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TIL my client's 'simple' data recovery from a 2019 MacBook Pro cost them $1,200 more than a backup plan would have.
Three years ago, I quoted them a cloud backup service, but they declined. Last week, the SSD failed, and the cleanroom recovery bill was huge. Is it ethical to show clients these 'what if' costs upfront, or does it just scare them off?
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the_wesley2mo ago
You mentioned showing "what if" costs to scare them off. I don't see it as scaring, it's just giving them the full picture. It's like a mechanic showing you the price for a new brake job now versus the cost of a whole new rotor if you wait. People need to see the real choice they're making. How do you usually explain the risk without sounding pushy?
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wood.eric2mo ago
That mechanic example is spot on. Reminds me of a neighbor who ignored a small roof leak for a year to "save money." The eventual repair bill included ruined drywall, damaged flooring, and mold remediation. He said seeing that total number would have changed his mind instantly.
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vera_lewis22mo ago
Exactly. It's not about being pushy, it's about showing the math. A lot of people just see the price tag for the fix today. They don't picture the chain reaction. Like ignoring a few wasps. The quote to remove a nest now seems high, but it looks real cheap compared to the bill for fixing chewed up siding and insulation later. You just lay out the two totals side by side and let the numbers do the talking.
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dakota41526d ago
A buddy of mine tried the soft sell approach with a customer who had a cracked windshield. He showed her the cost to replace it now, then casually mentioned the price of a full windshield replacement plus sensor recalibration if the crack spread and the safety system went haywire. She looked at him like he was trying to upsell her, so he just shrugged and said, "Hey, it's your call, just wanted you to know both roads lead somewhere." She ended up coming back two months later, after a pothole turned that crack into a spiderweb, and the bill was almost double. He didn't sound pushy, he just laid out the two paths and let the logic sink in.
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