What would you do if the first time you meet a contractor you are thinking of hiring for a job and he shows up in a Ferrari? Personally, I'm all for it. I like working with successful people. Note: the Job is on one terrific piece of road, nice straights, great twisties, and quite deserted in some sections Vincent.
a friend of mine is in a similar position; he calls out a builder for a quote, who turns up in a sl 500, gets talking to him and it turns out he also got new range rover and is picking up a 360 at christmas! seems like i'm in the wrong job................ tony ps..good luck to him, i say.
Vincent: I would say take the 348 up 128....but, if you don't get the job, don't blame me for how much fun you had gettnig there and comgn back! --Dan
If a contractor I was thinking of hiring showed up in a Ferrari, I would definately get an estimate from others.
I'd be thrilled. I too like working with other successful people, and I am inspired by success in others, it does not make me jealous. I may feel the client out, start talking cars (of any sort) If he's a car dude of any kind, he'd get a kick out of a Ferrari and would realize like we all do, that life is just too damn short to go withought, and that they don't nessicarily mean you're a $billionaire, just that you cherish what's important to you in life and went after it. Also, your buisness is a high-end and fairly exotic one. In that environment, success and flair is an asset. You're a baddass Best! Ben.
it's a liability, vincent. you just don't know how the prospective customer will react. so erring on the side of caution is probably the best bet. doody.
Personally, it would probably make me hire them but I own several ferraris so take that into account. You have all sorts of boneheads out there. If its a $Million+ house then I dont see a problem, if its $300k or less it may cause some difficulty becasue some people are just jealous & nasty or decide something about you which isnt true just because you enjoy fine automotive art
Of course you should get estimates from others anyway, but what does a contractors car have to do with a decision? Besides the fact that most contractors that are successful offer a superior product at a price that keeps them in the market, I would rather deal with a company that has some back up cash, rather than a guy who has a ladder strapped the roof of his Cutlass Supreme.
I know I would never drive my car to a customer or even to the office. As a small business owner, you never know what people are going to think. Before I got my car another gentleman (Vendor) drove his new M5 around to several of my customers. My customers would comment to me that: "You see what I bought him" or "We are obviously paying too much for the equipment". Ever since then I knew that was a bad idea. My employees are the same way, they know i have the car, but they have the same attitude, "See how much money he makes off us" You can probably get away with it in some businesses, but not in mine. Stan
I know of some people when they meet with their customers, the customers say, you can buy a Ferrari, your prices are too high.
I'm a commercial landlord/builder. If your doing a home improvement get a contractor who drives a new pickup. If your building a shopping center go with the ferrari guy. The home improvement guy is dumping your money into the ferrari. I drive a 1996 minivan to my jobs. This is just a very general rule. also go with the older guy with a wife and 3 kids. Never pay for work not yet done. I could go on and on. these days there are many things to look at before signing a contact.
As a contractor I would never even consider arriving for an estimate in my Ferrari. There are much better ways of showing success to a prospective client. Over the years I have always driven a new pickup and currently I drive a new Jeep Grand Cherokee for estimates and job inspections. I think a vehicle along those lines is much more appropriate for conducting business. Was this contractor also wearing a tuxedo when he arrived ? lol....
I drive my Ferrari to some customers who are car crazy, and pick them up for lunch on nice days really enjoy. My customers understand I have worked and saved for my toy as many have for their own toys. I believe you must know your customer well which you should any way.
I've got customers I've known well for 10 years or more that I would never tell about the car. Having a good business relationship with your customer doesn't mean their opinion of me wouldn't suddenly change if I drove up in a 100K+ car. Know thy customer's self Stan
You know that happens to me sometimes. I own a courier business and a mortgage co. Sometimes they tell me "ohh we are paying too much, so we are paying for your Ferrari" and I just tell them no this one is allready payed for you are paying for the next one.
Depends on where you are, The pickup truck crowd would not appriciate any furrin car, while in a more affluent area, they'd think you were a real professional.
The sad thing about this, it's all perception. If your contractor pulls up in a $$$$$$ car its considered a red flag. If your stocbroker drives the same car its accepted. My experience is: I had a contracting business years ago. I had to meet a client for a bid, My truck was in the shop and my wife needed her car, leaving only my 930. I did NOT want to drive it. I had done numerous jobs for him. Well, I met him he commented on how nice the car was, we discussed the plans and price. I did the job, it was my last for him. The sad thing is, had I pulled up in a 40k truck instead of a 25k Porsche there would have been no problem. Its ALL perception. My advice, get bids pick the contractor your most comfortable with and don't let what they drive get in the way of your decision.
I had a roofing contracter come out to give me an estimate. It was the highest bid by far. As he was still trying to sell me i pretty much made up my mind he wouldnt come down enough to even bother negotiating with him. When he then mentioned he would try to quit early an go flying the rest of the day. Nothing against succesful people, but i deal with contracters a lot in my work. We all have know stories about getting milked by some. I would rather not contribute.
IMHO, IF the job is building a dog house or some other low budget operation a pick up that is rusted is fine, But. IF it is a high dollar project I LOOK for the success ratio. Remeber that if you have money you can make money , tools, good labor etc. But if you can only pay yourself then YOU MAY BE OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE. Give me the Rolls and Ferrari driver to the 19' Yugo with the dog bobbing in the back.!
Never appear to have more money then the people you dealing with. All in all your best bet is always play it safe. Drive a ford taurus to meet people. It's domestic and very middle america. Unless you are a financial guy or to a certain extent an attorney you should not be affrontary about your wealth or perceived success. Special case is if you ARE already very sucessful and people know it and it is "common knowledge". Example: I already preceive Mr. Smothie as being sucessful so if he showed up to meet me in a Prius I'd probably ask for ID.
I am a contractor and do road work and would never show up in a Ferrari, I charge a little on the high side but my customers get excellent service and quality, if its a first meeting they would definately view it as a negative, I also think they would view showing up in a Ferrari as being a show off. When I had my Porsche 911 I drove it to bid a job, I didn't have another vehicle at the time so i usually parked where noone could see it, but this time the buyer saw it, I gave a fair price and the buyer balked and I had to call back a few days later and lower my bid just to get the work, something I have never had to do
I see no problem with it at all,being a contractor myself(aviation industry)I agree with the sucessful person attitude,the guy has obviously worked hard for the priviledge. best regards Dave McGuire
If your surgeon or lawyer had one, no big deal. Why can't your contractor drive one ? I'm sure he's earned it. Just make sure you get a fair deal on your project.