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The Best Way to Get Rid of Bad Customers.

May 2008

So….maybe you were taught at one time or another that there was no such thing as a BAD CUSTOMER.

Well – take a deep breath and a huge sigh of relief – as there most certainly are groups of people out there in the world who are so bad they stink.

I mean – really STINK!

You know the ones I’m talking about.

They are:

• Cheap (they make the Grinch look like Santa)
• Demanding
• Like to threaten
• Expect everything for nothing
• Argumentative
• Whiners
• Blamers
• Manipulative
• Lazy
• Crappy payers -  pay slowwwwwly or never at all.

I can hear you thinking…

” But Kim, money is tight and I need their business.”

What Does A Bad Customer REALLY COST?

Here’s the deal.

One bad customer takes up the time and energy of 10 good customers.

You can’t AFFORD to do business with bad customers!

And trust me on this – once you release the bad customer – you’ll discover you’ll have room for the good one that is waiting in the wings!

So if you have one of these individuals in your life at the moment (and truly – I’ve had a few of them in my time) take some Diva advice RIGHT NOW.

You Gotta Get Rid Of The Bad Customer BO

Remember – how I told you a bad customer stinks?

Well – lady – if you’re not careful – their stench will rub off on you.

How?

• You worry about them and go overboard in trying to please them
• You worry some more about how they will talk to others
• You worry they won’t pay their bill (which you realize now you charged them a ridiculously low price)
• You worry  what you did wrong
• You worry because you know they don’t like you
• You worry because you’ve never really liked them

My advice? 

Just because you made an initial bad decision based on ie/starting a new company and needed customers, thought you had landed a dream customer and who actually is a nightmare etc…doesn’t mean you have to take the garbage they are wanting to DUMP on you.

If you have a bad customer because you screwed up big time, you dropped the ball and you know it – then quit reading this article and GO FIX IT!

However, I know most of you are stuck with the occasional  rotten, over-ripe blue cheese customer because you just don’t HAVE A CLUE on how to get rid of them!

Here’s 5 Sales Diva Phrases:

(print these off – I promise you’re going to need them sooner or later!)

1.     I appreciate your business, however, I will not be able to continue…. (Insert what you do here)….due to my intense work schedule.

2.     Your project looks interesting, however, I am booked solid.

3.     Unfortunately, I will have to stop working on your project until I receive payment.

4.     I would like to help you – however, I don’t offer services in that budget range anymore.

5.     I’m not comfortable with continuing.

And then what do you do?

Be quiet!

Don’t offer a bunch of explanations, or how bad you feel etc. because you don’t owe them a darn thing.  You’re being respectful and that is important.  You owe that to your customer (bad or not) and to yourself.

Plus – stay quiet -as Shakespeare so lovingly wrote… ” The lady doth protest too much” which undermines your point.

Remember, as a business owner you HAVE THE RIGHT TO PICK AND CHOOSE who you want to spend your time with. And puhhhhhhlease…you haven’t worked this hard, poured this much money, energy and time into your business, had this much stress, all those sleepless nights - to PUT UP with someone who wants to be a weiner!

Listen.

You’re doing a good job OK?

You’re treating your customers fabulously, however, this person is not the best one for you.

And you don’t have to continue dealing with them. Don’t let anyone make you think otherwise.

And next time? Listen to your gut, watch the red flags waving,  before you ever take that customer on.

So there.

Love From Your Bossy Diva Who NEVER Puts Up With Bad Clients,

Kim Duke

Kim Duke, The Sales Diva, provides savvy, sassy sales training for women small biz owners and entrepreneurs.  Kim works with clients internationally, showing them The Sales Diva secrets to success!  www.salesdivas.com

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