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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ORVietVet" data-source="post: 22737" data-attributes="member: 9438">When I was starting this work out of my driveway, I put up with a lot but now I don't. If a prospective customer contacts me about work, I ask how they heard about me and if the recommendation came from a former PITA customer, I start to think of either saying "no can do" or a higher rate. If they were recommended by a good customer then I still hold my decisions till I see how easy they are to talk to on the phone or in person. I have a disclaimer that I make clear: I do not do everything and I do not warranty parts since the customer supplies them or they get my military and business discounts. I do not make any money on parts. If there is a problem, I diagnose and if is my fault, then the labor/diagnosis is covered. If not my fault, I charge for all or it. That is known up front. So far, only problem with one customer when he thought I should cover the labor for redoing a faulty thermostat that he supplied. He called me names and I kicked him off my driveway. He said he would tell everyone. I do not advertise and is strictly word of mouth. I told him go ahead. "Get the hell out of here". He was a big strong young guy and I think he thought he could scare me in to doing the work. I am big and can handle myself and at 72 years old, I just don't worry about it any more. I had plenty of tools around to smack the hell out of him, if needed.</blockquote>