2 Absolutely Frustrating Things Small Businesses Deal With

[@itselliehybrid9398]

Have a mate here in Australia. He gives five minutes for free and then says he’ll need their credit card number as he’s now consulting. The real customer doesn’t mind.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yes exactly. And we've done similar things many times where we answer a few basic questions but when it starts getting specific we say ok, it's time to charge for this. People who get it don't mind.

[@irdestroyer]

All calls go to my staff who screen those who aren't willing to pay for my time for a consultation. Also, nobody gets a discount, ever, at all, we keep pricing pretty standardized. We lose some clients with our hardline approach but it allows us to spend that time instead servicing the good clients and overall making more profit with less wasted time.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah I want to get to the point where we can hire someone to answer and screen the phones. I like the no discounts policy but for e commerce, it's all about whoever is the cheapest

[@kevinmanning8214]

@@normalguysupercar WILL work for Company provided Ferrari……😂😂😂

[@SveltoPerformance]

Iv'e been in business for over 25 years, that happens all the time, preach brother!

[@normalguysupercar]

Yup! I've heard similar stories from friends with small businesses frequently.

[@TheCloserUT]

This is normal consumer behavior not limited to your dealership. Very frustrating and shows the true character of some people.

[@normalguysupercar]

Absolutely

[@Motorsportsgeek]

Helped my neighbor change his starter once, next thing you know, he is ringing at my door Sunday morning to come check what is vibrating in his car and expecting free diagnostics. Why are people like this..

[@andrelapointe1983]

no good deed goes unpunished!

[@normalguysupercar]

That's like our neighbor, always coming over asking for help fixing things. So annoying

[@randallross3036]

Your time is valuable. I appreciate it and respect what you’re saying 👊🏾

[@normalguysupercar]

Thank you

[@shovel_head80]

Merry Christmas Mo and family

[@normalguysupercar]

Thank you very much!

[@codylee5703]

My goodness. I think that THIS is pretty much the best rant that we all have in especially the automotive industry, but really any industry. You have questions, concerns, complaints, whatever. So you call someone that knows the answers inside and out. The knowledge is definitely worth something. Also you're giving up time that could have been used to fuel profit to make the business work. And you're talking to someone who may or may not want to buy from you, or even at all.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yes exactly

[@Foggjammer]

It’s because schools don’t teach people how businesses work. They never explain that the business has enormous expenses. My tiny business had a list of 600 accounts receivable (vendors). The biggest were payroll and payroll taxes.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah it's pretty difficult and very expensive to get a business going. Those of us who are bootstrapping our own businesses have a steep climb to success.

[@HaroldSmith123]

I hear you. You are 100% correct. Time is money. What’s up with the yellow towel on the Ferrari tire? lol

[@normalguysupercar]

It was just there. No particular reason

[@gregh1853]

Reminds me in my server sales for IBM to IVY schools....Harvard being the worse...."I need 3 rack mount servers with xxxx cpu and xxxxsize hard drives......this was 20 years ago....and since we buy so much from you i need 100 sticks of memory for free for this price" I waste days getting approve for special pricing to find out they bought dell or HP and were wasting all my time because they needed 3 bids.....had zero intention of ever buying it. I feel your pain....

[@normalguysupercar]

Ah geeze yeah sounds similar

[@michaeljkasnter]

Try being a Plumbing Contractor, you wouldn’t believe the amount of time I spend on the phone with people. I feel your pain.

[@normalguysupercar]

I bet!

[@supersonique001]

The problem is that many people believe(or are under the impression) that your time is not as valuable as theirs or that you're running a social service. The internet is partly to blame for this tendency over the last 30 years because it gives people a little bit of knowledge without the years of experience of the actual practitioner, like deciding to do your own dental work and save some money! LOL.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah the KZbin channel is what makes a lot of people think this way

[@ARNYKATZ]

It makes that if you give advice before buying the part, then you'll be happy to give advice AFTER they buy the part...from you! Ebay isn't going to offer follow-up support.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah the problem is the advice is what might determine the part they buy so chicken and egg...

