Not an electrician, but I used to do a delivery job, years ago, and the worst one, which happened to me several times, is the customer who rings up to ask for items to be delivered that day, ASAP. You scramble around to collect the items, and arrive with the delivery quickly, only to be told that they never phoned you. Yet you recognise their voice. I hate liars, and soon learned to blacklist anyone who pulled that trick, so they couldn't do it to me again. Their loss; there are plenty more fish in the sea.
I'm a yes man sometimes your exactly right we get walk over. The lady on that job was out of order! They think our price in going straight into our pocket they forget its a business with big bills keep up the good work my friend!
Maybe respond to emergencies on a contingency with the first 15 minutes free to ensure no one dies? Here in the States? Picking up the phone attaches liability in some States.
People don’t realise they aren’t just paying for you to fix or find the fault but are also paying for your experience and expertise of the trade. Good video mate 👍🏻
It would be a bittersweet experience to see that house on the news. Everyone got out OK but the house is destroyed. Possible electrical problem caused it. Then you could contact insurers and direct them to this video.
Don’t worry about it, the time you spent making this video is highly appreciated and is definitely helpful to many, so there’s still value to be had from the whole experience. Cheers!
This is how it's done in the South of England. This guy is absolutely raving mad. This makes it very hard to make movies in England because people all sound like the Queen. That's why all the baddies are cockneys or Essex boys in films. That's about as Ganster as it gets unfortunately.
Only proper way to deal with em. Those kind of people do not want a problem solved, they are looking for the lowest price for someone to TELL them the problem is going to be solved.
@@MM-wp5sp There is nothing wrong with a customer wanting the lowest price to resolve a problem. That's the ideal world for everyone lol. I know in reality that's not possible, but you have to understand it from the customers perspective too. I work in software, so I am on the same side as eletricians, car mechanics, etc. Very hard to quote fixing something you haven't invested time and money into understanding. Another similar example is, someone has a old beat up car that just broke down. It's worth £1000 broken, they go to the dealership and they say it's £60 to diagnose and then a further £60 every hour longer it takes. They rack up a bill of £300 to tell the person their engine is blown and they need to spend £10,000 for a new one. At that stage the person will most likely want to bin their shed of a car for £1000, rather than pay the £10,000. So they would have effectively spent £300 for nothing (at least in their eyes). So surely you can understand why consumers are hesitant?
@@faisalmahmood1908 Sorry, but that's the cost of ownership. The car dealership is not obliged or even expected to reduce their prices because someone's car is worth 1000. The customer is the one who takes a gamble with taking the car there, because that 300 is the price it takes for the customer to know what is wrong. It might as well be also a 50 part. However, once the customer brings the car and says go ahead with diagnostics, it is up to the dealership to do the job agreed upon, and that is to diagnostics, and it is up to the customer to pay for the diagnostic, whether he likes the result or not. Business is in essence, really simple. On one side you have a job to be done, on the other you have payment for that job. No what's if and similar.
Take a callout charge up front then charge labour separately. That way your travel time and fuel are covered, many times customers have cancelled on me whilst on route at 11pm after 40minutes into the journey.
If the customer cancels en route if the appointment was made over the phone and it wasn’t more than four weeks ago . You cannot charge a callout fee under distance selling rules however if the appointment was made on the premises then you can if you show up at the clients house and they are not in you can charge a no show fee. Distance selling rules apply to goods and services
I once had a slabbing job around a swimming pool to do, with my dad, 35 years ago. We did a lovely job plus a couple of brick piers with flint inlays. Come pay day he didn’t want to pay and started looking to get the agreed price down. So my dad said “ I’ll go and reason with him”. 10 minutes later he was back with the full amount. “ how come he paid up “ said I ......“ I strangled him “ said my dad, all matter of fact..
unfortunately some people don't understand through any other method, your dad was a wise and experienced man and he did the right thing. Ironically, the police would've sided against your dad... makes you think and wonder why the police exist in the first place. Glad you got your money, hope more people hear your story, this can happen all the time, any time in this business. People seem to forget, not be aware, or just ignore it. "Oh it won't happen to me" yeah it will, and you won't think clearly. You can go to jail for attacking a customer physically. And most likely the customer will get away with not paying a single cent.
