{"id":4146,"date":"2024-07-18T10:30:20","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T14:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kellymeerbott.com\/?p=4146"},"modified":"2024-07-25T12:29:13","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T16:29:13","slug":"red-flags-when-hiring-vendors-a-guide-to-avoiding-disaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/red-flags-when-hiring-vendors-a-guide-to-avoiding-disaster\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Flags When Hiring Vendors: A Guide to Avoiding Disaster"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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As an entrepreneur, one of the biggest lessons I had to learn was about choosing the right vendors to work with. As a coach, I want to help everyone \u2014 but as a leader, I\u2019ve learned many hard lessons about working with vendors and consultants. <\/p>

Let me save you time! Prevent disaster by keeping an eye out for these red flags.<\/p>

1. The Ghosting Guru<\/h4>

Did your vendor vanish like a Snapchat message after you signed the contract? You\u2019ve got a ghosting guru. A vendor who\u2019s impossible to reach is more trouble than a Wi-Fi outage during a Zoom call. If they disappear now, imagine what they’ll do when you really need them.<\/p>

2. The \u201cWe Do Everything\u201d Guy<\/h4>

Beware of the jack-of-all-trades who promises to fix your plumbing, design your website, and cater your lunch meeting. They\u2019ll likely do all of it badly. Stick to specialists. The more hats they wear, the more likely they are to drop the ball\u2014right on your project.<\/p>

3. The Amazing Changing Quote<\/h4>

If their pricing is as slippery as a water slide, run! Vague or constantly changing quotes are a surefire sign you\u2019ll be overcharged for underwhelming service. Make sure everything is in writing and crystal clear before you sign \u2014 and if you can, have your lawyer review the contract.<\/p>

4. The \u201cI Need It Now\u201d Push<\/h4>

A vendor who demands snap decisions and quick contracts is like a toddler on a sugar high \u2014 and more of a sales person than a service provider. They\u2019ll push you and might leave you stranded. Good vendors don\u2019t do that \u2014 if they can’t wait, they might not be worth waiting for.<\/p>

5. The Over-Promiser<\/h4>

If they promise the moon but can\u2019t even get deliverables like your proposal or contract done on time, be wary. Over-promisers will hype you up and let you down harder than a bad date. Look for responsive vendors who set realistic expectations and deliver on them consistently.<\/p>

6. The Jargon Juggler<\/h4>

Vendors who bombard you with technical jargon and acronyms might be hiding their lack of actual skill. If they can\u2019t explain it simply, they probably don\u2019t get it themselves. Remember, clarity is key. You should understand what you\u2019re paying for without needing a translator.<\/p>

7. \u201cYou Don\u2019t Need References, Just Look At Our Results\u201d<\/h4>

A vendor without references is like a car without wheels. Good vendors should have a list of happy clients ready to sing their praises. No references? Big red flag. If they don’t offer proof of past successes and happy clients, how can you trust them with your company\u2019s future?<\/p>

8. The \u201cWe\u2019ve Never Had a Complaint\u201d Claim<\/h4>

Anyone who claims they\u2019ve never had a dissatisfied client is either lying or inexperienced \u2014 so do your research! Everyone gets complaints; it\u2019s how they handle them that counts. Ask how they resolved past issues \u2014 it’s a great indicator of their customer service skills.<\/p>

9. The Non-Discloser<\/h4>

If a potential vendor is cagey about their methods or the details of how their services work and will benefit your company, they are hiding something. Transparency is key. If they won\u2019t share the details, beware. A good vendor is an open book, not a mystery novel.<\/p>

10. The Late Larry<\/h4>

Punctuality is a good predictor of reliability. If they\u2019re late for meetings or slow to respond during the vetting process, they\u2019ll likely be a nightmare when deadlines loom. If they cannot respect your time, walk away and instead choose punctual vendors who embrace clear communication.<\/p>

11. The Contract Conjurer<\/h4>

Beware the vendor whose contract is more complex than a Tolstoy novel. Complicated or one-sided contracts are a red flag that they might try to slip something past you. Simplicity and fairness in contracts are signs of a trustworthy partner \u2014 and, again, have your lawyer review!<\/p>

12. Too Cheap To Be Real<\/h4>

If their prices are suspiciously low, there\u2019s probably a reason. You get what you pay for, and with cheap vendors, that\u2019s often shoddy work and hidden fees. Value and quality go hand-in-hand. It can be easy to let a low price tag blind you to potential pitfalls \u2014 ask me how I know!<\/p>

13. The Overly Confident Conman<\/h4>

The vendor who\u2019s too slick, with too much charm, gives far too many compliments, and offers too many \u2018guarantees\u2019 can be a red flag. Confidence is good, but overconfidence is often a cover for incompetence. Look for a balance of humility and expertise.<\/p>

14. The Drama Dealer<\/h4>

Talk is cheap! If they dish out more drama than a reality TV show, keep your distance. Vendors who badmouth their competition or former clients are likely to be unprofessional and unreliable. A professional demeanor speaks volumes about their business ethics.<\/p>

15. The Social Media Ghost<\/h4>

In this digital age, a vendor without any online presence is a red flag. No website, no reviews, no social media? They might as well not exist. Do your homework and look for a solid online footprint. If you can’t find them online, how reputable can they be?
Hiring the right vendor can save you time, money, and a whole lot of headaches. Keep an eye out for these red flags, and you\u2019ll avoid the pitfalls that come with hiring the wrong person or company. Remember, it\u2019s better to be cautious \u2014 don\u2019t do anything you\u2019ll later regret!<\/p>

Stay sharp and keep those vendors in check. Now you\u2019re well-equipped to spot the red flags and choose vendors who will help your business thrive. Good luck!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kelly Meerbott, PCC is a renowned expert in executive leadership coaching, a TEDx and keynote speaker, author, and host of the podcast\u00a0<\/em>Hidden Human.<\/em><\/a><\/p>

Are you ready for your leadership transformation?<\/em><\/a>\u00a0Let\u2019s grow! Fill out the form below or connect with\u00a0Kelly on LinkedIn<\/a>!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As an entrepreneur, one of the biggest lessons I had to learn was about choosing the right vendors to work with. As a coach, I want to help everyone \u2014 but as a leader, I\u2019ve learned many hard lessons about working with vendors and consultants. Let me save you time! Prevent disaster by keeping an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64,179,130,209,258,84,271],"tags":[276,275,273,272,274],"class_list":["post-4146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ego-mastery","category-for-coaches","category-kelly-meerbott","category-leadership","category-people","category-stress-management","category-vendors","tag-business","tag-business-management","tag-choosing-vendors","tag-vendor","tag-vendor-nightmare"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4146"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4146\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4164,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4146\/revisions\/4164"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}