How a thank you note from retirees changed my billing philosophy

Their note about how my honesty saved their fixed income convinced me that ethical plumbing is about more than just profits.

3 comments

3 Comments

wrenbrown10d ago

Given @terry811's point about trust, what's the hardest ethical call you've faced since changing your philosophy?

anderson.grant9d ago

Back in 2022, I had a client with a leaking pipe that could've been a full repipe job. The easy money was in selling the big fix, but diagnosing it as a simple seal issue saved them thousands. That's the kind of hard call @wrenbrown is talking about, where short-term profit fights long-term trust. My rule now is to always present the least expensive fix first, even if it means less work for me. Why burn a customer for a quick buck when they'll remember your honesty for years?

terry81110d ago

Wow, that's seriously powerful. It cuts right to the heart of what a real reputation is built on, you know? That kind of trust you earn by being straight with people, especially when it costs you, is what turns a transaction into a relationship. So many businesses just chase the quick buck and miss the long game entirely. Stuff like that note is literally priceless marketing, tbh, way more convincing than any ad.