Calling for an estimate but switching to a repair request at the appointment .
In this situation, a customer calls the pro in for what sounds like a good-sized estimate. When the consultant arrives, the customer lets the pro go through their dog & pony show without committing to purchase. Before the consultant leaves, the customer drops the bomb.
Customer: “Could you take a look at a problem I’m having?”
Pro: “Ok” (what the heck can you say?)
These people can be difficult to ferret out with a preliminary phone interview. Their logic is that you won’t want to come out for “just a repair” and indeed you might not want to, at least without a minimum service charge. Once you show up for a consultation, you haven’t made a ‘special’ trip so there’s no reason for a service charge, or so they reason.
It is unpleasant to be deceived like this but even more annoying when an existing customer doubts that you will service your own installation.
So, you might get away with this once but the pro might be very reluctant to come out again.