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Original poster

How would you reply to this?

75 replies

chunkiest · 05/02/2022 15:55

I am wanting some plumbing work done in my house and have been awaiting a major part

The part has arrived and i have had four quotes and we want to proceed

This morning I texted the plumber we have chosen to go with and received this reply

'would you be able to re text Monday morning as I am away from the office until Monday Morning'

Personally I am not inclined to, does this guy want the work? Why am I being asked to be his reminder?

How would you, or would you reply?

AIBU? 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
lucylucyapplejuicy · 05/02/2022 16:17

Just re text Monday morning? My BFs partner is in the trade and can be inundated with calls and text over the week when he's busy with his family on days off. It doesn't sound unreasonable

Fairylightsongs · 05/02/2022 16:17

@chunkiest

Perhaps I will go on my work email today and read them and reply

Thanks for your email, please remind me in Monday!

Thats not what he said though was it. So if someone texts you work during the weekend please feel free to respond and say I’m out of office, please contact me on Monday.
lisaandalan · 05/02/2022 16:18

He is not being unreasonable it is his time off and he might have set up some automatic reply.
We can't always get what we want when we want it, I think the shops being open seven days a week, being able to order things on the internet twenty four seven has taught people to be more demanding and impatient.
I'm sure if you liked him when you met him and was happy with his quote, everything will work out fine x

Original poster
chunkiest · 05/02/2022 16:18

Thanks allSmile

OP posts:
JugglingJanuary · 05/02/2022 16:19

@chunkiest. I don't blame you for thinking he could set his own bloody reminder if checking his weekend texts on a Monday is beyond him.

However, if he's a hood plumber or we'll recommended, I'd just mutter about incompetent twats & send another text on Monday.

Good plumbers are hard to find, not all of them are blessed with organisation or communication skills.

ChittyBangs · 05/02/2022 16:20

Your hard work.

If you want the job done message him Monday.
He more than likely won't carry his diary/books round so can't tell you when he's available. Not a big deal.

lololololollll · 05/02/2022 16:20

Drama queen. Why not just say yes? Jeeez

Original poster
chunkiest · 05/02/2022 16:20

Thanks jugglingjanuary

OP posts:
MistyFrequencies · 05/02/2022 16:20

Yeah you're hard work. Don't text people on a weekend about work. No plumber needs your job in this climate. If you want him to do the job, text him Monday. If you're worried his communication skills aren't meeting your standards, go with someone else. Likely hes the one who will be dodging the bullet to be honest.

Satingreenshutters · 05/02/2022 16:20

HUGELY unreasonable.

JamSandwich0 · 05/02/2022 16:21

My husband is self employed and his phone never stops even over the weekend so I can see why you might be lost amongst the crowd otherwise. Dont assume your doing him a favour by giving him the work. The reality is more likely that they are very busy and can pick and choose what to take on.

He isn't being unreasonable he's enjoying his weekend. If you want his services text him again on monday.

wanttomarryamillionaire · 05/02/2022 16:22

Seriously OP? Maybe he was in the middle of a job and had no way of writing the details down so he asked you to remind him? Its not really a big deal 🤷‍♀️. You sound like a nightmare customer tbh.

Warblerinwinter · 05/02/2022 16:22

To ven get a plumber who responds makes him a gem these days. Trades are hard to get and long waiting times still.
This strikes me like a very reasonable request. “I’ve seen your message, not working right now, call me back when I am” …if he’d not sent that you’d be waiting not knowing what to think …which is where I am 99% of time with trades I try to contact.
And he probably doesn’t need your custom as such- they are still picking and choosing their jobs right now

Rosebuud · 05/02/2022 16:23

Op was there no small part of you thought, I should text him during working hours as this is a text message? Is there no part of you that understands he’s subtly telling you it is the weekend and to contact him Monday?

Good plumbers are like gold dust. You need him more than he needs you.

Gindrinker43 · 05/02/2022 16:25

My husband also self employed, we have been on family holidays and people are calling him. It's Saturday afternoon and the rugby is on. Just text him on Monday and remind yourself he's allowed time off.

Rosebuud · 05/02/2022 16:26

The reality is more likely that they are very busy and can pick and choose what to take on

I think some people don’t understand it, they think the trade will be delighted to get the work. When in reality they are picking and choosing and charging a small fortune per hour for their time. This one is at least polite and responsive.

PuppyMonkey · 05/02/2022 16:26

I think he’s perhaps worded things badly but if he’s a good plumber and is juggling lots of different clients, he might know he’s going to be mad busy and will probably forget you contacted him. So you texting again on Monday could be the ideal way of securing his services.

Phew I’m exhausted now.

Poetree · 05/02/2022 16:28

Maybe it’s a just way of politely pointing out that you have contacted him out of working hours.

eatthatcake · 05/02/2022 16:31

Don't bother then? If you're so annoyed he's asked you to contact him on Monday instead of the weekend, find someone else.

BotterMon · 05/02/2022 16:34

Hope the plumber turns the job down - you sound like a nightmare to work for. Why didn't you phone rather than text?

writingonpaper · 05/02/2022 16:34

I don't text tradespeople at the weekend ( unless I knew they work weekends) . They are not at work, but their work phone is likely to be their personal phone as well. So I consider it rude to text them about work when I know they are not working.

Just text him on Monday.

writingonpaper · 05/02/2022 16:36

@Poetree

Maybe it’s a just way of politely pointing out that you have contacted him out of working hours.
It probably is, yes.
Midlifemusings · 05/02/2022 16:37

He may be out on a job and not in a position to enter your information in while working. I have often had tradespeople say can you call me back later or call me Tuesday etc. They aren't sitting at a desk in an office when you call, they are often out in the field and working and don't have admin staff with them to do scheduling at the moment about each call.

hopeidontforgetthisusername · 05/02/2022 16:42

@chunkiest

Perhaps I will go on my work email today and read them and reply

Thanks for your email, please remind me in Monday!

The difference is with this you can easily set an email to unread but not so with a text message. He is probably very busy, tradesmen around by us are incredibly in demand and really sought after, to be honest if I was him and knew a potential client was like this when I’d asked such a small thing of them i would hope that you didn’t remind me on the Monday!
MoiraNotRuby · 05/02/2022 16:47

Better customer service would have been for him simply to reply to you on Monday, than reply now saying 'ask me again when its more convenient for me'.

But maybe he gets lots of impatient weekend messages and treated this in the same way.