I've just had a bride on the phone.
She's bought her dress online, and wants a price for alterations.
Cool. Lets make an appointment so I can see you in it and work out what needs done.
Oh no, she doesn't want an appointment. She can tell me what needs done, she just wants a quote.
Hmmm....well tell me what you think needs doing then.
The shoulders need lifted, the bust needs to be altered, and bra cups fitted and it needs shortened at the hem.
Now.....that's veeeeeeery specific alterations for a bride to describe when she's only just received her dress, so I start to think she's either had a fitting and got a price elsewhere and is now "shopping around", or she's a competitor trying to gauge my prices.
Either way, I don't mind. I'm happy to be living in a world where people get to make choices. I'm also not afraid of a competitor knowing my prices. I'm at least double the cost of the high street "turn up some trousers" alterations shop, as I'm a specialist, and charge what I'm worth. That's not the point.
The point is that I cannot quote a price, or even guesstimate, without seeing the actual work involved.
She wouldn't give me any pertinent details. Not one. Just some vague "it's a wedding dress from Wed 2 Be" and it's tulle and lace and satin and she wants a price, now. She absolutely refused to come see me, so I told her I couldn't help her, and said goodbye.
Ah well, that's at least one of this year's freaks out of the way, and it's only the second week in January. I'm starting early this year.