"Use Local Companies" - A rant
Discussion
About two weeks ago I emailed 9 local companies. Yes, nine of them asking for quotes for some external housing work. Within the emails I included 6 pictures, plus measurements and clearly asked if they could assist in anyway.
Only one replied and they said they couldn't help
This is a similar situation to other builders, plumbers and other trades. Who always say they'll come round on a certain day and don't show up. When they do they say they'll send a quote through and don't.
I guess they're all swamped with work but it's still bloody frustrating as even getting a tradesman to reply or visit is a real mission these days
Only one replied and they said they couldn't help
This is a similar situation to other builders, plumbers and other trades. Who always say they'll come round on a certain day and don't show up. When they do they say they'll send a quote through and don't.
I guess they're all swamped with work but it's still bloody frustrating as even getting a tradesman to reply or visit is a real mission these days
redrabbit29 said:
About two weeks ago I emailed 9 local companies. Yes, nine of them asking for quotes for some external housing work. Within the emails I included 6 pictures, plus measurements and clearly asked if they could assist in anyway.
Only one replied and they said they couldn't help
This is a similar situation to other builders, plumbers and other trades. Who always say they'll come round on a certain day and don't show up. When they do they say they'll send a quote through and don't.
I guess they're all swamped with work but it's still bloody frustrating as even getting a tradesman to reply or visit is a real mission these days
You sending them Email is probably the problem.Only one replied and they said they couldn't help
This is a similar situation to other builders, plumbers and other trades. Who always say they'll come round on a certain day and don't show up. When they do they say they'll send a quote through and don't.
I guess they're all swamped with work but it's still bloody frustrating as even getting a tradesman to reply or visit is a real mission these days
Pick up the phone and you will at least prove that you aren't a robomailer or timewaster to them.
CraigyMc said:
You sending them Email is probably the problem.
Pick up the phone and you will at least prove that you aren't a robomailer or timewaster to them.
Business that provide an email address - which implies that they're happy to be contacted by email - but then don't respond to emails, really annoy me. If they don't want emails, they shouldn't advertise an email address. It's one thing to respond to an email and request further contact by phone to discuss things in more detail without all the back-and-forth, but to just ignore emails is poor practice.Pick up the phone and you will at least prove that you aren't a robomailer or timewaster to them.
I had the same issue a few months back.
Wanted a new window (large so not cheap) and provided a detailed drawing with dimensions etc. and sent it off to a few companies.
Out of the five only two replied - and one of those was after I called them.
I guess business is absolutely booming post covid so they simply don't need the work.
Wanted a new window (large so not cheap) and provided a detailed drawing with dimensions etc. and sent it off to a few companies.
Out of the five only two replied - and one of those was after I called them.
I guess business is absolutely booming post covid so they simply don't need the work.
droopsnoot said:
CraigyMc said:
You sending them Email is probably the problem.
Pick up the phone and you will at least prove that you aren't a robomailer or timewaster to them.
Business that provide an email address - which implies that they're happy to be contacted by email - but then don't respond to emails, really annoy me. If they don't want emails, they shouldn't advertise an email address. It's one thing to respond to an email and request further contact by phone to discuss things in more detail without all the back-and-forth, but to just ignore emails is poor practice.Pick up the phone and you will at least prove that you aren't a robomailer or timewaster to them.
None of which solves op's problem.
Some tradesmen I've used have mentioned that they get inundated with emails requesting quotes, with attachments that contain viruses. Presumably scammers are trying to get the passwords for their email accounts, so that they can trick customers into sending payments to the wrong bank account.
For the past fourteen (14) months I have had an issue with internal damp on an exterior wall, the property being a rental property. I have found it extremely difficult to find building contractors interested in a site meeting. and/or interested in taking on new works. Today I had a site meeting with a smallish building contractor, the meeting arranged for today five (5) weeks ago. The contractor appeared disinterested in quoting for the work, pointing out that he was fully booked into next year.
In all building trades, it appears that with more people working from home, those same people are both seeing, and wanting repair works completed. Those same trades persons, some thirty (30) years in their trades, are saying that they have never ever known business to be so busy.
One contractor I phoned last week, said "why should I leave this £50k job I am working on, to travel to see your £5k job, that i might not get"
In all building trades, it appears that with more people working from home, those same people are both seeing, and wanting repair works completed. Those same trades persons, some thirty (30) years in their trades, are saying that they have never ever known business to be so busy.
One contractor I phoned last week, said "why should I leave this £50k job I am working on, to travel to see your £5k job, that i might not get"
EmailAddress said:
Wings said:
One contractor I phoned last week, said "why should I leave this £50k job I am working on, to travel to see your £5k job, that i might not get"
Good afternoon Mr Wings, I won't take too much of your time. Since we last spoke I've been inundated with enough long timescale, high value work to overwhelm me and my team until well into next year.I can offer to put you on our contact priority list in case of any cancellations (I'll be honest, unlikely). Or you can try again in say six months and see where we're at.
In the mean time, here is a list of respected smaller partners I can recommend who I've worked with before who may be able to help you.
Look forward to hearing from you in the future. Sorry I couldn't help this time.
IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!! GAAH!
Bob the builder gets home from a day on site knowing he has a hour or twos work just making sure the site is still running tomorrow and following up on people who actually bothered to call. Then he finds his email has a dozen vague enquiries of which he knows 99% will come to nothing. So he could deal with them but he knows it will then be gone 7 before he is done, if he is lucky.
Or he could just cherry pick the ones to reply to, ignore the rest, and actually see his kids before they go to bed.
Not really a difficult choice
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