To just tell the truth?

[Lactofreemeatballs]

We have been getting quotes for some building work we need doing on our house. Quotes are in and we have chosen a builder. However the builder with the cheapest quote is now wanting to know why we didnt choose them.

The truth is I didn’t like him. He offended me by spouting opposite political opinions to mine when he came to quote. He was patronising and his website has what I consider to be racist undertones.

Basically, although we have known people who have used him successfully and his is the cheapest quote. - I dont want to have him in my house. Especially not every day for probably 3 months!

However, how to phrase it? DH thinks I need to be very polite but I think he will hassle me if I dont give a solid reason.

What would you say? and how would you say it?

Don’t reply. You don’t owe him an explanation

Thank you for quoting.

You don’t need to reply at all. If you really want to, then just tell him that you felt the other builder had a personality more suited to working alongside you for three months.

I'd say I was more drawn to the other one's aesthetic vision.

How does his work/business website have racist undertones?

I'd ignore him. You owe him nothing, including an explanation.

If you really feel obliged to give feedback, just keep it short and simple "we decided to go off a friends/family members (delete as appropriate) recommendation. Thanks anyway."

That's it, end of communications.

Presumably he doesn't know that he was the cheapest so if you feel you need to reply you could say that you feel another builder was better value.

Also interested in the website with racist undertones

??

Pushy builder can't understand why you don't want to use him

No explanation needed!!

If you feel you have to respond, just say “we had a number of competitive quotes and so decided to go with the building company we’d had the most personal recommendations for”

I think its reasonable to ask for feedback in this situation, we always do in my line of work, although don't always get it! I would just say that you were going with someone who had more experience in the type of work you are having done, or on a personal recommendation from a family/friend.

Don’t be saying I don’t like you and think you’re racist. That’s never going to go down well

Just say I preferred the aesthetics of another company and a good friend used them.

You’d have to be off your rocker to be telling strangers you don’t like them so didn’t give them the business. Who would actually do that?

He's entitled to have an opposite political view to you

Just tell him he wasn't the cheapest? 🤷‍♀️

Tell him a family friend has offered to do it for the cost of materials only.