Why don't people want my money?!

[NoCapes]

Is it just me that finds businesses just don't actually want their money?

We need some work done in the house, I've been trying endlessly to get someone in, nobody ever calls back
I even went to a family members friend thinking surely they won't let me down - yep I'm up to 3 unanswered messages

We need a dog sitter for when we go away, I went on a couple of dog sitter sites and I've messaged and messaged and messaged people, and nothing
One guy rang me, we had a good phone call he said he'd check what day was best with his wife for us to visit and text me, the day came and went with no word from him so I gave him a text, nothing

Trying to book my son a birthday party, got through to someone, he said he's not in the office he'd ring me back in an hour - this was yesterday at 10am and still haven't heard from him

Why don't people want my money!?!! Argh!

[Mrsderekshepard]

Lots of tradesmen don't like working for the general public the jobs normally are not worth their time and a lot of people refuse to pay once the job is complete.

[WalkingInTheAir13]

gardencentregroupie - 23/06/16
I entirely agree with you - I am baffled as to why these tradesmen pay good money to advertise - and for what? They could use the money for a receptionist/scheduler.
The worst type (plumbers and roofers, in my case) when they have deigned to pitch up to quote, give you cheery reassurances that "the job is no problem" and they'll come back to you. DH and I have strongly hinted (in desperation, not extravagence) that we don't mind the cost as long as the job's done. And guess what? Zilch. Nothing!!

[falange]

Anyone who doesn't get back to me I write something about it on their FB page. Works every time.

[OohMavis]

It's absolutely impossible to find reliable window washers and grass cutters in my area. They either completely ignore your messages or turn up once and never return.

They must be really busy, which is great for them, but

[IceMaiden73]

People make a living because they are flooded with work, so they can pick and choose

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

IceMaiden has it. (Well that's how it is for us anyway.

[henryscatoscar]

other than tradespeople. ages ago we bought a new sofa, not very expensive from next. my wife asked the people in the shop , how much was it in XX fabric and when we could have one. They asked "oh, you want to buy one". It seemed to be news to her that someone actually wanted to buy something!

[MrsKoala]

We recently bought a kitchen from Wren. They sent some things in error, like wrong coloured doors for 3 units, one large base unit and an extra Neff hob. When we told them of this they didn't want them back and just said keep them. It seems the cost of collecting them just wasn't worth it. Even tho they were coming with more deliveries. We now have these things which we can't give away but don't need (apart from the hob which sold for buttons). We have listed them on ebay, gumtree, freecycle and no one wants them. We don't want to bin them as they are brand new and it feels such a waste but they are just taking up room in the garage. It seems they are worthless even to the company that made them! (apart from when you actually want to buy them and then they are 100s of pounds )

[newpup]

Same here! Have contacted 5 plumbers for quotes, only 2 turned up and only one gave us a quote! Fourth decorator came out today, out of the other 3 only one has given us a quote, 4 weeks after he came and after a call to remind him! Three electricians have failed to turn up as well!

[drspouse]

We live in a smaller North West city and have two rental flats in separate areas of London.
At home DH and I do flatpack stuff, he does small woodwork jobs and electrical no I didn't tell you that and we have no bother getting a cleaner through an agency which I think is key - I think the cleaners like working for them and so they have more on their books.
We generally use tradespeople through larger firms though they are often more expensive, they have more people again to substitute if someone is off so more likely to actually quote etc.
We have however occasionally used someone from a flyer (gardening - garden centre notice board).
And the roofer on our street with a van outside his house can't get away!

In London when I lived in flat no 1 it was hard. Now we use an estate agent and they have people on their books who are mainly larger firms who want the repeat business. I suspect some tradespeople don't bother with private individuals for this reason.

[drspouse]

P.s. Larger firms also have someone in the office to return calls.

[Ifonlyoneday]

Same here with quote for a driveway. 9 months and the work is not started! The next time hear small businesses are struggling, I will say where? Then I can ring all the tradespeople in that area, so we can get some of our gose maintenance items done

[Ifonlyoneday]

House not gose

[GaryGilmoresEyes]

Well if anyone in SW Scotland needs a reliable decorator let me know.

[drspouse]

Was thinking about this yesterday - part of the problem may be that younger householders can't or won't fix minor things. So as I say we do our own shelves, flatpacks, etc. But some of our tenants seem unable to change a lightbulb (possibly mollycoddled) and, no fault of their own, younger people on leaving home will often be in college or private rented accommodation where you cannot even put up a picture let alone a shelf. I'm in my 40s and some of my friends in their 30s who have only just got on the property ladder are puzzled about rawlplugs.

And it's not always something that can be taught outside the home. I can teach my Guides to make up a flatpack but I can't teach them to put up a shelf in our meeting hall, nor would I be very popular blocking the loo for them to practice. And I only have 10 - not a class of 30.

[FledglingFridge]

part of the problem may be that younger householders can't or won't fix minor things.

I do wonder if I could start a sideline in stuff like this. A course in how to drill, fix, and solve minor issues.

[drspouse]

Great idea!

[IceRoadDucker]

Why are people justifying this by repeatedly saying they have too much work? That's no excuse for broken promises or outright lies. If you have too much work, tell people that when they call. Don't say you'll call them back and then not bother.

[problembottom]

I finally have a brilliant decorator and a fantastic handyman who will do any job although its taken years to get to this point!

We have a plumber down the road so he can't avoid us and we also have a gardener, window cleaner etc but they aren't hard to find round here, seems to be a few competing ones.

But a decent cleaner I've given up on - the one everyone recommends in my suburb is booked up solid, no one can ever get a spot. I'd happily pay loads for a fantastic cleaner too!

[newpup]

Well I finally have an electrician coming around today (I hope!!) after numerous calls and no-shows. He seems reliable. I will soon find out!
Out of the four decorators we got to come and quote only one got back with a quote so I am waiting another one coming tomorrow (again I hope!). Plumber I have almost given up on!

[NoCapes]

Well since this post we've had 2 builders come round and give us a quote - both of them were contacted by DP not me
Also got a party booked for DS - DP rang them too
...coincidence??