Sending out a scout
Sending out a scout
(OP)
This is a bit of an odd question. We have a job 3 hours away from our office with a customer who has developed the tendency of exaggerating his progress. We have rushed a couple components b/c we were apparently slowing everything down, but in reality they still had weeks before needing our equipment.
I have a good friend who lives in the area that I'm thinking of sending to site to take pictures for us. I would call our customer to make sure he knows so it is not like we are sneaking around behind his back. My friend is also an engineer, although he works for a different company.
Is there anything ethically wrong with this? All we need is pictures of the building and floor, to see how far along they have come and if they are ready for our equipment or not.
I have a good friend who lives in the area that I'm thinking of sending to site to take pictures for us. I would call our customer to make sure he knows so it is not like we are sneaking around behind his back. My friend is also an engineer, although he works for a different company.
Is there anything ethically wrong with this? All we need is pictures of the building and floor, to see how far along they have come and if they are ready for our equipment or not.





RE: Sending out a scout
RE: Sending out a scout
I think your answer is the "expedite charge" (assuming of course that your project has a contractual schedule, and you are not late).
"We would be glad to accomodate your request to advance delivery earlier than the contractually agreed upon date. However, meeting your new delivery date necessitates that we reallocate our resources and incurr overtime costs. Therefore we need to charge you extra. We will begin working to the revised schedule as soon as payment is received."
The rush request will be withdrawn quickly.
RE: Sending out a scout
I'm with everyone else wrt expedite charges for earlier than agreed upon deliveries. Along that line though, how many times has a supplier been penalized for missing a delivery? (Rhetorical Question)
To maintain a constructive customer relationship, I'd suggest you initiate an open dialog with your client on the subject before playing the spy card. In that discussion make reference to the potential for expediting charges.
RE: Sending out a scout
First, I'm assuming he is requestubg the material in advance of an existing cintract requirement?
Second: has your company ever been late in deliveries, perhaps on other contracts? If yes, then he may just be doing what he thinks necessary to ensure YOUR company meets its obligations.
Third: has another company been late in deliveries? This isn't YOUR problem, but it may tell you where the other guy is coming from.
The bottom line to me is:
(1) do your homework to ensure your company isn't "the reason", then
(2) open a dialogue on this topic.
RE: Sending out a scout
RE: Sending out a scout
-Sending a scout is not appropriate if he doesn't know anything regarding the project (being engineer it helps the learning curve, but we still need some info to analyze properly the problems) and it might look unprofessional. Imagine that you needed a plumber in your house and he would send a friend was living nearby (and didn't anything about the work) to inspect your home and take photos;
-Ask photos to the client regarding the area where your equipments are to be placed (if that's the critical factor);
-Inform the client about the extra costs that you already incurred regarding the already early delivered material and that in future cases you will have to reach an agreement;
-Get everything in writing.
RE: Sending out a scout
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Sending out a scout
Your customer may have another reason for getting your equipment early......to work out install details, to get a feel for what they are putting in, maybe you were late one time before, or maybe he is trying to hit a billing / money milestone.
It is not your place to decide how your client wants to receive your product. If he wants the carpet before the concrete is poured, explain that once he receives it it is his and price accordingly on the next one.
ZCP
www.phoenix-engineer.com
RE: Sending out a scout