Cheap or Frugal

[Lloyd]

Hi all,

It's time for another story.

I just got back from a clients boat, I installed a new start bank, and shore charger on this boat less than 2 years ago.

As you know I don't believe in CHEAP, I'm ok with FRUGAL...but not cheap.

cheap   adverb, noun, adjective

4. of little account; of small value; mean; shoddy: cheap conduct; cheap workmanship.
5. embarrassed; sheepish: He felt cheap about his mistake.

— adj
1.    costing relatively little; inexpensive; good value
2.    charging low prices: a cheap hairdresser
3.    of poor quality; shoddy: cheap furniture ; cheap and nasty
4.    worth relatively little: promises are cheap
5.    not worthy of respect; vulgar
6.    ashamed; embarrassed: to feel cheap
7.    stingy; miserly
8.    informal  mean; despicable: a cheap liar
9.    cheap as chips  See chip
10.    informal dirt cheap  extremely inexpensive

— n
11.    informal  ( Brit ) on the cheap  at a low cost

— adv
12.    at very little cost

— adv

'cheapness

fru·gal
   /ˈfrugəl/ Show Spelled[froo-guhl] Show IPA
adjective
1. economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: What your office needs is a frugal manager who can save you money without resorting to painful cutbacks. Synonyms:  thrifty, chary, provident, careful, prudent, penny-wise, scrimping; miserly, Scotch, penny-pinching. Antonyms: wasteful, extravagant, spendthrift, prodigal, profligate.

2. entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty: a frugal meal. Synonyms: scant, slim, sparing, skimpy. Antonyms: luxurious, lavish, profuse.


And you know how I feel about cheap.

Cheap burns dimes saving pennies. Cheap buys at the lowest price no matter the quality....Frugal buys quality, at the best price found, without sacrificing quality.

So here's the story:

I installed 2 new Interstate 1400 CCA start batteries, in series to make a 24v start bank. I also installed all new starters, engine charge system, disconnects, and associated cables, as well as a shore charger. Total job costs somewhere about, about $8,000.00.

When it came time to choose the shore charger, I specked a unit that I new was a quality piece of equipment, retail price $1,200.00....but I found it with one of my dealers for $950.00 on a boat show over inventory close out.

Mr. customer hemmed/hawed and finally balked, so he found a new in the store Xantrex charger for $550.00, I advised that, that may be a mistake, as I have lost all respect for Xantrex since Schinder took over and started having everything made in China.

Last July customer calls and says my boat won't start...I am already pressed for time to leave on vacation, I go aboard and find the start bank at about 16 Volts. After a little diagnosis, I determine the bank is sitting at 16 volts not 24. I bring in my little shore charger, and one of the bats won't come up to voltage.

So I pull the bat, have it warranted, Install the new bat. Only to find that the Xantrex Charger is bad.

So I ship the Xantrex back to Schnider, as that is the only way they will stand behind the warranty. I get a call from Xantrex, they say yea the charger is bad, we'll ship you a new one. Oh by the way, we've changed the design and the new one will be different, but equivalent, and !!!HELL NO!!! we are not going to pay for a new battery or any of the associated time to R&R the battery nor the Charger.

Vacation starts, the new charger isn't do until, late August. I tell Mr. Customer, that he needs to make sure to put a charge on the bats at least once a month, for 24 hrs, to keep the existing bat, and the new bat healthy...sure no problems he says.

Well the charger finally shows up 2 weeks ago. I call Mr Customer, and say Hell No there is no way I will be part of installing this new charger on your boat...what a piece of Shieeeeet!.

So he finally bites the bullet, and buys a new Victron 24/60. Great piece of equipment, my price a little south of the first specked. I drop by to in stall, and the bat. bank is dead/near dead so I charge up and find that they are all the way dead. I call Mr. Customer..he says no, I didn't get down there to charge once a month.

Now he's paying for 2 new bats, a new charger, plus the time it took to install the bats, reinstall the bad bat, install the original charge(that was shieeet), un-install that charger. Install all new bats, all new charger, and some of the associated cables..

His new bill will be somewhere north of 5K by the time it's all said and done bc he was so cheap and wanted save $500.00.

Lloyd

[Ronmar]

Sounds like that is not the first time you have seen that scenario...

[LowGear]

Dear Lloyd,

My name is Casey.

I have been a stupid cheap ass more than once.

Will you sponsor me at the Annual Cheap Ass Twelve Step gathering this Spring?

LowGear

[Lloyd]

I just don't get saving $500.00 upfront, only to spend $5000.00. That 500.00 cheap upfront resulted in Mr. Cheap spending an additional $4,500.00, how is that cheap?

[mobile_bob]

Lloyd

as the old saying goes

"pay me now, or pay me later"

which should be updated to...

"pay me now or pay me twice or more later"

i think we have seen this time and again, even in the hobby wherein a guy will try and order an engine direct from india
thinking he is going to save a couple hundred bucks.  the reality almost always turns out much worse when he finds out
all the shipping costs, and the fact that the jokers in india thinking they can pawn off floor sweepings as parts to build him
an engine.

i think it is human nature to want something for nothing (cheap) and it is a hard learned trait to wise up to good value (frugal)

part of the education process i suppose, you either go to college to learn about false economy and pay high tuition rates, or learn
it in the real world and pay for things twice.

in your customers case, he might have been better served to have learned that lesson at college, and saved himself 5 grand in this one instance?

bob g

[quinnf]

A boat is a hole in the water into which one shovels money.

Racing sailboats is like standing in a cold shower while tearing up $100 bills.

Quinn

[TimSR2]

Haha Quinn. Racing sailboats!  Cold,  wet, expensive, frustrating and addictive....  love it.

[Tom Reed]

And I just love it when those cheap customers start pointing fingers trying to blame and not pay for their mistakes. I hope he pays your bill!

[LowGear]

One strategy I use is to ask about their profession.  And then inquire about the cheapskie vs the sound problem solutions in that discipline.

I agree with Bill.  Best wishes with your accounts receivable.

Oh!  I'm still looking for a sponsor to Cheap Ass Anonymous.

Casey

[Lloyd]

And I just love it when those cheap customers start pointing fingers trying to blame and not pay for their mistakes. I hope he pays your bill!

I don't really ever have that problem, because I am so vocal up front in my opinion. So my customers in that situation don't want to hear me say I told you so. They may whine a little but in the end they know it's their mistake and were well advised up front.

I flat won't do anything that's not 100% safe, I even offered to turn over the job to the shop of their choice on more then one occasion, but I haven't any takers so far.

Lloyd