I am thinking along the same lines as you guys. Jim, your idea would definitely have the most impact. I guess I am a bit torn on that one as it is so personal. I like the guy but don't necessarily want to be his friend. He may love our work and like me enough but obligating him to a ballgame makes me a bit tentative. I'll mill this one around today.
On a different note, in my search, I think I found an awesome present for my better deck customers. Just about every deck we do has a grill bigger than the stove in my kitchen.
http://www.rushimprint.com/view_product.php?catID=1107&productID=19161
Being one on one with your customer makes you from being " Just another contractor who wants his money" to a step up from that. You stand out in his mind. It will be more difficult to cancel even if money is tight. At the very least he will down grade your services, but will not cancel. It's now personal.
In the middle of a recession, we've seen our business grow to where now we are now giving a new fully equipped, 3500 diesel truck to the Feds every year for the last 3 years. ( The
additional price we have to pay in taxes vs 3 years ago). If I am paying that kind of extra money to the Gov, just imagine what the added income is now.
In todays market, if you did not develop a personal relationship with your client, you end up taking a chance that someone else who may come highly recommended from your clients friends could under cut your pricing and steel the job away from you. If you are in the area just below friends, this would not happen.
To date, we have only lost one customer going on 21 years of business. Costco. They bought a Landa machine and spent over 19 k thinking that they are going to save a buck. There store front is a mess. I went on price at $150 or .03 a ft. YES I did say .03. Thats less than what I charged in 1989. I did this just to say that I have never lost a customer. They still did not take it. Why? well it's not about pricing......It was about putting their employee to work, a person who they see everyday. A relationship of that person vs a gift card or a gift basket every so often.
and then I learned.