I fitted a new bath last week for a customer.
All went well, and she was pleased.

Got a call today at 7:50am - there was a problem with the bath, could I
come and have a look.
OK, I was working just up the road, so called in to see the problem,
expecting a small leak, or maybe a tear in the silicone seal etc.

The first thing she said was "you've put it in the wrong way"
Like I'm going to put a bath in the wrong way!

Anyway her complaint was that the shower was the opposite end from the
bath taps, and the mottled bath surface was at the tap end.
So they now slippped when having a shower.
It was my fault it was like that!

Anyway, I'm going back next week to refit the bath the opposite way
round, but she really thought it was my fault, as "I should have noticed
when I put it in".
Sometimes I wonder if it's me!
Alan.

--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I fitted a new bath last week for a customer.
All went well, and she was pleased.

Got a call today at 7:50am - there was a problem with the bath, could I
come and have a look.
OK, I was working just up the road, so called in to see the problem,
expecting a small leak, or maybe a tear in the silicone seal etc.

The first thing she said was "you've put it in the wrong way"
Like I'm going to put a bath in the wrong way!

Anyway her complaint was that the shower was the opposite end from the
bath taps, and the mottled bath surface was at the tap end.
So they now slippped when having a shower.
It was my fault it was like that!

Anyway, I'm going back next week to refit the bath the opposite way
round, but she really thought it was my fault, as "I should have noticed
when I put it in".
Sometimes I wonder if it's me!
Alan.

--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

Just buy her a bath mat!

A.Lee wrote:
I fitted a new bath last week for a customer.
All went well, and she was pleased.

Got a call today at 7:50am - there was a problem with the bath,
could I come and have a look.
OK, I was working just up the road, so called in to see the problem,
expecting a small leak, or maybe a tear in the silicone seal etc.

The first thing she said was "you've put it in the wrong way"
Like I'm going to put a bath in the wrong way!

Anyway her complaint was that the shower was the opposite end from the
bath taps, and the mottled bath surface was at the tap end.

You mean the mottled surface that is there to give you extra grip when
you're showering?

Surely that's the end you're supposed to have the shower?

Tim

Tim Downie wrote:
A.Lee wrote:
I fitted a new bath last week for a customer.
All went well, and she was pleased.

Got a call today at 7:50am - there was a problem with the bath,
could I come and have a look.
OK, I was working just up the road, so called in to see the problem,
expecting a small leak, or maybe a tear in the silicone seal etc.

The first thing she said was "you've put it in the wrong way"
Like I'm going to put a bath in the wrong way!

Anyway her complaint was that the shower was the opposite end from the
bath taps, and the mottled bath surface was at the tap end.

You mean the mottled surface that is there to give you extra grip when
you're showering?

Surely that's the end you're supposed to have the shower?

Yes TBH I'm afraid I'm with the customer on this, too. Bath is often a
bit wider at the tap end, as well. At the very least it would have been
something worth querying with her before installing?

So presumably the taps in the 'old' bathroom were at the same end as
where you've put the new ones? And the shower is a new addition?

David

Tim Downie wrote:

A.Lee wrote:
I fitted a new bath last week for a customer.
All went well, and she was pleased.
Got a call today at 7:50am - there was a problem with the bath,
could I come and have a look.
The first thing she said was "you've put it in the wrong way"
Like I'm going to put a bath in the wrong way!

Anyway her complaint was that the shower was the opposite end from the
bath taps, and the mottled bath surface was at the tap end.

You mean the mottled surface that is there to give you extra grip when
you're showering?

Surely that's the end you're supposed to have the shower?

Well, yes. An electric shower was the other end from the taps. The
grippy surface is at the tap end. It is my fault that I put the new bath
in the same way as the old one.
You cant win with some people, so I just told her I'd swap it round next
week, and would only charge for the parts, though I should have been a
bit sterner, and told her she'd have to pay for my time as well.
I'm too soft.
Alan.


--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

A.Lee wrote:
Tim Downie wrote:

A.Lee wrote:
I fitted a new bath last week for a customer.
All went well, and she was pleased.
Got a call today at 7:50am - there was a problem with the bath,
could I come and have a look.
The first thing she said was "you've put it in the wrong way"
Like I'm going to put a bath in the wrong way!

Anyway her complaint was that the shower was the opposite end from
the bath taps, and the mottled bath surface was at the tap end.

You mean the mottled surface that is there to give you extra grip
when you're showering?

Surely that's the end you're supposed to have the shower?

