When I first moved my clock shop into a brick and mortar building in 2001 (after using my dining room, basement, front room, and slowly taking over the bedroom for several years in my own home) I had some "well meaning" gentlemen from a clock collectors group stop in my shop. The people started by asking me many questions about clock repair, a quiz almost, and then moved onto their real agenda. I was not charging enough according to the other members of this group and was taking away business from as far as 75 miles away. AND I had the nerve to tell people if their clock really only needed oiling and not a full blown cleaning. I ignored these "fine gentlemen", and passed that off as these people trying to get me to participate in "collusion" or price fixing, and I was not about to be party to that.
I was the clock maker for the Mother Earth Fair a few weeks ago and was holding a class on simple clock maintenance. The class went fine with a good number of participants and I explained in detail and with hand out sheets how to put a clock in beat, how to adjust the chimes, how to oil a movement, and a few other key aspects to keeping your clock in good running order between professional servicing. From that class I received many emails of thanks and two interesting emails, each dealing with me making information available. One person felt I gave to much information out and that that would cause my business to slow down, one informed me he had to close his business down as he did not have enough business t sustain himself and that putting out the information I did (especially in written form) would have killed his business faster. To these two gentlemen I say bull squirt! I have been in the clock repair business for a long time (I made my first clock at 8 years old) and providing simple information to potential and current customers will in no way harm your business. What harms a business is deception (such as the gentlemen that visited me in 2001 wanted me to participate in), lack of ability or training to do a proper repair or restoration, and keeping information from you customers. A customer needs to be aware of how to maintain their clock, what to expect from their clock, and what to expect from you as a repairmen. Keeping secrets from a customer and blowing yourself up to be some type of demi-god in front of them is no way to keep a customer or grow your business. Customers are trusting you with their family pieces and with telling them the truth. Do just that, it is the right thing to do! I have followed these basic rules for years in my business. I have just completed a large addition and am planning a second expansion for 2014 due to my business growth. I do not feel that sharing needed information has hurt me in the least and I will continue to do so. Again, it is the right thing to do.
I was the clock maker for the Mother Earth Fair a few weeks ago and was holding a class on simple clock maintenance. The class went fine with a good number of participants and I explained in detail and with hand out sheets how to put a clock in beat, how to adjust the chimes, how to oil a movement, and a few other key aspects to keeping your clock in good running order between professional servicing. From that class I received many emails of thanks and two interesting emails, each dealing with me making information available. One person felt I gave to much information out and that that would cause my business to slow down, one informed me he had to close his business down as he did not have enough business t sustain himself and that putting out the information I did (especially in written form) would have killed his business faster. To these two gentlemen I say bull squirt! I have been in the clock repair business for a long time (I made my first clock at 8 years old) and providing simple information to potential and current customers will in no way harm your business. What harms a business is deception (such as the gentlemen that visited me in 2001 wanted me to participate in), lack of ability or training to do a proper repair or restoration, and keeping information from you customers. A customer needs to be aware of how to maintain their clock, what to expect from their clock, and what to expect from you as a repairmen. Keeping secrets from a customer and blowing yourself up to be some type of demi-god in front of them is no way to keep a customer or grow your business. Customers are trusting you with their family pieces and with telling them the truth. Do just that, it is the right thing to do! I have followed these basic rules for years in my business. I have just completed a large addition and am planning a second expansion for 2014 due to my business growth. I do not feel that sharing needed information has hurt me in the least and I will continue to do so. Again, it is the right thing to do.
... Like some kind of clock Mafia.
ReplyDeleteThat could be a new History Channel Show "Clock Mafia Wars" (your time is running out...)
DeleteWay to go Dorrin. I try to run my business the same way and it seems to work fine. Still the Clock Wizard or Magic Man to my customers, but still lots of repeat and new business coming in.
ReplyDeleteI found your site because I was looking for Hermle date codes. Thanks for the information and your site is excellent in every way. Good Times Clock Repair (Bob Baker)
Thank you Bob
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