[@1855Media]

The car business, broadly speaking, has a 100 plus year history of sellers and customers treating each other absolutely horribly. Customers spend 4 hours at a dealer only to buy somewhere else to save $50. Dealers went to town on customers during the pandemic. I can’t think of a consumer transaction that is more adversarial. Of course there are exceptions, but it has become the norm to act this way (on both sides). It is what it is, unfortunately.

[@normalguysupercar]

You aren't wrong.

[@93LT1RamAir]

Being in the software biz there's always someone who's asking for for free help on their project. "It should only take you 15 minutes tops" or the "can you make me a website super cheap"? It's never 15 minutes, if you want a "cheap" anything look online for the prebuilt stuff. I have a hourly rate for quick fixes (with a minimum) and I quote projects at a full price, take it or leave it. The amount of people wanting free stuff will burn your time for the rest of your life.

[@normalguysupercar]

Oh man the number of people who asked if I could build them an app...

[@93LT1RamAir]

@@normalguysupercar it's like a once a month thing, drives me crazy cause none of them are good ideas.

[@edrperformance]

Dan, this is every small business. The motorcycle industry is even worse. We fixed a lot of the issue of people wanting our advice and input but then buying the parts online to save five dollars by having tw o shop rates . Our Shop rate is 185 an hour, but if you bring in your own parts, it's 225 an hour we've done this for several years no one ever complains, then typically the next time they need work they call us and get the parts from us realizing that they can actually save some money on the labor. People don't get time is money when I can be $450 an hour on the dyno tuning Motorcycles if you want to take 30 minutes of my time to talk about stuff that's $225 I'm out. The issue is our jobs are their hobbies.

[@normalguysupercar]

That's completely fair on the shop rate. For the time being we simply won't work on a car if we can't buy the parts and make a little there. It just doesn't make sense otherwise.

[@210perfomace]

I feel this. They even called me back to tell me they bought it cheaper, but can I install it. 🤦

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah that would really take balls to ask if we'd install it. Lol

[@elgar6743]

@@normalguysupercar Why would you be offended to receive some labour hours from installing a part that wasn't purchased from you?? Overbooked?? Slammed with appointments?? Service department making too much money?? Misplaced EGO?? Add some extra labour hours to compensate for the lost parts sales...it's a common practice in the industry.

[@kevinmanning8214]

It’s kind of hilarious how Ballsy people can be to call and spend your time talking about a product then not have the balls to call you back and ask if you’ll match a price. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@normalguysupercar]

Yup. It happens frequently.

[@kevinmellett9185]

That is what the car business is with, spending time going over options, different combos colors etc only to say thanks found one for less and buy that car instead ! Only to come visit when on service visit and says he wished he got our car it had better equipment he didn’t realize he miss options only to save but loses in the end ! People are wack sometimes! Retired sales manager jus sharing my pain !

[@RoeVenturesLLC]

1:27 show enthusiasm, express passion and get the sale. Paid consultation only.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah

[@dalej6985]

I donated couple hundred bucks worth of service to a client for a medical benefit for her sons family. Two weeks later she uses the service herself, (I didn't know until later) . Some people suck.

[@normalguysupercar]

Ugh.

[@The_Mace]

Maybe add a note to the website about price matching? "We'll match any reasonable price from a competitor!" Or something like that? Or, when you get caught on the phone giving out free advice, maybe end the conversation with, "Hey, let us know if you found it somewhere cheaper, and we'll do our best to match that price..." Just a couple of suggestions...although I know it's a pain.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah need to do that

[@fredsalfa]

In regards to the parts maybe you can say upfront in the 30 min conversation several times that you’ll match anyone else’s price and really mean it. I noticed I could do that with well known Computer / TV franchise in Australia they could match anyone else’s prices and I do it all the time now. But I didn’t know unless they advertised the fact.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah I should do that.

[@garyleibitzke4166]

Is there an Inconel exhaust for my 2021 Camry that you'd be willing to install for free? Sorry, couldn't resist. 😃

[@normalguysupercar]

Lol that would be funny if someone made one for a Camry

[@garyleibitzke4166]

@@normalguysupercar It would probably cost more than the car. 😂

[@Brooks22n]

Showroom looks Fantastic

[@normalguysupercar]

Well thank you very much!

