Plumbers - just WTF is wrong with them?

[Countdown]

GG89 said:

Stop hiring s.

It's very hard not to, because there's little to distinguish the bad ones from the good ones.

I think that's why people were raving so much about the Polish when they first started working over here. Pretty much every time I need a plumber/builder it will be a referral through family/friends and it will be Eastern European.

[eldar]

technodup said:

irstly I bet that's not actually true, but it's entirely typical of the problem.

Trades are quite happy to charge for their expertise, but not willing to pay for others'. Because they don't think they need it.

There's none so blind as will not see.

You are right, to a degree. The good ones don't need you, the bad ones won't see the need. You'll struggle.

Best bet, learn to lay bricks properly, apply your marketing skills to you, and you'll make good trades money.

[GG89]

Countdown said:

GG89 said:

Stop hiring s.

It's very hard not to, because there's little to distinguish the bad ones from the good ones.

I think that's why people were raving so much about the Polish when they first started working over here. Pretty much every time I need a plumber/builder it will be a referral through family/friends and it will be Eastern European.

It's not very hard. Do your homework, ask to see previous job addresses - go and chap the doors, inspect the work and speak to the previous clients, get phone numbers of previous clients and chat to them. I have very little sympathy for people blindly choosing the tradesmen that comes in under budget but fails to do their homework on how competent the man doing the work actually is.

I've also seen and fixed many jobs completely fked up by Eastern Europeans.

[Efbe]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Efbe said:

Kermit,
Totally off topic, but... 1967 Mustang with leather seats. Leather looks to be from 1967 too! has come apart at the seams, and feels really brittle. Possible to save, or better just to get new covers?

I would suggest better to replace, sound a little far gone for what I do. I'd suggest giving these guys a call, shouldn't be too far from you, they're excellent at what they do

http://www.bielawskissheffieldtrimming.co.uk/

Thanks!!

[technodup]

Spudler said:

technodup said:

Nor is it my bread and butter.

Just as well.
You have fk all chance if you know zero about the industry, even if you're dumb enough to think you don't even need to.

It's funny, because I know fk all about optometry either. Yet a national chain of opticians is quite happy to hand over their money. Likewise hair salons, hotels, dentists...

To say you need to know the industry inside out is to completely misunderstand the point. A business is a business, people are people. I was quite clear earlier about not knowing the industry. I wish others would be so honest when it's clear they know nothing about mine, nor are willing to learn.

The people who came up with say the meerkat ads weren't expert insurance brokers. They were marketing/advertising guys. The guy who wrote "You can't get quicker than a Kwik Fit fitter" wasn't a mechanic.

Small business marketing is a different animal, but the principle is the same.

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Is it just the quote element of obtaining business that you focus on? If so all of my quotes are verbal face to face, and I secure around 60% of people I get in front of. I got the impression that your offering stretched a little wider than this?

I can improve any marketing related activity for trades.

Incidentally I don't make that guarantee with any other industry, but with trades I have no fear whatsoever.

[Alucidnation]

You have obviously never heard of Bill Hicks.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

Efbe said:

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Efbe said:

Kermit,
Totally off topic, but... 1967 Mustang with leather seats. Leather looks to be from 1967 too! has come apart at the seams, and feels really brittle. Possible to save, or better just to get new covers?

I would suggest better to replace, sound a little far gone for what I do. I'd suggest giving these guys a call, shouldn't be too far from you, they're excellent at what they do

http://www.bielawskissheffieldtrimming.co.uk/

Thanks!!

NP's. Let them know I referred them. They refer many to me so it'll be nice for them to know I do the same in return!

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

technodup said:

Spudler said:

technodup said:

Nor is it my bread and butter.

Just as well.
You have fk all chance if you know zero about the industry, even if you're dumb enough to think you don't even need to.

It's funny, because I know fk all about optometry either. Yet a national chain of opticians is quite happy to hand over their money. Likewise hair salons, hotels, dentists...

To say you need to know the industry inside out is to completely misunderstand the point. A business is a business, people are people. I was quite clear earlier about not knowing the industry. I wish others would be so honest when it's clear they know nothing about mine, nor are willing to learn.

The people who came up with say the meerkat ads weren't expert insurance brokers. They were marketing/advertising guys. The guy who wrote "You can't get quicker than a Kwik Fit fitter" wasn't a mechanic.

Small business marketing is a different animal, but the principle is the same.

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Is it just the quote element of obtaining business that you focus on? If so all of my quotes are verbal face to face, and I secure around 60% of people I get in front of. I got the impression that your offering stretched a little wider than this?

I can improve any marketing related activity for trades.

Incidentally I don't make that guarantee with any other industry, but with trades I have no fear whatsoever.

In which case I'd be happy to discuss what you can offer with you, we need to make inroads with our marketing activity. My company particulars are in my profile, and in turn our email address.

[technodup]

eldar said:

Best bet, learn to lay bricks properly, apply your marketing skills to you, and you'll make good trades money.

I don't want a pay cut. Or to do manual labour. Or to be stuck in one place.

Apart from that it sounds great. (I do have another plan to do something similar in future, minus the drawbacks).

BTW I'm not having a go at trades here. I personally haven't had an issue with any. I do however see them unknowingly making mistake after mistake from a marketing/business POV which IS costing them money, and I can help them rectify them.

But like I said if they all used me the advantage disappears to an extent, so I'd prefer they carried on regardless. I can focus on the ones who want to earn more.

[Efbe]

technodup said:

eldar said:

Best bet, learn to lay bricks properly, apply your marketing skills to you, and you'll make good trades money.

