a lot of businesses deserve to go under
Discussion
all we keep on hearing in the press is how hard it is for local/small businesses to survive. Recent experience tells me that f
k 'em. An awful lot of them deserve to go under. Try making an appointment for someone to do some work for you, be it builders, plumbers, aircon, mechanics, car valeters... fking useless s in the main.
No shows at agreed times (I'm not even talking about being late,albeit that's also a pet peeve), no response to phone-calls or messages, half-arsed jobs, promises broken... then you read on SM how hard these businesses are finding it. Do me a favour! If they actually turned up or responded to enquiries they'd be quids-in.
I've recently tried several different detailers/valeters (who want to charge several £100) - they're obviously rolling in it given the lack of interest shown in responding to queries, but no... still complaints about XYZ and pleas for work.
k 'em. An awful lot of them deserve to go under. Try making an appointment for someone to do some work for you, be it builders, plumbers, aircon, mechanics, car valeters... fking useless s in the main. No shows at agreed times (I'm not even talking about being late,albeit that's also a pet peeve), no response to phone-calls or messages, half-arsed jobs, promises broken... then you read on SM how hard these businesses are finding it. Do me a favour! If they actually turned up or responded to enquiries they'd be quids-in.
I've recently tried several different detailers/valeters (who want to charge several £100) - they're obviously rolling in it given the lack of interest shown in responding to queries, but no... still complaints about XYZ and pleas for work.
Yeh I've found a lot of stuff is booked far in advance now. Garages being one of the main ones.
Mate of mine called me the other week that neither of his 2 car keys on his 2 year old car would work (open the car), called the dealer and they said they could book him in for 6 weeks time. Turns out both needed a new battery at the same time.
Mate of mine called me the other week that neither of his 2 car keys on his 2 year old car would work (open the car), called the dealer and they said they could book him in for 6 weeks time. Turns out both needed a new battery at the same time.
I am having some work done on a property at the moment and what really annoys me is a company will come round to give you a quote, look at what you want doing and the standard etc expected and then nothing they just ghost you. I have had the same recently around a car I want to restore and in that situation I got initial enthusiasm from one well respected place that then ghosted me when they heard the standard I was looking for and a couple of others than never responded to my enquiries at all.
Why they just dont say thanks but no thanks / that is outside of what we do etc etc is beyond me. Simply doing what they do means that when someone says "does anyone know a company that car restore my car" the response will be "dont go to x"
Its like they dont want to be honest which is a red flag in itself
Why they just dont say thanks but no thanks / that is outside of what we do etc etc is beyond me. Simply doing what they do means that when someone says "does anyone know a company that car restore my car" the response will be "dont go to x"
Its like they dont want to be honest which is a red flag in itself
DodgyGeezer said:
all we keep on hearing in the press is how hard it is for local/small businesses to survive. Recent experience tells me that fk 'em. An awful lot of them deserve to go under. Try making an appointment for someone to do some work for you, be it builders, plumbers, aircon, mechanics, car valeters... fking useless s in the main.
No shows at agreed times (I'm not even talking about being late,albeit that's also a pet peeve), no response to phone-calls or messages, half-arsed jobs, promises broken... then you read on SM how hard these businesses are finding it. Do me a favour! If they actually turned up or responded to enquiries they'd be quids-in.
I've recently tried several different detailers/valeters (who want to charge several £100) - they're obviously rolling in it given the lack of interest shown in responding to queries, but no... still complaints about XYZ and pleas for work.
It won't be the same companies that aren't responding to enquiries that are badly in need of work. At the risk of stating the very obvious.k 'em. An awful lot of them deserve to go under. Try making an appointment for someone to do some work for you, be it builders, plumbers, aircon, mechanics, car valeters... fking useless s in the main. No shows at agreed times (I'm not even talking about being late,albeit that's also a pet peeve), no response to phone-calls or messages, half-arsed jobs, promises broken... then you read on SM how hard these businesses are finding it. Do me a favour! If they actually turned up or responded to enquiries they'd be quids-in.
I've recently tried several different detailers/valeters (who want to charge several £100) - they're obviously rolling in it given the lack of interest shown in responding to queries, but no... still complaints about XYZ and pleas for work.
I realise that a lot of self employed trades just pick and choose the jobs they either enjoy doing or are the most profitable. That's fair enough but I wish they would just be honest about it. "sorry, we're not currently taking on that sort of work". Instead they lead you on thinking they'll do the work then they just let you down. Three times in the last few months I've had people give me a day and time they'll come out to quote for a job, I've made arrangements to be at home and they don't turn up. No message, no phone call, nothing. I've also had a few where they'll come out and quote, you instruct the work then you never hear from them again. If I behaved like that in my job I'd be sacked very quickly
Edited by CMTMB on Tuesday 25th August 13:02
It works both ways though.