Had a decorater mate who has payment trouble with a guy..a sikh..who wanted to re-negotiate the fee after my mate did the job more quickly than he thought it would take at the point of quote. He grabbed the guy by the throat and shook his turban off ! He was a big bast//ard. The money was in his hands pronto !
@@thpxs0554 It's not always justified and most don't want to be violent. However, there are situations when the implied threat of / or actual violence is justified, i agree. Me, well I'm not such a big lad so I have to be more devious. I was £1000 down on a job which i was owed...by a woman. Tried to get it, but to no avail. Christmas eve I went, in the night, shut their water off and poured quick drying cement down the access hole... : ) Never got the money, but a lot of satisfaction.
Usually the appliances are not allowed to maintain the combustion and theoretically what happened to the lady did not necessarily present a fire risk. + that the lady said that she no longer has power at the kitchen outlets, which means that the risk of fire probably passed :)
In 41 years folks never cease to amaze me... seen this several times.. In your case she probably perceived your keenness to help as your need to take lots of money from her for just an hour,.. when in reality you are clearly very solvent and were genuinely keen to save her from a potentially very bad situation... Mate, I could write a book on such call outs,.. you would be absolutely staggered. Great videos and keep up the good work. Cheers mate.
Jordon, although I am a retired sparky / heating engineer (yes I am fully qualified in both, or at least I was when I retired 10 years ago) I now spend many happy hours watching you utube videos and admiring your neat workmanship. It's really good to see someone doing the job as it should be done. By the way the mouse wire for conduit work used to be called a ferrit tape and was a flat spring steel tape, it cut your hands to pieces ! The PVC solvent cement actually dissolves the plastic therefore cements the two parts together. You are right single conduit wire did use to come in a box, what happen to those ? Keep up the good work, Bob Jones .
You have the right attitude, don't let the odd bad customer change that. This video proves just how important customer service is too you personally and how fundamental it is to your successful business. Helping the client is the most rewarding part of the job, especially in their hour of need.
Years later reading your post … can see you physically upset in post. Calibration is key … hard to tell with a new customer… try to wake up with a smile each day … worth watching Micheal cane ‘IF’ poem . Full respect 😊
Another great raw, truthful video Jordan. Completely get the ‘yes man’ quote, I’m the same, feel some customers are ungrateful and walk over me especially when I’m there doing 1 job, I then agree to ‘help’ the customer by doing another job installing a light fitting which is a nightmare as no CPC behind old fitting, trying to sort it out and have the customer constantly asking ‘How long will you be, I didn’t think it would take you this long to put up a light!’😡😡😡
I clean and repair gutters but have seen this in my work too. I think all tradesmen develop a “spidey sense” for waste of time customers. I’ve learned to be “fully booked” for 3 months when my senses tingle - makes life much less stressful!
@@drhwindowguttercleaning2847 Exactly. I'm always fully booked for months in advance, but I find time for customers that feel right. It's a defense mechanism because we are all inclined to help people who subsequently just walk over you.
You re amazing and have a golden heart! I live and work in PA, USA (Not the most expensive of states), and our company charges 275$ for a service call, and 89$ an hour after the first hour, and once we come and knock your door, even if you refuse service you ll get the Bill for the trip charge (like 150$), it is absolutely insane to me that you showed up and wasted your valuable time and didn't get paid for it! We charge 275$ even if the troubleshooting take 2 minutes, but this is a service call meaning we got dispached for an emergency, regular work that is scheduled weeks in advance is billed 89$ an hour (For residential, more for commercial, and much more for industrial).
