What's the matter with tradespeople?

LirW · 13-09-2017 06:20PM #1

Oh god I need to vent - we recently moved into our house, it's in a rural setting and we encountered some initial problems, like for example the toilet stopped working.
I had to call several tradespeople and the only one I could rely on was the electrician who always showed up.

The worst ones were the plumbers. I called 4 and all of them were no-shows and didn't bother picking up the phone afterwards and only the 5th one came (and he came fast).

So we made an appointment for him to come back this evening as well as the chimney sweep who said he'll call around this afternoon. I moved everything around in the living room but a no-show.
I have to leave the house in around an hour to get something and I'm just so upset.

I also had someone set up to do the floors, after talking about the job, the price he set and I was happily willing to pay he never got back at me after I told him the starting date.

Why are people doing this and don't even call to cancel?

I need to get quotes for some major work and I already dread finding someone that's reliable.

Your Face · 13-09-2017 06:23PM

Queue the violins.

jamesbere · 13-09-2017 06:25PM

I honestly thought this was about transpeople, and read the whole thing wondering where it was leading too.

TallGlass · 13-09-2017 06:27PM

jamesbere wrote: »

I honestly thought this was about transpeople, and read the whole thing wondering where it was leading too.

Same!

Guess the recession is over, they don't need any odd jobs on the side!

Ronin247 · 13-09-2017 06:27PM

LirW wrote: »

Oh god I need to vent - we recently moved into our house, it's in a rural setting and we encountered some initial problems, like for example the toilet stopped working.
I had to call several tradespeople and the only one I could rely on was the electrician who always showed up.

The worst ones were the plumbers. I called 4 and all of them were no-shows and didn't bother picking up the phone afterwards and only the 5th one came (and he came fast).

So we made an appointment for him to come back this evening as well as the chimney sweep who said he'll call around this afternoon. I moved everything around in the living room but a no-show.
I have to leave the house in around an hour to get something and I'm just so upset.

I also had someone set up to do the floors, after talking about the job, the price he set and I was happily willing to pay he never got back at me after I told him the starting date.

Why are people doing this and don't even call to cancel?

I need to get quotes for some major work and I already dread finding someone that's reliable.

The F***ing boom is back baby, the boom is back

Jim Bob Scratcher · 13-09-2017 06:29PM

Irish tradesmen are hard men to reach, they're too busy eating breakfast rolls and wolf whistling at women.

OnDraught · 13-09-2017 06:29PM

Part of the trade off for getting to live in a rural setting I suppose.

PARlance · 13-09-2017 06:30PM

You have to keep in mind that these are small jobs and sometimes it's hardly worth the trip from Australia.

the_pen_turner · 13-09-2017 06:31PM

What do you mean by , I told him the start date

somesoldiers · 13-09-2017 06:34PM

All the Wexican tradesmen are heading to Dublin where the big money is

LirW · 13-09-2017 06:36PM

the_pen_turner wrote: »

What do you mean by , I told him the start date

We talked about all the details, flooring area, what to do and the price but said I need to wait to weeks to give him a date to start because I needed to figure some things out first. But it was within a short time frame and he agreed that I can just get in touch with him once I know the best date for starting the work.

I had only "Minor" jobs but for example need someone for a bigger plumbing job that will cost me a good chunk of money.
As someone knowing f all about plumbing I was practically begging the plumber who showed up quickly to fix my toilet since I'm here with children and it didn't work for like 10 days at that point and nobody showed up until then.

It's just a headache.

_Whimsical_ · 13-09-2017 06:43PM

There are also a lot of them quite unconcerned with standards when they do come. I've had some experiences with tradespeoples shody work in the last few years that honestly has made me nearly lose faith in humanity.
Some really have a "well what can you do? I'm not going to listen to reason, there's no point suing me so I do what I want" attitude.

the_pen_turner · 13-09-2017 06:52PM

LirW wrote: »

the_pen_turner wrote: »

What do you mean by , I told him the start date

We talked about all the details, flooring area, what to do and the price but said I need to wait to weeks to give him a date to start because I needed to figure some things out first. But it was within a short time frame and he agreed that I can just get in touch with him once I know the best date for starting the work.

I had only "Minor" jobs but for example need someone for a bigger plumbing job that will cost me a good chunk of money.
As someone knowing f all about plumbing I was practically begging the plumber who showed up quickly to fix my toilet since I'm here with children and it didn't work for like 10 days at that point and nobody showed up until then.

It's just a headache.

That alright. I was thinking you were dictating to him

One of the top red flags when meeting a customer us them dictating when you will start. I don't mean I'm going away in 6 weeks could you do it then. I mean , your pricing a job and they agree to it but then say I want you here tomorrow or a day really close.

