People don't appreciate small businesses and treat them like shit

[toepick]

I'm a small business

I have to smile and be nice to customers of course but most of them are cunts

People just take, take, take
Don't appreciate the effort that goes into a good small business and will think nothing of not paying when they should

I'm a sole trader, and find that folk will take liberties if you let them.

I am often asked for discounts.
I simply say no, I don't offer discounts of any kind.

People try to argue that what I've done isn't what they asked for.
I remind them that we agreed, in writing, what the parameters of this particular job were, and that they countersigned it and received a photocopy.

People email, call, WhatsApp and text me at 9 45pm at night, seven days a week.
I ignore, if my phone is not turned off, and respond during my business hours.

Your boundaries are yours to set. I know I "lose" some clients by doing this, but if they feel 10pm on a Sunday is an acceptable time to phone a bloody dressmaker, they're going to be pains in the arse anyway and I don't want them as clients.

Do you really think most of your customers are cunts? Maybe that comes across.

Small businesses are just businesses like any other and don’t need or deserve any particular kind of appreciation just for existing.

Yup. Some people can be very difficult and unrealistic in their expectations.

I handmake things and sell on etsy and am seeing an increase in people wanting handmade items delivered like I'm Amazon and priced like I'm Temu!

When that happens it's best to just say I'm sorry but I don't think I can provide what you are asking for, thank you for thinking of me. I'll cancel your order.

Yes I do

However I don't show it

I only think this when they don't pay and don't respect basic decent behaviour

A small business that delivers what it says does deserve that even for just existing

I think most people are cunts full stop

There are a few genuine good gems but the world has gone selfish, lazy and entitled. Young people are brought up to expect something for nothing and most people are on the take with no intention of giving back

People don't know how to be part of a community and just want to please themselves

My business is a people business so it's depressing

What happened? Does someone owe you? It sounds like you’ve had a really bad time. I know friends who’ve been screwed over by people that didn’t pay, too.

I absolutely believe that alot of people make things hard for small businesses, in all the ways listed by the second poster on this thread, any probably in other ways too.
However, the 'most people are cunts' stance in the OP makes me think that hers sounds a bit like one of those small businesses that, as a customer, you fiercely regret getting involved with at all because the owner can't behave like a business owner, and instead treats their business as another forum for the same kind of petty personal seething that almost certainly characterises their friendships and family relationships too.

Not saying you are like that, OP, but I really find it hard to hear 'most people are cunts' without thinking of that sort of business

Don't think I'm petty

Just worn down with people's lack of compassion, empathy and decency

No it's not everyone but it feels like it's far too many

And I agree my comment was a bit harsh but I'm angry today

Might help if you explain what’s happened so others can help with ideas etc

There are a few genuine good gems but the world has gone selfish, lazy and entitled. Young people are brought up to expect something for nothing and most people are on the take with no intention of giving back

I find the absolute opposite personally.

Younger people tend to pay on time and be gracious to me and other small businesses I know as they are (in my experience) more clued up on workers rights, keen on supporting social enterprises / independents etc and more anti big business. They're also more aware of not looking like arseholes by 'calling out' small businesses on social media.

In my experience, and I appreciate it's anecdotal, it's very much the older generations who still believe 'the customer is always right'.

I'm afraid your right.

I live in a declining market town which is in real danger of losing all it's independent shops.

On facebook last week, a man was moaning that the card shop was in trouble and that if we didn't use it we would lose it. I gently asked him how much money he himself (60 year old male) had spent in the shop during the last 12 months - yes, you've guessed it, nothing.

It seems that although everyone wants the nice posh independent shops, no-one actually wants to be the one paying a little bit extra for them. They want others to. So hypocritcal.

Most people are not cunts.
A proportion of customers always will be but if your experience of customers is that bad then either you are in a field that disproportionately attracts them, Purveyor Of Services To Cunts or similar, or there is something that is giving them unrealistic expectations and you need a look at what you can do to present your services differently so they don’t expect things that feel to you like they are taking the piss.
Most small business owners I know get regularly exasperated by the behaviour of a minority who will take the piss whatever you do but have positive relations with the reasonable majority.

