Tradespeople

[andyBeaker]

Do they not understand if they can’t be prompt when turning up,to quote for a job it puts them on the back foot straight away.

Plumber due at 9:30 this morning to quote for a pretty big job, arrived at 10:45, couldn’t even be bothered to pick the phone up to say he was going to be late which would have been fine.

Builder never appeared for a massive job laying block paving a couple of weeks ago, turned up out of the blue this morning ‘as he was passing’.

 

[ogr1]

Shortage of materials during covid.
Building companies are buying all
the stocks...Small companies are going under because they don't have priority
to purchase bulk. Get it all the time here.
Smaller trades are really struggling to compete. Wanna see the backlog for
remedial works here? Tis a fookin nightmare.

 

[Duck n Dive]

It's the "British Disease"

For some reason it seems tradespeople just have enough work that they don't want more.
But if that's the case why not just say they're too busy to take on more at the moment? I'd actually take that as a good recommendation for them.

I've lost count the times this happens or after they start the job I query why what they're doing isn't what I'd asked and then they start saying but it's the way they'll have to do ir!! Grrrrrrrr.

It goes along with an apparent unwillingness/inability to do a good job.

Our neighbour has just had a new roof fitted.
A few weeks ago the scaffolding company knocked on our door and asked could they have access between the houses through one of our side gates. The gap between the houses at that point is about 5ft., no problem says I. They also needed to remove a fence panel, again no problem & let them get on with it.
The work was finished and the scaffolding removed two days ago, but they forgot to put the fence panel back, reminding them got nowhere, it was clear they viwed it as job done, bye!

The roofers parked their vehicles daily in front of our house, not a problem as it's the end of a cul-de-sac and the only place to park. But now they've gone we've a mountain of fag ends and crap they've emptied out of the Ash trays.

 

[johnboy]

It's the "British Disease"

For some reason it seems tradespeople just have enough work that they don't want more.
But if that's the case why not just say they're too busy to take on more at the moment? I'd actually take that as a good recommendation for them.

I've lost count the times this happens or after they start the job I query why what they're doing isn't what I'd asked and then they start saying but it's the way they'll have to do ir!! Grrrrrrrr.

It goes along with an apparent unwillingness/inability to do a good job.

Our neighbour has just had a new roof fitted.
A few weeks ago the scaffolding company knocked on our door and asked could they have access between the houses through one of our side gates. The gap between the houses at that point is about 5ft., no problem says I. They also needed to remove a fence panel, again no problem & let them get on with it.
The work was finished and the scaffolding removed two days ago, but they forgot to put the fence panel back, reminding them got nowhere, it was clear they viwed it as job done, bye!

The roofers parked their vehicles daily in front of our house, not a problem as it's the end of a cul-de-sac and the only place to park. But now they've gone we've a mountain of fag ends and crap they've emptied out of the Ash trays.

Ask them nicely once more, then out them on facebook, checkatrade, etc. etc. You've gone out of your way to assist them and they treat you this way. Bet your neighbour feels guilty.

 

[Me!]

I’m on quote number 5 to revamp a downstairs cloakroom. I’ve accepted all quotes to date and no one has given me a start date. Why quote ffs!!

 

[andyBeaker]

Ask them nicely once more, then out them on facebook, checkatrade, etc. etc. You've gone out of your way to assist them and they treat you this way. Bet your neighbour feels guilty.

Good luck with putting anything negative on Checkatrade….

 

[andyBeaker]

Shortage of materials during covid.
Building companies are buying all
the stocks...Small companies are going under because they don't have priority
to purchase bulk. Get it all the time here.
Smaller trades are really struggling to compete. Wanna see the backlog for
remedial works here? Tis a fookin nightmare.

My tame builder was telling me this morn8ng that the biggest current problem they have is sourcing cement and that timber has gone up in price by over 50% in the last year. All his quotes now include the right to increase the invoice cost if materials have increased by silly amounts.

 

[Cougar377]

Last week we tried to get 3 quotes to replace part of our fencing - 6 x 4ft wood panels and concrete posts, plus optional quote to replace back garden gate (6ft wooden).

First one didn't show up on the day. Didn't answer his phone, didn't reply to VM. He eventually phoned that evening to reschedule the following day, same time. Still arrived an hour late without phoning us and gave no reason for being late. Reckoned he could do it in a month or so's time. And his quote was ridiculous.

Second one was an hour and a half late. Didn't answer his phone, didn't reply to VM. No explanation as to why he was late. Said he could fit us in within a week or two at the most. Still haven't received the quote and when he can be arsed to answer his phone or reply to VM's he says he'll "get round to it tomorrow".

Third one didn't show at all. Doesn't answer his phone or reply to voice or email messages.

 

[derek kelly]

We have planning permission for an extension, the only proper quote we’ve had was over double what it should be, bathroom fitter when we eventually got one was a dickhead, Joiner to fit oak doors & floor did a good job but was a very strange character, plasterers were excellent but expensive, don’t mind paying a bit more for quality but these guys work for the council & I suspect were using council stuff.

