Episode 55: Walk-Ins & Small Orders, Are They Worth Your Time?
July 15, 2022 12:32 pm
Dealing with walk-in customers and small orders can be a huge challenge for busy shops. One solution many turn to is instituting a minimum charge – but how do you calculate it, and more importantly implement it effectively?
On this episode of MACHINE SHOP TALK, Ian Sandusky from Lakewood Machine & Tool heads back into the Practical Machinist forums to address a poster who had exactly this question. When thinking about instituting a minimum charge, there are a few points to keep in mind.
- What is the minimum setup for your machines, material, tooling, and outside vendors such as anodizing or paint?
- How do you handle minimum charges with a walk-in first-time customer, versus an established customer placing a small order?
- How can you best communicate about minimum charges without ruffling feathers or damaging working relationships?
Check out the thread on Practical machinist to find out how other metalworkers deal with this tricky topic. Link to the thread: https://www.practicalmachinist.com/fo…