Why does no-one want to take on the small jobs?

[deniser]

As usual I am struggling to find a tradesman to do a small job. This time I need a new waste disposal unit installing. I have contacted the first few on the manufacturer's authorised stockist list but in a week, no-one has returned my call. I'm willing to pay good money, I just want the job done.

I have a plumber whose first job for me was to move a radiator. He did the small job efficiently so I entrusted him with a whole new kitchen and bathroom installation for lots of money which he was grateful for.

I don't mind them not wanting the job but why do they not call back to say so instead of just ignoring my messages? Am I likely to recommend them to someone wanting a complete kitchen? Of course not.

I'm not surprised some businesses are in difficulty the way they operate!

 

[GeorgeStrait]

Try www.mybuilder.com I had the same trouble, but this website has proved a godsend with tradesmen actually turning up to quote and actually do the job as well - I know, unbelievable

 

[deniser]

Try www.mybuilder.com I had the same trouble, but this website has proved a godsend with tradesmen actually turning up to quote and actually do the job as well - I know, unbelievable

What a fantastic site, thanks for the tip.

 

[Matt1959]

trades are in business to make money like everyone else. Its often not realistic to do small jobs on the basis on what may or may not follow because usually "it doesn't follow". Travelling costs, loading/ unloading tools and kit is the same for small jobs as big jobs and I think that most tradesmen know for small jobs "they should be charging this, but it'll make it too expensive" so they don't bother. I agree not getting back to customers is the pits though - inexcusable...

 

[estwig]

The problem is if you phone the customer and say thanks for the offer, but I don't want the work. A lot of people get very annoyed about it, "why don't you want the work?" in a strained tone of voice is the usual response. "Because I don't, thanks, bye" is not a good answer, so you are into a scenario of explaining why, it all gets very messy.

It's a lot easier, a lot less stressful and a lot less time consuming to ignore the call.

I know it's wrong and it's rude, but that's how it is.

 

[Parthelan]

I know it's wrong and it's rude, but that's how it is.

Agreed - not getting back to people is indeed rude. They could get back to the person and say something to the effect they're fully booked until September and it's best look somewhere else. Anything other than ignore the customer. I think it ensures the customer wont try that tradesman again, regardless of the size of the job. Or they could just quote stupid money to put the customer off - explaining it's a small job but has all the associated expenses of a much bigger job.

Ive had it happen to me - one guy for a small roof repair telling me he was fully booked for the next 8 months (it could have been true but his expression said he couldnt be arsed with the rigmarole for such a small job) and another guy I asked to do tiling, (tiling wasnt his trade but he could do it like a craftsman) told be he could do the job, perfectly, but he would take so long it wouldnt be worth the aggro for him or me. I actually appreciated the honesty. And went out and learned how to tile myself and did the job myself I friggin hate tiling and wallpapering, hate it - but thanks to those tradesmens rejections, I can now do it myself

 

[deniser]

The problem is if you phone the customer and say thanks for the offer, but I don't want the work. A lot of people get very annoyed about it, "why don't you want the work?" in a strained tone of voice is the usual response. "Because I don't, thanks, bye" is not a good answer, so you are into a scenario of explaining why, it all gets very messy.

It's a lot easier, a lot less stressful and a lot less time consuming to ignore the call.

I know it's wrong and it's rude, but that's how it is.

Is there no better way? Can you not say you are fully booked for x months?

Ignoring me makes my hackles rise far more than someone telling me they don't want the job/it's not what they do/it's not cost effective for them.

When I was in the service industry, yes there were a lot of jobs I didn't want, but I just told people I couldn't do it - don't have the expertise, not the sort of transaction I undertake, am too busy to fit it in - but here's the number of someone (usually someone starting out who would appreciate the contact if not the job itself particularly) who can.

But thanks for explaining.

 

[estwig]

Your business people that makes it a lot easier to say "I don't want the job", your more likely to accept that. Joe Public are a lot more difficult to deal with.

Why should anyone have to lie? Saying I'm fully booked up when your not is lying.

Just trying to give you a different perspective.

 

[Beachcomber]

It's a lot easier, a lot less stressful and a lot less time consuming to ignore the call.

I know it's wrong and it's rude, but that's how it is.

