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Original poster

The secret lives of tradesmen - or where's my quote?

66 replies

evrybuddy · 15/09/2015 09:26

Recently we've been getting lots of tradespeople round to quote for various building projects - anything from conservatory to new windows, driveway, patio, drains work, roof repairs.... the whole bloody lot!!!

We've had all types of firms from large companies to one-man bands.

Mostly, they've been 1-3 skilled trades/owners plus 1 or 2 apprentices/juniors.

What staggers me is how many come to quote for jobs and then despite us getting on well - the quote never arrives! Why?

I've given up making follow-up calls. I think it's just giving them the sense I'm a soft touch and they'll take the piss if I then give them the job.

I take the view now, that if you don't provide a quote you've had your shot, you're not interested.

But it really perplexes me why they don't provide the quotes.
There were two specific instances - for a £300 x 3 hour roofing repair - the job was his, all he had to do was quote. He never bothered.
Another, a £6k driveway. Liked him, job would have been his - quote never came. Won't be his 6 grand now.

But sometimes when I've phoned for these quotes, these blokes wives answer and make the appointment.
Now, they must have some idea of the jobs their husbands are quoting on and the money involved - sometimes the women type up the quotes.
Do they never ask their husbands why that job didn't materialise?
Why aren't we gatting that £6k in the bank?
What the fuck are you doing when you're not at home and you're not doing these jobs you could have had but couldn't be fucking arsed to send a quote to?

If I did that, with my family's financials, my partner would be rightly well and truly fucked off?

So what are these mystery men up to. Shagging random housewives? Having a flutter at the bookies? Living double lives?

Why do they not do what they say they'll do and what are they doing instead?

OP posts:

SirChenjin · 17/09/2015 12:41

I'm with the OP - although she's probably a bit more forceful than I would be, I'm guessing it's borne out of sheer frustration over something that is a common complaint. We're in the Central Belt in Scotland - it's not a SE England thing, and like others, I'm always very polite (probably too polite, I don't 'do' confrontation in RL!) and friendly.

NoonAim · 17/09/2015 12:51

I'm also with you OP, agree with every word and don't think you're batty, but justified in your frustration and needing to vent - and you've made me smile, I think you're witty, not nasty.

ihatethecold · 17/09/2015 12:55

I actually think the Op was just being witty, I think she really has a point, she sounds very frustrated rather than Batty!
lane
maybe your partner is very efficient and reliable, its seems from this thread and my own experience that people don't agree in general.

tootsietoo · 17/09/2015 13:02

I work for a builder and manage a lot of properties. Pricing up jobs is the bane of builders' lives. It's a lot of work and quite often for nothing. Also builders need to keep a steady flow of work coming so I suspect that they will often turn out to look at jobs and then win a tender for something in a month or so's time so they know they're sorted for the next 3 months and then they don't bother to waste time doing the quotes they've lined up. Yes they should call you to tell you, but by that time they've forgotten about you! If you are a regular customer, e.g. you do up houses or manage a lot of properties then you will find they fit you in whenever they can. If you only have a one off job it is a lot harder to get someone to commit.

That's all really quite boring in comparison to their mystery lives which sound much more interesting!

Also since January everything has been getting mad busy! Everyone has too much work on.

Titsywoo · 17/09/2015 13:09

I also agree with the op and think she is just getting annoyed by some posters so I doubt her 'attitude' is the issue. I had huge amounts of problems getting tradespeople for the extension I had built. This was big money too but people were so slow coming back to us it was ridiculous. Some never bothered at all. It is very rude. One was even a family friend. Just a quick text to say they aren't interested etc would have done. I understand builders will take the most profitable job but they seem to forget people are waiting on their quotes and it is stressful. Better organisation is definitely needed. I contacted some people on checkatrade this week and most just text back to say they were busy which was great but that is not the norm from my experience. The builders we eventually got were fab and i will be recommending them wholeheartedly :)

Titsywoo · 17/09/2015 13:10

It does make me wonder if I should change career though. There is a lot of money in trades nowadays!

poorbuthappy · 17/09/2015 13:21

Yes there's definitely a gap in the market!!!

chloeW14 · 17/09/2015 13:26

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ihatethecold · 17/09/2015 13:35

not heard of plentific before, is it new.
I found trust a trader to be pretty useless when i was looking to get my garage converted.

tootsietoo · 17/09/2015 13:43

There's a lot of money in it now, but it is a really volatile business to be in, v. easy to be taken for a lot of money but some unscrupulous client and there'll be another recession in a few years time......

chloeW14 · 17/09/2015 13:57

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RingDownRingUp · 17/09/2015 14:05

Just tried looking for a plumber on that website. The nearest one is 107 miles away!

MrsCampbellBlack · 17/09/2015 14:11

I also agree with the OP. We're about to do major renovation work and an extension but first I want a small project doing - so less than £20k. I have been waiting for a start date after agreeing the quote for months.

This week they've suddenly re-appeared to say is October ok. It is and I suspect they always wanted to do the work in the winter as it is indoors. But why didn't they tell me this back in March.

Am dreading having to get quotes for the big work.

ExConstance · 17/09/2015 14:11

We are in the process of having our kitchen done, the fitter has arranged all the plastering, electrics etc. too and has made a really good start this week. I wanted another quote and got one from another contender who also seemed to be very capable and up for the job, he quoted more or less exactly the same, verbally and came up with detailed costings. It must have taken him ages. As he left he said he could probably get us a better discount on the kitchen units and said he would send his quote and get back to us on that, after he had done all that work he never contacted us again, so we gave the job to the first to quote.

Amrapaali · 17/09/2015 14:32

I'm with evrybuddy. And I DO get the humour.

A security guy we asked to quote us for CCTV cameras still hasnt returned our calls for a quote, we asked end of June. This is someone who we know and who has already done jobs for us in the past.

I have many more examples. TheHouse yours words are twattish....

whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 17/09/2015 15:23

I'm trying to get some work done at the moment. Not a massive job, just putting a bit of concrete down. Every time when I've rung someone up I explain what it is, and can understand if they're too busy/it's not big enough to quote for. Every time they say, "Oh no, we like this sort of thing, would fit in great with what we're doing". They come round, measure up, say it looks like an easy job and they'll get a quote through in a couple of days. Two quotes haven't arrived. Other one gave a price by text, and said he would confirm in an email. Great, except email never came. Chased a couple of times to see if he was still interested..."Oh yes, of course, just a bit busy. Will send through tomorrow." But tomorrow never comes.

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