Depression kicking in

[SimonG]

Shi'te happens. Its part of the business. Its when you have a roll of things going cacky it can grind you down. Dont let it affect you. If its of your own making in same way then you have to knuckle down and just wear it. If its a particular individual thats being totally unreasonable then count to ten then make a decision. But stand by the decision. Either soak it up and push through and take their eyes out on any extras or you simply say feck it tell them you dont need to work for idiots like them and do one. Ive done the latter a couple of times and at the time it feels very therepeutic.

The real skill is identifying the real muppets when you go look at the job. Then decide no im not doing it or yes but it will be priced at a premium.

Chin up.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Jase, I've had it too. Always get rubbish, stupid custards, had a call today about changing an electric shower, I think great little job for me, good experience, she had the shower, Triton so should all be ok to fit, the she offers me £20!!!!!! I tell her to call someone else!

Things will pick up, I just laugh it off these days. No stress, good life, decent sleep,

Keep going,

 

[WaterTight]

Just as I suspect Jase may need to work on his customer service (not workmanship, the art of being subtly fawning, obsequious, impossible to have a go at, essentially,) I wonder whether you may need to work on pre-establishment of likely prices for work before showing up. Write a list of your most common jobs and write a price range most will fall in. Give this price range, whether solicited or not, on the phone, to anyone whom you suspect is likely to be surprised by the going costs of the work and watch said confusions drop to nil, saving you travel time wasted appointment slots and all the associated expenses.

 

[WaterTight]

(i say that knowing your last example was of a phone conversation, but based on previous anecdotes of your experience)

 

[albatross]

I have had a few bad customers recently,

1. Customer wanted £400 because I finished early, when I said no he paid it, got work inspected by another plumber and called Gas Safe on me
(Gas safe said they wouldn't inspect as what he was complaining about wasn't a gas/ safety issue)

2. Customer complains that Gas pipe invalidates insurance because it is in front of door and it is my job to change it, for free. even though he had all week to check and decided not to.

3. Customer complains tiles are wrong, I explain why it is, how it is, they don't listen, I take it all off, ask them to show me how they want it and end up putting it back exactly the same.

4. Go back to Power flush as customer has got several radiators not working, BG say system is still blocked even though when i flushed system water was clean. I spend 4 hours trying to push air out, add 2 x x800 all for free and tell him that he will need to wait 2-3 days for it to start to work properly again, he has a right go at me and starts ranting and raving about him struggling (even though he has no kids, no elderly occupants) and i calmly explain to him I have done everything I can and I am trying to help him.

5. Go back to Power flush as BG say its still blocked and not working, get there, magnetic filter is not blocked, feed not blocked, water still clean, go to boiler, nothing!!! obviously not the system, obviously the boiler

6. customer buys shower, Bristan "top of the range" Sh1te, get email last week as pump not kicking in for top shower, without turning bottom shower on first. Apparently extremely annoying.

Everyone seems to be moaning at the moment, fed up of it. Even customers that usually leave it all to me and are really happy with my work are still moaning, I blame TV, too many people watching stupid programs that tell them to moan and get the most from there money.
New terms and conditions, now strictly state that "we only guarantee pipes and connections to appliance" we do not cover the appliances, furniture, boilers or anything else, any pipes that need moving will be charged extra.

Cant wait until Monday going to sunny Devon for 10 days
Is it me (less patience then i used to have) or are customers getting more picky?

1. Always get signed contract. 50% up front. Be vague about timescales. If you think you may finish too early, drag it out.

2. Why did you put a gas pipe in front of a door?

3. Stick to what you know/like/are good at. Be a master of one trade not a jack of all. I only do heating now. If people want plumbing/tiling/fires/cookers let them get someone else. Have an easy life by being a specialist in the one job area you enjoy most.

4. Get all rads working or give money back and walk away, save your health.

5. Don't get involved with BG contract customers. Too many cooks.

6. Always supply the gear and choose good stuff.

Have a holiday, relax and make some decisions about where you want the business to go. You are spreading yourself too thin, taking too much on and not leaving time for sorting the problems we all come across. I used to be the same. Now I just do what I enjoy and am good at and life is better. Get a reputation as the best in one thing and you can charge more. Don't fall into the trap of being a handyman.

 

[hammers4spanner]

We all get it jase had about 6 to 8 months of hassle and grief with payments and a builder but coming through other side now was doing my head in

still my best one yet tho was a brawling with a custard and his mates in a front garden over a central heating pack , not been as bad as that again !

 

[hammers4spanner]

1. Always get signed contract. 50% up front. Be vague about timescales. If you think you may finish too early, drag it out.