[@godsdozer]

Can't afford the cars, but I am really interested in the yellow rag on top of the wheel.

[@normalguysupercar]

It was just there. No reason

[@johnswatch]

How is the post vasectomy soreness? Have mine scheduled late January. Not excited about it.

[@normalguysupercar]

It's not that bad. Manageable. Far less pain than my back surgery. It's sorta like a dull ache more than sharp pain. Do the nitrous if you have the option.

[@CoolHand273]

Dan do you like the two tone paint on the 458? Why would you want your car to loo like a soft top when the car was a hardtop convertible to begin with? Anyway happy holidays Dan and Josh.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah it's paint. There's people that like that look.

[@CandlestickTV]

Those cars are so crispy!

[@KettleBell-md8ph]

I really don't get how these people with decent money are willing to buy from some shady third party seller for a $50 discount. I would not play with my super car and would be happy to pay a little more for you guys to navigate the sea of scams, fake products, used, broken stuff.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah it's strange

[@cuttingedgeinnovationstati5208]

As a general contractor, I would get from time to time subcontractors or people asking me for advice about a project they want to do or a project they're on. Within the past 2 years I'm constantly getting some general labors that are doing side jobs. Calling me up and asking me. Hey how do you do this? How do you do that? I'm seriously considering using your consulting model for this reason alone. All the best as always to the NGSC team.

[@normalguysupercar]

That's not a bad idea. It's not that I don't want to help people, it's just that it's my time and I think it's worth something. Lol

[@cuttingedgeinnovationstati5208]

@normalguysupercar I feel the same way. My electrician actually talked to me after I finished up with a call with another guy saying. " you should just charge people to call you for this."

[@jamestreanor182]

Put the price match in every email! Don’t make the customer ask

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah

[@johanboes1]

So becomes the client afraid to ask something....you ask to consider...Is in every job. Not my style.

[@normalguysupercar]

Ok

[@dzikijohnny]

Don't say small, say boutique.

[@normalguysupercar]

Oh I like that

[@mikenimmick3920]

Most people buying expensive cars are very generous...with other people's time.

[@irdestroyer]

@@mikenimmick3920 rich people tend to be the worst clients. Bossy, demanding, rude, entitled, cheap...

[@mikenimmick3920]

@@irdestroyer Oh yeah, they expect perfection and act like they doing you a favor by their mere presence. I've dealt with them.

[@normalguysupercar]

Accurate

[@chuckmader9333]

The same people go to their friend’s restaurant expecting free food as opposed to buying food to support their friend’s restaurant.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yes exactly

[@gimaru1]

With so much info online don’t quite understand why people don’t do some research before asking questions.

[@normalguysupercar]

Research takes effort

[@toddjones9715]

Hey Dan some great points, but watching other videos I can guarantee the same people calling looking for free advise are doing the same things to other places of business too. People don't appreciate experience and knowledge. You should be compensated fairly for the services you offer especially high end toys for men lol.

[@normalguysupercar]

Thank you, appreciate it

[@NicoRobles-g3b]

Where is Mo? I miss Mo, please include him just like the old days…please. Love that guy!

[@normalguysupercar]

He's at home. I don't bring him to the shop that much cause he gets in trouble. Lol

[@BluemanArthur]

Santa? Not Santa? Santa.?Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas

[@normalguysupercar]

Merry Christmas

[@MTbone7]

Dan what's your dream? What will it take to not be 'a small business' anymore. How do you be as successful as you want to be? Do you need more investment, more profitable inventory, obviously sell more cars? What's the dream?

[@normalguysupercar]

Well I certainly have dreams but more realistically I set goals for the business and myself. I try not to set goals that are easy to achieve but also not impossible. Given it's just me and Josh right now I think that's pretty spot on for the definition of a small business. I would love to see it where we have a few full time employees, more inventory, and offer more services.

