Bat houses should be free...

[harryball]

What can I say...

We had someone call me directly. They wanted several bat houses because bats are flying around.

OK, they are $X for the single... err... what's that?

"Oh, I don't have any money to buy one, I just need you to send me one..."

:confused: Huh?

"I'm in Georgia, we have bats around and I need a bat house. That's what you do, I just need you to send me one."

OK... and... why would I send you a free bat house?

"That's what you do right? You make houses for bats, that's what I was told."

OK, We SELL bat houses and do bat education. I don't know who told you we give bat houses away for free. We do have bat houses that are damaged or I could get you one unpainted to make it cheaper...

"No no, I mean we need to have a bat house to put up for the bats. That's what you do, you put bat houses up and we need you to come put one up. I don't want to buy one, you just need to come put one up for the bats."

--- OK, so at this point I'm thinking this guy must be misinformed somewhere down the line and I explain a little about who we are and what we do again. We don't work for the State or anyone, we do this as a business to make a living etc...

"Yeah yeah, but you just need to send us one 'cause we can't afford to pay for one."

--- So now I'm sure my phone is now getting service all the way to the twilight zone.

Sir, we can't just give our bat houses away. No one gives me the material, the machinery, the electricity, the food I need to live or anything to make these bat houses. So if I give them away, where am I suppose to get the money from to do all this?

"Man, I thought you guys helped bats. I see how it is, you're just in it for the money..."

No, there are many other things I could do for money that would make more money and be easier than this. I do enjoy doing this, I like helping the bats and teaching about bats but in order to do it this I have to make money to do it.

"Well you get it from the State, they helpin you do this stuff. They've got money to do it. You send us the bat house so we can put it up for the bats that' s what the State gives you money for, right? ..."

No, we do not get State funding, or grants or anything.

"Aww.. you know you do..."



--- I wish I could have recorded the call. What leaves me sad is how serious the guy was. How perfectly logical it was to him that I should just send him a bat house for free. How reasonable it was to him that government pay for it and how sure he was that we get money from the goverment and the only reason I won't send him a bat house for free is because I'm greedy.

Just someone tell me this isn't how the majority think? We are doing something about this kind of thinking, right?

No... don't answer that.

/RB

[shilala]

When I got to "Man, I thought you guys helped bats. I see how it is, you're just in it for the money...", I cracked up. Sorry, brother. :)
Did you ever see the show on tv, the pawn shop in Detroit? The entire show is the story you repeated, just over and over again. A buddy of mine has a pawn shop and I've been on the phone with him while he's dealing with this sort of thing. He's so used to it that he just makes a game out of it. It's absolutely hilarious.
Take it at face value and laugh it off, it's just plain ridiculous.

[Rob Gunn]

Wow, I wish I could say I am surprised but this type of thinking has become way to common. Yea, "just get the money from the state". And where do these idiots think the state gets the money?:confused: From us working tax payers. Not the dead-beat non-working welfare "want a free bat house" idiot!:mad: OK, now I feel better that I got to rant a little.:)

[jerry_stanek]

Gee I want one of those government bat houses maybe I could get 2 as I have a large area to cover.

[harryball]

When I got to "Man, I thought you guys helped bats. I see how it is, you're just in it for the money...", I cracked up. Sorry, brother. :)
Did you ever see the show on tv, the pawn shop in Detroit? The entire show is the story you repeated, just over and over again. A buddy of mine has a pawn shop and I've been on the phone with him while he's dealing with this sort of thing. He's so used to it that he just makes a game out of it. It's absolutely hilarious.
Take it at face value and laugh it off, it's just plain ridiculous.


Yeah... gotta laugh if off. It's disturbing though. If I was sure that mindset wasn't in the majority and allowed to vote I could laugh harder.

/RB

[kartracer63]

Oh man... I would have had so much fun with this guy.

I would have said, "sure... we supply bat houses". "But, to qualify for the bat house you'll need to fill out some paperwork and answer some questions".

I would have actually taken the time to draft a 3 or 4 page form with questions related to the bats in his area, including questions that he would only know if he was to get up close and personal with some of the bats (like size and color of genitalia, color of the guano and if there were any other specs of a different color present, etc...).

I would have asked him to attach photos of the bats he's concerned with to the form when he submits it.

If he actually did all of this work and then submitted it to me, I'd be so heartless and send him back a rejection letter, but thanking him for his concern.

[rcnewcomb]

Robert,

You need to lobby your representatives to hurry up and pass The Affordable Bat House Act of 2012

(My father told me you only want to do business with 95% of the population. He was right.)

[harryball]

Oh man... I would have had so much fun with this guy.

I would have said, "sure... we supply bat houses". "But, to qualify for the bat house you'll need to fill out some paperwork and answer some questions".

I would have actually taken the time to draft a 3 or 4 page form with questions related to the bats in his area, including questions that he would only know if he was to get up close and personal with some of the bats (like size and color of genitalia, color of the guano and if there were any other specs of a different solor present, etc...).

I would have asked him to attach photos of the bats he's concerned with to the form when he submits it.

