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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not call this tradesman back?

70 replies

BasinHaircut · 10/04/2015 12:21

Getting some landscaping done in the garden. Had a man coming round between 9-10 this morning to quote. At 10:15 he hadn't areived so I went out. At 10:55 I get a text and 2 missed calls (although I didn't see them until about 20 mins later) saying 'sorry I'm late, have I missed you?' I get home and he has left a card in the door.

AIBU to not get him to quote now, based on the fact that he is not punctual (one of my pet hates) and therefore unreliable? He did turn up eventually but in my book he should have let me know he was going to be so late.

I don't think I want someone like that carrying out work for me but DH says get him back another time.

OP posts:

HoggleHoggle · 11/04/2015 08:42

That's appalling basin, at this point if run a mile - and I was one of the ones saying yesterday to give him another chance.

Sorry he's wasted your time.

Original poster

BasinHaircut · 11/04/2015 08:46

Well he still isn't here and and I've tried to call him but no answer. I appreciate he might be driving but he won't be up a tree or stuck in traffic so early on a Saturday morning so clearly he is just unreliable.

I am going to try him one last time now and then text him to say don't bother.

OP posts:

MrsSocks · 11/04/2015 08:50

My DH is a terrible time keeper and also does not see the problem in being a bit later then arranged. (Being late is a major bug bear of mine but doesn't bother him in the slightest) He is however a tradesman with an incredible reputation. He never advertises and always has far too much work on. He is by far the best man in his field of work by a very long way in our area and because of this is incredibly busy. He is therefore often unavoidably delayed at previous jobs and has so many jobs on the go/in his mind/sorting employees out etc that loses track of time. He will always try and let someone know he will be late but this is not always possible. My point is, I would much rather have someone like my husband, who by far will deliver the highest quality of work, but is late due to being so busy than to write him off for tardiness and get the next man, who turn up on the dot, but only because he had little else to do/think about as he is so quiet. Believe me, good tradesman are busy tradesman and are worth the wait! Someone being ready to start a job immediately would ring alarm bells for me.

yummumto3girls · 11/04/2015 09:01

I agree it's rude and he could have rang. My husband is a tradesman and sometimes it's really hard to be on time (he will ring) unfortunately not all jobs go as planned and customers are not always clear about the work that needs doing before he gets there, that makes planning difficult, combined with traffic it's not always easy.

HoggleHoggle · 11/04/2015 09:07

I agree with pp in terms of good tradesman = busy, but 8am on a Saturday? I find t hard to believe he would be coming from another job. Yesterday, def give benefit of the doubt, but today not so much.

Mummyinamask · 11/04/2015 09:14

Tradesmen are always late and I always have this quandary. Does it indicate they're unreliable or are they trying to cram too much in and keep too many people happy at the same time?

It's a tough one.

Depends on your situation. If you already have quotes from punctual people with great designs and a long list of happy customers ( lucky you) then drop him.
If they've all been late, give him another chance. See how creative his design is and how reasonable his prices and what his past customers say and take it from there.

Punctuality probably isn't a big part of him doing a good job. Reliability is but you could ask previous clients about that?

Good luck!

tobysmum77 · 11/04/2015 09:14

ok yanbu now op

Original poster

BasinHaircut · 11/04/2015 09:16

Well I called again at 8:45 and he answered but I clearly woke him up. I said 'you were supposed to come and quite me at 8' and he said 'was I? Oh yeah, ok I'm leaving now I'll be there in 10 mins'.

I told him not to bother.

OP posts:

JaniceJoplin · 11/04/2015 09:23

I always give tradesmen leeway. We've used lots of them some good and some less so. But I think they all work bloody hard. It is very hard being a small business. Most workmen just want to be treated with respect not just like some working class low-life. Their work is flexible by nature and they are always having to juggle different clients needs, emergency jobs and the traffic. I can't imagine a tradesman being punctual 100% of the time except unless they are not very busy.

MrsSocks · 11/04/2015 09:24

Ok Yanbu. Nearly 9am and still fast asleep on a Saturday morning = not a busy tradesman. you would think after being late once he would make the effort to be on time the following day!

JaniceJoplin · 11/04/2015 09:27

I think it is hard for tradesmen to say no. They don't want to say they can't do it. It's a bit like when your boss says 'get me that report by Monday first thing' and you agree to it knowing full well his request is silly and he'll be lucky to get it by lunchtime. I like to judge by character.

JaniceJoplin · 11/04/2015 09:28

What sort of family life does this man have if he is meeting clients at 8am on Saturday? He is probably sitting at home getting stick from his wife for deserting them again!

pearpotter · 11/04/2015 09:31

I'd much rather someone says they can't fit me in and that they have too much on than say they will turn up and then don't. Or worse still, quote and then make up some hackneyed excuses and not turn up reliably to carry out the work. Hopefully with more online reviews they can't get away with it so easily.

6LittleOnes · 11/04/2015 09:38

Did he turn up?

Original poster

BasinHaircut · 11/04/2015 12:30

No 6 I told him not to bother

OP posts:

OnlyLovers · 11/04/2015 14:08

Well, I feel vindicated for you, OP!

'believe me, good tradesman are busy tradesman and are worth the wait!'

Being late is not always a sign of being good. I spent much of last summer waiting in for/waiting for calls from/phoning/texting/chasing workmen. Not only did they thoroughly piss me off and waste hours of my time, they did a shite job in the end too.

Original poster

BasinHaircut · 11/04/2015 17:32

Thanks only! I had a feeling about this one.

Got one more coming in the morning and have had a quote done over picture and text message. We already have one quote but they were cheap and reckoned they could do it in a day which makes me think it wouldn't be a proper job.

It's annoying because we know people in most trades and so don't usually need to get in people we don't already know either personally or through recommendation, but I'm struggling with landscapers as I don't know any and the only one I've been recommended did a shite job IMO and was expensive.

OP posts:

OnlyLovers · 13/04/2015 10:11

Good luck, OP. I have had tradesman hell over the past couple of years and totally feel your pain. I don't know any landscapers either or I'd try to recommend some!

Original poster

BasinHaircut · 14/04/2015 08:19

Thanks only, we think we've found one now but I'm so nervous about usingr someone who doesn't come personally recommended.

OP posts:

OnlyLovers · 14/04/2015 13:05

Fingers crossed for you!

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