Loyal customers choosing someone else to do boiler upgrade

[steosman]

Just seeing if this has happened to anyone else. I've looked after an elderly couples plumbing and heating for a few years now, fixed there oil boiler, put in two new radiators and fixed a few other bits. I can remember she was talking about changing from oil to gas heating during the winter and i told her to give me a ring when she had decided. She rang me last week about black marks on the paint behind one of her radiators. I rang up the radiator manufacturers and got an answer for her, chemical reaction with paint. So rang her back and she told me she was changing over from oil to gas and had put down her deposit with the gas company, She said she didn't know i did gas. Things like this really get to me, i've looked after their heating for a few years and she didn't think i did gas. She could have phoned me and asked me. She could tell i was really peeved over the phone and couldn't say sorry enough, but i won't be going down to them when the guys who put in the boiler won't call out.

 

[capitanpugwash]

Have a beer mate- there's still some sun left...

 

[GQuigley67]

I worked in a guys house before putting in his heating system, then he asked me if i knew any plumbers because he wanted new basin taps and he seemed amazed when i told him i was a plumber !! point im making is some people aren't the sharpest knife in the drawer

 

[SimonG]

Done that a couple of times, gone on a breakdown to an oil boiler that I've looked after to find its been changed. Not a problem, but what a couple of really expensive repairs! plus out with the old cd11 for all the defects on the install!

 

[bert large]

They pee me off big time, you do all the little rubbish jobs for years, all the time seeing the ancient boiler creaking away or the bathroom falling to pieces & then you go back one day to find those lucrative jobs have been done by someone else. I'm never in a rush to go back to those places for the small jobs again or if I do I make sure its not cheap.

 

[leelister6]

Had that with a customer a year or so ago. Worked for myself for 5 or 6 years then work started really dropping off and was offered a 'proper job' doing reactive maintenance but still looked after my regulars, evenings and weekends etc. Done loads of work for this guy then was talking to a mate of mine and heard he'd had both bathrooms replaced and some rads changed and never even offered me the job. Then I gets a phone call 2 days before christmas, 3 rads leaking, 1 bog wouldn't flush and water coming through living room ceiling from bathroom.

I offered to send our lass round with some buckets...................... He's no longer a regular!

 

[truemanufan]

Horrid isn't it! Can't believe people don't understand to ask simple questions. I would always shout in a regular tradesman for anything unless another trade from a job forwarded a bit of work my way then I would give them a shout back !

 

[wnjswozo]

nieghbour of mine old doll,always knocked on whenever,pump packed up,theromcupling went,or rads leaked for years,
charged her hardley anything,as being a nieghbour.
coming home one day 2 bg vans outside doing a combi conversion,could,nt believe she had,nt asked me for a price,anyway
christmas come ,she,s over boiler not working,knew it was a frozen con pipe.anyway for her i was on my christmas break,told her to ring bg
they did,nt come out for 2 days,which i thought was a shame as supped my tea smuggley from my cosy house.dont do nothing for her now
i,m always to busy

 

[truemanufan]

nieghbour of mine old doll,always knocked on whenever,pump packed up,theromcupling went,or rads leaked for years,
charged her hardley anything,as being a nieghbour.
coming home one day 2 bg vans outside doing a combi conversion,could,nt believe she had,nt asked me for a price,anyway
christmas come ,she,s over boiler not working,knew it was a frozen con pipe.anyway for her i was on my christmas break,told her to ring bg
they did,nt come out for 2 days,which i thought was a shame as supped my tea smuggley from my cosy house.dont do nothing for her now
i,m always to busy

It's right mate why is everyone losing out to companies like bg who overcharge anyway

 

[SimonG]

It's right mate why is everyone losing out to companies like bg who overcharge anyway

Because the general public think the sun shines out their rses, big company = better service etc.

 

[Howsie]

If they're elderly then I'd give them a break. Life's hard enough.

 

[thereisawizza]

I had this last year; "friend" pushed me down on price for install, been looking after his Kidd oil boiler for years, have it to local firm even after I matched their price!

 

[Kengasman]

Ive lost regulars because im not willing to stoop as low as some of the local lads with cheap boilers and shoddy pipework etc... Cant win em all

 

[leelister6]

Unfortunately, most people nowadays want jobs doing for next to nowt and unfortunately i'm not prepared to break even to beat a cowboys' price. I take a lot of pride in what I do and won't bodge a job to beat some of the prices these clowns come up with. Gas safe reg fees, fuel, insurances etc. getting so its not worth getting in the van. Think i'm just gonna go stack shelfs in Lidl. Better hours, decent money and not as many noobs to deal with!

 

[dontknowitall]

What a depressing thread. Not had one like this yet but no doubt I will one day.