Any good letter writers out there??

Lifeisbutadream

Any good letter writers out there??

I know what I want to say, I just need a bit of help wording it!

A bit of background: we run a joinery/building business and although we have not been affected by the 'credit crunch' we obviously always want new business. Over the last couple of months we have sent out quotes for around 6 extensions. 2 have come back and we have the job, one has come back and we didnt get the job, which leaves three outstanding with no contact.

I want to write a letter to them, basically to see whether they are interested or not, but dont want to sound too pushy, or desperate, just a gentle reminder that we gave them the quote

I want to say:

- Book in for Jan 2009 and we can do the works at the same labour price as quoted now.
- Appreciate they may have had other quotes, but we project manage the entire job so there are no customer worries - leave the job to us
- If they dont want us to do the work, why? (feedback)


Thanks in anticipation.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Hi
I'll have a bash for you, but will not be able to get anything back to you until later this afternoon.
n the meantime, someone else may be along to help you out.
Pleased to hear you aren't being affected by the credit crunch.

Lifeisbutadream

Careful_with_that_Axe wrote: »

Hi
I'll have a bash for you, but will not be able to get anything back to you until later this afternoon.
n the meantime, someone else may be along to help you out.
Pleased to hear you aren't being affected by the credit crunch.

Thanks CWTA - any time I will be grateful - I am just not good with wording things!

Careful_with_that_Axe

Not a problem at all!

Savvy_Sue

I'm just wondering if you also want to ask if they have thought of any other questions they haven't got round to asking, and if so you're still at the end of the phone.

but I can't get my head round letter writing right now!

Lifeisbutadream

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I'm just wondering if you also want to ask if they have thought of any other questions they haven't got round to asking, and if so you're still at the end of the phone.

but I can't get my head round letter writing right now!

Good idea.. thanks

Actually any comments on whether sending this letter is a good idea or not would be gratefully received..

Savvy_Sue

I think it would be worthwhile. It can take us a while to get round to responding to quotes, although it seems to take some tradesmen equally long to get round to giving them, so sometimes I'm still waiting for other quotes. Getting a letter from you would make me think "Well, Company X can't be bothered to send me the quote I asked for, but this company has written again, they can have my business!"

Would I think you were desperate? Possibly, but I wouldn't hold it against you unless you looked 'flakey' for other reasons, eg offering discount for cash in hand (which I seem to remember you don't!)

Emma37

Maybe something like:

Dear .....

We wrote to you on (date) with a quote for an extension. We would like to remind you that if you confirm a booking for the work for January, 2009, the quoted price will be held for that time.

We appreciate you may have received alternative quotes, but would like to emphasise that we project manage the entire job to ensure your complete satisfaction.

If there are any queries you have regarding this we would be pleased to help. We can always be reached at the above telephone number.

We look forward to hearing from you.


I wouldn't ask why they haven't given you the job if that's what they've decided. You can probably take it they've had a better quote or changed their minds. And that could change the tone and make you sound over-keen.

Careful_with_that_Axe

I am writing to you further to our recent quotation for xx works. In the interest of ensuring we provide all our customers with with the best service possible, I should be grateful if you would take a little time to complete the attached Customer Feedback Form and return it to us at the address shown above.
In the past, we have upgraded our Customer Service as a result of this important feedback to include full Project Management of works undertaken as most customers are very busy and like the peace of mind that this "One Shop" service provides them. I understand that you may have obtained other competitive prices for these works, but I wanted to ensure that you were aware of this aspect of our service.
I also wanted to make you aware that we have a special offer at the moment where the labour costs of your recent quotation will be held at the cost shown until January 2009. If you haven't yet made your mind up whether to have these works carried out, please do bear this in mind.
If you have any queries, require any further information or have any comments to make regarding the contact we have had with you, please do feel free to telephone me on xxxxxxx.
Thank you for considering XXX (name of firm).
Kind regards
xxxx

It might also be an idea to attach a copy of the original quotation so, if they haven't made their mind up yet, they have your info and the price right in front of them.

Hope this helps
atb

also, don't know if you have a database of customers and quotations (whether succesful or not) that you could use for mailing purposes? In my opinion, there is no more valuable took for marketing. Just something as simple as an excel spreadsheet.
Follow up on customers who have works carried out and ensure that they feel valued may just sway them in your direction and provide you with that most valuable advertising "word of mouth".
Feel free to PM me if you think I can be of further help.

Lifeisbutadream

Thank you so much for taking the time to word those for me! I am really grateful - they sound great!

I will work on them tomorrow..

Thanks once again.

xx

UglyBetty

As there are only 3 customers, why not telephone them and say something like: As part of our ongoing committment to customer service we are contacting potential customers to find out what they think of our company/service/. We recently gave you a quote and wondered whether you are satisfied with it. If they are not they will usually tell you. If they are but other reasons have delayed the work they will tell you. You could then let them know about the special offer and ask them if they would like to be contacted again nearer the time. If you send out feedback forms very few people return them or bother to phone you (check it out-response rates for feedback forms are traditionally very low). Even if the customer is not proceeding with you, they will usually be impressed that you bothered to phone.
Good luck