When a Plumber doesn't reply back

[Justice League]

Is this common where a plumber will come out and then fail to send through a quote for work?

I have called a few plumbers and they have said they would call back to arrange a time but have not and two have come out and failed to get back to me with a quote.

Strange behaviour.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Is this common where a plumber will come out and then fail to send through a quote for work?

I have called a few plumbers and they have said they would call back to arrange a time but have not and two have come out and failed to get back to me with a quote.

Strange behaviour.

Don’t read too much into it mate. We just get busy. Send him a gentle text reminder that you are still waiting.

 

[Riley]

Any good plumber will be busy. It’s the ones twiddling their thumbs you want to avoid.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Any good plumber will be busy. It’s the ones twiddling their thumbs you want to avoid.

True a lot of the time but there are rare instances when this isn’t the case. I.e recommended engineers.

 

[WC1]

I'll be honest, if there's a pattern to it then something about the job or the customer is putting them off.
If they're random contacts then it's much more likely they'll not get back if they're not completely happy.
Getting a contractor through someone you know not only gives you more confidence in them but also gives them more confidence in you.

 

[WC1]

@Justice League
What is the job?

 

[Best]

Nothing strange about that behaviour.
Remember you likely are only one of numerous people who will be contacting most of the plumbers.
Many will not need your job or your money to be honest.

I do that frequently - call to look at job and never come back with an estimate.
If I am busy, or the job looks to be very involving, or shoddy plumbing supposedly to connect to, or if the potential customer is expecting miracles, or is the type that has already got several other prices, or seems dodgy, then I stay clear.

 

[rpm]

I'm not getting involved purely because I don't like your user name.

 

[Jerry]

Nothing strange about that behaviour.
Remember you likely are only one of numerous people who will be contacting most of the plumbers.
Many will not need your job or your money to be honest.

I do that frequently - call to look at job and never come back with an estimate.
If I am busy, or the job looks to be very involving, or shoddy plumbing supposedly to connect to, or if the potential customer is expecting miracles, or is the type that has already got several other prices, or seems dodgy, then I stay clear.

I disagre completely. This not how our trade works.

Everyone knows that if you dont want the job, you put a silly high price in....

J

 

[Millsy 82]

I forget people every now and then. Give them a reminder.

How long have you left it? For bigger jobs it's quite common for me to take a couple of weeks. But some people seem to think you will have it done in a day or 2.

We were trying to get some slabs laid and a fence done. We tried 6 landscape gardeners 3 called us back 2 came out not 1 quote though. 1 of them got back to us about 2 weeks ago (obviously gone quiet) and said I just need to come back and measure up again. We said dont bother as I've done it myself now.

 

[rpm]

I disagre completely. This not how our trade works.

Everyone knows that if you dont want the job, you put a silly high price in..

J

You do it your way and I'll handle it my way.

 

[Harvest Fields]

You do it your way and I'll handle it my way.

It’s been a while mate. But I agree.

 

[rpm]

It’s been a while mate. But I agree.

Would be boring if we agreed everytime

 

[Rob Foster]

Is this common where a plumber will come out and then fail to send through a quote for work?

I have called a few plumbers and they have said they would call back to arrange a time but have not and two have come out and failed to get back to me with a quote.

Strange behaviour.

I have been out to loads of quotes over the years 40 + god knows 10,000 + and if the job did not suit us maybe at the time, or we were busy or you
in my opinion were looking like you might not be able to pay
then I would just park you...however sometimes they might come back nicely then it would be worth it
chking

 

[Best]

I disagre completely. This not how our trade works.

Everyone knows that if you dont want the job, you put a silly high price in..

J

I am always afraid to do what you said (put a silly high estimate in) in case the customer comes back to me wanting the job done that I was trying to side step!

 

[WC1]

Many's the time I've "stuck a nought on" (another name for a giving a go away price ) and they've said "yes" and I've had to say "I'm too busy".
Now I just don't bother getting back to them

 

[Jerry]

Reminds me of a


I am always afraid to do what you said (put a silly high estimate in) in case the customer comes back to me wanting the job done that I was trying to side step!

Isn't that a win though? Set those expectation with the customer clearly and forthrightly!

 

[Best]

Isn't that a win though? Set those expectation with the customer clearly and forthrightly!

But there are some jobs and some customers that money just wouldn’t compensate me for.
Unless that is, really rude amounts of money.

 

[Welder]

OP. Truth is, most people offering work do so on terms often unacceptable to those asked to look at it. By way of examples, it could be an insistance that something is done that simply will not work correctly or that a make of kit is installed that is utter junk.

I used to try to talk people round but one quickly realises you are wasting your breath - plumbers are simply not respected. I also tried saying the job wasn't for me (I dont want it) but people then often became abusive.

The fact of the matter is that you are suffering from our societal lack of empathy.

If you want someone to quote you, call them in and ask for their honest professional opinion - and then listen to it and act upon it. The likelyhood is that youll get a proper job and youll be happy. What you will not get tho is a cheap job. Good & cheap are impossible

 

[Burger]

Is this common where a plumber will come out and then fail to send through a quote for work?

I have called a few plumbers and they have said they would call back to arrange a time but have not and two have come out and failed to get back to me with a quote.

Strange behaviour.

What is it you are asking of them? What is it you want doing? Maybe there’s asbestos removal and they are waiting in a quote from a company to remove? Maybe they don’t want the job or some have said are too busy? Some people are also persnickety, which I would personally avoid.

 

[Justice League]

Its install of a new boiler in a new location.

No asbestos. Just moving it either into w/c or kitchen.

 

[Justice League]

The people I found were off the major boiler maker websites - their accredited installers.

I just assumed if I wanted a Boiler then an accredited installer knows that boiler make better than someone who isnt accredited?

 

[Riley]

Doesn’t mean it’s an easy job just because they’re accredited. Get some independents out listen to what they have to say

 

[rpm]

The people I found were off the major boiler maker websites - their accredited installers.

I just assumed if I wanted a Boiler then an accredited installer knows that boiler make better than someone who isnt accredited?

Sounds reasonable and logical to me so either the job is a @#$* or there is something else.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

most people wont move existing boilers due to too many risks eg not working afterwards etc

 

[king of pipes]

Any decent Plumber will be busy I would be more worried if they bit your arm off for the work and came next day , I have gone down the route off pricing higher especially on large jobs where you are tieing yourself up for weeks on end, a phone call from you would at least let you know where you stand JL. Cheers kop

 

[Justice League]

most people wont move existing boilers due to too many risks eg not working afterwards etc

So I am pretty much buggered then. If thats the case why didnt the installers just say that over the phone.

If moving a boiler is that troublesome then I may as well just leave it.

 

[WC1]

It they were from the major boiler mfrs then they are specifically in the business of fitting new boilers and won't want to move old boilers.
(And if the boiler has "done it's duty" and your not on the bread line why not get new - energy efficiency etc etc)

 

[bacon_sandwich]

Its more a case of - what happens if the boiler does not work properly when moved. Whose risk is it ?

 

[rpm]

Its install of a new boiler in a new location.

No asbestos. Just moving it either into w/c or kitchen.

NEW boiler in choice of two rooms, where did all this moving an old boiler come from.

 

[Millsy 82]

most people wont move existing boilers due to too many risks eg not working afterwards etc

It they were from the major boiler mfrs then they are specifically in the business of fitting new boilers and won't want to move old boilers.
(And if the boiler has "done it's duty" and your not on the bread line why not get new - energy efficiency etc etc)

Its more a case of - what happens if the boiler does not work properly when moved. Whose risk is it ?

He said a new boiler in a new location not move his existing boiler to a new location.

 

[Riley]

To be fair I read it as moving an old boiler too now I’m not sure

 

[WC1]

So I am pretty much buggered then. If thats the case why didnt the installers just say that over the phone.

If moving a boiler is that troublesome then I may as well just leave it.

 

[WC1]

Apologies, was not reading all posts fully

 

[bacon_sandwich]

maybe there are 2 jobs, one to move the existing, another to fit a new one,