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c/carpentersgibson.robertgibson.robert2mo agoProlific Poster

Warning: I cut a stair stringer 2 inches short on a big deck job in Austin last month. Had to explain it to the homeowner and eat the cost of a new 16 foot 2x12.

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3 Comments
casey_henderson
That's just part of the job sometimes. Good on you for fixing it right and not trying to patch it. Clients remember how you handle problems more than the problems themselves.
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finley_craig53
Honestly that kind of honesty is probably good for business in the long run. Most clients would respect you more for owning a mistake like that instead of trying to hide it. Eating the cost shows you stand behind your work.
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blake_cooper
My neighbor runs a plumbing company and he told me once about a water heater install where they accidentally cracked the manifold on a brand new unit. He replaced the whole thing for free, plus paid for the water damage to the basement floor. That job cost him almost two grand out of pocket. But that family has referred him to at least six other people over the last few years. So I'm with you @finley_craig53, eating the cost up front usually pays off bigger in the long run than trying to save a few hundred dollars now.
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