Hi everyone,
I was scheduled to have a trim carpenter install some interior doors in my house yesterday morning around 9am. I had called him the previous evening and he said he’d be there, no problem. Well, it’s now noon, the following day, and still nothing. Never showed up, never called…nothing. I’ve called and left him a couple messages, trying to be as courteous as possible. Again, nothing. Basically, this is no way to run a business, no matter what size your operation may be. If you can’t make it, at least have the courtesy to call and say so. So what do I do now, give the guy the benefit of the doubt in the event that there was a family emergency, accident, etc? Or just move on and find someone else?
I really hate to go back to square one in my search. It’s very time cosuming to set up times to have people come by for estimates, etc. And half the time, they never show up for these either…sorry, end of rant.
If anyone out there is in the Western New York area, and is looking for some work, let me know!
-Kyle
Replies
I always call. I always show up on time.
However, things happen. I have a cell phone to call for emergencies. I have a cell phone to call if I'm going to be late.
Calling someone and letting them know that you are running behind schedule isn't just a courtesy, it's the difference between wasting someone's time and treating their time as valuable as your own. I give people as much notice as I can and I feel that I get it back in kind.
If I have an apointment and someone keeps me waiting without calling, I leave. If they show up and I'm not there, it's not my fault. People who are on time are as important as people who do good work. What's the point of having a good job if you can't count on it being done. I don't want to sacrifice quality but reliability goes a long way...
Douglas T in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Used to live in Batavia...if I were still there I'd be happy to bring some tools....sorry to hear about you getting hosed.........
If you aren't one of the one's I'm talking about,you shouldn't have any complaints....
Welcome to modern society. It ain't always pretty. Nor is that attitude only in the building trades.
And a reason some of us DIY.
Good luck.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Ok, so the guy is a day and a half late, hasn't called, and won't return your calls. Drop him. Things happen and we all get behind on occassion, but whenh that happens, a phone call is required.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
it's trim.
Your house isn't gonna fall down with out it.
I'd give the guy some time to hear what the reason/excuse is.
maybe he's dead?
maybe someone else died.
maybe he's in the ER ....
I'm not fast at making/returning phone calls with I'm dead or in the ER ...
then again ... I left town Thurs morning. Kid was supposed to go to my job Thurs and Fri and dig post holes ... got back on Monday ...
no holes.
no phone calls either.
thinking he's not planning on actually digging them?
Him ... might be dead ... might be in the ER ... might have a crack hangover.
Either way ... I'm not calling him back.
but with him ... this was the second time he's stiffed me .. and he was late showing up to pick up the garage key(over slept) ... so we'll call it 3 times and yer out.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
yerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr out!
Time to hire one of those illegal hispanics. Probably dig more holes than ya need.
EricIt's Never Too Late
To Become
What You Might Have Been
[email protected]
Jeff,
sounds like we have the same helper?????
Had a young man( 20) that had been helping me for quite some time.
Never managed to get to work on time---EVER---including his first day. but he always showed up---and worked methodically---if slowly---at whatever assigned to.
usually I gave him the next days address---and he would show up the next day 25 minutes late---regular as clockwork.
well---I had a job that required about 40 minutes of drive time one way, unusual for me.---so I told the kid---several days in a row---" Friday we are going to Wadsworth---it's a long drive---we only wanna take one vehicle. Be at my house at 7:30 and you can ride with me----BUT---I am warning you---be there at 7:30 'cause if you arrive at 7:31 I will already be gone.
well---you know what happens-----7:30---kids' a no show. Off I go, do the job solo.
Kid never shows, never calls. No call Fri., no call Sat., no call Sun., Calls Mon about 10:00 am and leaves a message" Steve---I have been waiting for you to call me and tell me where to show up for work today"
get the irony????---now I am wasting HIS time!!!!
I call him back---get his voice mail---explain---since he was a no show Fri,--didn't call Fri., didn't call Sat., didn't call sun., didn't call before work Monday---- I have made other plans and got on with my life. Ask him where do you want me to send your last check.
Kid calls back Sat. ---5 days later---3:30 pm---leaves message----I am at a wedding-----wants to know if he can stop by and get his check---doesn't want it lost in the mail( if i had mailed it---he would have already HAD it by then)
A lot of these younger guys---act like they are still in school. not only do they want paid---but they EXPECT you to stand over 'em and MAKE 'em work. no personal initiative----decent people---but no drive---looking to be taken care of--- employer is a pseudo " daddy figure"
stephen
Steve, your comparison to kids in school here got my attention. I think that too many schools are too easy on the students, lettting them make up work later to get credit for it, leting them show up late for class, letting them do other things for "extra credit" when they haven't even done their basic assignments already.So they learn bad study habits and it carries through to the job.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
just got word that one of my nephews won't be spending the nite here tomorrow ...
about a month ago ... he stole something from a neighbor ... got caught instantly as it was his first very poorly planned attempt at a life of crime .... gave the ring to a little girl 2 houses down ... it was quickly returned .... was in trouble with "everyone" for all of about a long weekend ... then ... vacation ... and all is seemingly forgotten. Still grounded ... but not enough for my likes ...
told my wife ... he comes over ... he's not gonna like it here!
I had plans for essay writting ... 1000 words on "why" ... U sit there ... I'll watch and wait ...
then ... it's washing and cleaning out Uncle Jeff's work van time ...
floors up stairs wouldn't be hurt by a good scrubbing either ...
and there's weeds outside ... and if we run out ... there's always the neighbors.
as it is ... their plans fell thru ... so we don't have to watch him.
which is too bad ... as he may have just started to learn his lesson.
Just easier to ignore problems early on I guess?
I was gonna have him up at 6am and working till 10pm .... all weekend long ...
and I hate getting up early on weekends!
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
You be proactive. Call him and find out what the excuse was. I get calls from time to time because I let too much time slip by before calling. If I was supposed to show up like this guy was though, you bet I would have phoned right away. Find out, then fire him....or not. I like Buck's policy, strike three and out you are.
Hey I grew up in Western NY, I'd help ya out if I could. Those winters though...God bless ya.
Thanks for the input guys. Still haven't heard from this guy, and I've been proactive and left him a few messages. At this point I'm writing him off, and I'll try to find someone else...that is, unless, he calls to say he or his family were involved in a horrific accident, etc.
maybe he's in the joint. you only get 1 call there.
You weren't it. LOL
In the joint, or smoking one maybe.
"Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
You called and left a couple of messages.
Forget him, I'm sure he will never call you back or show up, and continued calls will only get you more upset. If by chance you ever get him on the phone the conversation will not be pleasent, no mater how nice you attempt to be. If he were to call and make an excuse it's just that, an excuse. How much effort is there in making a 1 minute phone call. He chose not to show up or call.
I'm guessing you contracted with a person who does fine work but their business and people skills suck. There are many tests of personality types out there and had everything gone to this persons liking I'm sure you both would have been happy with the job. I suspect something happened in your phone conversation, perhaps very insignificant to you, that turned him away from the job.
Enneagram and Kolbe both do a fine job of explaining people. I wish I could get all my prospective customers tested to root out good and bad matches.
Where in Western New York?
He's not coming. And he's screening you out. Move on.
I hate little piss-ant jobs as much as the next guy but he should at least have the decentcy to call.