OT - If you don't want the job

Joneil · Aug 27, 2011

If you don't want the job, or are too busy to accept another job, then don't take it. Hired a guy to take down a tree. He said he would do it mid to late last week. Haven't heard from him. I told him it needed done before the end of the month. I didn't even haggle him on the cost, he said the price and I said do it.

Other companies wouldn't even show up after they said they would be here to give me an estimate. If they don't want to do any work then they shouldn't even bother picking up the phone. Or if they're running behind, give me a call to reschedule.

omahagreg · Aug 27, 2011

Used to be a self employed remodeler-still remodel, just not for my self! I got a small job, but, if I remember right, expensive! He gave me the job on site, first visit, because I was the only guy to show up at all, and I was there when I said I would be!

Paul from MI · Aug 27, 2011

Amazing!! I never owned my own company, just worked for someone else. I'd never dream of not keeping an appointment without an emergency call to the customer. Maybe that's why I had a job for 45 years. Not showing up is just not an option in my book.

Just shows how easy it is to succeed. Just do what you said you'd do when you said you'd do it. Responsibility is a foreign concept to a lot of people. Sorry for the rant.

2cylpartsinfo · Aug 27, 2011

The city where I love inspects sidewalds every 10 years or so. If they find faults (trip hazards, etc.) you have the option of getting it fixed by one of the city's certified contractors or the city will fix it and add the bill to your property taxes (at an inflated rate).
The city provides a long list of certified contractors, most would not call back or give me the time of day.
Finally, the grandson of a contractor knocked on my door and said they would love to have my job.
These guys actually tried. Needless to say I gave them the job.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 27, 2011

That is the modern approach now but one day he may turn up out of the blue. It is not the end of the month yet so there is still hope.maybe his schedule has been thrown out but it is only good manners to get in touch with the client.From what I observe there are not many about[good manners]. Like "thank you" not in the vocabularly of some people,particularly when you hold a door open for some, a bit late to let it swing in their face after they are through.

Joneil · Aug 27, 2011

Thanks for the replies. It's just amazing that people like this stay in business.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 27, 2011

Had a guy here that did gutters,flashing, downspouts,etc. Would never turn down a job.Would bid just under the bigger folks and had so much "work" that he spent more time making excuses for not showing up to the smaller jobs..... Must have been a lot of stress, drove out to the woods one day set up his longest ladder and hung himself from a treetop....

IA Roy · Aug 27, 2011

I have observed that a lot of the self employed people that I know would not be able to work for someone else!!!!!!!.

Jiles · Aug 27, 2011

I had a long time friend come and make me an estimate on building a 30x30 garage.
He set up transit and figured a little with figures and finally told me he would get back with me with an estimate. He said he was behind in his work and it might be a while.
I guess he was WAY Behind because thats been about 18 months ago and I haven't heard a word!!!
I had a different person make an estimate on a large deck to be built on the back of my home. That was about a year ago, this September, and he said he would start the first of the year. I called him in Feburary of this year and he said he would come by and finalize the plans for the deck, the following monday.
I didn't hear from him untll May because he had forgot.
I cancelled the job because he might have forgot before he finished MY JOB !!!
I showed him!!!_-----I still don't have a deck??????
So---I know very well what you are saying.

MSD · Aug 27, 2011

Been a contractor for 34 years now. I always try to make my deadlines and if I can't I let the homeowners know what is up. On the other hand, I have had subcontractors say they will show up on a certain date and never show. I finally told some of the worst that they have to wait an extra week in getting their paycheck for each day they are late showing up. One drywall guy started calling a week after the job was done wanting his money but he waited over a month before he got paid just because he caused me delays.

paul · Aug 27, 2011

Three years ago I was looking to put up a machine shed, went to the big farm show in the area, musta been 15 builders there.

10 only had a warm body at the desk, didn't know prices, materials, timeframe, only handed out a flier. What's the point of that?

Three didn't appeal to me for one thing or another.

Two I liked, both took my phone number & said they would call the following week.

Still waiting for the one to call, the other got to build my building by default. Actually called & showed up.

--->Paul

Anonymous-0 · Aug 28, 2011

Yep! And that is with 9% unemployment.
I pay quickly and that is well known by the contractors in the area. Still I have waited 3 months for the fence man, 6 months for the gutter repair man, and on and on.

I keep hearing that small business hiring is going to rebuild the American economy..hum?
Lots of people need the discipline a factory job puts into their life.

Lots of small businesses are small because they deserve to be small.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 28, 2011

A lot of that going around people want the $$$
but not the work.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 28, 2011

I'm self employed and have been for 23 years. I 've been told a number of times that a job was mine and never heard from the customer again. It is a two way street, you need to be pro-active and make contact with your tree guy. I have a job right now that my customer kicked me off on. I have done some preliminary work on the project and submitted it for approval, that was two month ago. Last Friday they called and asked how I was coming along. I said they needed to approve the work that was sent to them and I would proceed. I have not heard back since. I have made multiple attempts to contact them in the past and just get voice mail. After awhile you just move on and take care of the squeaky wheel.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 28, 2011

Andy is right... it is a 2 way street.

The customer has the responsibility to have the work site ready, provide specific diirection and pay promptly. I try very hard to do that.

The "worker" should do the job as agreed, when agreed and at the price quoted.

Seems simple enough...but it often isn't.

Joneil · Aug 28, 2011

He lets all incoming calls go to voice mail. If he doesn't call me back tomorrow I'll call one of the 24 hour emergency services to do it.

I'm so frustrated, I'm completely powerless living in town. I know I could cut it down myself, but my neighbor is sue happy. If something were to go wrong he would take me to court for everything I'm worth. Now I can't even get a "professional" to do it for me.

Joneil · Aug 28, 2011

My yard is completely open except for my garden. And I told him if the safest place to drop the tree was into my garden then drop it there.

cole in mo. · Aug 28, 2011

people are funny, I'm retired from my reg job, but have always worked on tractors on the side. Now I work full time on tractors, have lots of calls, hey, I was told you work on tractors cheaper than the big guys, yeah, well I've got this or that, and it needs a clutch, can you fix it and how much. No problem, won't be over so many dollars, allright, I want it done, as soon as I can get somebody to haul it up there I'll call you, most times thats the last I hear from them. I've called a few of them back a week or so later, still want that tractor fixed, well, I got so and so to do it, or well money is kinda tight right now, or I'm still working on getting it to you.

Mike (WA) · Aug 28, 2011

Pretty obvious here- if you want more business, get an outfit to haul them in. Charge them enough to cover costs for the haul-in, and you just doubled your volume.

You gotta remember- if someone can't fix a tractor, they probably can't arrange hauling either- you've gotta be the "one stop" tractor repair center.

Spook · Aug 28, 2011

(reply to post at 17:45:49 08/27/11)

I have a similar problem. I have called 2 tree guys, and not got a answer from either. I was told that they have been very busy from storms here lately. I can wait awhile for the work, but they can't return a call? Btw, a lot of self employed folks are self employed because they can't hold a freaking job. I know, I have some relatives that fall into that category.

OT - If you don't want the job

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