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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:

Bellex · 05/02/2022 16:50

I personally wouldn’t of text a tradesmen on weekend unless I knew explicitly that it was a working day for them.

Remind him on Monday and see what happens.

WizardOfAus · 05/02/2022 16:51

@chunkiest

Why reply to the text?

Why not just reply next week?

I did not expect a reply today at all

Just surprised be wants me to remind him

Why send the text on a Saturday?

Why not just text him on Monday during his working hours?

You did expect him to reply today.

You are entitled.

22Newnames · 05/02/2022 16:54

@chunkiest

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

Thanks for your email, please remind me in Monday!

That is the difference. You would have to go into your work email to see the messages. Your text has disturbed his weekend.

I wouldn’t text a tradesperson at the weekend, they are entitled to time off too.

YABU.

Iwonderifiwonderwhy · 05/02/2022 16:57

Tradesmen often say stuff like that. If you’re used to dealing with city professionals, they’re a bit of a change of pace!

If you want him to do the job, just reply “ok” and then text/call him Monday. Simple.

GracieLouFreeebush · 05/02/2022 16:57

Maybe he is in the pub and will forget! Or walking his dog and doesn’t have his diary 🤷🏻‍♀️ I would forget if I didn’t put it in my diary straight away

Idontliketuesdays · 05/02/2022 17:08

’Sorry for disturbing you on the weekend, my mistake. Will text Monday!’

queensonia · 05/02/2022 17:11

God I hate plumbers. I doubt very much that he is "in the office" on Monday or any other day. He should be able to reply to you on Monday without needing a reminder. I'd be inclined to go with your second choice of quote as I can't be arsed with people like this. I once had a plumber / central heating engineer not turn up for an appointment to repair my boiler in the middle of winter and not return any of my texts or phone calls for 3 days because his girlfriend had had a car accident. I thought she must be in intensive care. Turned out, that she had just clipped a neighbour's stationery car while trying to parallel park.

PostThenGhost · 05/02/2022 17:45

@chunkiest

Why not reply

I will get back to you on Monday?

Because he has a life and a family and could have any number of things on the go this weekend which mean you get shoved to the back of his mind and forgotten.

Do you want him to do the job or not?
If yes, remind him.
If not, delight some other poor tradesman with your baffling attitude.

iklboo · 05/02/2022 17:50

Jeez, you're like the people who phone DH at 11:30pm asking about driving lessons who get snotty when he asks them to call back at a reasonable hour.

Bobrosspaintbrush · 05/02/2022 17:52

He might not keep his diary of jobs on his phone, it might be in a book diary in his office where he is not at the moment, and won’t be until Monday.

grapewine · 05/02/2022 17:54

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

I'd expect this is it. OP, you're being such hard work about this. Just text him on Monday. What's the big deal?

grapewine · 05/02/2022 17:55

@Idontliketuesdays

’Sorry for disturbing you on the weekend, my mistake. Will text Monday!’

Exactly.

Luredbyapomegranate · 05/02/2022 18:08

I’d either do it, or not.

He’s clearly got enough work. He’s just being frank, not rude.

A596881B · 05/02/2022 19:00

My DH is a plumber and he’s had to put his foot down regarding texts at the weekend as honestly he’d never have any time off work at all.

So many people think that they’re the only ones texting at a weekend …. they’re not !he can some weekends receive 6+ texts must of them starting with “ I know it’s the weekend but…” he’s now started to not reply at all to these. He works Monday to Friday as stated on his website and doesn’t offer a weekend service….. so expects customers to respect that he’s entitled to a weekend too!

burnoutbabe · 05/02/2022 19:39

I'd assume it was better to contact them over the weekend as then they can schedule the work for the following week.

I'd assume Monday they would be busy in the day with client work.

I'd probably just text back Monday but I'd also think "what a palaver? Just text back when you are free!"

TulipsTwoLips · 05/02/2022 19:47

Laughing at all the posters who say he has no way of writing it down - it's in a text - why does he need to write it down!

If I were him I just wouldn't reply until my working hours. That's what most professionals do. No need to reply to say please message me at a different time.

PegasusReturns · 05/02/2022 19:51

If you want the work done just text him. Most trades can pick and choose jobs at the moment and it will serve you well to be front of the queue.

WizardOfAus · 05/02/2022 20:05

I'd assume it was better to contact them over the weekend as then they can schedule the work for the following week.

How odd.

Would you text or call a dentist/solicitor/accountant on a Saturday to book you in for the following week?

No, because they are not open on Saturdays....Just like the plumber.

Or are you saying that because he's a tradesman, it's okay to hound him on his days off?

5thHelena · 05/02/2022 20:08

You're making such a massive deal out of absolutely nothing.

burnoutbabe · 05/02/2022 20:09

Yes I'd email all of those at the weekend if that's when I was free to set out my issue and let them get back to me when free.

I'd assume if that's the only way to contact the tradesperson then it would be fine to contest to them, and they respond when available. If they don't want texts at the weekend, turn the phone off.

WizardOfAus · 05/02/2022 20:12

Yes I'd email all of those at the weekend if that's when I was free to set out my issue and let them get back to me when free.

Yes, but the OP didn't email.

ThePoint678 · 05/02/2022 20:13

@Rosebuud

Op, just to clarify for you, as I think you’ve missed it. The man is not asking you to be his reminder. He is very politely telling you it’s the weekend and he’s not working snd to contact him Monday, during working hours. You know, like many other folks.

This! He is setting the boundary from the start. And fair enough too.

Shadappayourface · 05/02/2022 20:23

You sound precious.

I don't think he's asking for you to text him on Monday because it's the weekend, because most trades work during the weekend. I work with a lot of trades and they ask the same of me. They aren't best at diary keeping and he was probably in the middle of a job so needs reminding next week.

Your desk job example with responding to an email isn't quite the same and I wouldn't expect you to understand the very different industry he works in.

iklboo · 05/02/2022 21:32

I'd assume it was better to contact them over the weekend as then they can schedule the work for the following week.

Why, don't tradesmen have home lives & other things to do?

lljkk · 05/02/2022 21:37

I'm another one who expects to chase the trades person on their terms -- there's a shortage of their special skills in general & especially now. they set the terms of contact, they need customers less than customers need them.

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