I Must Be Doing Something Right...

When someone imitates you, you're on the right track.

When I opened my computer repair store, the other local store tried to push us out. We proceeded to then run radio and newspaper ads for $30 virus removals. They refused to compete there, and I quickly gained market share. I think the other place is going under now, but in the last three years, they never tried to compete with us on price.

Can you offer something? The easy way would be to pay for materials, or offer some type of "reward" like the other guy does.

I see $3 coffee cards coming!

As a suggestion might want to look into paying people for their stuff or offer a visa gift card that can be used on anything. Just my 2 cents.

well what makes me different around here is simple I always answer the phone or text and never turn anything down now i only charge for like crt or appliances out of town cause of gas or if tvs are over 25in and i keep my prices the same weather some like it or not i will even tell people about cfcs if they want to send their stuff to them.
there is so much waste to go around that competition is only there from the people who bleed for this business and its few and far between. the flashy crap only works on the smallest of percentage of people. word of mouth and small easy ads work the greatest as long as your will to do the work.
if the job is greater than what you can do say yes and sub contract someone to do it and oversee everything so your a$$ is covered but never turn anything down never.....
gift cards are crap easily forgettable things like most things people are giving you. i set myself apart with copper rounds that are 1oz giant pennies on the front with good old honest abe and on the back a big thankyou with all my business info so people can show it off talk about it and keep it to always spark a conversation. it may sound like flash cause its shinny but its just a better business card that lasts

How about entering people in some sort of monthly giveaway prize (a better gift card than just $3)??? I think my non-ferrous guy does that but I often forget to enter

gift cards are crap easily forgettable things like most things people are giving you.

Full article at Scrap Metal Forum: http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/gener...#ixzz3Q35n1AOK

Hah....you don't know how much people up here love their Tim Horton's coffee. I think a free coffee is a great idea. Almost as good as a smile from a pretty girl.