What's the matter with tradespeople?

the_pen_turner · 13-09-2017 08:59PM

a lot of the problem with small jobs is that customers think that just because you were only there an hour that the bill will be small. in reality the hour at their home is often 2-3 hours including travel time and time getting parts etc.
if your there half a day then its a full day taken up most of the time and has to be billed acordingly

JohnCleary · 13-09-2017 09:03PM

red sean wrote: »

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

"It's not for security reasons"

There, no PSA licence needed.

And before you get defensive, i've seen this in a district court and the Judge was happy with the response above.

pickarooney · 13-09-2017 09:05PM

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.

That's completely understandable, but making an appointment and not showing up or calling is just arsehole behaviour.

mikeymouse · 13-09-2017 09:14PM

" the plumber method" ( Tantric sex) ;
you stay in all day and nobody comes.

LirW · 13-09-2017 09:15PM

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

That's a good point actually, didn't think of it. But we basically want to start over new, just don't find anyone!

bazz26 · 13-09-2017 09:22PM

OP, you need this lad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz87426vDC0

It's going to be tropic!

LirW · 13-09-2017 09:24PM

Will ask him for a Friday afternoon appointment then.

freshpopcorn · 13-09-2017 09:27PM

I'd recommend buying a set of chimney brushes and cleaning your own chimney. It's not rocket science. We've never had anybody in to clean the chimney,

PS, You might be better off with a local odd jobs man.

LirW · 13-09-2017 09:31PM

I have two chimneys, one for the fireplace and the other one for the stove. The stove is old and can't be used anymore, it's in absolute sh1te and will be replaced very soon. If he'd go in from above the would knock the old flexible flue off because that's centuries beyond its prime.
I give that to him it rained today so he couldn't go up the roof really.

LirW · 27-09-2017 09:23PM

After struggling especially with plumbers I now found the most effective way to get their attention: Get their Email address, send them the hard facts about the job without emotional backstory, if the job has "MONEY" written all over it (we're talking about a 5k+ job) they ring you back within a few hours. I really struggled to even get one in to inspect my broken toilet, now they're suddenly all like the Queen's consultant.
Let's hope I finally can start with the renovation.

27-09-2017 09:42PM

LirW wrote: »

After struggling especially with plumbers I now found the most effective way to get their attention: Get their Email address, send them the hard facts about the job without emotional backstory, if the job has "MONEY" written all over it (we're talking about a 5k+ job) they ring you back within a few hours. I really struggled to even get one in to inspect my broken toilet, now they're suddenly all like the Queen's consultant.
Let's hope I finally can start with the renovation.

Invite them all around to do the job then don't answer the door or phone when they show up

suicide_circus · 28-09-2017 04:42AM

Pretty much all work we've had done was by eastern europeans. Cheaper, better quality, more reliable.

Minderbinder · 28-09-2017 05:44AM

I thought the main reason for buying a house in need of renovation would be because it's cheaper because you can renovate it by yourself. If you need a tradesman for every little thing then you should probably have just bought a new house.

Tradesmen are notoriously unreliable in that you never know when they can come to do a job. We have a few in the family and it is even difficult for us to get them to do something.

28-09-2017 08:22AM

red sean wrote: »

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

Yeah, prisons are overflowing with non-PSA registered polish CCTV installers :rolleyes:

whisky_galore · 28-09-2017 08:45AM

2011 wrote: »

Yeah, prisons are overflowing with non-PSA registered polish CCTV installers :rolleyes:

Yeah, was thinking the very same.

At least they might actually get back to you and show up to do the work, not like their Irish counterparts, promising the sun, moon and stars.

philstar · 28-09-2017 09:38AM

thats irish customer service for ya,

the_pen_turner · 28-09-2017 11:04AM

Minderbinder wrote: »

I thought the main reason for buying a house in need of renovation would be because it's cheaper because you can renovate it by yourself. If you need a tradesman for every little thing then you should probably have just bought a new house.

