I'm a Chicken

[MorningStar]

Yesterday I was put in a very awkward position and should have told this guy we were discontuing our business relationship with him (due to his lack of listening skills, pushiness, lack of consideration, incomptence, and other things), but when he called 5 months later to follow up, all I could think about was not making an awkward situation with our mutual friends, including his relatives. I never even expected to hear from him again because he is the one who ended communication.

I ended up telling him, "We'll call you if we need you." I was so caught off guard and didn't recognize his number when he called.

I admire people who can say whatever they're thinking in tactful ways. I need to work on that. Instead, I took the chicken's way out.

Edited October 16, 2012 by MorningStar

[Guest]

I think that was a pretty tactful way of telling him buzz off, actually.

[MorningStar]

I think that was a pretty tactful way of telling him buzz off, actually.

Unfortunately, I think he requires more bluntness. Ugh.

[Wingnut]

I don't know what the nature of the "business relationship" is, but consider sending a certified letter. That ought to get the point across, doesn't require confrontation, and you'll know he got it when you get the card back in the mail.

[MorningStar]

Thanks, Wingnut. No, it wouldn't require anything like that. There haven't been any contracts signed or anything. :) He just isn't a very good listener at all, so I think we need to email him and let him know we didn't feel it was a good fit for either party and were under the impression we wouldn't be working together because he ceased communication 5 months ago. It was a shock to hear from him yesterday, as if we had just told him we were taking a break or something.

[Dravin]

[Ross]

We were on a break!

[/Ross]

[bcguy]

She was pushy asking for a diagnosis of her car without even looking at it, then asking for the total price. She said her OTHER mechanic 30 minute drive from her said "I can tell you what the car is doing and not even looking at and I am always right over vs what the dealerships will tell you"

At that point..I knew where this was going so...without hesitation I said, "Well, looks like your other mechanic will just continue doing business with you" She said but but but...

Cars are hideously complex and no way can a car be diagnosed over the phone. This is why us technicians spend thousands of dollars in test tools.

In your case, did you warn him that doing business with him was causing issues? Some times you have to fire a customer because he/she is costing you more time and money then making a profit.

[MorningStar]

I thought he knew we were unhappy with him when he stopped communicating with us 5 months ago. We were glad because we didn't want to dump him and surely enough time had passed that he didn't think we were still his clients. Or not!

[MorningStar]

Anyway, the point is, I'm not good at dealing with confrontations. I'm George McFly. It would have been perfectly reasonable to tell him it was a surprise to hear from him because he didn't follow through 5 months ago and I just assumed neither party found the relationship to be a good fit.

[Vort]

Anyway, the point is, I'm not good at dealing with confrontations. I'm George McFly. It would have been perfectly reasonable to tell him it was a surprise to hear from him because he didn't follow through 5 months ago and I just assumed neither party found the relationship to be a good fit.

You can still say that, even now.

[MorningStar]

You can still say that, even now.

This is true. I'm just really hoping it won't lead to, "What can I do to improve? Can you give me another chance?"

If I were smart, I would have been extra chicken and said, "HELLO? HELLO? DUMB BROKEN PHONE!" and hung up.

Of course, when people dump me, I like to be told, but I wouldn't call them 5 months after they start ignorinig me and ask, "Hey, when are we resuming piano lessons?" I can take a hint.