Tradesmen

[Winston001]

There are a couple of issues.

1. Tradesmen are very busy with plenty of work on.

2. However every trade has known tough times so it goes completely against the grain to turn a job down.

3. Tradesmen get used and abused. The average Kiwi seems to think it is ok to ask for a quote from numerous people - for nothing - and then never tells the unsuccessful guys they lost out. This makes work flow very uncertain.

4. Kiwis aren't good at keeping contracts. Tradesmen know that some jobs they turn up for will be cancelled as they are about to start, or some other guy is already doing the work.

I think tradesmen could go a long way to be more professional including being honest about their work commitments. But we also need to treat them with respect, and value their work. Trades are still blue collar and treated as such by many people.

[yungatart]

We are waiting for a quote from a sparky for some exterior lights, have been for nearly 7 YEARS, found someone else in the meantime.. But while having the new gargre and office built I have been appalled at the lack of accountability some tradesmen have to their (potential) customers. If Mstrs ran his business that way, i doubt he'd have a business anymore.. it beats me how some of these guys are still going.

[Dooly]

I believe in loyalty with who I deal with in business, and other trades I use for home etc.
We have stuck with the same electricans, builder, plumber for years and even though they are all experiencing huge workloads they all have done any work we've needed promptly and reasonably priced.
Thats why we stick with them, and thats probably why they pretty well jump for us because of us being regulars over the years.
We also get reciprocal work back from them too.
Works both ways I guess.

However, I have heard and seen some shocking examples of work from a variety of trades.
Just like there are shocking examples of things from so called 'professions.'

[Blackbird]

I'm with Dooly. We get excellent service from tradesmen in Coromandel Town. If we need several trades at once as per our recent kitchen rebuild, they simply organise everything amongst themselves. Mind you, being in a small town is perhaps a little different from being in a large city. 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.

[Lou Girardin]

There are a couple of issues.

1. Tradesmen are very busy with plenty of work on.

2. However every trade has known tough times so it goes completely against the grain to turn a job down.

3. Tradesmen get used and abused. The average Kiwi seems to think it is ok to ask for a quote from numerous people - for nothing - and then never tells the unsuccessful guys they lost out. This makes work flow very uncertain.

4. Kiwis aren't good at keeping contracts. Tradesmen know that some jobs they turn up for will be cancelled as they are about to start, or some other guy is already doing the work.

I think tradesmen could go a long way to be more professional including being honest about their work commitments. But we also need to treat them with respect, and value their work. Trades are still blue collar and treated as such by many people.

Who exactly is the customer? Tradesmen have to earn respect. returning calls is a good start.
We called for three quotes on a job. One never phoned back, one quoted and didn't follow up, the third showed up on time - his quote was reasonable and he seemed keen. (and supplied references)
He got that job, then another from us and one from a neighbour after we recommended him. Not bad for simply doing the basics.
And if things get tight in the building game, guess who we'll still use?

[James Deuce]

There are a couple of issues.

1. Tradesmen are very busy with plenty of work on.

2. However every trade has known tough times so it goes completely against the grain to turn a job down.

3. Tradesmen get used and abused. The average Kiwi seems to think it is ok to ask for a quote from numerous people - for nothing - and then never tells the unsuccessful guys they lost out. This makes work flow very uncertain.

4. Kiwis aren't good at keeping contracts. Tradesmen know that some jobs they turn up for will be cancelled as they are about to start, or some other guy is already doing the work.

I think tradesmen could go a long way to be more professional including being honest about their work commitments. But we also need to treat them with respect, and value their work. Trades are still blue collar and treated as such by many people.

Thanks for the comprehensive telling off!

We've offered 50% deposit as an incentive to most of these guys but they aren't able to come up with a detailed quote. I don't care about their bad experiences as children. I want my door fixed. I have money and I'll pay for it.

The FACT of the matter is that I didn;t do any of those things to any of the guys we're trying to establish a business relationship with.