Tradesmen are notoriously unreliable in that you never know when they can come to do a job. We have a few in the family and it is even difficult for us to get them to do something.

the general public don't see the behind the scenes scheduling that goes on
its very hard to nail down a start day
you have job over runs
delays on site from other trades not being ready
customers wanting more stuff done, 'while your here'
materials not turning up on time
weather
job cancelations at the last minute . (trying to squash in the only flexible job into too small a timeframe just so you have work that week)
some of us are even lucky enough to have lives outside our jobs
going to accountants and banks etc eats up time

there are lots of genuine reasons why we are unreliable. that's a consequence of the job.

LirW · 28-09-2017 11:05AM

Minderbinder wrote: »

I thought the main reason for buying a house in need of renovation would be because it's cheaper because you can renovate it by yourself. If you need a tradesman for every little thing then you should probably have just bought a new house.

Yeah, I'm not going to wire or plumb the place myself, simply for insurance reasons :rolleyes:
Previous owner did and made a mess out of it.

VinLieger · 28-09-2017 11:07AM

Had exactly the same experience as the OP with plumbers, 4 no shows over weeks or organising, the last one texted the morning of the day the work had to be done that he wouldn't make it. We managed to get someone last minute and he helped us out brilliantly, but baffled as to the attitude by the other 4

draiochtanois · 28-09-2017 11:11AM

This post has been deleted.

LirW · 28-09-2017 11:13AM

If you can't make it, just give a ring, it's not that hard really. People take days off work to wait for tradespeople and believe me there are better ways to spend your leave or overtime.

the_pen_turner · 28-09-2017 11:21AM

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

the problem stems from not being a business person. we are all trained in the trade, (carpenter,plumber etc) but not in running a business and how to organise it properly.
I agree with you but its very hard trying to juggle everything. you cant please everyone .

now not ringing if you cant make it etc is just rude and inconsiderate

Kat1170 · 28-09-2017 11:22AM

Unfortunately OP if you want the majority of posters to back you up in AH you have to give out about the Public Service not poor set upon tradespeople. Now that's a rant people like to get their teeth into.

/s

LirW · 28-09-2017 11:33AM

No worries, I can deal with not having the backing from strangers on the www.
Worked for a tradesperson myself for a few years and if he wouldn't show up and we'd get a call about it, he would have gotten hell from us in the office.

the_pen_turner · 28-09-2017 11:34AM

the problem is that both side of this debate have a very one sided view. myself included. I don't remember the last time I hired a tradesman that I didn't know at my house. I don't have experience cold calling them.
the customer only sees the few hours your there at their house and the tradesmen see it from their side .
I always try to show the other side if I can

LirW · 28-09-2017 11:37AM

Which is understandable and I certainly know what's connected with it. I'm very forgiving in general but not showing up, not calling and ignoring calls isn't how you treat potential customers. I had to cold call because I moved to a new area, but hey, eventually it all gets together now.

sbsquarepants · 28-09-2017 11:47AM

LirW wrote: »

only the 5th one came (and he came fast).
.

Is this like one of those videos on the internet?
I always thought they were staged:D

LirW · 28-09-2017 11:48AM

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Is this like one of those videos on the internet?
I always thought they were staged:D

I really hope you high-fived yourself in front of the screen for this :pac:

the_pen_turner · 28-09-2017 11:52AM

LirW wrote: »

Which is understandable and I certainly know what's connected with it. I'm very forgiving in general but not showing up, not calling and ignoring calls isn't how you treat potential customers. I had to cold call because I moved to a new area, but hey, eventually it all gets together now.

I have to agree. That's inexcusable.

donegaLroad · 28-09-2017 12:04PM

from living where I live OP, I have had to learn how to do a lot of things for myself.

I can service the car, fix a broken tumble drier, install a dishwasher, plaster work, lay a patio, fix a lawnmower, basic plumbing, tiling, laying floorboards etc.

Youtube is your friend!

What's the matter with tradespeople?

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