Passing AF to clients - to do or not

[navigatethis12]

My parents will charge if a specific piece of equipment was needed for a job. If they needed a window lift they will split it with the client, or when they rented other vehicles that would split the charge. I don't know which Delta card you have, but if it is the lowest fee one, I would just not charge.

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@Open123 wrote:

Here's what I would do.

1.  For clients who are hassle free (not too anal), I'll list the charge with *complimentary* next to it.  This shows there was a charge, but I've waived it since I value their business.

2.  For clients who are pains in the posterior (the anal kind), I will list and charge them for every single expense.  And, if they complain, I sugges they take their business elsewhere.

The clients I like and who aren't too much of a hassle, I try to give perks whenever the opportunity presents itself, such as Christmas Visa gift cards.  The clients who have been "pains," I play **bleep**-for-tat, especially since I no longer rely on their business as I once had when starting out.

I guess, we all have our own "blacklist."

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I don't exactly see this as professional. I can see giving things to clients you like and not the ones you don't. However, charging clients you don't like for things you would not charge for otherwise seems rather petty. I've dealt with difficult customers and just keep a smile on and do everything as usual. For customers I really know and like I may break a case or sleeve of something, but I wouldn't do this for the difficult customer and then charge them for it.

[Open123]

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@navigatethis12 wrote:

My parents will charge if a specific piece of equipment was needed for a job. If they needed a window lift they will split it with the client, or when they rented other vehicles that would split the charge. I don't know which Delta card you have, but if it is the lowest fee one, I would just not charge.

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@Open123 wrote:

Here's what I would do.

1.  For clients who are hassle free (not too anal), I'll list the charge with *complimentary* next to it.  This shows there was a charge, but I've waived it since I value their business.

2.  For clients who are pains in the posterior (the anal kind), I will list and charge them for every single expense.  And, if they complain, I sugges they take their business elsewhere.

The clients I like and who aren't too much of a hassle, I try to give perks whenever the opportunity presents itself, such as Christmas Visa gift cards.  The clients who have been "pains," I play **bleep**-for-tat, especially since I no longer rely on their business as I once had when starting out.

I guess, we all have our own "blacklist."

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I don't exactly see this as professional. I can see giving things to clients you like and not the ones you don't. However, charging clients you don't like for things you would not charge for otherwise seems rather petty. I've dealt with difficult customers and just keep a smile on and do everything as usual. For customers I really know and like I may break a case or sleeve of something, but I wouldn't do this for the difficult customer and then charge them for it.

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If people (clients or otherwise) are petty with me, then I'm petty with them.  If they're magnanimous with me, than I am with them.

Professionally, all things being equal, I prioritize my clientelle from the highest revenue per hour to the lowest.  Those clients who have negative revenue per hour will be purged...er...sent a nice letter with our offer to help them "find a firm more commensurate to their pricing and needs."

I don't believe in "keeping a smile" for difficult customers.  I never "turn the other cheek, " and tell them to get lost (put it more delicately, but that's the meaning).  Life is too short to deal with troublesome people.  I cut my losses quickly, move on, and never look back.

[bs6054]

I would guess it would also depend on the AP of the client.   I know some that would need to see the (non-existent) $25 charge for luggage.

Guess it comes down to personal preference of what counts and what doesn't.   At first I thought the OP's suggestion was "wrong" but then:  I have cards that give 5% off meals.  So if I have a $50 meal, and bill $50 to the client, whereas my "true" cost is $47.50, that's pretty much the same, and this I do do (substituting my employer for client).  And unlike the OPs suggestion, I don't stop when the AF is covered, so I guess I am not in a position to judge.

[Duncanrr]

Another way I could do it is at end of year and total up the number of flights and then charge the fee based off the total number. So if I fly 10 flights on delta I would charge 9.50 per trip to the client. This way it saves them 15.50 per flight for checked bags.

Ultimately, its not much money and would be easier to just wave the charge. I was curious what others do with this.

[distantarray]

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@Duncanrr wrote:
Another way I could do it is at end of year and total up the number of flights and then charge the fee based off the total number. So if I fly 10 flights on delta I would charge 9.50 per trip to the client. This way it saves them 15.50 per flight for checked bags.

Ultimately, its not much money and would be easier to just wave the charge. I was curious what others do with this.

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considering that the tickets have to be on the same itiniary I wouldn't charge them since your getting Delta Skymiles for the ticket purchase. The Skymiles are worth 1.22 cents range. So if the ticket cost $200, you got 200 points. Also I would change airlines imo lol Delta is pretty terrible imo.

[myjourney]

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@Duncanrr wrote:
Another way I could do it is at end of year and total up the number of flights and then charge the fee based off the total number. So if I fly 10 flights on delta I would charge 9.50 per trip to the client. This way it saves them 15.50 per flight for checked bags.

Ultimately, its not much money and would be easier to just wave the charge. I was curious what others do with this.

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Bottom line you are entitled to make a profit on your investment!

In my case it includes everything gas, equipment, insurance, office, licensing etc etc etc. the price of doing business and that cost applies to all my clients I don't exclude anyone. So if you think this expenditure is costing you over the course of the year then yes you should make some type of adjustment to offset the cost of that expenditure.

This is just my view....and mines alone............

Don't label it as luggage because you wouldn't expect your clients to pay for your dry cleaning or toothbrush because you had to get dressed any way and I as a customer wouldn't expect to pay for that.......... 

[Duncanrr]

Normally by checked bag is business related. It's files, exhibits, etc. I've even Fedexed materials to my hotel in advance of my arrival. We are a long way away from a paperless society.

[myjourney]

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@Duncanrr wrote:
Normally by checked bag is business related. It's files, exhibits, etc. I've even Fedexed materials to my hotel in advance of my arrival. We are a long way away from a paperless society.

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See now maybe we should have asked that earlier certainly a part of your business and yes should be billed to the client...........

[j_casteel]

If the card is a primary tool that is used to allow you to do your job then I don't see a reason you couldn't charge clients to help pay your tool off. A lot of self employed people do this machinery, etc. They have to recoup funds for the cost of their tools. Of course as a customer I wouldn't want to see a fee labeled as "credit card annual fee" but rather "equipment fee" or something. I'm not sure how it would be itemized but I could see both sides of the argument.

[j_casteel]

^^^Ignore missing words and spelling errors...using a phone.