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My buddy Jake warned me about the 'I know a guy' client
He said if a new customer starts the conversation by saying they have a friend who can do it cheaper, just walk away. I ignored him on a kitchen tile job in Tempe, quoting $4,500. The guy kept texting me pictures from his 'friend's' work asking why my price was higher. After two weeks of back and forth, he ghosted. Has anyone else had a client use that line as a negotiation tactic from the start?
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the_sage6mo ago
Yeah, the "I know a guy" opener is a huge red flag. I read a whole thread on a contractor forum about this exact thing. The general take was that it's not a real negotiation tactic, it's just a client telling you they plan to make you justify your entire quote against a ghost. It means they've already decided your price is too high and they want you to work for free during the bidding process. You were smart to walk away, even if it took two weeks to see it. That time spent on texts and pictures is time you could have given to a serious customer.
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sarahr116mo ago
See your point, but sometimes the "I know a guy" is just a clumsy way of asking for a price check. I've had clients say that, then hire me after I explain my process and warranty. The real red flag @the_sage mentioned is when they keep pushing for free detailed plans to beat that mystery price. That's the ghost bidding. If they drop the "guy" after a clear explanation, they might be okay. If they keep coming back to it, that's when you're just working for free.
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paulnguyen4mo ago
My buddy runs a small HVAC shop and he told me the worst part isn't the ghost guy, it's the time tax. He started tracking hours spent on those "I know a guy" leads last year. Over 80 hours just answering questions and making sample plans for jobs that never happened. That's two full work weeks of free consulting. Even if one in ten of those leads turned into a real job, he'd still be losing money. It's not about being bad at talking, it's about them using your expertise as a free second opinion for their other bid.
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anna_price694mo ago
But the_sage said it's a huge red flag... I mean, sometimes people are just bad at talking, right? Not every awkward line is a master plan.
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carr.luna6mo ago
Wait, but what if the guy actually does know a guy? I mean sometimes people are just trying to figure out why prices are different, right? Maybe they're not trying to be difficult, they're just confused. Idk, I feel like walking away right off the bat could lose you a real job. Maybe you just gotta explain your value better from the start.
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