 

[slim63]

As you lot know I was trade for a very long time and I find some of the comments on this thread quite annoying as it gives all builders a bad name, you never see comments about the good reliable and fair tradespeople do you ?

From experience .... sometimes being late or not being able to turn up at all is unavoidable! it really does not take much for a job to run over and if you are busy forgetting that you are supposed to quote later that day or the next is quite easy to do while you are sorting out a problem

But there absolutely is no excuse for not getting in contact and explaining what happened along with giving an apology at the first opportunity, some people just don't understand that the building trade is a difficult business to be in on the domestic side, its a constant balancing act between getting enough work to keep the lads busy and taking on too much and not being able to do what you said you can

I have seen many very good building companies go down the pan as although they have being very good at the physical work simply cannot manage the time constraints and once again it only takes on small problem to put you back a couple of days (remember when quoting you cannot always see all that you are getting into) the other thing is just one awkward customer or one who wants an "extra" can easily lose you a couple of days

 

[ogr1]

My tame builder was telling me this morn8ng that the biggest current problem they have is sourcing cement and that timber has gone up in price by over 50% in the last year. All his quotes now include the right to increase the invoice cost if materials have increased by silly amounts.

Yep..Original back log quotes are now re-quoted via contractors and yes they inevitably put their prices up.
Our estates mdt are not happy and due to
on going contractual wranglings the jobs
are delayed even more, meanwhile back at the ranch, me and my colleague are like a team of botch it and feckin scarper.
Trying to patch up the continual damage
caused by the inmates....Bless em.
I had jet black hair 13 years ago when I ventured into this abyss. Now I look like Gandalf's feckin side kick.

 

[DEG5Y]

Do they not understand if they can’t be prompt when turning up,to quote for a job it puts them on the back foot straight away.

Plumber due at 9:30 this morning to quote for a pretty big job, arrived at 10:45, couldn’t even be bothered to pick the phone up to say he was going to be late which would have been fine.

Builder never appeared for a massive job laying block paving a couple of weeks ago, turned up out of the blue this morning ‘as he was passing’.

If that plumber was fixing your shitter but hadn't quite finished would you be happy if he left to give someone else a quote as he 'didin't want to be late'?

No, you'd moan about that as well!!!

 

[derek kelly]

It wouldn’t be such a problem if trades people being late was a one off, seven builders we have contacted have asked us to email the plans, four promised to come & give a quote, three didn’t bother replying, two have actually turned up to give a quote (one we are hopeful of) the other was Bev’s cousin who came out & ate my sandwiches & has not been in touch since, it took us four attempts to get a joiner, also four attempts to get a bathroom fitter.

 

[andyBeaker]

If that plumber was fixing your shitter but hadn't quite finished would you be happy if he left to give someone else a quote as he 'didin't want to be late'?

No, you'd moan about that as well!!!

No I wouldn’t.

if he told me what was going on.

Communication is everything in all aspects of life.

 

[DEG5Y]

No I wouldn’t.

if he told me what was going on.

Communication is everything in all aspects of life.

OK sir, unfortunately I won't be able to finish your shitter toda as I have arranged to go and give four quotes out today and, I don't want to be late for any of them.
OK Mr Plumber, off you go, I'll hold my shite in till tomorrow!


Yeah, that'll be the day!

 

[andyBeaker]

OK sir, unfortunately I won't be able to finish your shitter toda as I have arranged to go and give four quotes out today and, I don't want to be late for any of them.
OK Mr Plumber, off you go, I'll hold my shite in till tomorrow!


Yeah, that'll be the day!

Read my earlier post….I have no issue with someone turning up late for an appointment if there is a good reason and, importantly, they have communicated that they are going to be late.

 

[derek kelly]

Can you give me a quote?
Certainly, when is convenient?
Tomorrow
Sorry, I have a job on tomorrow that should take about 8 hours, I can be with you sometime after 6pm.
Ok, thank you

thare, not so difficult is it?

 

[ogr1]

Selective contracts, if they're on a job already that's a big earner?
Then they won't entertain the piddly little jobs.

 

[andyBeaker]

In

Selective contracts, if they're on a job already that's a big earner?
Then they won't entertain the piddly little jobs.

this case it was quoting for installing heating and plumbing in a number of new build properties So I would imagine reasonably attractive.

Someone else now has the job.

 

[andyBeaker]

It wouldn’t be such a problem if trades people being late was a one off, seven builders we have contacted have asked us to email the plans, four promised to come & give a quote, three didn’t bother replying, two have actually turned up to give a quote (one we are hopeful of) the other was Bev’s cousin who came out & ate my sandwiches & has not been in touch since, it took us four attempts to get a joiner, also four attempts to get a bathroom fitter.

What sort of sandwiches?