Well, this is most definitely a first...............................

[Gino]

I hope I explain this correctly as I don't think I've ever heard of this happening to anyone before, but in today's world..... I can see it happening more and more.

Took on a new customer last Autumn. Did a trailer and a van for them. Worked closely with them on getting their design the way they/we wanted it. Everyone was happy. They liked it and commented on it many times. They came back for other things such as trade show signs, signs for another business they are connected with and over the months, we soon realized we had another customer in common. This other customer has been with us maybe 10 or so years and relies on us for everything. We treat them well and they have been very happy with us, also.

Well, move along to the customer in question. They picked up some signs last Friday and after we had some small talk, then the lady just laid it out on me. She said, you know, we've been doing XYZ' s work for 3 years now and they never questioned anything we did, but since we've been coming to you, they stopped using us. Oh ?? When did this start ?? This past December. Well, I've never said a thing about you, to them other than... thank you, since they recommended you come to us, as you first told us. Your name has never come up in conversation about anything. Do you think we had a hand in their not using you anymore ?? Well, it seems weird they stopped using us after we started coming to you.

I still haven't said anything to our other customer, but after getting to know these new people, I could possibly see why they might've lost the account.

So, with today's marketplace in any given industry being so aggressive, does anyone else have any customers wanting to blame you for something you have absolutely nothing to do with ?? Just for the sake of passing the buck, perhaps ??
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[SignManiac]

I find it happening all the time when somebody else screws up and the blame is passed on to us. Everyone want to pass the buck and take no responsibility for "their" screw ups. People suck

 

[Auburnpeanut]

We are seeing it more and more ourselves. Biggest one we see is realtors who don't get back to us with needed info or who wait for a while to even start talking to us. Then we get a phone call from the Head honcho asking if we don't want to do their signs anymore. We have one group who we have the problem with often, so we now have to cc the head honcho on every email we send. We also have to make sure everything is via email instead of phone calls/messages.