If he actually did all of this work and then submitted it to me, I'd be so heartless and send him back a rejection letter, but thanking him for his concern.

ROFL... dang I wish I wasn't so preoccupied sometimes to think stuff up like that. We're plugging away and discovered I need to buy a new spindle (the current one is lightly toasted) and I was in way too a serious a mood when I answered the call.

I think if he'd done all that I'd have sent him a bat house!

And maybe there is a government program for spindles... hadn't thought of that.

/RB

[michael_schwartz]

ROFL... dang I wish I wasn't so preoccupied sometimes to think stuff up like that. We're plugging away and discovered I need to buy a new spindle (the current one is lightly toasted) and I was in way too a serious a mood when I answered the call.

I think if he'd done all that I'd have sent him a bat house!

And maybe there is a government program for spindles... hadn't thought of that.

/RB

Considering some of the things tax dollars get spent on It would be a better use of money.

[michael_schwartz]

Oh man... I would have had so much fun with this guy.

I would have said, "sure... we supply bat houses". "But, to qualify for the bat house you'll need to fill out some paperwork and answer some questions".

I would have actually taken the time to draft a 3 or 4 page form with questions related to the bats in his area, including questions that he would only know if he was to get up close and personal with some of the bats (like size and color of genitalia, color of the guano and if there were any other specs of a different color present, etc...).

I would have asked him to attach photos of the bats he's concerned with to the form when he submits it.

If he actually did all of this work and then submitted it to me, I'd be so heartless and send him back a rejection letter, but thanking him for his concern.

It sounds like you have done something like this before. :cool:

[gene]

This sounds like someone pulling a prank call. Dont be suprised if you hear it on the radio

[harryball]

If it was a prank I'd feel better. If they put it on the radio that's fine so long as they say our name and website :-)

/RB

[mcmark]

Call him back and tell him to send you his bats and you'll make sure that they get a good home:D

[dana_swift]

My understanding is the government will provide housing to certain undocumented Juvenal bats born in the USA who can document that their parents were born in another country. Have the caller ask the kind folks at the INS if their specific aged bats may qualify for government assistance. Suggest the caller refer to their web site for more information: http://www.immigrationdirect.com/ Also you could inform the caller that his representative would be happy to assist, the phone number for the house of representatives is (202) 224-3121. Perhaps the caller would like to have the bats make their own phone call? Should the caller wish to suggest a serious push for The Affordable Bat House Act of 2012 they might wish to call: 202-456-1414 (The White House switchboard). Civic minded eh? D

[burchbot]

You should have told him everyone has to have a bat house or pay a penalty. That is how they fund the program, but the penalty is more than the bat house.
Dan

[waterwheelman]

I once had a customer email me, asking for the instructions on how to make the Pyramid shaped cribbage board I manufacture. He couldn't figure out how I cut the angle for the edges, since his table saw would not go to that angle. I politely thanked him for the compliment on wanting to copy my product, and then asked him when he last asked a company (say like COCA COLA) for their formula. I haven't heard a word from him since. Some people don't get the fact that you are doing what you do as a business.
I just had a customer ask for a quote and pictures of a sign for their home. When I gave them the price, they said it was to much, but at the same time were asking for more examples that would require even greater detailed work. Da :rolleyes:

[rcnewcomb]

I admire the people that deal with end users. Business to Business seems to have fewer calls like the one Harry experienced.

[Ajcoholic]

I admire the people that deal with end users. Business to Business seems to have fewer calls like the one Harry experienced.

Being in business wouldnt be nearly as fun without at least a few of these types of "customers" (not really since you never really end up doing any work for them).

I am lucky, I dont get too many of these types. However the ones I do, I am pretty blunt in letting them know I am not interested in doing business with them = a polite way to say buzz off!

AJC

[curtiss]

I thought a "bat house" was that thing full of square holes at the end of most baseball dugouts....

[sawkerf]

Guys, it seems we're all surrounded by a bunch of freeloading dingbats! ;
It's a shift in our culture, these younger generations were reared to be consumers not producers. They want something for nothing and when the "new" wears off they throw it away and get someone to provide them a new one! It's really quite a sad state of affairs.

[shoeshine]

I don't know Kip, (It may be because I live in a warm weather retirement destination city) But I actually find more of the retired older guys with a few pieces of woodworking equipment in thier garage trying to "low-ball" me. The younger entrepenurial types I deal with tend to be the ones who either pay my prices without commment or realize quickly that they cant afford it and find another solution while thanking me for my time.

just my $.02

[michael_schwartz]

Guys, it seems we're all surrounded by a bunch of freeloading dingbats! ;
It's a shift in our culture, these younger generations were reared to be consumers not producers. They want something for nothing and when the "new" wears off they throw it away and get someone to provide them a new one! It's really quite a sad state of affairs.

I do not think it is fair or right to single out and criticize "younger generations" for issues that are prevalent amongst all age groups. I am also 100% certain that there are individuals in their 20's and 30's who participate in this forum. Myself included.

I don't even want my name associated with this forum if discussions are going to take on a hostile tone like this.