Well, yes. An electric shower was the other end from the taps. The
grippy surface is at the tap end. It is my fault that I put the new
bath in the same way as the old one.
You cant win with some people, so I just told her I'd swap it round
next week, and would only charge for the parts, though I should have
been a bit sterner, and told her she'd have to pay for my time as
well.
I'm too soft.
Alan.

Why should she have to pay for your mistakes? Common sense would suggest
that all the pipework for the taps and the shower be at the same end, just
as common sense would suggest that the mottled non-slip surface that's at
the tap end - the one that's there to help stop you slipping while you're
stood having a shower - should be at the shower end.

Incidentally, the smooth, non-mottled end is away from the taps so that you
can sit comfortably in the bath and lie back against the end of the bath.
You wouldn't be very comfortable with taps sticking in your back and a
non-slip surface scratching your arse, so common sense would again suggest
that the non-slip surface, the taps and the shower all go together at the
same end.

Too soft? You should own up to your mistake and put it right at your own
expense.

Fred.

"Fred" toomuchsp@m wrote:


Why should she have to pay for your mistakes? Common sense would suggest
that all the pipework for the taps and the shower be at the same end, just
as common sense would suggest that the mottled non-slip surface that's at
the tap end - the one that's there to help stop you slipping while you're
stood having a shower - should be at the shower end.

Incidentally, the smooth, non-mottled end is away from the taps so that you
can sit comfortably in the bath and lie back against the end of the bath.
You wouldn't be very comfortable with taps sticking in your back and a
non-slip surface scratching your arse, so common sense would again suggest
that the non-slip surface, the taps and the shower all go together at the
same end.

Too soft? You should own up to your mistake and put it right at your own
expense.

Hold on, it wasnt my mistake.
I put the new bath in exactly the same way and position as the old one.
The new one is obviously a lot smoother, so they say they are now
slipping in the bath.
If there is any complaint, it should be against whoever fitted the
shower at the opposite end.
And yes, the old bath also had its mottled surface at the tap end.
If I was charging a fortune to fit it, then I could understand, but as I
charged £100 for a like for like replacement, which is what I had quoted
for, then really, the customer should either say what they want before
work commences, or during, when they see what I'm doing.
If they wanted the bath the other way round, then I would have galdly
done it, albeit at an extra cost to cover the extra 12 foot or so of
copper pipe and 6 foot of waste needed.
She was quite happy when it was finished.
Alan.
--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

A.Lee wrote:
"Fred" toomuchsp@m wrote:


Why should she have to pay for your mistakes? Common sense would
suggest that all the pipework for the taps and the shower be at the
same end, just as common sense would suggest that the mottled
non-slip surface that's at the tap end - the one that's there to
help stop you slipping while you're stood having a shower - should
be at the shower end.

Incidentally, the smooth, non-mottled end is away from the taps so
that you can sit comfortably in the bath and lie back against the
end of the bath. You wouldn't be very comfortable with taps sticking
in your back and a non-slip surface scratching your arse, so common
sense would again suggest that the non-slip surface, the taps and
the shower all go together at the same end.

Too soft? You should own up to your mistake and put it right at your
own expense.

Hold on, it wasnt my mistake.
I put the new bath in exactly the same way and position as the old
one. The new one is obviously a lot smoother, so they say they are now
slipping in the bath.
If there is any complaint, it should be against whoever fitted the
shower at the opposite end.
And yes, the old bath also had its mottled surface at the tap end.
If I was charging a fortune to fit it, then I could understand, but
as I charged £100 for a like for like replacement, which is what I
had quoted for, then really, the customer should either say what they
want before work commences, or during, when they see what I'm doing.
If they wanted the bath the other way round, then I would have galdly
done it, albeit at an extra cost to cover the extra 12 foot or so of
copper pipe and 6 foot of waste needed.
She was quite happy when it was finished.
Alan.

Well, fair enough - maybe. Thing is, she may not have a clue about anything
DIY, mechanical, electrical or whatever and may only have a job like that
done once or twice in her lifetime. You on the other hand, are a
professional, doing this for a living and at the very least should have
asked, suggested, guided or otherwise made sure before you started.

Fred

A.Lee coughed up some electrons that declared:

Hold on, it wasnt my mistake.
I put the new bath in exactly the same way and position as the old one.
The new one is obviously a lot smoother, so they say they are now
slipping in the bath.
If there is any complaint, it should be against whoever fitted the
shower at the opposite end.
And yes, the old bath also had its mottled surface at the tap end.
If I was charging a fortune to fit it, then I could understand, but as I
charged £100 for a like for like replacement, which is what I had quoted
for, then really, the customer should either say what they want before
work commences, or during, when they see what I'm doing.
If they wanted the bath the other way round, then I would have galdly
done it, albeit at an extra cost to cover the extra 12 foot or so of
copper pipe and 6 foot of waste needed.
She was quite happy when it was finished.
Alan.

I think, in all fairness, the last sentence is the crux. It patently wasn't
blindingly obvious otherwise she'd have commented at completion or before.
It might be "obvious" to a fitter who'd come across this exact problem
before, but all the baths I've seen have had uniform bases - either smooth
or bumpy all the way along. Personally I would have considered it odd to
have the shower the "wrong end" but that was a pre-existing condition.

Alan, I would chalk it up to experience - confirm *everything* with the
customer. But if the customer asked for a straight replacement, then,
unless you had seen the problem before, you did what they asked for. If I
was the customer, I would have been exceptionally pleased if the fitter had
pointed out the potential problem, but I wouldn't blame them if I'd failed
to specify the job exactly and they made a reasonable interpretation of the
job requirements. Maybe I have low expectations, but there you go.

Putting it right at materials cost is good customer relations and more than
fair IMHO.

Cheers

Tim

Fred wrote:

Too soft? You should own up to your mistake and put it right at your own
expense.

It sounds like he did it the right way - bobbly end at the same end as
the taps. That way you can sit in the bath and not end up with a waffle
imprint on your arse or a tap poking you in the back. I presume it was
the customer who wanted the shower at the other end of the bath from the
taps and did not think through the implications.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

John Rumm wrote:
Fred wrote:

Too soft? You should own up to your mistake and put it right at your
own expense.

It sounds like he did it the right way - bobbly end at the same end as
the taps. That way you can sit in the bath and not end up with a
waffle imprint on your arse or a tap poking you in the back. I
presume it was the customer who wanted the shower at the other end of
the bath from the taps and did not think through the implications.

The bobbly, non-slip surface is usually at the tap end, and the tap holes
are at the tap end -all part of the bath construction and can't be changed.
But that end with the taps and the non-slip surface should be at the same
end as the shower - or the shower should be at the same end as the
taps/non-slip surface, but Alan put it in the other way round.

Since this thread was started, it got me thinking. I'm now 50-years old and
I've *never* been in any house where the shower is at the opposite end of
the bath to the taps/non-slip surface - not getting at you Alan, but just
realising that I've never seen it done any other way than
taps/non-slip/shower all together at the same end.

Fred

Fred wrote:

Since this thread was started, it got me thinking. I'm now 50-years old and
I've *never* been in any house where the shower is at the opposite end of
the bath to the taps/non-slip surface - not getting at you Alan, but just
realising that I've never seen it done any other way than
taps/non-slip/shower all together at the same end.

My house has the taps at one end, and the electric shower at the other.
We didn't do it this way ourselves - it was like that when we bought
the place.

S Viemeister wrote:
Fred wrote:

Since this thread was started, it got me thinking. I'm now 50-years
old and I've *never* been in any house where the shower is at the
opposite end of the bath to the taps/non-slip surface - not getting at
you Alan, but just realising that I've never seen it done any other
way than taps/non-slip/shower all together at the same end.

My house has the taps at one end, and the electric shower at the other.
We didn't do it this way ourselves - it was like that when we bought
the place.
Hmm.... that looks odd - it's the _bath_ in my house, not the house
itself, that has the taps and the shower at opposite ends...........
I need coffee.

On 26 Feb, 18:36, "Fred" toomuchsp@m wrote:
John Rumm wrote:
Fred wrote:

Too soft? You should own up to your mistake and put it right at your
own expense.

It sounds like he did it the right way - bobbly end at the same end as
the taps. That way you can sit in the bath and not end up with a
waffle imprint on your arse or a tap poking you in the back. I
presume it was the customer who wanted the shower at the other end of
the bath from the taps and did not think through the implications.

The bobbly, non-slip surface is usually at the tap end, and the tap holes
are at the tap end -all part of the bath construction and can't be changed.
But that end with the taps and the non-slip surface should be at the same
end as the shower - or the shower should be at the same end as the
taps/non-slip surface, but Alan put it in the other way round.

Since this thread was started, it got me thinking. I'm now 50-years old and
I've *never* been in any house where the shower is at the opposite end of
the bath to the taps/non-slip surface - not getting at you Alan, but just
realising that I've never seen it done any other way than
taps/non-slip/shower all together at the same end.

Fred

I've seen this a few times. If the bath is sandwiched between a solid
wall (tap end) and stud wall,
builders would take the easy option and put the shower pipes in from
the back of the stud wall,
thus avoiding taking any tiling off, chasing walls etc. It strikes me
as a kind of bodge. But a reason I heard:
a customer wanted the shower the opposite end to the plughole, so the
water would run past
their feet taking the suds away and thus making it *less* slippy. Hum.
Folks is funny.
Simon.

