Is this reasonable behavior for a contractor?

lee_7

What area are you located? Plenty of good contractors around who answer their phones or return phone calls if busy when you call.

Diciocco

Is this reasonable behavior for a contractor?

There is a plumbing heating pro in my area that has done many jobs for me over the years, and I have always been happy with his work, even though he is somewhat high priced. Last year, I knew that my boiler needed replacing, so I contacted him in June and asked him to give me a price. After two months and numerous unreturned phone calls, he finally came over, looked at the situation, and told me he would get me a proposal. Approx 2 months later, he got me a proposal, but it was higher than I could afford at the time, so I limped through the winter with the old boiler. This year, same scenario: I contacted him two months ago, he said he wanted to take another look at the situation, came over, looked at it, and said that he'd get me a proposal. I don't bother calling him anymore because he never returns phone calls. This is completely frustrating. I pay promptly and have never, ever hassled him or any other contractor. I know that he will do the job correctly, but how long am I supposed to wait. Is there some magic way to get a contractor's attention?

Brad White_198

That is one contractor

Perhaps the message he is sending is that he is too busy and does not need your business, not out of arrogance but out of economic necessity.

It may be that he is undergoing some pressures and issues not related to work and nothing he wishes to reveal, who knows?

I am not about to attribute any motives to his actions or inaction, but it may be worth your while to find another contractor rather than risk another season.

My $0.02

Brad

nitwouttgrict2118451

Un-reasonable Behavior

Go find someone else. I went through this with a heating contractor last year. Plenty of guys out there who would love the work.

Mad Dog_2

He is only human................

If you really want to know, be honest with him and ask him outright. Maybe something ticked him off in the past? Mad Dog

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Keith_36

If you're looking for someone to validate your anger I think that this is the wrong place. Your personal ability to conduct a business deal has nothing to do with heating systems.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

While completely over the top, the movie The Money Pit has some INCREDIBLY true lines.

"I looked at the plumbing a year ago. You think it's gotten better?"

If you found the price of a man whose services you have used and valued to be too high a year ago, I can only say that it will be MORE not less today. Since this man [seems] to value the quality and durability of his services I cannot at all blame him for seeming to ignore you.

This comment comes from a hard-core DIYer and sometimes "contractor" who will do "licensed" work only for himself--not others.

Cosmo_3

This is the problem...

With most one man operations.

I had a period of time when I was going through what I can now look back and simply call a depression. There were some phone calls that were not returned right away, not that I had anything against the person but just that I was burned out and I would give up early in the day. Many customers who knew me for years as I grew up in the business working for my father could see that something was wrong. It took one of them to call my old man and ask if I was doing alright, for me to admit to myself that I was hurting inside and that I had to do something about it.

Unfortunately sometimes the pressures of doing it all yourself can be daunting, and it is important to have another person in the business that can pick up the slack now and then.

If you really care about him, I don't think it is unfair for you to call him and just say that you cannot wait anymore and ask if there is anyone he can recommend for you. Maybe some day down the road he will call you out of the blue one day, and apologize.

Either way, if you have a job that needs to be done then I don't see anything wrong with moving on. Just don't take it personally...

my 2 cents

Cosmo

Rich Kontny_3

Three quotes

You should always get three quotes for comparison. I always do this with my vendors as it keeps them all honest.This contractor is being a wee bit unprofessional if he is ignoring your calls and making you wait. He has had the chance(s) to make this right but for some reason is dropping the ball!

Rich K.

Unknown

I agree here...

call him and say, "Look, if you can't get to the work or don't want it that's fine, could you please recommend someone else for me?" That'll either get him back on the stick or you'll have a lead for someone else to call. Being a one man operation myself I know things can happen. I've been dealing with some health issues recently that left me as decribed above, among other things I was getting burnt out by the afternoon as well as dizzy and disoriented by the meds they were giving me. Not a good combo for driving a service truck and climbing ladders. Fortunately it was short lived and I've been able to jump back in the game at full capacity. Good luck!

Mad Dog_2

Cosmo's is as honest as a reply as your gonna get.......

and that was what I alluded to. As "unprofessional" as it seems we all go through our ups and downs in life. Most people as yourself (the original poster) are compassionate and understanding. I have had a few over the years that were not. Those people assume they pick up the phone and they will have a tech there - right away, bing bang boom, job done....24/7...no matter what's going on in your life: Baby with pnuemonia, Mother dying of Cancer in her final days, truck just got stolen with ALL your tools...I have had these things going on, the people knew but they just didn't care. These were not folks with urgent problems either! When a guy or company is/are very good at what they do, they are usually always "behind" and backlogged on work. Once in awhile an old loyal customer needs to "speak up" and say: "hey, I really want you to do the job, I have always been patient and paid what you ask, but if you don't want to work for me anymore, please just be honest and stop wasting my time. If the guy has any integrity and humility, he will do the right thing. He could just be overwhelmed. Give him one call. Mad Dog

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ScottMP

This is what still makes this site

so awesome ... the completly honest answers from Cosmo and Mad Dog. Running your own business is daunting and NEVER a cake walk. Try waking up at 2:30 AM and realise that your childrens, wifes, family members lifes depend on you and there are three estimates for good customers to do and you are still on the job that should have been done two days ago. Add in the fact that as you lie there in bed , which is never good for your health, that there is a good possiblity that you left the basement door open since you got paged at the last minute and now its snowing to beat the band.

Ups and Downs ?? You better belive it.

Now add in the personnal stuff that Matt went thru and this is a job for a man of steel. Thats why so many fail. It aint easy brother.

Give the guy the benifit if the doubt and give him another call.

Scott

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mtfallsmikey

I'll drink to that

Cosmo and Maddog that is...altho when I was in business, customers like you (if everything you stated is correct)I made sure to take care of...that is why I still do some work for a few of my old customers after 10 yrs. out of the biz full time. The second time I resusitated the biz I was going thru a divorce.

Diciocco

Sorry Keith, I think you may be the one with anger issues, or maybe just cranky today. I was looking for advice, not a lecture based on your mistaken assumptions about me. Also, I've been reading the Wall for years, so don't try to tell me that "heating systems" is the only acceptable topic of conversation. In any event, thanks to those who gave advice. I'm moving on to another contractor.

Tony_23

AMEN to that

Cosmo, MD, and Scott are on target. You could be talking about me. Been through all of that, except the stolen tools. Some customers forget that we're people too. I've had a couple who didn't understand that I had a problem right then and it would take me a few hours to get there. They got rude and showed no compassion and got fired for their attitude. Others, when it was explained what was going on, understood. They either called another tech that time or waited. Bottom line is MY family comes first when the chips are down. That may not be the case with your contractor, but call him up and nicely ask if he's really interested or not.

TH

ScottMP

your changing

e-mail address and authers name tells me all I need to know.

Scott

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Mad Dog_2

Right on Tony

Explain yourself too...I have had some long-standing customers sit me down like a Dutch Uncle (a Dano phrase)and level with me. I learned and we moved ahead. Tell him EXACTLY how you feel and that you respect him enough to give him one more shot....if he don't do the right thing now,, then he is the loser in all this. Mad Dog

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Mad Dog_2

Scott......Nail on the head,,,Brother

VERY well put. Mad Dog

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Mad Dog_2

C'mon Occanaust......

I'll call him at this point!!!! lets gets this boiler job going!!!!b Mad Dog

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