[@MTbone7]

@@normalguysupercar Good luck my friend you will get there

[@callyk5678]

I definitely wouldn’t call if I had a question, a polite email and if you get a response be grateful if you don’t they are clearly to busy trying to earn a living imo

[@normalguysupercar]

Admittedly I prefer emails as at least then I can respond when I have time to sit and go through them.

[@blakechesbro3602]

Hey Guys, Newer to your channel this year and really like the concept. Im an auto enthusiast, sports car owner & have raced formula cars as well. I hope to be a future" Normal guy super car owner" one day. My plan to get a well sorted manual conversion from you if possible, if not have you assist in finding me one ! Look fwd to when your able to start aquiring 430s again to sort and sell to future normal guy supercar owners. Have you done any videos about a totally Normal guys first supercar that he or she aquired from you and detailed their expereince with it once delivered and enjoyed. Love to see from the customers experence ! thanks again normal guy Blake#42 #Staypositive

[@normalguysupercar]

We're always looking for good 430s, they are probably our favorite Ferrari to buy, fix up, and sell. We haven't documented the post sale from a client although that would be logistically difficult, I'd be open to trying it.

[@wconstructionco]

It happens all the time, you've never called anyone for some advice or with a question?

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah friends, not businesses.

[@wconstructionco]

@normalguysupercar I doubt that.

[@asdfasdfasdfasdeff]

%100 percent find clients that value your time and aren't time wasters. I've made that mistake a few times and it's never worth it. There is no carrot at the end of the stick.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah it sucks

[@timmyboy3459]

Advice over the phone costs $50 per hour…. With a $50 minimum……. Amount Gets credited toward your purchase if made within the next 30 days….. problem solved. :). Small business owner here…….

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah ideally

[@feersty]

Dan you come across as too friendly. Case in point, Temple Guy. 😅

[@normalguysupercar]

Haha oh man

[@chefgromano5025]

Constant bombardment for donations when you’re struggling to make it.

[@normalguysupercar]

Who's asking for donations?

[@chefgromano5025]

@ oh sorry I meant when you are a small biz you get bombarded with donation requests when it’s hard to just stay open. At least for me

[@joeyscleaninglady2877]

need chat gpt to answer the phone

[@normalguysupercar]

Lol yes

[@mrb9642]

People who are the most “liberal” in their politics are also the absolute worst at expecting shit for free, regardless of their income level. We closed our business simply because it became too difficult being fair and up from with people only to get screwed over by these same people.

[@normalguysupercar]

My experience is that politics are irrelevant, there's just a bunch of people who want free stuff.

[@pittsguy7]

What....!?!? You don't stay in business giving away parts and services for free? Unheard of!

[@normalguysupercar]

I know, it's a strange concept

[@BluemanArthur]

As a retired touring musician, i bet in one year id give out thousands of USED drumsticks but many wanted things like a cymbal or 10 new sticks? While they were not paid for by me, some of the requests were quite bold.

[@auwz66]

Not teaching you to suck eggs.... I was in retail for a very long time (now retired) and my SOP was always, always at the end of the call to say something like "well nice speaking to you John, if you do decide to buy the item come back and ask for me I will look after you and make sure you get exactly what we talked about, any questions though please ask, you know how to contact me I am here every day" . I found it very effective, didnt always work but it sure helped a lot. HTH.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah I may have to push that more.

[@gnashsang]

Just like when I was a computer tech, everyone want me to diagnose their pc issues on the phone for free

[@normalguysupercar]

Oh yeah. It's all you get when you know anything about computers

[@chriskubas2120]

I would charge for your time. If client ends up buying from you. Credit the consult fee.

[@normalguysupercar]

We have when people bought cars from us after a consultation.

[@AgapeInkTattoo]

Perhaps ..accentuate your service in a promo and on your website? And your followup.. I own a tattoo studio and a car stero..tint..and wrap shop. Many times our tint may be higher or an amplifier .. but we warranty directly..doesn't have to be mailed in and wait for alpine or rockford to send you another and charged again for reinstall... we do it on the spot .. free.. our tint is a higher quality product.. but if it's same brand we LIFETIME WARRANTY it .. we fix it. Customer has ZERO cost.. personal touch.. standing on our name. I've been watching you from your first videos I think in your home garage .. and you are doing incredibly.. Just sharing how we are able to show and relate our value to customers and it makes an immense difference and just sharing it with yall bro .. Keep going and kep growing .. yall are amazing. Ps imma normal guy who a supercar too lol. Went from 12c mc to huracan 610 4 to 458 italia to now 458 spider.