I don't know how you can excuse them for being bald faced liars, or for failing to meet that most basic of contracts, "I'll see you at 10am on Tuesday morning".

If they can;t turn up, tell people. If they don;t want the work, or straight out don't trust you, turn the job down.

There is no excuse for behaving like an alpha-male baboon with suppurating piles. I'm not allowed to do it, and I've had some frankly Holocaust level dealings with other "human" beings.

[The_Dover]

I think Jim feels quite passionately about his door.

[WINJA]

7 Months.

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.

I've never had a reasonable explanation from probably 20 "businessmen" about why they can't turn up on time, why they cant draw a quote up on anything other than the back of a fag packet/flattened oil filter box, or why they insist on turning up at 9am or 3pm. School age kid guarantees there will be no one there at these times.

They're all either EXTREMELY aggressive, so laid back you have to hit them with a stick to get them to speak, or really engaging and pleasant liars.

Sort your shit out guys. All we wanted was a quote. The job has gone to the first guy who responded with a quote that was written on real paper. 7 months after we started ringing, door knocking, asking at DIY mega stores, getting cards from those community contact bins, etc, etc, etc.

I don't care about excuses. You can either do the job or not. You can either turn up when you say you will, or ring to let us know why you can't, or alternatively, miss out on money.

Dorks.

BUT THEY AINT MISSING OUT ON MONEY THERES A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED TRADESMEN AT THE MOMENT THEY CAN PICK AND CHOOSE THE WORK THEY WANT CAUSE THERES PLENTY TO GO ROUND , THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EVERY CUNT DONT WANNA GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY ANYMORE THEYD RATHER WORK IN I.T OR I.S OR BE HR CONSULTANTS OR OTHER WORTHLESS DESK JOBS PUSHING A PENCIL ROUND

[James Deuce]

BUT THEY AINT MISSING OUT ON MONEY THERES A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED TRADESMEN AT THE MOMENT THEY CAN PICK AND CHOOSE THE WORK THEY WANT CAUSE THERES PLENTY TO GO ROUND , THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EVERY CUNT DONT WANNA GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY ANYMORE THEYD RATHER WORK IN I.T OR I.S OR BE HR CONSULTANTS OR OTHER WORTHLESS DESK JOBS PUSHING A PENCIL ROUND

It all becomes clear.

[soundbeltfarm]

all the times i've needed a tradesperson they've been quick to respond and do the job.
we use the same people because they are quick and do a good job.
also playing rugby helps as there's every trade covered in our club so help is never far away.
one of the pluses for playing a team sport.

[Swoop]

I will refrain from making a comment on this thread/topic because of the rude language that will be used.

[Ixion]

Thought of doing it yourself?

I do most of my own jobs for that reason - don't like having to rely on other people, and I find that by the time I shag around chasing someone to do the job, I can have it done myslef.

Then I pay myself for my time , from the housekeeping account, plus a bit for profit, and take off down to the pub to spend my earnings. Just like the tradesman. Mrs Ixion is still struggling with the logic in this (the pub bit) - whe's not convinced but can't see the flaw.

There's not much around the house that a competant spanner wielder can't handle.

[SPman]

Im a tradesman .. but have enough trouble doing my own jobs, let alone arsing around doing jobs for other people....

[WINJA]

Thought of doing it yourself?

I do most of my own jobs for that reason - don't like having to rely on other people, and I find that by the time I shag around chasing someone to do the job, I can have it done myslef.

Then I pay myself for my time , from the housekeeping account, plus a bit for profit, and take off down to the pub to spend my earnings. Just like the tradesman. Mrs Ixion is still struggling with the logic in this (the pub bit) - whe's not convinced but can't see the flaw.

There's not much around the house that a competant spanner wielder can't handle.

HOW BOUT INSTALLING YOUR OWN HIGH WALL AIRCONDITIONING , OR REPAIRING A LEAK IN A HIGH WALL AC AND REFILLING IT WITH GAS?CAN YOU DO THAT SHIT WITH A FEW SPANNERS

[HDTboy]

I can