the price of latex.
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WireWhizKid⭐ Expert3mo
43
lmao gold leaf? that's next level entitlement.
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FlushMaster3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
13
yeah, walked off that job.
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DrainDiverDan⭐ Expert3mo
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benjamin moore aura is top tier, don't let one idiot ruin it.
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BoltBrain⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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tips? get everything in writing before starting.
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LawnLad420⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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shut em down with photos of progress.
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TenYearVet9⭐ Expert3mo
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atlanta market's tough but rewarding.
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ShingleShuffler2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
27
commiserations, brother.
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DustDevil2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
32
we all been there.
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VentMaster4⚒️ Journeyman3mo
15
contractors unite against bs clients.
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Insul8r⚒️ Journeyman3mo
24
document every change request.
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FlushMaster5⚒️ Journeyman3mo
20
yeah, email trail is your best friend.
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SpraySavant2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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for cabinets, always mock up a sample first.
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DustDevil2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
these people suck.
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WrenchWizard3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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don't take the bait on free redos.
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RollerRogue2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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how'd you quote the $4500? flat rate?
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HueHustler⭐ Expert3mo
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idaho painter has vids on client management.
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PrimerPal⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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warning: never start without a deposit.
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CastIronCrusher⚒️ Journeyman2mo
27
these clients make me wanna quit.
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TimberTitan⚒️ Journeyman2mo
47
felt that frustration hard.
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PolishPro3⚒️ Journeyman2mo
33
same here, lost sleep over one.
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WrenchWizard4⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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group in painting contractors fb full of these stories.
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DoorOpenerDan⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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use option sheets for colors upfront.
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LockLadLarry⚒️ Journeyman2mo
26
solid advice.
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PipeDreamer18⭐ Expert2mo
25
proud you hit 10 years despite this crap.
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ShingleShark15⚒️ Journeyman2mo
26
clients like that are poison.
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BoxHauler6⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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yeah, cut ties quick.
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PaintSplat⭐ Expert2mo
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been painting 15 years, still deal with this bs.
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SodSlinger2⚒️ Journeyman2mo
27
hang in there.
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RidgeRunner⚒️ Journeyman2mo
50
lmao remember that client who wanted pastel on brick?
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MopAndGlo⭐ Expert2mo
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frustrated as hell with mine last month.
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YardYodaYusuf⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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we hate these types.
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LadderLad4⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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get a lawyer review your contracts.
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GrimeFighter2⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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warning, bad reviews can tank google profile.
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SprayTanSteve⚒️ Journeyman2mo
26
sympathy from a fellow painter.
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CircuitSurfer2⚒️ Journeyman2mo
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yeah, same boat.
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JoistJockey8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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these entitled folks everywhere.
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SpotlessSteve6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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frustrating af.
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TileTerrorist⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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i feel ya.
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FilterFanatic⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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we all do.
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DustBunnyHunter10⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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clients ruining the trade.
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PipeLord4202⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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hate this part of the job.
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SparkPlugJunkie⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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commiserate with you all day.
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KeyMasterMike⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, my streak ended when a lady called me out for 'ruining' her $2k granite countertop with a tiny water spot that wasnt even there. turned out she was just pissed her husband hired me without asking, so she ghosted the payment and left a one-star rant on yelp. now i just laugh and tell myself its free comedy for the week 😂
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V2425🌱 Newcomer1mo
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next time somethin like that happens, screenshot that yelp review right away and respond with a polite but firm explanation of what really went down. it shows other potential customers youre professional and not dodgin the issue. also, consider usin a tool like jobber to get a deposit upfront on bigger jobs, like 30% before you even start touchin the granite. that way if they ghost, youre not out the full amount. i learned that the hard way on my first solo gig, lost $800 cuz the guy claimed the tile grout was the wrong shade of beige. now i always run payments through square so i got records and can charge the card if needed. keeps the headaches down alot. hope that helps turn your next one into a win.
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PipeLord42029⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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next time, get 50% upfront on jobs over $1k to weed out the flakes. and respond to that yelp review with facts only, turns the tide quick.
