Comments | alex51324: Advice, Please

alex51324

Advice, Please

Jun 03, 2009 23:28

OK, so there's this pet-sitting client. First off, he's an asshole--the first contact he made with me, he started the email off by criticizing my web site for not having my business name anywhere on it. (It does, of course.) I went out there today to meet him and the dogs, and he kept me there almost two hours, talking my ear off about stuff I ( Read more... )

Comments 14

chaoskir June 4 2009, 04:04:26 UTC

Sorry I can't give you any advice in this language even with your own Mr. brain cell (he is working well and somehow likes it here, now, finally. But I just want to say wouldn't work for this guy either and maybe you can tell him something that you have to stay at home because of another "perhaps-job" where you can earn more money can maybe be offered to you. Or you can make it very short says thank you but after a second view to your schedule of the next month you don't have the time for this job.
So, I'm not a help here, sorry.

alex51324 June 4 2009, 04:38:31 UTC

No, I might be able to use that. Thanks!

sarah_the_crab June 4 2009, 04:06:55 UTC

Wow, what a jerk. Maybe something to the tune of you don't think that you'll be able to meet his expectations and you think he should search elsewhere. Or maybe just be honest that you don't feel that you would be compatible with what he wants.

alex51324 June 4 2009, 04:38:08 UTC

Thanks! Yeah, I might be able to use some of that.

hibernia1 June 4 2009, 04:07:03 UTC

First of all.... YIKES SCARY GUY! You're right not to take this job! Second of all, why not this approach: that you're awfully sorry, but that being a back-up pet-sitter would, as surely he'd be able to understand, interfere with your taking on jobs as not a back-up pet-sitter but a regular pet-sitter, and that you'd hate to be in a position where you wouldn't be able to cater to his needs because a steady job has to take priority?

alex51324 June 4 2009, 04:37:39 UTC

I'm glad you agree he sounds scary--I hoped I wasn't overreacting. I might be able to use some of that wording, yeah. Thanks!

hibernia1 June 6 2009, 14:29:05 UTC

Hope it works out ok!!

perspi June 4 2009, 04:13:04 UTC

I would think that with a grade-A asshole like this you need to be blunt and up-front--that you cannot work for him as you cannot accommodate his wants. Any trying to be 'nice' will be seen as being passive and won't be interpreted well by this guy. I wouldn't worry about him potentially badmouthing you--chances are any of his 'friends' also know he's an asshole, and if not, they are probably people who you wouldn't want as clients anyway.

Also--who the hell buys a cell phone for their pet-sitter? I agree with you--that would freak me the fuck OUT.

Just my two cents...

alex51324 June 4 2009, 04:35:05 UTC

I was leaning that way too. I keep composing replies in my head that include things like, "If you need services on a specific date, I'll try to fit you into the schedule"--but NO--I do NOT want to say that. Because this guy is CREEPY.

He also kept saying "I don't want to scare you, but..." (In the context of talking about how the dogs would attack an intruder and things of that nature (as a further aside: I met the dogs. Unlikely. The wife's little toy dog might bite an intruder, but the others would show him where the valuables were.)) But anyway, I recently read "The Gift of Fear," and he points out that non-freaky people rarely say "I don't want to scare you but..." (Unless, I suppose, it were demanded by circumstances: "I don't want to scare you, but that snake crawling up your leg is venomous.") Either they do want to scare you, because they get their jollies that way (which I think is the case with this dude), or they are trying to deflect your attention from how scary they are.

daisylily June 4 2009, 12:31:45 UTC

That's pretty much what I was going to say. Also, being blunt to him would hopefully make him realise that you won't be pushed around (although I suspect saying no bluntly would make him go away anyway).

The cell phone thing is really freaky.

photoash June 4 2009, 04:14:59 UTC

:( omg what a creepo! I think you are doing the right thing on not taking the job O_O

Hmm... perhaps say something along the lines of "I enjoyed talking with you before about (insert dog names). Thank you for the opportunity to work with you and your pets. However, at this time I don't have room in my schedule for being a back-up pet sitter. then something like have a good day or good luck with your current selection in sitter or whatever you feel comfortable saying...

Good luck!

alex51324 June 4 2009, 04:36:31 UTC

Thanks for the validation. :) I do think he was creepy. I might be able to use some of that wording.

photoash June 4 2009, 04:40:04 UTC

Ah well it's just a suggestion :) Good luck with whatever you decide -- I always try to fall back on a business approach and professionalism in the face of someone behaving so badly it often shames them into doing a little better and if they don't then you know you did your best to take the high road as you said you have to worry about your future business prospects!

You might want to try googling about turning down a job letters from career websites :) or you know check out what color is your parachute at the bookstore/library and see what it says since it's the jobseeker bible XD i know it's not quite the same thing but you could steal some verbage!