There are definitely trades who are hopeless at communicating, don t turn up and let people down no argument there. But there are plenty of customers who are just as difficult.
Want everything yesterday, want it for next to nothing, question every penny of the bill, then stand over you telling you how the job should be done because they ve watched a YouTube video or read something on a forum.
And in the motor trade you get the added bonus of being blamed for anything that happens to the car afterwards. Replace No.2 injector on a Fiat Tipo and two days later their TV stops working somehow you re getting the phone call. ?
A bit of honesty and respect needs to go both ways. Good businesses should communicate properly and do what they say they ll do, but customers also need to respect people s time, skill and experience.
There are definitely trades who are hopeless at communicating, don t turn up and let people down no argument there. But there are plenty of customers who are just as difficult.
Want everything yesterday, want it for next to nothing, question every penny of the bill, then stand over you telling you how the job should be done because they ve watched a YouTube video or read something on a forum.
And in the motor trade you get the added bonus of being blamed for anything that happens to the car afterwards. Replace No.2 injector on a Fiat Tipo and two days later their TV stops working somehow you re getting the phone call. ?
A bit of honesty and respect needs to go both ways. Good businesses should communicate properly and do what they say they ll do, but customers also need to respect people s time, skill and experience.
I can chip in too.
Removals firms.
I contacted 4, one agreed straight off the bat, they were local, but I thought shop around.
Contacted 3 others, they wanted video to get an idea, location etc, not one of them replied after clip was sent.
At least have some damn courtesy.
Either can be choosy as hell or can't be arsed.
Removals firms.
I contacted 4, one agreed straight off the bat, they were local, but I thought shop around.
Contacted 3 others, they wanted video to get an idea, location etc, not one of them replied after clip was sent.
At least have some damn courtesy.
Either can be choosy as hell or can't be arsed.
Trades can be notoriously disloyal when they find a new pet customer. We used one sparky for 15 years and gave him a lot of work over residential and commercial properties. Then last year he stopped replying to calls and messages. So we found another guy who is now trusted, honest and reliable, so much so that he tries to save us money.
Then 2 months ago the original sparky pops back onto the scene. Turns out he had a big job with a developer. Developer went bust and the sparky is owed a considerable sum.
Then 2 months ago the original sparky pops back onto the scene. Turns out he had a big job with a developer. Developer went bust and the sparky is owed a considerable sum.
I spoke to an aircon installer back in June, said I'd email a detailed request of what I was looking for and in which rooms - I even included the floorplans for the house and external diagram for where I was thinking the outside unit could be located etc. Never heard anything back from them. I agree with earlier posts - half the time trades are so st at the admin/sales/comms side of things it's no wonder they don't get the work!
I've got a list of things I need quoting and doing at the new house in addition to the AC (landscaping, electrical work, additional solar panels and battery install) so I'm asking one trade if they can recommend another as this seems to work better. For example the local company quoting for and fitting my blinds were able to recommend the landscaper and AC installer they used personally and are happy for me to mention they've referred me etc. Hopefully it'll be more productive...
t at the admin/sales/comms side of things it's no wonder they don't get the work!I've got a list of things I need quoting and doing at the new house in addition to the AC (landscaping, electrical work, additional solar panels and battery install) so I'm asking one trade if they can recommend another as this seems to work better. For example the local company quoting for and fitting my blinds were able to recommend the landscaper and AC installer they used personally and are happy for me to mention they've referred me etc. Hopefully it'll be more productive...
oh, I tried to "shop local" last weekend... ended up with 0 out of the 4 things I was after..
Bits of wood, cleaner, other household items...
Went to go for a coffee... locally owned place had shut for the week for "holidays"... oh well.. crappy global chain gets my money.
Local post office for 9:30am.. no chance... we don't open until 10am.... local!
Great work local people thanks - yet they never seem to like people explaining to them clearly why they are failing and why Amazon/Online is winning the sales fight. They are just deluded into thinking people will put up with bad/no service because they live in the same postcode.
Customers are just as bad... had a big email about how someone couldn't pay me.... yadda yadda, cash flow etc etc...
Ended up saying that if we move from 30 days to 40 credit, he will 100% pay on time... promise...
He clearly hadn't worked out that he was paying in 45 days currently, so when I asked how paying me quicker would help his issues, suddenly went all quiet.
Trying to find staff is a nightmare too... job advert live at the moment, over 200 "applicants" - only 4 have the required experience for the roll... crazy stuff at the moment.
Bits of wood, cleaner, other household items...
Went to go for a coffee... locally owned place had shut for the week for "holidays"... oh well.. crappy global chain gets my money.
Local post office for 9:30am.. no chance... we don't open until 10am.... local!
Great work local people thanks - yet they never seem to like people explaining to them clearly why they are failing and why Amazon/Online is winning the sales fight. They are just deluded into thinking people will put up with bad/no service because they live in the same postcode.
