Contractor Delays

mjstraw

Needed someone to service/evaluate my older boiler and discuss some near-boiler piping work.  Early September I called a contractor who had done some gas piping work for me and advertised as "boiler specialists".  Earliest they could come was today.

Yesterday they called.  Busy and couldn't keep the appointment.  Soonest they could reschedule was mid-December.

To their credit, they called.  But I'm still feeling poorly treated.  Time to call someone else.

Jamie Hall

You might not do any better... everyone I know is backed up beyond belief. Can't get help.

Solid_Fuel_Man

In my area, we have literally 2x the amount of work which can be accomplished by our workforce. Any tradesman is booked out far beyond sight. I know I am! Every one I know is in the same position. It doesn't make any sense. Lack of qualified help.....nope....lack of anyone with a pulse who is willing to work. 

JUGHNE

Really lack of someone who is; literally hungry, wants to keep the utilities turned on and knows how to rectify their situation.

We have the county food pantry and have lines of cars waiting for free food, most have electric rear hatches or trunks that can be activated for the volunteers to put your goodies inside. You don't have to even get out of the vehicle.

We are in an area where there are perpetual "Help Wanted" signs......how did these people eat before the give away food programs?
How did they pay for their loaded 1-2 year old SUV?

Seems like 3rd world programs for a 1st world country.....well it used to be anyway.

mjstraw

I had no problem with the initial 2 month wait.  And I wouldn't have had a problem if they'd called and said we can't get to you until next week.

But to put me back to the end of the line, after people who called after I did, really pisses me off.

Jamie Hall

"But to put me back to the end of the line, after people who called after I did, really pisses me off."

Perhaps it would be well to verify this -- and to make certain that your problem is really more urgent than someone who has, perhaps, a no heat problem?

EBEBRATT-Ed

I really don't understand the 11 million who are out of work and don't want to work when their are plenty of jobs around. Wish I was 20 years old with the 68 years of knowledge I have now. I could make some decent money LOL

mjstraw

Jamie Hall said:

"...and to make certain that your problem is really more urgent than someone who has, perhaps, a no heat problem?"

You really think they have 2 months of no heat calls scheduled?

delta T

I had to stop taking on new work about a month ago. The earliest I would even consider taking so much as a service call right now is mid January and that is tentative. You have to understand that a lot can happen in two months. Maybe several of their workforce got sick and kicked another project back by a week, maybe the tech they had scheduled for you had a personal emergency, maybe they had a major emergency call that morning that took precedence. It is crazy right now for all of us. I'd try and be patient and give them a chance. I have had to cancel in the exact same manor as they did for a variety of reasons numerous times. Please don't take it personally. If they hadn't called that is another matter....

pecmsg

mjstraw said:

Jamie Hall said:

"...and to make certain that your problem is really more urgent than someone who has, perhaps, a no heat problem?"

You really think they have 2 months of no heat calls scheduled?

That I cant answer but There are few if any qualified techs out there. You want a fall start up and check, there traditionally a fill in for slow times but there are no slow times.

GW

Bummer. Your job isn’t in their wheel house. They are squeezed by rising costs (inflation) and need to stick with higher margin work.  The company should have said “no” at the beginning. The “yes” companies give the trades a bad name. You can wait or move on. 

SlamDunk

It is the same in an industrial setting. Service providers are backed upand I am happy for them but they arent getting much rest either. It can be feast or famine. Last year, with covid restrictions, it was famine.

There is new money flowing into construction and there is equipment starting to show some age. Big demand; low supply.