"I'll be there around 2pm"

BibbleandSqwauk · 06/08/2023 18:48

@CelestiaNoctis yes sure they get held up or a previous job overruns but why do they never actually call and keep you informed?? That's more the issue I think. People simply don't have time to be in all day waiting.

CelestiaNoctis · 06/08/2023 15:18

Also sometimes they get held up. I'd give them one more chance regardless of your feelings and see what happens. Definitely wouldn't give a third chance.

CelestiaNoctis · 06/08/2023 15:16

1:45-2:45

LifesTooShortForYourNonsense · 06/08/2023 07:39

My DH gives quotes - he does a job first and quoted afterwards, so never gives a specific time - says it will be after 11/12/1, but definitely before 2 (because school run).

I hear him on the phone - this is exactly what he says. At least once a month some irate old bat will be on the answer phone saying ‘i expected you a 1230/130/some specific time’ - because that’s what time that they have decided he would come!

Imanalias · 04/08/2023 14:44

ReyFinn · 04/08/2023 07:32

Around 2pm does not mean 'after 6pm'. To anyone. For any reason.

He set the time, the day before. He said that around 2pm was the most convenient time for him.

Who on earth would say 2pm if they know they're working until 6pm?

He's now emailed as well as leaving another voicemail, apologising and is very keen to re-arrange. I think he couldn't be bothered yesterday but is now worried he's lost out. I haven't got back to him yet, still deciding whether to give him a 2nd chance or agree and purposefully be out.

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You could get back to him and tell him that he'd need to arrive within the timeframe he stated (assuming he gave a time for coming back).
You may have already done this.

I wouldn't go out on purpose, but equally, I wouldn't rearrange my day around his carefree attitude to your time and availability.

DontMakeMeShushYou · 04/08/2023 10:58

ReyFinn · 04/08/2023 07:32

Around 2pm does not mean 'after 6pm'. To anyone. For any reason.

He set the time, the day before. He said that around 2pm was the most convenient time for him.

Who on earth would say 2pm if they know they're working until 6pm?

He's now emailed as well as leaving another voicemail, apologising and is very keen to re-arrange. I think he couldn't be bothered yesterday but is now worried he's lost out. I haven't got back to him yet, still deciding whether to give him a 2nd chance or agree and purposefully be out.

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Well to agree and purposefully be out would be an extremely childish way for a supposed adult to behave.

But you do you.

readbooksdrinktea · 04/08/2023 07:39

Don’t purposefully be out, in my opinion. Just decide if getting a quote from this particular guy is worth the hassle. If you give it another chance, and he's late without notice, I wouldn't respond.

But admittedly, I'd probably respond and say the quote is no longer needed.

Original poster

ReyFinn · 04/08/2023 07:32

WhataPlaice · 03/08/2023 23:17

It usually means after 6 when they've finished the other job or sometime next week.

Around 2pm does not mean 'after 6pm'. To anyone. For any reason.

He set the time, the day before. He said that around 2pm was the most convenient time for him.

Who on earth would say 2pm if they know they're working until 6pm?

He's now emailed as well as leaving another voicemail, apologising and is very keen to re-arrange. I think he couldn't be bothered yesterday but is now worried he's lost out. I haven't got back to him yet, still deciding whether to give him a 2nd chance or agree and purposefully be out.

OP posts:

Canisaysomething · 03/08/2023 23:56

I work with trades and it's totally feasible to give either a time to meet or a time frame like "between 1 and 2". If someone said "around" 2pm or "around" any time I'd assume they weren't that interested in the job and probably would only turn up if they could be arsed. Good tradesmen or women don't mess their clients around and make them wait home all afternoon for nothing.

BibbleandSqwauk · 03/08/2023 23:39

For those few people trying to make excuses for them citing the nature of the job etc, that's fine, but all most of us need is a heads up, which, in this day and age of mobile communication is absolutely doable. Absolutely no reason why they can't say I'll call when 30 mins away or after work on Wednesday, no earlier than 4pm or whatever.

mondaytosunday · 03/08/2023 23:32

I had a guy cancel once and second time didn't show up. Then last chance and he called me at 7.30am to say he was on his way, I replied great I'll move my car (he was moving some furniture), waited a bit then he said traffic bad but should be there in 15. Well of course he never showed up! I work with trades a lot and they still surprise me at how they can never give any kind of accurate time or call to rearrange/cancel whatever.

WhataPlaice · 03/08/2023 23:17

It usually means after 6 when they've finished the other job or sometime next week.

UsingChangeofName · 03/08/2023 22:48

he said he can make it tomorrow instead. I've said that's fine.

But I have a feeling I'm going to get caught up too and unfortunately I'll be out when (if) he comes.

Your prerogative, of course, if you have a list of other people who can do the job, I can see it would be quite satisfying but in the current climate, trying to get a good tradesman is notoriously difficult, so it seems an odd, if not childish way to behave.

Pineapples198 · 03/08/2023 22:48

If I was given an “around” time I would expect a text when they were on their way, however I am one of those obsessively punctual people! I would certainly expect them to be there between 1:45 and 2:15 unless I heard otherwise from them

coodawoodashooda · 03/08/2023 22:03

JaukiVexnoydi · 03/08/2023 14:39

In our most recent case, it means 17:30 the following day.

Yeah. I'll phone and arrange a time in the new year. That means a ball park of a decade.

Daphnis156 · 03/08/2023 22:02

I'd not expect them ever, and if they turn up and seem trustworthy, it's a miracle.

LookItsMeAgain · 03/08/2023 21:44

MyrtleSmurf · 03/08/2023 14:36

Between 1.45 and 2.15 I'd say!

This is when I would expect them.

Going back to read the thread to find out if the actually showed up at 9am or 4pm!

WelshNerd · 03/08/2023 21:27

Bless you, OP. He won't care but hope it makes you feel better.

Original poster

ReyFinn · 03/08/2023 21:12

readbooksdrinktea · 03/08/2023 19:36

"Around" suggests "within 30 minutes either way" to me.

This is what I would think. I wouldn't be expecting to wait until 3pm and certainly not 4pm.

Saw your update. Sounds like tradesmen in the UK can act how they like. It's strange to me.

Agreed, it's very strange. Around 2pm, to me, is (being generous) anytime 1.45-2.30pm.

It's pointless agreeing a time otherwise, surely?

His loss; the job I need doing is very easy for the type of work and I have a healthy budget so was happy to pay over the odds for someone professional. Which he's clearly not!

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Xmasbaby11 · 03/08/2023 19:46

An hour before or after would be normal. Maybe even 2 l-3 hours afterwards.

the later in the day, the more likely they’ll be running late.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 03/08/2023 19:44

Sometime next week I reckon

Retrievemysanity · 03/08/2023 19:41

Avoid like the plague (speaking from bitter experience!).

Createwhatusername · 03/08/2023 19:39

ReyFinn · 03/08/2023 14:35

If a workman was attending for a quote and said he'd be there 'around 2pm' what bracket of time is acceptable to you?

If it's a tradie round here I'd say 5 days either side of 2pm.

readbooksdrinktea · 03/08/2023 19:36

"Around" suggests "within 30 minutes either way" to me.

This is what I would think. I wouldn't be expecting to wait until 3pm and certainly not 4pm.

Saw your update. Sounds like tradesmen in the UK can act how they like. It's strange to me.

Original poster

ReyFinn · 03/08/2023 19:30

He didn't turn up.

I did get a vague voicemail to say he got caught up sounded like he was in a pub he said he can make it tomorrow instead. I've said that's fine.

But I have a feeling I'm going to get caught up too and unfortunately I'll be out when (if) he comes.

OP posts: