mark wrote in message ...
I don't care if I ever see another plumber in my life.
I can't think of a single plumber who isnt like this and is available to
do work in the next 6 months.
IME this is not so much that they're in great demand, more that they're
incapable of finishing anything. The tangled web they create becomes a full
time job in itself.

In message , Andrew Gabriel
writes

Over the last 5 years, I've probably had some 5 or so jobs which
I've tried to get tradesmen in to do. Every time, it's involved
phoning some ~10 tradesmen. On 3 occations I actually managed to
get someone round to look at the job. Only ever got one quote,
and the work done really wasn't very good (not up to the standard
I could do it, but done much faster). I DIY pretty much everything
now -- trying to get tradesmen is a big waste of time.




As part of 'the trade' I find the fact that this (accurate mostly)
generalisation exists.
For the record; I answer every message that is left on our answering
machine within a day or so. I ask the enquirer for a brief description
of the work, where it is, when they envisage having it done and how soon
they need a quote.
If those criteria are met to our mutual satisfaction then I go to quote.
The problem at the moment is that we are so busy people don't want to
wait weeks for a quote and months before we can carry out the work.
(At the moment I'm running a 7 week lead on quotes and work is getting
booked in for next June).
One problem that arises from long lead times is the accumulation of
delays and snags, which cant be foreseen; on jobs we have in hand.
This can leave someone who booked 8 months ahead finding that their
actual start date ends up 3 month later than I had indicated.

BUT!

We ring them up and keep them posted. As soon as we know we can't make
the planned date (and we can tell months ahead usually) we ring up.
I always point out that if we were on their job and we had a snag that
extended the job but left at the appointed time to start another job,
leaving their job unfinished; they wouldn't be happy. So far I haven't
lost a job through explaining myself.

Plumbers don't seem to have this facility

--
mark

On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 12:10:18 +0100, "stuart noble"
wrote:


mark wrote in message ...
I don't care if I ever see another plumber in my life.
I can't think of a single plumber who isnt like this and is available to
do work in the next 6 months.
IME this is not so much that they're in great demand, more that they're
incapable of finishing anything. The tangled web they create becomes a full
time job in itself.

Hi,

Maybe plan the job yourself, and get them to do a self contained days
worth at a time. Similar problems happen with late IT projects, where
different people doing bits in an unplanned way make it hard to
improve progress.

cheers,
Pete.

We ring them up and keep them posted. As soon as we know we can't make
the planned date (and we can tell months ahead usually) we ring up.
I always point out that if we were on their job and we had a snag that
extended the job but left at the appointed time to start another job,
leaving their job unfinished; they wouldn't be happy. So far I haven't
lost a job through explaining myself.

Plumbers don't seem to have this facility


The industry certainly seems to be in an 'interesting situation. Personally
speaking, if a builder is honest with me I'd much rather use them anyway -
regardless of how late they're going to be (within reason). I certainly
prefer that to some ******** excuse or, worse still, not being told at all.

For the particular project I'm working on, I'd rather do most of the work
myself anyway, since the more I can save on building costs the more I'll
have to spend on other improvements - I also enjoy it. However, there are
some jobs which I simply can't do - like plastering, roof repairs, steel
fabrication etc.

As a side note to this, and I'm totally thinking out loud here, perhaps
plumbers etc. should be thinking of new ways to profit from their fortunate
position? For example, in my soil pipe scenario, the work isn't *that*
complicated but I'm reluctant to do it myself 'cause I don't have the
experience of knowing the *best* way of doing things. I'd happily pay for a
plumber to give me, say, 1-2 hours 'consultancy', telling me the best way to
do it myself, materials needed etc. That way I can get on with it, I've
built a rapport with them for future work and they're still making some
money from the job. Just an idea - must be better than just turning work
away?

....and perhaps it's just the companies I've dealt with, but very few
builders etc. seem to make best, if any, use of modern day technology. I'm
sure quotes / correspondence via e-mail, for example, would make life much
easier on both sides?

Andy

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 12:51:48 +0100, Pecanfan wrote:



...and perhaps it's just the companies I've dealt with, but very few
builders etc. seem to make best, if any, use of modern day technology. I'm
sure quotes / correspondence via e-mail, for example, would make life much
easier on both sides?

Funny you shold say that.
I'm seriously thinking of clearly stating that preference is going to be
given to customers who are prepared book, discuss and pay online. This
does work against older people, though.



--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 17:42:20 +0100, "Ed Sirett"
wrote:

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 12:51:48 +0100, Pecanfan wrote:



...and perhaps it's just the companies I've dealt with, but very few
builders etc. seem to make best, if any, use of modern day technology. I'm
sure quotes / correspondence via e-mail, for example, would make life much
easier on both sides?

Funny you shold say that.
I'm seriously thinking of clearly stating that preference is going to be
given to customers who are prepared book, discuss and pay online. This
does work against older people, though.

Yes and no. There's an increasing number of silver surfers,
although I think it's easier for them when there's a younger family
member to help and encourage them.
For anybody not as mobile as they used to be, on line banking and
shopping with delivery is a huge benefit.






..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

In message , Pecanfan
writes
As a side note to this, and I'm totally thinking out loud here, perhaps
plumbers etc. should be thinking of new ways to profit from their fortunate
position? For example, in my soil pipe scenario, the work isn't *that*
complicated but I'm reluctant to do it myself 'cause I don't have the
experience of knowing the *best* way of doing things. I'd happily pay for a
plumber to give me, say, 1-2 hours 'consultancy', telling me the best way to
do it myself, materials needed etc. That way I can get on with it, I've
built a rapport with them for future work and they're still making some
money from the job. Just an idea - must be better than just turning work
away?

We already do this on a fairly regular basis; strangely it doesn't seem
to impact on our business at all. In fact, if the customer goes away and
does the job with our advice in mind and finds the advice is good; it
means they know we know what we're talking about. :~)

...and perhaps it's just the companies I've dealt with, but very few
builders etc. seem to make best, if any, use of modern day technology. I'm
sure quotes / correspondence via e-mail, for example, would make life much
easier on both sides?

Indeed. I'd quite happily do everything by e-mail.
Even the bricklaying.
--
mark

On 28 Sep 2004 20:52:20 GMT, (Huge) wrote:

Andy Hall writes:
On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 17:42:20 +0100, "Ed Sirett"
wrote:

[12 lines snipped]

given to customers who are prepared book, discuss and pay online. This
does work against older people, though.

Yes and no. There's an increasing number of silver surfers,
although I think it's easier for them when there's a younger family
member to help and encourage them.
For anybody not as mobile as they used to be, on line banking and
shopping with delivery is a huge benefit.

My parents (72 & 75) are very active online. Using email to
keep in touch is invaluable.
Hi,

Talking of older folk what's happened to Mrs Fisher?

cheers,
Pete,