What happened? Some people are areseholes but you sound a bit like one of them!

Do small businesses deserve special treatment?

I'm an asshole because I expect people to pay?

This is special treatment?

@toepick I have a feeling your business is related to iceskating from your username. As is mine 😉. If you make bespoke costumes you will get a lot of support from the Facebook group Spandex Doesn’t Scare Me. We’ve all got stories of cunty customers.

@Baldieheid agree I nave customers that message late at night/ early morning and at weekends. I used to reply instantly because I didn’t want the algorithm to think I was unresponsive. Nowadays I ignore until business hours unless I want to speak to them.

Well no of course not!

But you didn't say "aibu to expect people to pay their bill"

You go on about how everyone's a cunt lol so I'm not sure you came across as nice and friendly

The special treatment comment was more general, I see lots on our local Facebook community group about 'supporting small businesses'. Some of them seem really unprofessional but if anyone writes anything even constructive advice they get slammed for 'not supporting small businesses' like we're suppose to throw our money away without expecting decent service because 'small business'. Respect goes both ways 🤷🏻‍♀️

Small businesses are just businesses like any other and don’t need or deserve any particular kind of appreciation just for existing

this but also boundaries are needed

payment terms and conditions need to be clear from outset

for example I always pay my therapist before the session as that’s her rule

you might need to rethink this as you enter into 2024 and get new and different clients ?

Agreed OP don't have a whole lot to add but it's indeed soul crushing sometimes.

‘I think most people are cunts full stop’
’my business is a people business’
😄
Why not make life easier for yourself and get a different job?

‘I think most people are cunts full stop’
’my business is a people business’
What a great strap line for a business.

I largely agree OP.

People try and barter our prices down, people will compare us with massive, global companies in the industry, people will expect instant solutions. We are slightly pricier because we are only a small business, it's part of our USP. We are also working towards a B Corp certification and have a huge focus on ethics and sustainability which again is more expensive.

When asked, people say they would rather work with a company like ours, but not as many put their money where their mouth is.

People will take advantage if you let them.

I run an events business.

Like one of the posters above said - you have to set boundaries, as there will always be people who take advantage or want something for nothing.

I don’t answer the phone now out of business working hours (I used to, but quickly realise you inconvenience yourself and get no thanks).

I don’t offer discounts. I offer a premium service & you are paying for my experience and expertise. There will always be someone who does it cheaper - let them get on with it, if they want to undervalue themselves, let them.

Just say no. I was running a bar at an event yesterday (which we’d paid to attend). A number of people came to the bar and asked could they have glasses (they hadn’t bought a drink from us) because they had bought their own drinks. I look them in the eye & say no every single time.

Oh - we also get people asking if they can try a drink before they buy. I remind them like a pub or bar - we don’t offer a ‘try before you buy service’.

If you let people take the piss they will.

I think if most of your customers are cunts, it’s likely that at least part of this is down to you.

Not that you are a cunt. But you may not have boundaries, leading customers to think that they can contact you anytime and you are ok with it when you aren’t. Or that your advertising isn’t getting the product across. If most people try and get out of paying, there’s surly a big issue. Part of that issue is possibly that your item/service isn’t what people expect.

If most of your customers are genuinely cunts, then you really need to look at what is causing the problem and it’s not that most people are cunts.

Also, people will treat your business as a business. The fact that it’s small will not really, impact how most people act. Most won’t treat you better because you are a small business

I have had a small business for 10 years. Most customer are amazing. Of course some are not and some try what they can to get out of paying. But it’s a very small amount. Not a large portion definitely not most.

Theres an issue and you need to treat it like any other business issue and get to the cause of it

My advice would be not to run a people based business if you feel that most people are cunts.

I agree with you on the latter part btw, and that is why I do not have a public facing business.