Customers are just as bad... had a big email about how someone couldn't pay me.... yadda yadda, cash flow etc etc...
Ended up saying that if we move from 30 days to 40 credit, he will 100% pay on time... promise...
He clearly hadn't worked out that he was paying in 45 days currently, so when I asked how paying me quicker would help his issues, suddenly went all quiet.
Trying to find staff is a nightmare too... job advert live at the moment, over 200 "applicants" - only 4 have the required experience for the roll... crazy stuff at the moment.
DodgyGeezer said:
…..lack of interest shown in responding to queries…..
What kind of queries are you raising?
Not saying this is you, but could be they’re immediately forming the impression that you’ll be a pain in the arse.
I try to get my wife to deal with tradespeople - when we had builders here nothing was too much trouble and they’d chat to her endlessly. If I asked anything next thing I’d get a quote for “changes”. Mind you, the decorators stopped being friendly when they stained the new white oak staircase dark and she absolutely freaked out with them!
This is why for ages now, I've poo-pooed the whole "use local" mantra. When I've tried it's failed catastrophically.
The advantage with national retailers is they have reliable numbers, agreements, they honour appointments. They are far more accountable I think
Locals just seem to never turn up, don't do what they say and numerous times have screwed up the job
The advantage with national retailers is they have reliable numbers, agreements, they honour appointments. They are far more accountable I think
Locals just seem to never turn up, don't do what they say and numerous times have screwed up the job
We had an extension done jointly with a couple of neighbours, one of the neighbours was the one who got the quotes and organised the actual work...won't be doing that again, I've never met a company so bad t communicating or turning up.
They got most of the work done and then pretty much disappeared. Managed to get them round 3 times to look at the remaining bits of work but they'd never show up to finish it.
At one point he said they'd be round the next weekend to finish up, I phoned him on the Friday to check they were still coming on the Saturday and he said "oh, no, the guys are all in Portugal". Well WTF did you arrange to come round then?
Eventually gave up and found another guy who turned up when he said and took less than half a day to do the remaining jobs. We've got another big job to do this year and I know which one of them I'll be getting to look at it!
They got most of the work done and then pretty much disappeared. Managed to get them round 3 times to look at the remaining bits of work but they'd never show up to finish it.
At one point he said they'd be round the next weekend to finish up, I phoned him on the Friday to check they were still coming on the Saturday and he said "oh, no, the guys are all in Portugal". Well WTF did you arrange to come round then?
Eventually gave up and found another guy who turned up when he said and took less than half a day to do the remaining jobs. We've got another big job to do this year and I know which one of them I'll be getting to look at it!
My dad just spent 3 months trying to get a roofer to come do some straight-forward work (north-east Scotland) and wanted to use local but no-one would give him the time of day. He ended up getting a guy from the borders who was very communicative and upfront, and despite the distance travelled was the same if not cheaper than some of the online quotes from the locals who wouldn't even return a phone call.
When he turned up he told my dad he had a few jobs lined up in Aberdeenshire because there was so much demand. Whilst the guy was on the roof doing the work one of the local guys called back and offered to come take a look at the job in early November! Dad didn't even get a few words out explaining someone was already on the job before the guy hung up on him.
When he turned up he told my dad he had a few jobs lined up in Aberdeenshire because there was so much demand. Whilst the guy was on the roof doing the work one of the local guys called back and offered to come take a look at the job in early November! Dad didn't even get a few words out explaining someone was already on the job before the guy hung up on him.
Sheepshanks said:
What kind of queries are you raising?
Not saying this is you, but could be they re immediately forming the impression that you ll be a pain in the arse.
I try to get my wife to deal with tradespeople - when we had builders here nothing was too much trouble and they d chat to her endlessly. If I asked anything next thing I d get a quote for changes . Mind you, the decorators stopped being friendly when they stained the new white oak staircase dark and she absolutely freaked out with them!
Example I was getting quotes for some vinyl work on the car, not sure of the design I wanted, but "...that's no problem, we can do that in-house..." ballpark given (and agreed without quibbling) on price and then radio silence. Weird, oh well it is what it is
British Gas. Had a reminder text message to say my boiler needs a service, so please pay the £79 cost, and use the app to book the appointment.
Did that and the app wouldn't take a booking, and said to call them.
Did so, and the earliest day is November 27th!!, and this was 3 weeks ago!
Boiler is 3 years old with 2 years warranty left, provided it's serviced annually. So I'll be a couple of months outside this but have been assured that because I've booked it in it'll be okay.
Did that and the app wouldn't take a booking, and said to call them.
Did so, and the earliest day is November 27th!!, and this was 3 weeks ago!
Boiler is 3 years old with 2 years warranty left, provided it's serviced annually. So I'll be a couple of months outside this but have been assured that because I've booked it in it'll be okay.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff