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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think this reply is a bit cheeky?

133 replies

OldBoiler22 · 23/09/2022 09:37

As per my username, I need to get our boiler serviced. Used a new company last year who were fine so had intended to use again.

The website of said firm has on a landline and also a mobile number. In a quiet moment last weekend I thought I'd seize the chance to send a message to the mobile number asking if I could book an appointment. This was the response I got:

'Hi OldBoiler, yes no problem. Can you message me again Tuesday when I'm back at work'

I was a bit narked I won't lie.

AIBU to think that, as the customer, it's a bit much him asking me to contact him again at a point that suits him?

OP posts:

Original poster

OldBoiler22 · 23/09/2022 13:54

Macaroni1924 · 23/09/2022 13:49

So had he left the response till Tuesday chances are you would have went elsewhere. This was he has let you know he is off until then and to get back in touch to set it up. I think it’s good customer service and my reply would have been brilliant will do thanks, have a lovely weekend 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’d have appreciated him letting me know rather than waiting days with no reply.

Show quote history

I wouldn't have gone elsewhere because it wasn't an urgent thing for me, but he wouldn't have known that so yes I can see what you mean.

Maybe I should have put a line in my message that I see some people put in their emails now about 'it suits me to email you now but I don't expect a reply outside of your own working hours' or something like that!!

OP posts:

Jan80 · 23/09/2022 13:57

I don't think the message is cheeky, they sound approachable actually, but I understand your situation OP. I have the same problem. It makes me wonder if there is an app that you can use to send messages in a certain time and date? I know sometimes I create the message with number etc and just leave it till working hours and press send, but I have to remember to press send! Anyway you've reminded me I need to send an email this afternoon or I won't be able to do it till Monday... so thanks for that!

a1poshpaws · 23/09/2022 14:06

Belladonnamama · 23/09/2022 10:13

Your rude. I wouldn't text at the weekend even if there was a mobile number. Do you expect people to be at your beck and call 24/7? . His response was totally acceptable. Your entitled behaviour is not.

I agree completely with this.

If I were in his place, I'd assume that people would be aware that the numbers were for contact during normal working hours.

And why should he have to go to trouble of finding pen and paper to take your details (you've no idea where he was when he answered - he may have been in the pub or on the loo for all you can tell!) when it's you who wants something from him not vice versa.

(I think you'll be lucky if he can fit you in, anyway - Tradesmen seem to be so busy these days they can pick and choose their jobs.)

Weirdlynormal · 23/09/2022 14:07

I would have acknowledged, and then emailed a reminder to myself to speak to the customer on Tuesday. I'm old school customer service though. I also feel that one contact is enough from a customer, and if you want the business, you keep the momentum going. I run a very successful business

musicviking1 · 23/09/2022 14:14

The reply was fine, but as a customer I don't like having to do the chasing so as soon as I start feeling that I am I use or go somewhere else.

LookItsMeAgain · 23/09/2022 14:27

Just because someone puts their mobile number on a website doesn't mean that they want to be contacted 24 x 7 x 365. It's usually as a 'back up' to a landline number.
I wonder if you dialled the landline number whether you would have heard a message saying that their office/working hours were Mon-Fri 8 - 5 for example?

I think whether the person asked you to contact them again on Tuesday or they said they would contact you on Tuesday, either way, they were not 'at work', they wanted your business so replied to let you know that they were still in business and the number was still valid by them replying.

I wonder if you had received no reply at all, whether you would have thought they were rude by not replying to your message? Leaving you in limbo if you will, not knowing the situation either way???

puddleduckle · 23/09/2022 14:29

AlwaysTheBrideNeverTheBridesmaid · 23/09/2022 13:35

YANBU. Unprofessional. He has your text, if he’s unable to make a note or set an alarm to respond when he’s back at work I’d question his abilities tbh.

God help any trades that you contact if you think that’s unprofessional. People have lives, trades get a LOT of messages. Asking a customer to get back in touch on a certain day will mean that you’re likely the top of the list to be dealt with on that day, so likely to get a quick response and an appointment booked. If they don’t like that approach and want to go elsewhere, that’s obviously up to them. You’d question a persons ability to service a boiler based on setting an alarm to contact someone back if my DH set alarms to call every person who’s got in touch over the weekend his phone would never be quiet!

Dutch1e · 23/09/2022 15:44

dworky · 23/09/2022 10:56

Is it really too much to expect men to use notes & calenders on their phones, even for their professions?

Show quote history

Exactly. I also work for myself and if I read a message from a potential client out of hours I let them know when they can expect a reply then spend 10 seconds adding a note to my calendar.

Alternatively, auto-reply is incredibly simple to set up.

If they had to chase me after the first contact imagine how often they'd have to chase me during the project. Not a professional look.

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