Because of the terrible business sense and work ethic. Let me explain through a little story. Bought a new house. Want to install a fence. Called three fencers and emailed three “handy men” type fence ad’s from Kijiji for quotes.
Three of the called fencers showed up as arranged to measure for quote. This was three weeks ago. So far only one has got back with the quote. Another said they would have it the next day and hasn’t returned emails. The third hasn’t even been in touch since. So you guys spent two or three hours out of your day (we live outside the city) plus gas to come and measure for a job that we are obviously very serious about doing, then don’t even bother to follow up. You just threw away at least 4K in business—must be nice to be able to do that. I can’t imagine fencers are that busy in August in Nova Scotia. Especially so busy they can throw away four thousand dollar jobs.
As for the Kijiji guys, one of the three actually got back to me. Asking me to call to discuss. I did not call because I responded to an electronic ad by email. Thus, me, the customer, prefers to communicate by email. Not that hard, right? If you don’t want to communicate by email, don’t advertise online with an email address, pretty simple. As for the other two who didn’t respond, must be nice to be able to throw away four thousand dollars worth of work. —On Guard!
This article appears in Aug 9-15, 2012.
Ummm, why bother with a fucking quote when you mentioned it was $4000 THREE FUCKING TIMES in this email ….. no wonder they are avoiding you and your hub-unit!
They most likely want to speak to you over the phone because things get lost in translation through emails. If you notice, there is also a phone number on most site’s “contact us” tab.
Do you have a fear of the telephone, or are you just one of those people who want everything your way or no way at all?
Get off your lazy ass and build the fence yourself. FFS, it a fence. How difficult could it be? You might even save yourself 2000 bucks.
Well, they’re actually probably quite busy building fences in August. Certainly much busier then they would be November – March.
Also, contractors prefer the phone to e-mail (in my experience). You’re looking for their services (if you’re not a customer yet, that ‘the customer is always right’ crap doesn’t count), so you should probably conform to their form of business.
Kijiji ads…. need I say more?
And $4000 doesn’t go as far as you think when it comes to contracting. It’s about $100 just for the permit.
It’s not that hard to call either, you cheapass prima donna. They spent time driving out and then don’t want to go near you? I’d think the problem is less their work ethic and a lot more you.
how difficult can it be???
are you kidding me? a fence is a big DIY project. i am pretty handy and i wouldn’t attempt it, all those friggin rocks where i want the post holes to go. uh uh . of course, we’re both talking about a fence that actually stays up for more than an hour, right? with post holes below the heave line. not just those blocks that sit on the ground.
dude…
they’re too lazy to call someone…
do you really think they’re going to put fence-making in their project pile?
go to your local day care and hire some kids to dig for you…
kids love that shit and they’re the only ones not complaining about minimum wage…
on second thought… fuck the fence, just have the tykes build you a kick ass moat!
I second the moat option! With the addition of crocodiles and great white sharks, this could become a serious DIY home yard renovation project. I’ll secure the building and animal permits, you guys handle the funding.
FYI: The going price for crocodile is around $15 000 (and we’ll need a solid dozen). Sharks cost about 1000 Coins on Runescape (not sure of the exchange rate). So you’ll need to secure some investments for this venture.
i’ll third the moat option. buy sharks? bloody hell, when there are 300,000 of them circling ns at any given time? someone step up here and volunteer to go stand in 4 feet of water dangling a bit o choice meat as bait.
fellows???
how about some “bubbling crude” or a wishing moat, three wishes for a loonie
we’re not talking yosamite sam moats here either… even a rabbit can best those suckers…
you’ll need to hire a bridge-keeper for the gorge of eternal peril we’re installing up in this bitch
bridgekeeper? that would be TIM! (aka paingirl)
Possible option?
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aW0XqiDRDmg/Tqif…
We’ll open source this project, guys. Everyone can put forth their best idea, which will be subject to peer review, cost/benefit analysis, feasibility, and bad-assery assessment.
swivelling turrets? and if there’s any kind of wishing moats with flung loonies, i want it at my place.
hay, i call dibs or shotgun^^
paingirl, you’re the bridgekeeper, when the unworthy masses fluff the question ‘WHAT is your favourite colour?’ you yell PULL, fling the bastid into the air and i’ll skeet him!
nice, human skeet shooting
as with any company, you should do a little research first off. find out where they worked and check out there jobs. when i used to do the landscaping thing years back, my buddy and i, always gave out a refference. and 99 out of 100 times, there was a lot of satisfaction from those we worked for.
there are a lot of fly by nighters out there, and all you have to do, is check around. same way with the driveway pavers, ask always for a refference first.
Hmmm….hiring a contractor offo Kijiji, not something I would do.
Do it yourself (rent a post hole digger), or hire a fencing company that’s been around for longer than 6 months, but that will probably cost a fair bit more than $4K.
A paddock stocked with South African Cape Buffalo between the inner and outer perimeters:
http://www.hsd3.org/HighSchool/Teachers/MA…
“Well, I see you Mormons have your running shoes on. You’re going to need them. Sure I can’t offer you a cup of coffee before you go.”
I completely agree with the OP here. No sweat in getting an estimate to work on your house whether it be replacing a window, a new gutter what have you but getting them to come back and do the actual work is like pulling teeth. You can call until your blue in the face, nobody replies. Must be a time honoured tradition with some of the trades people around here.
The only explanation I can think of is that they think it’s not worth their while so why don’t they just tell you that?
Well OB, you’re an idiot. First going to Kijiji and second, not calling the guy back. I personally hate fucking e-mail to conduct business. I like to either meet and/or talk to a client. I’m busy enough without having to check e-mail every fucking minute and look like all the other idiots out there walking with their heads down bumping into people or walking in front of traffic.
Hay- I know a dude who’d do it for half that but you gotta catch him on a sober day or else the fence’ll be pretty shitty.
Will the frickin’ sharks have frickin’ laser beams attached to their frickin’ heads?
Also, I think a few, strategically placed Phalanx Mk 15 Close In Weapon Systems (CIWS) are a must to cut down on the Jehovah Witness cold calls:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SHOZ7lV3R4w/Tw8j…
“Asking me to call to discuss. I did not call because I responded to an electronic ad by email. Thus, me, the customer, prefers to communicate by email.”
You had me until then, OB ^^
You must be a piece of work if none of these people want to deal with you. And the fact that you think fencing people aren’t that busy in August shows just how much of a dumbass you are.
Either that or they knew you were going to low ball them. 4k for a fence isn’t that much, I’m afraid.
OH YES Vastie. Gee Whiz I loves me da CWIS. R2-D2 with a chubby.