LirW · 13-09-2017 06:56PM

I don't think I have an unreasonable attitude towards them since I worked with many trades people in the past.

The worst thing is, all the chimneys start having this lovely little clouds of smoke coming out, yet I can't even fire the fireplace (and I have solid fuel heating) because I need a goddamn sweep since the previous owner was a bit manky and the house was empty for like 2 winters.
Gonna marry dem storage heaters.

frag420 · 13-09-2017 07:02PM

Maybe word got around that you don't lay out any tay and bishcits for the tradesmen...just something to consider!?

LirW · 13-09-2017 07:03PM

That's why I usually try local ones first and slowly expand my search.

jacksie66 · 13-09-2017 07:04PM

This post has been deleted.

LirW · 13-09-2017 07:04PM

frag420 wrote: »

Maybe word got around that you don't lay out any tay and bishcits for the tradesmen...just something to consider!?

I usually would knowing the trades folks love their treats but at the moment I don't even have a working sh1tter to offer. Catch22

Truckermal · 13-09-2017 07:05PM

I feel your pain op I wanted electric gates for years and like your story phoned several installers but nobody was interested. Anyway went for a pint one night and got talking to a polish lad who done the whole job and is coming back shortly to install a CCTV system.

Plumbers are weird yokes..

Are Am Eye · 13-09-2017 07:07PM

Learn to do stuff yourself.
It's cheaper, faster and usually a better quality.

LirW · 13-09-2017 07:07PM

I got a few things done from polish folks and they always were very reliable. None around here though. Should probably try getting them down here.

13-09-2017 07:08PM

sugarman wrote: »

Happens all over the world, boom or no boom.

Trades are always in high demand, why go out of your way if you dont have to? If someone asked me to do a job 10mins away from my next, rather than spend half a day traveling to/from one job for less pay, would you be bothered?

Small jobs and being out of the way is the problem.

Is your phone out of the way as well

tomwaterford · 13-09-2017 07:08PM

LirW wrote: »

I got a few things done from polish folks and they always were very reliable. None around here though. Should probably try getting them down here.

Maybe try join a local facebook group and enquire from there??

LirW · 13-09-2017 07:09PM

Are Am Eye wrote: »

Learn to do stuff yourself.
It's cheaper, faster and usually a better quality.

I can do to a certain extend but the house we bought is from a DIY enthusiast and he did EVERYTHING himself and made massive sh1te out of it.
Therefore I'm not going to install the new heating myself (he did and I'm pretty sure this guy was absolutely mental).

Hammer89 · 13-09-2017 07:10PM

LirW wrote: »

The worst ones were the plumbers. I called 4 and all of them were no-shows and didn't bother picking up the phone afterwards and only the 5th one came (and he came fast). .

Most men do when it comes to laying pipe.

Here all week.

Dr Turk Turkelton · 13-09-2017 07:10PM

Truckermal wrote: »

I feel your pain op I wanted electric gates for years and like your story phoned several installers but nobody was interested. Anyway went for a pint one night and got talking to a polish lad who done the whole job and is coming back shortly to install a CCTV system.

Plumbers are weird yokes..

They sure are if you got a Polish plumber to install your electric gates and CCTV.

red sean · 13-09-2017 07:48PM

Truckermal wrote: »

I feel your pain op I wanted electric gates for years and like your story phoned several installers but nobody was interested. Anyway went for a pint one night and got talking to a polish lad who done the whole job and is coming back shortly to install a CCTV system.

Plumbers are weird yokes..

I hope he's PSA licenced or both you and him could face heavy fines/jail.

Donald Trump · 13-09-2017 07:59PM

LirW wrote: »

The worst ones were the plumbers. I called 4 and all of them were no-shows and didn't bother picking up the phone afterwards and only the 5th one came (and he came fast).

Plumber came too fast eh?

I think we know what you've been watching on the oul' laptop while waiting to get the work done in your house.

JimmyMcGill · 13-09-2017 08:42PM

Last tradesman I had out in my place was the laziest person I ever came across. She didnt mind that was the way she liked she said.

keeping with the tone of the thread.

the_syco · 13-09-2017 08:43PM

sugarman wrote: »

Small jobs and being out of the way is the problem.

100% agreed.

LirW wrote: »

I can do to a certain extend but the house we bought is from a DIY enthusiast and he did EVERYTHING himself and made massive sh1te out of it.

Consider that most of the local tradespeople know the house by reputation, and thus avoid it.

Doing a job fresh is one thing, but trying to fix a shoddy job can waste a lot of ones time.

Hammer89 · 13-09-2017 08:47PM

red sean wrote: »

I hope he's PSA licenced or both you and him could face heavy fines/jail.

At least there'd be video evidence.

What's the matter with tradespeople?

Comments