I thought standard practice was to bung in a horrendously high price for the job to put them off - and if you do get tyhe job your quids in!

 

[deniser]

A very kind plumber has (via the site GeorgeStrait kindly recommended above) emailed me step by step instructions on how to fix the problem myself so I will have a go later.

 

[Parthelan]

.
Why should anyone have to lie? Saying I'm fully booked up when your not is lying.

True that.

But it is a sign you're highly evolved

 

[Matt1959]

As usual I am struggling to find a tradesman to do a small job. This time I need a new waste disposal unit installing. I have contacted the first few on the manufacturer's authorised stockist list but in a week, no-one has returned my call. I'm willing to pay good money, I just want the job done.

just out of interest, whats your definition of good money? Sorry if that sounds curt, its really not meant that way The reason I ask is that its very easy for a trade to make assumptions about peoples willingness to part with their cash. Most trades would do small jobs if it were worth their while but most assume the client won't pay the money and I'm as guilty of this as anyone

another way round all this is to have a minimum charge of half a days labour..

 

[deniser]

just out of interest, whats your definition of good money? Sorry if that sounds curt, its really not meant that way The reason I ask is that its very easy for a trade to make assumptions about peoples willingness to part with their cash. Most trades would do small jobs if it were worth their while but most assume the client won't pay the money and I'm as guilty of this as anyone

another way round all this is to have a minimum charge of half a days labour..

We are talking travelling time of under 5 minutes. What would you have to charge to make the job worthwhile?

There was an electrician posting yesterday whose phone only rang once in 3 weeks. Surely he would take this job if he were a plumber? or not?

 

[Matt1959]

We are talking travelling time of under 5 minutes. What would you have to charge to make the job worthwhile?

There was an electrician posting yesterday whose phone only rang once in 3 weeks. Surely he would take this job if he were a plumber? or not?

I suspect alot of the problem is trades are struggling and skint and they dont see small jobs are going anywhere near to solving their problems. I cant comment on this particular job as dont know whats involved...

 

[Philip Hoyle]

I'm not surprised some businesses are in difficulty the way they operate!

Trouble is that most decent tradesmen aren't in difficulty and continue to be very busy and booked up well ahead. It's the public perception of them being in difficulty which is wrong. Plumbers and heating engineers are particular trades which never seem to be short of work, closely followed by electricians and roofers.

I have a friend from school 30 years ago who is a plumber and he hasn't advertised for years, not even got his van sign written, not in Yellow Pages and no website. He's always got at least six months work in his diary - it was closer to a year during the bubble years. He just services repeat business from his past clients and referrals from them for their close friends/family etc. He'll do emergencies and small jobs for past clients only and just fits them in as and when he can if he's passing. He won't call back any unknown people who leave messages on his phone as he simply doesn't have the time to waste to do so.

To be honest, I'd be more worried if I randomly phoned a tradesmen who seemed too keen to come out and who could do the job straight away - I'd be worried there was a reason he wasn't busy and that the reason was likely to be he wasn't actually very good, hence no regular customers and referrals to keep them busy.

You have to remember that the "recession" doesn't affect everyone. Some people and businesses are very badly hit, there's no doubt about that. But the majority of people havn't lost their jobs or taking a pay cut, and there are plenty of people who are doing better than ever. Same applies to businesses, some are in trouble, many are just plodding along, but there are still plenty going from strength to strength.

 

[ankush999]

hello friends...............
i m also a user of this form and i think the people don't like small jobs to do because every dream for big one and they stepped in the field to do anything bigger to earn lots of money.

regards
ankush

 

[Matt1959]

yes agree with phillip above, I should have prefaced my trades comment with some and not implied all!! Trouble is customer cant win - busy guy as above post wont do it, greedy guy, won't do it,and the one that will do it is no good! Deneser you need to find that elusive decent tradesman that will say yes

How long should this job take?

 

[deniser]

Trouble is customer cant win - busy guy as above post wont do it, greedy guy, won't do it,and the one that will do it is no good! Deneser you need to find that elusive decent tradesman that will say yes

I have lots of really good tradesmen and contacts but am just stumped on this one because this property is outside my usual locality.

I have been using the same Peckham plumber since 1993!