Would this put your off? Builder quote

[Sparklfairy]

I'm neither the builder nor the customer in this scenario. I know the builder.

He told me he never drives one of his branded vans when he goes to give a quote. Instead, he takes his car. A luxury model with a personalised plate. I don't know shit about cars but a quick google tells me in the region of a £75k car.

He said the reason he doesn't take the van is that competitors could see he was at a property and go in after he leaves to undercut him and poach his business Obviously he uses the vans if he actually gets the job.

He'd never listen to me and he'll never know about this thread. But would a builder turning up in a swanky car put you off? I just think my first impression would be he's a bit of a flash twat, and probably charges too much

AIBU?

Given how many anonymous white (other colours are available) vans there are in the UK ...

Why ? Do you think they don't deserve their money or have nice things ?

It would put me off

White vans are a huge target for theft - even unbranded ones. I wouldn't be driving one around and leaving it on the street unattended if I could help it, personally.

DH is in the trades and his van was broken into multiple times - he never stored tools in there though so they were always out of luck. Now he has a car (not a 75k one though ) and it never gets targeted at all.

I’ve learned not to assume that someone driving an expensive car has a lot of money, and vice versa, so I wouldn’t read too much into it

My old man and one of my boys are in the trades. Both are booked up with work and sometimes quote using one of the nicer motors if they are in them at the time. They have had comments about earning to much and being dealers.
What surprises customers when asked how they can afford these cars and they are cheeky enough to ask is the fact the cars and money are the little old wife's at home. Im the bread winner but you wouldn't know that when getting a quote. You cant always judge someone on face value

I honestly don’t know how you got that from what I said. I meant he is obviously making good money. I am not especially, although I am okay. So I would have done better running a building company.

He works hard, I’ve asked him to do several jobs because him and his team meet a good standard, and of course he does deserve it and the nice things he can buy. He is from Poland originally and has built up a great company and reputation here and should be proud of that.

I’m not sure how me being mildly envious of his car means I don’t think he deserves it.

I don't like swanky cars so it would put me off a bit.

Oh thats typical MN for you.

"I don't like oranges"

"My husband works in a shop that sells oranges, are you saying he's a twat?" 🙄

I'd think he was a bit of a flash harry

I wouldn't notice tbh. But I guess if he can afford a nice car then his business must be successful, and if he did a shit job it probably wouldn't be as successful.

I also wouldn't think he was lying about the vulture thing. We are having an extension, trades scout out planning permissions then hound you with leaflets, unsolicited door knocks etc. I can well imagine they would scout out jobs if they spotted a competitors van somewhere where work hadn't appeared to have started yet.