2 things, put her on a black list so she doesn't waste your time again and send her the bill for the call out anyway. In my job i have to call out contractors on a regular basis. I know full well that an emergency call is going to cost more than a "can you fix this at some point", even more if its out of hours and more again on a Sunday. I also know that if i have to cancel them for any reason i am very likely to get billed for an hours time at least.
So you're happy to be charged for distance travelled? No legal transection happened here, no work was done to the customers property, they can't be charged for nothing.
I can recall going to a ladies house for a similar problem, RCD tripping, minus the burning smell, it ended up being a simple socket screw caught the neutral wire and nicked the insulation, over time it it caused the tripping as it touched the neutral conductor. Anyway, before I went I explained the hourly rate, all inclusive rate I may add, no hidden costs. She was happy that I could help despite being so busy, she was local and I wanted to help. After the work she asked me if I could review my rate, I was in total just less than 2 hours and stated it would be a 2hr charge. She said she couldn't afford my rate and wanted to pay me in Christmas cake instead. She was of the older generation, really sweet lady so I accepted a good slice of homemade Christmas cake. Only to be told by the misses that cake don't pay the bills and I should be on a diet anyway. Hmm, maybe she was right, but the cake was good and I did a good deed. I learnt to say no somtimes.
People like that makemy blood boil. I work in computers and took a call from a company who said they where having problems with their mail server and wanted a price to fix it. I told them that we charge £750 per day and going on their description I could probably fix for that price. They said another company had quoted them £350 per day. I said thats great, go with the other company as that is our price for non contract customers. We got a call back a week later asking if we could call out, I asked ifthe other company had not turned up, she said they have been here for 5 days and have told me they cannot fix the problems and billed us £1750. We went out the next day and fixed it in about 4 hours.
had similar things happen when i was in london, this particular woman had kids and had to get them to school, so we agreed i would be there at 9.30,..... I knock on the door at 9.25 to a woman ranting and raving because i am late, she said i said i would be there at 8.30, so i pointed out we said 9.30 because she had to take kids to school, so she said well her husband took them and went to work a bit later, so she started ranting some more and it was only when i started walking down the path she said, where are you going?? and after a few more words, well you may as well come in now you are here. needless to say i didnt go back when she called a few weeks later wanting some other work done.
Take solice in the fact that she will end up paying three times as much in the long run when Bodgit and Grommet have finished repairing everything with terminal blocks and insulation tape! Happens to us all mate don't stress it.
30 min call out is pretty fast... If i was the customer, even if I changed my mind I would be too embarrassed to turn you away the door... thats really rude
Best business advice I got was from a retired and well accomplished businessman, who said "never be afraid to say no" and he was right the work will always keep coming if you are doing good work and keeping good customers happy.
Had a call at 10pm on a Friday night - woman panicking about smoke in her kitchen “can I come over now!!” Agreed call out fee and set off. When I got there her husband had worked out that it was the washing machine which had tripped and caught fire - but can I Check the electrics anyway. Did some tests and all was ok - went to pay me and said “well what exactly have you done? Is £20 ok?” 😳 I explained a price had been agreed and I had come out on a Friday night to help them - “yea but you haven’t done anything so we are not paying the full price”! I could not believe it! I will never go out to an emergency call out now without payment up front or will only go for customers we have worked with before - nightmare situations
This lady had the presence of mind to look up an electricians number (had you done work for them before?) she couldn't have been all that panicked. Me I see smoke and I'm dialling 999 if I cant see a source of ignition I can deal with myself within 1 minute. For her to be able to have the presence of mind to dig out an electricians phone number my guess the husband had already sorted the issue they just wanted the electrics tested for safety and were too tight and rude to pay an out of hours call charge.
I’m a heating engineer and I’ve been to jobs where taken 5 min to fix. Then when I say about payment they say how about £20 and I turn round now and say how about I put it back to the way it was,! So annoying when like that as there paying for your knowledge. What would you rather 5min of someone that knows what there doing or 2hours of someone that gets there eventually!