2. Why did you put a gas pipe in front of a door?

3. Stick to what you know/like/are good at. Be a master of one trade not a jack of all. I only do heating now. If people want plumbing/tiling/fires/cookers let them get someone else. Have an easy life by being a specialist in the one job area you enjoy most.

4. Get all rads working or give money back and walk away, save your health.

5. Don't get involved with BG contract customers. Too many cooks.

6. Always supply the gear and choose good stuff.

Have a holiday, relax and make some decisions about where you want the business to go. You are spreading yourself too thin, taking too much on and not leaving time for sorting the problems we all come across. I used to be the same. Now I just do what I enjoy and am good at and life is better. Get a reputation as the best in one thing and you can charge more. Don't fall into the trap of being a handyman.

good post

 

[northcarr]

We all have it jase I got ripped for £4 grand a few months ago went to court won never got a penny,I stressed over it but in the end had to just draw a line under it and jog on.

 

[iain85]

We all get it jase had about 6 to 8 months of hassle and grief with payments and a builder but coming through other side now was doing my head in

still my best one yet tho was a brawling with a custard and his mates in a front garden over a central heating pack , not been as bad as that again !

more details please sounds pretty ffff'd up.

 

[iain85]

To the O.p. As said previously, enjoy your holiday, phone on answer phone with an away message, enjoy spending time with the people who matter in your life and it will all the stress with fall away and be put in to perspective. I have been in the same place as you a few times and it is hard to see the wood for the trees but all will be well.
Best,
Iain

 

[jase158]

Thanks for all advice, surprisingly I am a completely different person at work to home, I have recently been less patient and maybe customers have picked up on it, came to Devon and the sun was shining!! Raining all the way down!! Lol.
To answer the question, why was gas pipe in front of door? Because going right would of been over next doors garden, through house is taking up loads of laminate and through 3 walls so best route is under door.

 

[albatross]

Under a door is different to in front of a door. Tell them to build a step over it and **** off!

 

[Chris F]

I have had a few bad customers recently,

1. Customer wanted £400 because I finished early, when I said no he paid it, got work inspected by another plumber and called Gas Safe on me
(Gas safe said they wouldn't inspect as what he was complaining about wasn't a gas/ safety issue)

2. Customer complains that Gas pipe invalidates insurance because it is in front of door and it is my job to change it, for free. even though he had all week to check and decided not to.

3. Customer complains tiles are wrong, I explain why it is, how it is, they don't listen, I take it all off, ask them to show me how they want it and end up putting it back exactly the same.

4. Go back to Power flush as customer has got several radiators not working, BG say system is still blocked even though when i flushed system water was clean. I spend 4 hours trying to push air out, add 2 x x800 all for free and tell him that he will need to wait 2-3 days for it to start to work properly again, he has a right go at me and starts ranting and raving about him struggling (even though he has no kids, no elderly occupants) and i calmly explain to him I have done everything I can and I am trying to help him.

5. Go back to Power flush as BG say its still blocked and not working, get there, magnetic filter is not blocked, feed not blocked, water still clean, go to boiler, nothing!!! obviously not the system, obviously the boiler

6. customer buys shower, Bristan "top of the range" Sh1te, get email last week as pump not kicking in for top shower, without turning bottom shower on first. Apparently extremely annoying.

Everyone seems to be moaning at the moment, fed up of it. Even customers that usually leave it all to me and are really happy with my work are still moaning, I blame TV, too many people watching stupid programs that tell them to moan and get the most from there money.
New terms and conditions, now strictly state that "we only guarantee pipes and connections to appliance" we do not cover the appliances, furniture, boilers or anything else, any pipes that need moving will be charged extra.

Cant wait until Monday going to sunny Devon for 10 days
Is it me (less patience then i used to have) or are customers getting more picky?

Sorry mate, I think I would have just filled him in.

 

[Killy Bing]

Sorry mate, I think I would have just filled him in.

pervert...

 

[Chris F]

Lmao 🙂 Filthy mind mate , well if I was gonna fill him that way it would be with a rough end of 1 1/2 solvent weld pipe

 

[julesverne]

Lmao 🙂 Filthy mind mate , well if I was gonna fill him that way it would be with a rough end of 1 1/2 solvent weld pipe

and that is downright kinky

 

[Chris F]

Indeed it is 🙂 I can get downright filthy. I once had to threaten to take a customers plasma telly to cash converters (back when they cost a fortune) because he was trying to stiff me for 50 quid 🙂. Its my pet hate, I just can't stand hagglers. Its ok before hand but not after I have packed my tools away, it's more effort then fetching them back out of the van to start removing everything . They usually pay by the time I'm walking back up the path 🙂