01/03/2025
I have been in business for the past 3 years, and can count on my fingers how many unhappy clients I have had. I accept it when my services wasn't of the best quality, but I strive to always provide the best service. It hasn't always been easy. Hiccups such as loadshedding and water pipe bursts in the area has sometimes caused delays, and still does. Thankfully I have had the most understanding and still have, clients.
So this past week, a gentleman, not known to me makes contact and asks for details. I politely send him all the details, including how payment works. He insist he wants to use my services because he isn't happy with his current laundry services. He arrives at MY business and explains that when he gets his whites back, they are all either yellow, or brown stained. I weigh his laundry. He asks can he make a card payment. Nope. I don't accept card payments. Either cash on delivery or immediate eft upon delivery. After up and downing about a business that he had and him and his girlfriend that split, etc etc, he leaves the laundry with me to go and draw the cash.
He comes back and asks can he not rather pay tomorrow when he collects, I say unfortunately not. I use prepaid water and buy as needed, as well as electricity. I offer to accept a deposit of 50% of the amount. He says no. He asks can I give him a receipt. I say yes, of course. I will whatsapp it to him, as I do all my receipts, invoices etc on my online invoicing system. He does not want that. He wants a written one for tax purposes and and and. I inform him that because my income revenue is below the threshold of the requirements to be a registered business, I am not registered yet. He then starts to verbally attack my character that there is something fishy about this whole setup, and he has come accross people that he used services and then they run away with his money. Oh, my soul, where would I run to. I run a home business. And I am really not interested in wearing his clothes. He decided not to use my services after insulting my integrity, and my business ethics. Asking me on top of it all if all his clothes are there. No, I sold it in the 10 minutes you left to "draw" the money. Anyways, people, long story short, ones business has set rules for a reason, and if you as a customer can not accept those rules, use someone else. Don't insult someone you don't know at all.
For all I know, you'd have me do your laundry, and on collection tell me you are not happy and then refuse to pay me. After water, electricity, detergents and labour went into it, and you decide you'll take it else where anyways.
I don't have many clients, but the couple I have, thank you for being the type of customer I would serve with a smile.