[@normalguysupercar]

Very cool

[@philipparana9225]

E-commerce is a tough animal. It's a race to the bottom. Car sales advice prob require a deposit, and that would be put towards a purchase w you.

[@normalguysupercar]

Yup

[@CR71243]

Hi Dan, can I get your opinion on …

[@normalguysupercar]

Lol maybe......

[@timcheou5649]

Mate, if you have worked in retail for 20 years like I do. You won't be saying the time waste. Imo you need to shorten the tips and conversation on the phone, also need to learn how to detect tone to see if it's worth the time on the phone.

[@normalguysupercar]

OK

[@hughmann1908]

Get used to it, it’s part of business 😂 I’ve had quotes shopped around for a better price, it sucks but what can you do?

[@normalguysupercar]

Indeed

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

I’m here for the free stuff.

[@normalguysupercar]

Haha... Well the good news is the KZbin videos are all free!

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Not exactly. I have to hit the thumbs up every time. How’d the procedure go?

[@normalguysupercar]

@@thereissomecoolstuff it was pretty quick and not as painful as I expected.

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

@ once little Enzo gets bigger consider adopting. He needs a buddy. You and Meg are great parents.

[@johnarnold24]

I have been following you for ever. You have been learning thru other people yourself, do you pay for all the advice you get ? I recently gave you some free advice about your building damage, NC. I charge up to $1k per day for my 73 years life experience and 32 years commercial construction experience. Again I will give you advice for free, NC. Think about it friend. John

[@normalguysupercar]

Nope I don't generally pay for advice. But I also don't expect people to do their jobs for free.

[@chadlea6116]

What happened to Meg? She’s never on anymore.

[@normalguysupercar]

She's just busy with work and our kiddo

[@allanclarke6636]

So bloody true and disrespectful

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah it's frustrating

[@thorsrensen3162]

I dont understand those people who call you up for free advice. Most of customers to supercars must be very rich people who knows how business works. It should be obvious to them that you have a shop and need to earn money and that nothing is free. You should try to find and train a way to explain how it works and quickly end the conversation , so you dont wast your energy on rude cheapscates or arrogant millionaers who are used to be surrounded by slimy people who dont dare to argue with them.

[@normalguysupercar]

I have to typically cut them off and explain the service we offer. Most of the time people understand and appreciate it. But every once in a while someone gets pissed that we'd charge for a phone call. Oh well

[@AutoAuctionsNC]

Based

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah

[@thomasgallagher1261]

Take a deposit on your time

[@normalguysupercar]

For the consultations they are all paid up front. Already learned that lesson. Lol

[@russellboyd-jb8jv]

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS ARE HEART BREAKING FOR SURE.I WEEP FOR YOU AND JOSH FOR SURE.

[@normalguysupercar]

Haha correct

[@mauida7746]

lol 😂!

[@normalguysupercar]

Yeah

[@mauida7746]

@ wish I was a Ferrari guy, I’d buy one from you just for support, but no one around me to fix it if I have a problem. I’ll stick to my Porsche

[@homanasiri843]

it’s sad that your broke

[@normalguysupercar]

Sure.

[@homanasiri843]

@@normalguysupercar raise prices the only thing that works

[@LTV_inc]

We want value dammit!

[@normalguysupercar]

Haha yup

[@kevinbarry71]

People suck

[@normalguysupercar]

Some

[@vincenta1074]

That’s the name of the game Best price doesn’t mean best product or service or support A lot of millionaire cheap skates out there

[@normalguysupercar]

Correct

[@bobdowns6973]

TRY DOING GARAGE DOORS ! WTH ! 🙄

[@normalguysupercar]

Can't you just fix it for free? Lol