Tradesmen

[dangerous]

It has taken 7 months to get a joiner or a builder to turn up to our house to replace the rotting joinery that is our front door.

Well, ya never asked me did ya

Look the problem starts with the fact anybody can build shit, the sooner the building trade is regulated the better.
Jim I'm sure that any decent Co would have told you straight up if they could do it or not.
Now the thing is... in this line of work and I've been in it for many a year it seems to attract some of the biggest c@#ts around... I dont enjoy it but its what I do dealing with trades people is hard but you can not tar all tradies with the same brush, why only today I left a job due to the most ignarant people I have meet... fuk em move on and try again.

While we are on the subject tho, it seems that new zealanders expect a lot yet think they can pay SFA for a decent job, they also expect it done yesterday, dosnt work like that all good things take time and cost.

[James Deuce]

I'm not one of those ignorant bastards who expects perfection for peanuts. I get enough of the other side of that equation on a daily basis.

I want to find a bloke I can get to do stuff in the future, who has enough nouse to be able to do a reasonable job of quoting honestly and pointing out any potential pitfalls in a job I ask him to do. I'm not going to stand over anyone, but I do have to point out that having no front door is a security issue for most people.

The guy we've engaged has been superb, not only turning up when he said he would, but clearly detailing what needs to happen and pricing it accordingly. Friends we spoke to said that we didn't want to use them because they're expensive. They're not, they just don't take shortcuts, they're polite and well presented, and are able to tell you how they will fit your job into their workload. Basic stuff.

I'm not trying to bag individuals, but it is bloody frustrating that any sparky, chippie, joiner, roofer, or plumber can wilfully cost you a day's pay with no explanation.

WHat's up with that? "I'll be there Tuesday", ends up with me being substantially out of pocket, before I've even got anyone to do the job.

D, you know damn well that if I lived in Christchurch you'd have the job, and we'd plan around when you could do it. Problem is, it's taken so long to get someone to get going that the door and surrounding bits is about to collapse in a heap. So now it's urgent. Hence the rant.

[Brett]

I deal with contractors of all types from builders to painters to engineers to architects etc. etc. everyday for work. Pity your not in Aucks Jim, i would have done it for you myself!

Many of my clients have deleted certain works under the contracts, and opted to do the works themselves to save money. To date, non have actually saved anything!

I agree, most of my day is spent locating contractors, keeping on top of those existing contractors to make sure that wt is supposed to be done, is actually being done. It is hard work since most companies are juggling many projects at once.
I have found that what helps is to make sure that EVERYTHING is organised prior to locating a contractor. I.E. if you are after a painter, make sure that you have got all of the colours, paint types etc. organised. Tradespeople like to deal with people that are on top of the game themselves. It means that the job will go smoothly and quickly and they will make good money out of it.
It is sooooo easy for money to be eaten away in no time in construction.

Before I start a new project, i have all time programmes, ,specifications such as plumbing fittings, electrical fittings etc. in order so that all contractors are aware of what they need to do. It is hard work, but makes the management much easier. If you are building a house, or even doing rennovations or extensions, i highly recommend that you do this. Hell, PM me if you are and i will tell you the basics of what to sort out...

I have noticed much of what you guys have pointed out on here, and am looking at starting my own company with an emphasis on service, quality and actually being there when it is promised.

It isn't going to get better any time soon tho...especially out of Auckland!

[James Deuce]

Nice one Brett.

We've discussed methods and materials, and we're sitting down to discuss glazing and colours tomorrow.

You're not wrong about having it planned correctly before you start.

Good luck with that venture.

[dangerous]

D, you know damn well that if I lived in Christchurch you'd have the job,

the door and surrounding bits is about to collapse in a heap. So now it's urgent. Hence the rant.

cheers Jim, bloody great that I do live down here aye

'urgent' now come on Jim... is the Z750 at risk? is the Z750 in the cold?... didnt think so, so how can it be urgant

good luck with the tradies, and remember, keep ya undies draw locked and girlie mags hidden

[Beemer]

This new website could be just what we all need!

As seen on Stuff today:

Site helps customers find good tradesmen
07 August 2006
By REUBEN SCHWARZ

Two online businesses have sprung up with different approaches to solving one of the vexed questions of the 21st century: how to find a reliable tradesman.


Two 21-year-old Auckland entrepreneurs, Hugh Chapman and Luke Kelly, last week launched tradepages.co.nz, a website that allows tradesmen to advertise their services and lets customers place feedback.