I don't want a pay cut. Or to do manual labour. Or to be stuck in one place.

Apart from that it sounds great. (I do have another plan to do something similar in future, minus the drawbacks).

BTW I'm not having a go at trades here. I personally haven't had an issue with any. I do however see them unknowingly making mistake after mistake from a marketing/business POV which IS costing them money, and I can help them rectify them.

But like I said if they all used me the advantage disappears to an extent, so I'd prefer they carried on regardless. I can focus on the ones who want to earn more.

have you thought of a one stop shop agency for all trades needs?

[technodup]

Alucidnation said:

You have obviously never heard of Bill Hicks.

I prefer to listen to people who pay me money tbh. Rather than a dead comic from the 80s.

[technodup]

Efbe said:

have you thought of a one stop shop agency for all trades needs?

That's pretty much where I'm at. Some things they want, bundled with others they don't think they need.

[technodup]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

In which case I'd be happy to discuss what you can offer with you, we need to make inroads with our marketing activity. My company particulars are in my profile, and in turn our email address.

I'll have a look and email you tomorrow.

[Ilovejapcrap]

My mate a plasterer was in pub a couple of hours ago.

I text him to try and help in stay out of pub more, he text back well pissed done it again gonna have to miss work tomorrow.

In the pub was also other plasterer 2 electricians a builder and joiner

[GG89]

technodup said:

Efbe said:

have you thought of a one stop shop agency for all trades needs?

That's pretty much where I'm at. Some things they want, bundled with others they don't think they need.

I was correct. Marketing bullst that works for a small percentage of businesses.

[technodup]

GG89 said:

technodup said:

Efbe said:

have you thought of a one stop shop agency for all trades needs?

That's pretty much where I'm at. Some things they want, bundled with others they don't think they need.

I was correct. Marketing bullst that works for a small percentage of businesses.

Listen, I'm not being funny, but you don't have a clue what you're talking about, and certainly not enough to judge something bullst or not.

If you are one of those who thinks 'marketing only works for some businesses' you simply don't understand anything about it. I accept that is partly our industry's fault, but it's still garbage nonetheless.

I haven't called your trade bullst. Nor your business. So I'd prefer you kept your ill informed opinions re mine to yourself.

[ex1]

GG89 said:

Countdown said:

GG89 said:

Stop hiring s.

It's very hard not to, because there's little to distinguish the bad ones from the good ones.

I think that's why people were raving so much about the Polish when they first started working over here. Pretty much every time I need a plumber/builder it will be a referral through family/friends and it will be Eastern European.

It's not very hard. Do your homework, ask to see previous job addresses - go and chap the doors, inspect the work and speak to the previous clients, get phone numbers of previous clients and chat to them. I have very little sympathy for people blindly choosing the tradesmen that comes in under budget but fails to do their homework on how competent the man doing the work actually is.

I've also seen and fixed many jobs completely fked up by Eastern Europeans.

Its not the quality of the work I've the biggest problem with it's getting them to operate under normal terms. Turning up when agreed, working a "full" day, returning phone calls, keeping to a quote. rectifying problems, not shouting and swearing at people when things don't go exactly according to plan. Things the rest of society take for granted. I find the "good" ones are often the most temperamental and need to be coaxed and cajoled into doing things and kept engaged. Ive paid £300 a day to someone who can't even find their way to site and organise lunch for themselves!

[Efbe]

technodup said:

GG89 said:

technodup said:

Efbe said:

have you thought of a one stop shop agency for all trades needs?

That's pretty much where I'm at. Some things they want, bundled with others they don't think they need.

I was correct. Marketing bullst that works for a small percentage of businesses.

Listen, I'm not being funny, but you don't have a clue what you're talking about, and certainly not enough to judge something bullst or not.

If you are one of those who thinks 'marketing only works for some businesses' you simply don't understand anything about it. I accept that is partly our industry's fault, but it's still garbage nonetheless.

I haven't called your trade bullst. Nor your business. So I'd prefer you kept your ill informed opinions re mine to yourself.

haha, agreed.

But back to what you were saying, whilst still OT, having one number to call 24x7 where you are guaranteed to talk to someone who will arrange for a tradesperson to come out would be awesome.

Back on topic slightly, we really struggled getting a roofer to reroof our garage around 3-6months ago. The reason I say 3-6 months is it took 3 months for one to get back to me with a quote. First one we got a quote we said yes to. It was an easy job, 1 day, 3 lads, no scaffolding required, all on ladders as the roof started from 5 ft up.
Probably made around 50 calls to different roofers, around 15 answered (I then called the others back at least once) 5 were too busy, 10 said they would call back, then 1 came round to give a quote.
Incredibly frustrating and time consuming.

So, if there was a service to manage that, I would use it.

[Neil - YVM]

ex1 said:

The sad reality is that the majority spoil it for the few good ones.

Interested to hear from the trades on here how many have used another trade in their own home who wasn't a mate/mate of a mate.

I've discussed this many times with my friends who are trades and none of them have actually employed trades people themselves as they prefer to turn their hand to anything in their own home.

I frequently use other trades in my own home and on our projects.
But these are people that are known to me, known to be good, and reliable, and they also know that the job will be ready, and I wont mess them about. I don't expect mates rates, but equally don't get charged beyond a fair rate.

[jas xjr]

my parents had an extension built . the builder came in on time , on budget. if he said 8 men are turning up on saturday morning to do your roof , that is exactly what happenened.
re small plumbing jobs. plumbing is fairly straightforward , as long as you can get to the item in question. i find i struggle to ly on my back and fiddle with taps.
buy some tools and practice.