Trades V Pistonheads forum "Big shots"

[Vroom101]

After reading all this I've never been so happy to be a PAYE tradesman!

When dealing with trades in my own home I've always been pretty lucky. All jobs paid on completion, with very few issues.

The only one that sticks in the mind was when I had a new staircase fitted. The guy came round, we agreed a price and a day to do the job. A day or so before he was due to turn I up get a phone call to say he can't make it. The reason? His wife had gone into labour early and given birth to their baby prematurely. I was very surprised as I honestly thought he was gay (he was quite camp). There was no way I'd expect him to turn up after that.
Anyway he arranged to come back a week later and turned up with two guys at 8:30am on a Bank Holiday, and was done by 2:30pm! How's that for service?!

[Salesy]

MDMA . said:

Just had a decorator in to price up the house. Agreed price, starts in 6 weeks. Pay when he finishes all work and happy with the quality. Both of us happy with that

Most painters are the same, Generally they have no material outlay.


For me, any job under £1k will be pay on completion unless i have to order specialist equipment whereby a deposit is taken.

Over £1k i want payment when i arrive on the day agreed with materials and start the job.

Over £20k means deposit and then agreed stage payments.

[p1stonhead]

brianashley said:

It seems many are happy to also pay cash , therefore putting themselves before the Country . Clients paying cash be be a dangerous thing. I know a few that got to the end and the final payment was withheld .They could do very little about it as it was all "cash in hand" and no paperwork . Those pesky customers again. Just as bad as "us lot" wanting corners cut and rules broken to feed their own greed .


And No, I am not retired ! But getting old .

You mean you are happy to accept cash and not declare it or do the necessary VAT paperwork? Nothing to do with a customer if they pay cash and you dont pass on whatever you need to HMRC.

Edited by p1stonhead on Thursday 20th April 07:04

[easytiger123]

hyphen said:

brianashley said:

Then you must be dealing with rubbish trades . Last Job, Client gave card with £25k up front

Was it one of the Beckham kids, and the deal was done over lunch in Nandos?

Did the client tip?

Very good!

[brianashley]

easytiger123 said:

Very good!

If thats good then you are easily pleased !

And we never divulge the names of who we work for .

[Andehh]

brianashley said:

easytiger123 said:

Very good!

If thats good then you are easily pleased !

And we never divulge the names of who we work for .

Honestly mate, you have got to let us know what it is you actually do. By the nature of your posts anything short of military grade security for NASA is going to be wholey disappointing for the rest of us.

[p1stonhead]

Andehh said:

brianashley said:

easytiger123 said:

Very good!

If thats good then you are easily pleased !

And we never divulge the names of who we work for .

Honestly mate, you have got to let us know what it is you actually do. By the nature of your posts anything short of military grade security for NASA is going to be wholey disappointing for the rest of us.

He talks like every jobbing builder I've ever come across.

[MDMA .]

p1stonhead said:

Andehh said:

brianashley said:

easytiger123 said:

Very good!

If thats good then you are easily pleased !

And we never divulge the names of who we work for .

Honestly mate, you have got to let us know what it is you actually do. By the nature of your posts anything short of military grade security for NASA is going to be wholey disappointing for the rest of us.

He talks like every jobbing builder I've ever come across.

I'm waiting for the 6 figs to drop

[TheAngryDog]

I thought schools went back on Tuesday?

[Andehh]

TheAngryDog said:

I thought schools went back on Tuesday?

They do, but being in the trade he is 3 days late, busy finishing off on another project. He'll get back to the school when he is good & ready.

[easytiger123]

brianashley said:

If thats good then you are easily pleased !

And we never divulge the names of who we work for .

Says the man who name drops to a few million strangers on the internet...Here's your own post about your mates the Beckhams from the PH food, drink and restaurant forum.

"I speak to them every time we visit .My little boy gets on well with them .David even took me for a short ride in his Classic 911 (Steve McQueen Replica) And he sat with my wife discussing the benefits of Private Healthcare. Hard luck if you dont believe me, That smacks as been insecure !
And customers there are not the type who will ask for selfies or bother them . And the place has managed to avoid the media looking finding for it for 3 years .

Romeo has a very strong interest in what he eats .He likes food and wants to know a lot more than your average teenager . Nandos is never ever going to be on a list of Good places to eat" for those that like quality food . Its just not going to happen . You need to deal with it . You take these kids on the American food channels .They could walk all over a nandos food heater"

[hman]

Most of the time I have enough of a ball ache managed to get a trade to :-

A) come around and quote
b) follow up with a quote

Most of the time I start off looking for a trade to come around and do the work - and end up doing it myself due to the complete lack of fks given by trades to complete task a or task b above.

Case (s) in point - I learned how to measure up and replace double glazed sealed units because of a lack of response - same goes for plastering - tree felling, flooring, and minor groundworks.

I'm sure its made absolutely no difference to the trades income as they always seem to be in the pub opposite me from about 2pm every day... and no I'm not going to go and ask any of them as they dont seem to be able to complete a full days work.

[Some Gump]

Is it me, or does the op sound like he's criticising "big shots" whilst doing a pretty good impression of a large man with a goatee himself?
Alanis morisette fan?

[TheAngryDog]

Andehh said:

TheAngryDog said:

I thought schools went back on Tuesday?

They do, but being in the trade he is 3 days late, busy finishing off on another project. He'll get back to the school when he is good & ready.

And over-charge

[thebraketester]

Some Gump said:

Is it me, or does the op sound like he's criticising "big shots" whilst doing a pretty good impression of a large man with a goatee himself?
Alanis morisette fan?

Isn't it, just. Don't you think?

[TheAngryDog]

thebraketester said:

Some Gump said:

Is it me, or does the op sound like he's criticising "big shots" whilst doing a pretty good impression of a large man with a goatee himself?
Alanis morisette fan?

Isn't it, just. Don't you think?

Just like rain on your wedding day?

[Vroom101]

thebraketester said:

Some Gump said:

Is it me, or does the op sound like he's criticising "big shots" whilst doing a pretty good impression of a large man with a goatee himself?
Alanis morisette fan?

Isn't it, just. Don't you think?

I see what you did there.

[hyphen]

brianashley said:

If thats good then you are easily pleased !

And we never divulge the names of who we work for .

You said "Beckham took me for a short ride in his car", can you confirm if this was not actually a social event, but rather he interrupted you in the middle of your smoked salmon breakfast to go to his house for a quote?

Also you said you chat to him each time you go there, would this chat start with "Sorry once again about the pipe leaking above the ceiling.."

Sorry, it is hard to resist.

Edited by hyphen on Thursday 20th April 10:37

[Dromedary66]

brianashley said:

Just sick to death of "Jonny bog bks types" thinking they control "trades" and how crap they all are etc .

Why are you sick to death of it? According to you, you're an artisan tradesman that has people begging you to hand over their money to secure your services in advance?

[hyphen]

Salesy said:

Most painters are the same, Generally they have no material outlay.


For me, any job under £1k will be pay on completion unless i have to order specialist equipment whereby a deposit is taken.

Over £1k i want payment when i arrive on the day agreed with materials and start the job.

Over £20k means deposit and then agreed stage payments.

So for jobs £1k-£19.9k you won't accept deposit and staged payments? Good for you if your clients are happy with this arrangement, personally though I wouldn't be.