The site will be free till the end of the year, by which time Mr Chapman and Mr Kelly hope to have 400 listings. After that, the pair hope to charge tradesmen a minimum of $5 a month to maintain their listings.

"New Zealanders need a portal to find quality tradesmen they are able to trust," says Mr Kelly.

Victoria University psychology graduate Hew Norris has started another ratings site, greatservice.co.nz, as a way for people to share their experiences as customers of New Zealand businesses.

"What you really want to know is which businesses give you good service," he says.

While the site now has more than 300 members, it may face an uphill battle attracting comments. Anyone who posts good feedback about their plumber, for example, might see their plumber's fees go up.

Mr Norris acknowledges the problem but believes he can get around this by forcing new members to post a comment on a business before they can see any others. The site currently has about 375 comments.

If a business objects to a member's opinion, Mr Norris will remove the business from the site. He says this hasn't happened yet. Comments have been removed from the site, but only because they weren't informative, merely saying such things as "great service".

Mr Norris believes the "power of the Internet" will cancel out unfair reviews.

Telecom currently has the most comments of any business on the site, mostly negative.

[NC]

Oh jim, you must have not wanted it that desprately. You knew I was working in the joinery biz in wellz

[Motu]

I'd like some customers I can trust.....

[WINJA]

I'd like some customers I can trust.....

YOU MEAN WHITE CUSTOMERS RIGHT?

[inlinefour]

I hear thee brother. First off, most kiwi tradesmen have shit for brains and couldn't build a shack that would last 12 months. Having said that, the general quality and standard of service across the board in lil old NZ is piss poor.

I also avoid NZ made crap if I can help it. No pride and no quality.

But it sure is a lovely country.

They did away with carpentry apprenticehips awhile back and let alot of worthless cowboys through. A decade or so later everyone was up in arms with the level of shit work that was becoming common place in the building industry. As a result I am told they looked at running the apprenticeship program again. However if they did, exactly who is left to actually run it to an acceptable standard???

[James Deuce]

Crikey!

Rang the Home Ventilation guy we've been talking to to say we have some money and we want to do phase one. Turns up next day - Installation starts tomorrow!

Gave the Joiner $2k 3 weeks ago. Errr, hello, is this thing on? Ring all nice like, "Hello, just wondering when you'd be up to measure everything up? We're a bit concerned that the dry rot is going to give way and slice the kids in two when the glass contained (loosely) in the aforementioned dry rot falls out when rammed by a Tonka toy."

"WE'RE VERY BUSY. WE'RE DOWN A COUPLE OF BLOKES. WE'LL BE UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND IF YOU'RE REALLY, REALLY LUCKY WE'LL DO THE JOB SOMETIME LATER THIS YEAR."

Owww. That's a bit loud.

"Can I have my money back please?"

"I'll be up next week."

"Can I have my money back please."

"ARE YOU DEAF? WE'RE BUSY."

"Consumer's Institute, Fair Go, Consumer Affairs.... Can I have my money back please?"

"WE'LL DO IT WHEN WE'RE READY."

{click}

Sigh.

PS Sorry NC, didn't even think of you. I'm a dick.

[shafty]

Our plumber also made an interesting observation that we always pay our bills on time so that's maybe a contributing factor too. As Dooly says, its a 2 way relationship.

I can totally relate to the frustration vented on this thread. The market forces means the Sloppy Tradesmen flourish when there is a shortage of Tradesmen, but when things tighten up, they'll be shagged. As a Landlord, I have worked to develop relationships with Plumbers etc, and I always pay immediately, often on the spot, and mostly in cash - that way, if they get 3 calls in a morning with jobs, and I'm one of them, they think "Pete's good for a bit of cash, the weekends coming up....."

[James Deuce]

Bugger. This is what happens when you don't work from home.

Joiner turned up and measured everything up. Reckons it will be done in 2-3 weeks. Bet he spits in my free coffee.

[merv]

Oh jim, you must have not wanted it that desprately. You knew I was working in the joinery biz in wellz

So you've come back to have more than just a drink?

[yungatart]

Bugger. This is what happens when you don't work from home.

Joiner turned up and measured everything up. Reckons it will be done in 2-3 weeks. Bet he spits in my free coffee.

Now that you have sorted your door, can you find my sparky and sort him too! Gagre all finished, office painted and carpeted, workshop all lined.... MSTRS still working from the spare room and dining table cos there's still no effin power out there!