Ask an Expert: Abusive customer? Time to get tough
— -- Q: Our place of business has a customer who is a real pain. Unhappy with something that happened with regard to his account, he has become increasingly belligerent. He calls and yells at me and others. He threatens to take his business elsewhere and so on. How should we handle this guy — placate him, fire him, or what? I should note he makes us a lot of money. — Sue
A: Anyone who has read some of my stuff over the years probably knows that I fall into the go along/get along camp as a general rule, or to use a cliché, I do think you usually catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
But to every general rule, there is an exception (more on that in a minute.)
Accommodating, getting along, and saying yes is not just about being a nice guy or gal; it's often smart business.
Sometimes you do business with people because you have to or because you don't care, that is, a person or business may be offering you the best deal, or they are more convenient or have the best selection, or whatever. That is all well and good, and valid.
But just as often, nay, maybe more often, we do business with someone because we want to work with that person. Whether it is hiring someone you like or contracting with a new vendor, is it not true that personality, often and surprisingly, trumps other issues?
I had a pal in law school. He was not "law student of the year" by any means. He didn't have great grades, that's for sure, but what he did have was a winning personality; people liked being around him. He ended up having his pick of jobs.
As he told me at the time, "When someone interviews you, sure, they want to know that you can do the job, but equally importantly I think, they want to see if they would like spending 10 hours a day working with you." Those were wise words.
So yes, being a good guy usually reaps rewards.
But usually is not always. The general rule is not the only rule.
Another rule is this: Sometimes you have to be a jerk. People have to know that, not only are you a nice person, but that you also have a spine, that you are a businessperson and that you mean business.
Personal example: Recently, someone was using my copyrighted content to build their business without attributing my stuff to me. I discovered it, and kindly asked them to stop. Twice they ignored my request.
So I hired a lawyer and threatened to sue. And it wasn't just a threat. I meant it.
Two things happened as a result. First, the infringement ended, pronto. Second, they don't like me very much anymore.
But that's fine. We are not in business to make friends (well, at least not primarily.) We are in business to make products, offer services, make a difference, make some money and have some fun.
Not everyone is going to like you. Check. People may get angry when you defend yourself or your business. Check. And you may lose some business, or friends, or associates when your business priorities are in order. Checkeroo that, too.
So if you have a too-tough client, if you have an employee who takes too much time, if you have business associates who have become more trouble than they are worth, and if you have tried to be reasonable, then a time comes when you should become, well, unreasonable.
To date myself, there are times in business when you just have to be like Howard Beale from Network and stand up and say "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
Your livelihood just may depend on it.
Today's tip:"Do that one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire."— Oprah Winfrey.
Ask an Expert appears Mondays. You can e-mail Steve Strauss at: sstrauss@mrallbiz.com.And you can click here to see previous columns. Steven D. Strauss is a lawyer, author and speaker who specializes in small business and entrepreneurship. His latest book is The Small Business Bible. You can sign up for his free newsletter, "Small Business Success Secrets!" at his website —www.mrallbiz.com.