My policy is to always get a price. Otherwise, I leave myself wide open to getting overcharged. When I give a price at my shop, I never do anything extra without calling the customer 1st. One a guy brought his boat if to get the carpet replaced. We agreed on a price, but he came by the next day and asked me to replace the stripes on the side of the boat. Then he came by the next day and wanted the carpet replaced on the trailer rails. When he came to pick up his boat, he was livid over the bill. Me, being a reasonable man, and wanting to keep a customer negotiated the final bill. He left happy and I retained a customer. We just finished a total interior restoration on a 1977 Ranchero. I called the man 3 times. Once to tell him the rear floor board was rusted and once to tell him the front floorboard was rusted and one to ask if he wanted the rear wall refinished. Each time I quoted prices for these. I dont like to suprise my customers. It's always best for everyone involved to know what the charges will be.

Here's a flip side on this topic. I just got off the phone with a distributor that sent me a wrong item valued at $35. It's a similar item, but not what I ordered. They apologized for the mistake, told me to keep the incorrect item, and asked would I like a refund or store credit for the full amount of the purchase.

I went ahead and took the store credit and placed another order. Maybe they will break even on the whole thing, I got $35 worth of free stuff, and I will return as a customer. Everyone wins.

I would be willing to write or verbally communicate my displeasure but the man who slammed me WAS the owner. It's a very bad situation made worse by his lack of professionalism. I am cogitating on all this and will come up with some sort of direction in a few. I dare not act now. We are all just a bit too raw to be reasonable. I've held my tongue and have no intention of losing it over this. It's just not worth it. I will keep my ethics and integrity in tact.

Wise choice, it does sound like a "cooling off period" would be in order.

Hope you work things out my friend......

Kevin