Happy Friday, everyone!
Here is this week's poll question:
What is the most difficult collection call you've ever had to make? How did it turn out?
Looking forward to reading your replies!
I was doing some sales consulting for a company and the GSM was not a happy camper. One day he ask if I would go with him to a local car dealer who had not spent any money on radio for years due to a dispute with management. Needless to say I said sure bring me up to speed on the client and the businesses. Well .. we walk in the door and the GSM yells across the showroom floor to the dealer owner .. "Hey Joe .. I've got a big time sales consultant herewith me that wants to sell you some radio" .. ever felt your knees buckle and your heart rate jump 200 points? I shook the guys hand and ask if I might use his bathroom .. this gave me a minute or two to think .. upon returning we went through his "I don't want to buy any radio" and I quickly told him that I really wasn't there to sell him any but would like to chat about the market and how he felt the economy was improving or not improving since the GSM had told me he was a big supporter of the mayor who ran on a platform of economic recovery. I never said one word to him about radio or him advertings on the radio much less the station I was working for .. did tel him that I apprecaited the use of his bathroom as his dealership was on the way from the city to the station .. basically he said thanks and use it anytime. After that every time I was in the market I would stop in .. wave .. go to his bathroom for a minute or two then stop by and chat with him for a few mintues. Every time we chatted our relationship seemed to imporve to the point that I started talking "why radio" and on one visit sat down and discussed his co-op and how it would benefit him to move his end of the year inventory. It took almost four months but I finally signed the client to a six month contract with a six month renewal based on performance. It was a real rush to walk into the GSM's office and drop the inforamtion on his desk for him to write up the order! Thast was almost as bad as the day I walked into an agency in Indianapolis with a briefcase full of promotions and remotes based on what the seller had told me the client wanted. First word out of the clients mouth with ten franchisee sitting around the conference table .. "good to see we've got a guy thats not going to borel us with the same old promotions and remotes campaign we've heard all day" .. that's a story for another day! Will say that sometiems it is best to be the last guy of the day.
Ha ! I was fairly new to radio in the 80s and needed every single dime in commission I could get. A guy who ran a mens' clothing store was constantly past due, so I bravely walked up to the front door of his house with a man friend who was dressed in a dark suit with dark glasses, he never said a word. The store owner came to the door, looked very surprised and promised me a check on Monday. I picked up a check on Monday morning at his store. My cousin who was the county magistrate informed me that I had better never do that again. Actually, it was fun......
Good for you Kathie!
I just had a client pass away in a tragic car accident. He owes me only $104 from ads that ran before the accident. His wife sent the invoice back with DECEASED written across it. I personally think we should just write it off and let it go, but I haven't got approval from upper management to do that yet. Any sage words of advice?
Good point.
Is the wife planning to keep the business going or sell it to someone else to keep it going? Or will it just close? If the business is closing and this was a good client, a friend of the station, and you did a good bit of business with them, I would encourage writing it off. If the business will continue, then don't. The liabilities are usually figured in with the sale of the business, along with the assets.
I was told, "You'll get a check when I say you get a check." Turned out a higher up at the station had a home renovation done by the client earlier in the year... and hadn't paid the bill. So I was collateral damage. It worked out in the end... station higher up paid his bill, client paid his.
