whats the most unreliable trade

[kent]

Sat here waiting for yet another firm, what the most unreliable trade for actually showing up? My vote heating engineers especially in rural areas.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

My heating engineer turned up at 15:55 last Friday exactly as promised!

[malkiserow]

the health visitor never did turn up yesterday .... not heard anything either, perhaps they don't know about telephones

Edited September 23, 2014 by malkiserow

[shaun4860]

Roofers if you're after a small repair and not a whole new roof,

 

[sitsinhedges]

All of them if you've a small job that's not going to be worth the hassle and they're busy.

[Muddy Funker]

All of them if you've a small job that's not going to be worth the hassle and they're busy.

 

It's a shame some have that attitude, A loose roof tile one week could lead to that new roof the next. Or any other example you can think of.

[sitsinhedges]

 

It's a shame some have that attitude, A loose roof tile one week could lead to that new roof the next. Or any other example you can think of.

 

The problem is that a tiny little job can take as long as a big one to look at and get the materials organised etc. The customer thinks it only took an hour to do and feels robbed whilst you've earned nothing for doing it. That's if you actually get the job above the dozen other quotes he gets. Just not worth bothering.

[dashman1]

Good attitude

[stumpy69]

BT 'engineers'

[loriusgarrulus]

The problem is that a tiny little job can take as long as a big one to look at and get the materials organised etc. The customer thinks it only took an hour to do and feels robbed whilst you've earned nothing for doing it. That's if you actually get the job above the dozen other quotes he gets. Just not worth bothering.

There goes out of the window your word of mouth advertising for some other more lucrative jobs.

[silver pigeon69]

There goes out of the window your word of mouth advertising for some other more lucrative jobs.

i disagree, at least he's being honest!

[Fuji Shooter]

Tree surgeon - gave mine the job 4 weeks ago and heard nothing since. I'll wait for him to turn up before I tell him I got someone else to do it.

[millrace]

In reality that's how it is, I tell ppl either wait till I've free time which there never is or get someone else because as has been said it really won't pay or be worth hassle,looked at a job recently told the guy look u can do that yourself no point in payinn me to send men round,ahh but there is a few bits inside yea I said but I'm busy for next 2 mths so no odds to me,,politely I may add,, so 1.5 hrs of my time for free diesel etc and told how to fix the problem, now he rang last week the other mate let him down could I now fit him in, no I laugh I'm still busy prob shd have booked you last time instead of waiting for my mate says he, yes but u didn't so now it may be 3 mths do you want to make a bookin.....ppl think a day/week is a lot of work but in the building trade if your any good your always thinking mnths ahead and you just can't leave say £100k refurb to fix a loose slate.........and I'm not a big business either but that's reality......

[figgy]

Tree surgeon - gave mine the job 4 weeks ago and heard nothing since. I'll wait for him to turn up before I tell him I got someone else to do it.

That's why they don't turn up.

 

When I was self employed I used to hate doing domestic work and would avoid it like the plague. Always left a bad taste, you either done the job for nothing or the customer felt ripped off. Sometimes you would end up out of pocket and the customer still felt ripped off.

 

After a while you tend to trust your instincts when people phone, some you think they just want quotes and already have someone in mind, so you arrange to go but if something comes up you go and do that instead. If the original one calls apologise and rearrange it they might be on the level.

Some I used to just say the problem you describe is such a small job that the time and cost for me to come out would only leave both of us feeling badly done to. Try and get someone close.

 

Figgy

[millrace]

Tree surgeon - gave mine the job 4 weeks ago and heard nothing since. I'll wait for him to turn up before I tell him I got someone else to do it.

And this is how I describe a typical private customer no regard for wasting someone's time......like figgy said I don't bother with them either most are out to waste your time or not pay or have 20 quotes then get Jimmy from the pub for a fiver an hr to come and bodge it up, no overheads insurance h@s equipment etc.....not worth the hassle...,

[STOTTO]

 

The problem is that a tiny little job can take as long as a big one to look at and get the materials organised etc. The customer thinks it only took an hour to do and feels robbed whilst you've earned nothing for doing it. That's if you actually get the job above the dozen other quotes he gets. Just not worth bothering.

 

There goes out of the window your word of mouth advertising for some other more lucrative jobs.

 

It’s a ‘dog eat dog’ world out there and the dog that eats everything, although he may have to ‘bark-up’ now and again often ends up being the best fed dog on the block, or the deadest depending upon his digestive system!

[Highlandladdie]

BT 'engineers'

 

Where has this fad for calling everyone an 'engineer'??!? I thought that you had to have a degree to call yourself that?

 

Anyway my vote goes to Plumbing and Heating 'engineers'. lol

[Flashman]

So the answer is "all of them," unless you want them to paint the Forth road bridge or build a small palace because they don't get out of bed for less that £x,000...

 

Fair enough, but the Poles/Croats/latest Eastern European will turn up, will quote and will do the job. I'm not saying they will do it better, worse or the same than our picky English artesians, but at least they turn up.

[Fuji Shooter]

And this is how I describe a typical private customer no regard for wasting someone's time......like figgy said I don't bother with them either most are out to waste your time or not pay or have 20 quotes then get Jimmy from the pub for a fiver an hr to come and bodge it up, no overheads insurance h@s equipment etc.....not worth the hassle...,

 

Why am I wasting his time. I took time off for him to measure up and give me a quote, He gave me a price and I shook his hand based on my need to have them cleared by 2 weeks.

 

Called after 2 weeks left a message, nothing, so two weeks later I paid someone else to do the job. I don't knock him down on the price he gave me, I just need the job done.

 

If you don't want the work then don't quote for it, he knew my time-scales before he turned up.

Edited September 23, 2014 by Freakmode

[stumpy69]

 

Where has this fad for calling everyone an 'engineer'??!? I thought that you had to have a degree to call yourself that?

 

Anyway my vote goes to Plumbing and Heating 'engineers'. lol

Agreed that's why I put the marks! I am an engineer spent 5 years getting my degree to call myself an engineer.

[gedney]

Roofers if you're after a small repair and not a whole new roof,

 

Just spent 10 yrs doing roof repairs ,dont want full roof,s any more if i can avoid it,

[loriusgarrulus]

Just spent 10 yrs doing roof repairs ,dont want full roof,s any more if i can avoid it,

Busy after a good storm then.

[Old farrier]

Farrier

 

 

In the shooting season 😙😙

 

 

All the best

Of

[chacotawas]

Glad this thread was started. Henceforth I'll be much more understanding of the roofer who looks up at the 8 slates that need fixing, says he'll be back, then that's the last I hear from him. (Sincerely- no sarcasm).

[aris]

Doctors. Never been seen on time in my GP's surgery.