On 26/02/2008 18:50, S Viemeister wrote:

My house has the taps at one end, and the electric shower at the other.

same here (well mixer shower) but the bath doesn't have a non-slip area,
it was more convenient that way.

On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:17:42 +0000, Andy Burns
wrote:

On 26/02/2008 18:50, S Viemeister wrote:

My house has the taps at one end, and the electric shower at the other.

same here (well mixer shower) but the bath doesn't have a non-slip area,
it was more convenient that way.

'Zactly the same here.

--
Frank Erskine

Frank Erskine wrote:
On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:17:42 +0000, Andy Burns
wrote:

On 26/02/2008 18:50, S Viemeister wrote:

My house has the taps at one end, and the electric shower at the
other.

same here (well mixer shower) but the bath doesn't have a non-slip
area, it was more convenient that way.

'Zactly the same here.

And here, knobbly bits at tap end.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:17:42 +0000, Andy Burns
wrote:

On 26/02/2008 18:50, S Viemeister wrote:

My house has the taps at one end, and the electric shower at the other.

same here (well mixer shower) but the bath doesn't have a non-slip area,
it was more convenient that way.

Same here. But we really have two showers. The one at the taps end
runs off the hot water and the one the other end is electric.
--
http://www.orderonlinepickupinstore.co.uk
Ah fetch it yourself if you can't wait for delivery
http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk
Or get it delivered for free

"Fred" toomuchsp@m wrote in message
...
Since this thread was started, it got me thinking. I'm now 50-years old
and I've *never* been in any house where the shower is at the opposite end
of the bath to the taps/non-slip surface -

My shower is at the opposite end to the taps.
It needs to be attached to the wall obviously and I would rather sit in the
bath, head at the wall end facing into the bathroom rather the other way
around.

Its not ideal admittedly, especially when the shower decides to have a
dripping episode.

In message , A.Lee
writes
I fitted a new bath last week for a customer.
All went well, and she was pleased.

Got a call today at 7:50am - there was a problem with the bath, could I
come and have a look.
OK, I was working just up the road, so called in to see the problem,
expecting a small leak, or maybe a tear in the silicone seal etc.

The first thing she said was "you've put it in the wrong way"
Like I'm going to put a bath in the wrong way!

Anyway her complaint was that the shower was the opposite end from the
bath taps, and the mottled bath surface was at the tap end.
So they now slippped when having a shower.
It was my fault it was like that!

Anyway, I'm going back next week to refit the bath the opposite way
round, but she really thought it was my fault, as "I should have noticed
when I put it in".
Sometimes I wonder if it's me!

I suppose you should have asked her exactly what she wanted

but hindsight's a wonderful thing, isn't it



--
geoff

Fred wrote:

Since this thread was started, it got me thinking. I'm now 50-years old and
I've *never* been in any house where the shower is at the opposite end of
the bath to the taps/non-slip surface - not getting at you Alan, but just
realising that I've never seen it done any other way than
taps/non-slip/shower all together at the same end.


Our bath is narrow at the tap end, and wide at the other end. This
makes it have less space around your feet and more near your fat...
errr... shoulders. But the shower is at the wide end, not that tap end.
And it was all fitted in one go - there was no shower in there until
we had a complete refit. No grippy bits at either end.

Andy

On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:50:31 -0500 S Viemeister wrote :
My house has the taps at one end, and the electric shower at the other.
We didn't do it this way ourselves - it was like that when we bought
the place.

When I installed a new bath I turned it 180 so as to get this layout.
Much easier to clean when the shower drippings aren't falling all over
and round the taps.

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk

Tony Bryer wrote:
On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:50:31 -0500 S Viemeister wrote :
My house has the taps at one end, and the electric shower at the other.
We didn't do it this way ourselves - it was like that when we bought
the place.

When I installed a new bath I turned it 180 so as to get this layout.
Much easier to clean when the shower drippings aren't falling all over
and round the taps.

Ditto me.

I wanted to be able to lie with my haed NOT at teh tap end looking out
te window, so that meant te tapos under the window..and there was no way
to pu a shower vbracket ON the window, so it went the other end.

Its all worked out very well, as I can use the shower at the round end
to wash the cat crap down to the plughole. They seem to use that bath as
an alternate sandbox. For reasons which totally escape me..

On 26 Feb, 17:32, (A.Lee) wrote:
I fitted a new bath last week for a customer.
All went well, and she was pleased.

