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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed that 4 workmen have yet to email me quotes

34 replies

MrsPeeee · 13/07/2015 20:43

For decorating and plastering. They all said quotes would be emailed over by the weekend. Don't the fuckers want my business/money? It's 4 rooms so not a small job!

OP posts:
CountessofCountthepennies · 13/07/2015 20:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
MrsPeeee · 13/07/2015 20:59

Oh - ok. Didn't mean to come across like that! Sorry. I haven't emailed them calling them fuckers.

OP posts:
TrueBlueYorkshire · 13/07/2015 21:00

They probably thought you looked like a tightarse so bailed. Four rooms isn't really that big a job.

GeorgeYeatsAutomaticWriter · 13/07/2015 21:00

No need to be quite so gratuitously offensive Countess.

ExitStageLeft · 13/07/2015 21:01

Slightly OTT response from Countess...Hmm

I hear you OP! Took me months to get a workman to take on a fairly substantial (financially, for them) job we needed doing recently. Maybe give them a call tomorrow?

Missdread · 13/07/2015 21:03

It's annoying: we've just had our kitchen done and had the same issues. Round here, there is so much demand for painters, plumbers, electricians, plasterers that they are all working weekends and don't need any more work!!!

ExitStageLeft · 13/07/2015 21:03

Why is everyone being so VILE on here nowadays? I mean, honestly! Four rooms IS a substantial job OP, my brother is a plasterer.

GeorgeYeatsAutomaticWriter · 13/07/2015 21:03

Yep that was a vile response from Countless. Just needlessly nasty.

ShesAStar · 13/07/2015 21:04

Everyone is having work done and tradesmen are all flat out, especially if they're good! They should have told you that though. We had 5 people round for quotes for landscaping the garden and only 2 have got back to us.

Happyyellowcar · 13/07/2015 21:05

I also sympathise - we can't seem to get quotes from a bunch of builders for a house extension which was supposed to start in March! They just keep messing us around even though we are ready to hand over the money! It's v frustrating so now we're waiting till next spring instead. A whole year wasted just cos they wouldn't get back to us in a timely fashion..

Marylou2 · 13/07/2015 21:07

YANBU.It took forever to get quotes for an extension. £40,000+ .In my line of business if a customer needs a quote I do it within 48hrs at the maximum.

diploddycus · 13/07/2015 21:07

How is 4 rooms not a big job?! Don't most people decorate a room or maybe two at a time?

I'd chase them up if they don't email tomorrow. If still nothing, find someone else. Someone will want your business!

velvetspoon · 13/07/2015 21:08

Basically if you live in the south east you're screwed. I've tried to get quotes for my bathrooms for months. The majority wouldn't even come and do a quote. Of the ones that did, all either turned up late or were quite fucking ryde about my house (or both). Of those only 3 quoted me, and 2 of those quotes were utter bullshit ie they didn't want the work.

So I'm stuck with only half a bathroom because I don't have weeks to spend ringing round virtually begging people to come out and quote me.

So much for people struggling for work in this country!

Original poster
MrsPeeee · 13/07/2015 21:08

I am fairly new to mumsnet - I've only been on the baby names board so far. Nobody called me a cunt there Sad Is that a usual welcome?!

How can I be a tightarse if I haven't had an idea of how much it will cost yet?!

I'm thinking it's going to be £1k ish per room so not a small bill. Don't know yet though obviously. Ha.

Thanks all!

OP posts:
velvetspoon · 13/07/2015 21:10

That's rude, not ryde. Typing on my phone!

Olddear · 13/07/2015 21:11

Absolutely no need for such an inappropriate answer! And four rooms IS a big job! I had gardening work done, paid him ON THE DAY he completed it. Asked him to come back to do similar work on the spring which he readily agreed to. Three phone calls later (first call made in March) no response!
I left messages with his wife who just said she would tell him....but he will not get in touch! Next time I hear 'all the immigrants are taking our jobs' I'll scream!!!!!

DreadlocksMadeMeHappy · 13/07/2015 21:12

My DH is a 'tradesman' Quoting is the one thing he doesn't have as much time to do as he would like. He works a normal working week, then goes to see potential clients after those hours. I work full time, so we juggle who is working early/late to do the dc pick ups. By the time we have done all the house stuff/bedtime, he sits down with the laptop to issue invoices, pay bills, order materials/research plants for clients he then has to do quotes. If someone has a big job or a complicated job, it takes time to get a quote right.

And if he's one of four potential tradesmen quoting the same job, it's harder to be motivated at ten at night when I'm dropping off on the sofa next to him to keep plodding on with a quote he's doing and unlikely to get.

Having said all of that, he doesn't tend to tell potential customers he will get a quote to them before he can, because it just makes him seem shonky from the off.

notquitehuman · 13/07/2015 21:18

Try a site like My Hammer where you can get lots of quotes. That way tradespeople from further afield can give you a rough estimate. Once you've found one with good reviews they come round and have a final price. Worked for me when I needed someone to wire in my new oven and none of the local electricians wanted such a small job!

Penfold007 · 13/07/2015 21:20

Blimey Countess that was rude. Dreadlocks if your DH has little time for quoting how does he ensure he has enough work?

We recently wanted the bathroom and en-suite replaced, one tradesman never turned up for the appointment, one turned up and said not interested - fair enough, one turned up but never sent quote. Found a fourth who turned up, quoted and got the job.

ShipShapeAhoy · 13/07/2015 21:21

I think countess needs some love. Sad

bumbleymummy · 13/07/2015 21:25

Some horrible posts at the start!

YANBU OP. We haven't had great experiences with builders/plasters etc ourselves. Very slow to come back with quotes/trying to change quotes midway through the job!/ poor quality work that had to be redone. You gave my sympathy! Fingers crossed you get something back soon or you find someone better Thanks

bumbleymummy · 13/07/2015 21:25

have my sympathy.

msgrinch · 13/07/2015 21:27

Good luck. We need a major shop refurb done asap, all builders are flat out round here even friends of mine can't try to help.

backtowork2015 · 13/07/2015 21:31

its been a few yrs since I had plastering/decorating done (glances at chipped and flaky bedroom walls) but a £1000 a room seems expensive, we had our lounge skimmed, coving put up and (undercoat) painted for nearer £400. it was 2006 I suppose. personally I don't chase tradesmen for quotes. I always figure if I have to chase them before the job how difficult will they be when work starts and what if there was a problem and I needed to get them back. you want reliable tradesmen. only use someone reliable and recommended

Pugthug · 13/07/2015 21:32

Try Rated People. The trades have to pay to access your details I think 3 accept it. We had a quote within that day. They basically all wanted the work as they wouldn't pay the £50 otherwise. Also you see all their previous jobs so know what they are like and how good there work is etc.