Ghosted by tradesman!

[prettyprinceofpartiez]

Great correspondence with a very polite and professional tradesman over the last few weeks arranging to have some coving put up in our living room. Checked again last night, will be here this morning. Messaged this morning saying he was 10 minutes away and could he have the house number again. No problem. Half an hour later, nothing. Message. Nothing. 4 hours later. Nothing.

What's going on?! Since moving in we've found tradesmen elusive and often don't respond to messages, I get they have lots of jobs on the go and often aren't in desperate need but the bloke said he was 10 minutes away!!! I booked today off!!!

Anyone else had this?

Not got quite as close as that but I've had several that have come round to do a quote, gone on at length about how wonderful they are and how experienced they are in and how long they've been in business, and then no quote. Phone to chase up, quote promised, no quote. I've even had quotes and phoned them to book in and been ghosted.

My theory is that the local tradesmen want stupid customers that they can over-charge, but not by so much that it would be criminal, and I just don't come across as gullible enough.

Send him a message saying you'll take your business elsewhere. That usually hurries them up.

it’s an absolute nightmare trying to get tradesmen atm, we’re having a similar problem

You’ll get a message later saying he was rushed into hospital with an ill child/relative/pet.

Honestly unless he has a genuine reason as to why he hasn't turned up by the end of the day then I don't want him to do the job. A shame as he had fantastic reviews (many saying how he always turns up on time 🧐) but I am so angry at the total lack of respect for my time. It wasn't a huge job but I am seriously tempted to leave a 1 star review which I never do, as it's unacceptable for any other profession to make an appointment and then just not turn up, why not for tradesmen?

It's not just you. I've had numerous plumbers & electricians just not show up.

Quite why grown men can't manage a text that says' Sorry, no, we are booked solid' is beyond me.

Are they scared? Incompetent? Illiterate? 🙄

Truly bizarre and so so rude!

He wasn't even booked solid - we've had this date in the diary for three weeks! He's probably sacked me off but for what, what changed in 10 minutes?! 😂

You've dodged a bullet. He's shown he doesn't respect his customer and you don't want that kind of liar/faker working in your property.

Don't message him again. Tell other locals he failed to turn up, lied, was untrustworthy and let you down.

Never had one as bad as that but have had plenty that have ‘ghosted me’ to coin a dating phrase. It’s so bloody annoying as well!!

And it happens all the time. It’s unbelievably frustrating and no, I don’t know why it happens so, so frequently. I’ve had it with about every tradesmen I’ve tried to hire.

Yes it does happen all the time. I've been trying to get a quote for a new patio for a couple of months now. 4 of them didn't bother to turn up (one having made 2 appointments and not turning up for either). The 2 that did turn up massively over-quoted. I've finally found one who turned up and gave me a reasonable quote.

All too common these days . I was told by a tradesman who did turn up that they just don’t answer messages if they dont want the job

unfortunately I think this is common. poor form, but common. there's probably a gap in the market for a reliable service in these terms!!

Work-shy or penniless and can’t afford to pay for supplies in advance of doing the work maybe?

Yes it's rude.