Got a call today at 7:50am - there was a problem with the bath, could I
come and have a look.
OK, I was working just up the road, so called in to see the problem,
expecting a small leak, or maybe a tear in the silicone seal etc.

The first thing she said was "you've put it in the wrong way"
Like I'm going to put a bath in the wrong way!

Anyway her complaint was that the shower was the opposite end from the
bath taps, and the mottled bath surface was at the tap end.
So they now slippped when having a shower.
It was my fault it was like that!

Anyway, I'm going back next week to refit the bath the opposite way
round, but she really thought it was my fault, as "I should have noticed
when I put it in".
Sometimes I wonder if it's me!
Alan.

--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

Of course it will then be your fault that she hits her head against
the wall when lying back for a soak whereas (unless the bath is in an
alcove) there is at present some free space behind. Maybe you can
convince her that a bath mat is the way to go.

Chris

On 26 Feb, 17:56, (A.Lee) wrote:
"Fred" toomuchsp@m wrote:

Why should she have to pay for your mistakes? Common sense would suggest
that all the pipework for the taps and the shower be at the same end, just
as common sense would suggest that the mottled non-slip surface that's at
the tap end - the one that's there to help stop you slipping while you're
stood having a shower - should be at the shower end.

Incidentally, the smooth, non-mottled end is away from the taps so that you
can sit comfortably in the bath and lie back against the end of the bath..
You wouldn't be very comfortable with taps sticking in your back and a
non-slip surface scratching your arse, so common sense would again suggest
that the non-slip surface, the taps and the shower all go together at the
same end.

Too soft? You should own up to your mistake and put it right at your own
expense.

Hold on, it wasnt my mistake.
I put the new bath in exactly the same way and position as the old one.
The new one is obviously a lot smoother, so they say they are now
slipping in the bath.
If there is any complaint, it should be against whoever fitted the
shower at the opposite end.
And yes, the old bath also had its mottled surface at the tap end.
If I was charging a fortune to fit it, then I could understand, but as I
charged £100 for a like for like replacement, which is what I had quoted
for, then really, the customer should either say what they want before
work commences, or during, when they see what I'm doing.
If they wanted the bath the other way round, then I would have galdly
done it, albeit at an extra cost to cover the extra 12 foot or so of
copper pipe and 6 foot of waste needed.
She was quite happy when it was finished.
Alan.
--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

So now that you have to extend the waste pipe by 6 foot - will you
have to increase the height of the bath to maintain the gradient on
the waste?

Mark.

On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:39:56 GMT, Tony Bryer
wrote:

On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:50:31 -0500 S Viemeister wrote :
My house has the taps at one end, and the electric shower at the other.
We didn't do it this way ourselves - it was like that when we bought
the place.

When I installed a new bath I turned it 180 so as to get this layout.
Much easier to clean when the shower drippings aren't falling all over
and round the taps.

IME baths usually have a shallower slope opposite to the tap end. I
remember slipping up when trying to shower at the "wrong" end because
I was climbing the slope trying to get near enough to the shower.

M.

On Feb 26, 7:17*pm, Andy Burns wrote:
On 26/02/2008 18:50, S Viemeister wrote:

My house has the taps at one end, and the electric shower at the other.

same here (well mixer shower) but the bath doesn't have a non-slip area,
it was more convenient that way.

And in my old place. It would have been difficult to fix a shower to
the window at the tap end.

MBQ

On Feb 26, 5:56*pm, (A.Lee) wrote:
"Fred" toomuchsp@m wrote:

Why should she have to pay for your mistakes? Common sense would suggest
that all the pipework for the taps and the shower be at the same end, just
as common sense would suggest that the mottled non-slip surface that's at
the tap end - the one that's there to help stop you slipping while you're
stood having a shower - should be at the shower end.

Incidentally, the smooth, non-mottled end is away from the taps so that you
can sit comfortably in the bath and lie back against the end of the bath..
You wouldn't be very comfortable with taps sticking in your back and a
non-slip surface scratching your arse, so common sense would again suggest
that the non-slip surface, the taps and the shower all go together at the
same end.

Too soft? You should own up to your mistake and put it right at your own
expense.

Hold on, it wasnt my mistake.
I put the new bath in exactly the same way and position as the old one.
The new one is obviously a lot smoother, so they say they are now
slipping in the bath.
If there is any complaint, it should be against whoever fitted the
shower at the opposite end.
And yes, the old bath also had its mottled surface at the tap end.

In that case, it's the customers fault as you have done as you were
asked:

like for like replacement, which is what I had quoted for,


MBQ