What is that Cory says.... "the sky is always blue with the occasional grey cloud..." just treat it that she was a grey loud on an otherwise blue sky day....
Have had it a couple of times where have been asked to leave and then also work cancelled. Have a feeling you are correct, she was ‘shopping around’ for the best deal in her eyes. I can’t help but think there’s always a case for building a relationship with customers, only the good and/or long-standing customers get the instant drop-stop-and-run service.
There are spoiled self centred people out there. Everything revolves around their desires and whims. You can be sure she has treated other people in the same fashion.
I feel your pain. I am an electrician in the United States and have dealt with a very similar situation. It is very frustrating and unfortunately I don’t have a solution. I have to say you are doing an excellent job handling the situation. I wish I could be as calm as you. I enjoy watching your videos. It is interesting how different our wiring methods are and the similarities are in dealing with customers. I definitely would like to have a boss like you if I worked in your country. Excellent job. I look forward to more videos. Thank you.
Agree. I'd rather live with getting the occasional hit than turn away someone who was facing the risk of their house going on fire. Completely understand his frustration though.
I got one. Back in 2018, I drove around as a locksmith. Not my own company, I was just a wage slave. A small restaurant called us, they had snapped a key in their bikes lock, so they couldn't do delivery, which is unfortunate. I got the job to fix it, went there, in the middle of the capital, a right nightmare to park. They were told the price for all of it, 600 dkk, less than 70 British pound and accepted before I was sent. Their bike had two locks, a circular one behind the seat, and a massive chain lock. They had snapped the circular locks key in the chain one, and had no spare, so both locks had to be cut off. We weren't given tools to pick the locks for reasons I guess would be obvious from a business stand point. After dealing with both locks, I went in for the payment. At that point the two owners were arguing whether or not they could simply refuse my service, and asked me if I'd be alright with that. Like I somehow could just leave the locks be, but forget I did what they asked for. Took a bit of arguing before they accepted I too needed a wage somehow. The nerves of some people.
It sounds like she gave off the warning signs with her reluctance from the start. At least you didn’t get a non-payer after you had fixed the fault and used materials on the job.
@@simonclarke6970 It's the 'Canary in the coalmine' moment... and as you say, invariably leads to further issues. Awful thing is, is it's only going to get worse and happen more often as our economy goes down the shitter from Covid and Brexit.
@@semperidem2577 It has nothing to do with the economy as unemployment is down at under 7%. No this is more cultural and extends to other things as well. It just turns out that a generation raised on left wing media have unrealistic expectations of the world. For example they all think that a stranger can raise their child for them and that the child will still emotionally bond to them. Have you ever held open a door for somebody and a completely unrelated person just comes rushing in past in the most ignorant fashion well those are all the same people and they can also cut you off in their car or jump a queue.
@@bighands69 I mean this is just people being cheap - it has nothing to do with any of the other crap you said. I used to work in trades - we had people try to cheap out on us all the time and they we from all different walks of life, political leanings, upbringings etc. People are always going to try and find a deal and with how hot the market is and how many contractors/businesses are abound these days they can easily find someone who will do a job cheaper. It just might not be a properly done job.
Call out should start from home to job, the fact that she instructed you and you got in your car to drive down. Sometimes you have a gut feeling about a dodgy customer. she seemed suspicious asking about the price. Alarm bells start ringing when she said will you fix it within the first hour🤣 Your still a good bloke, don't change your ethics just around one customer, because there might me somebody genuine that needs your help, treat people how you want to be treated.
Yep, went to quote a job, arrived and she said ‘ooh I’m glad your here, my washing machine isn’t working and my clothes are locked in there’ long story short, faulty socket front behind the integrated dishwasher. Swapped it, and all back on and working. Said to not worry about a call out charge if we get the quoted job. If not, then it’d be a £40 call out, (which I know is too cheap) Didn’t go with the quote, then multiple emails about how I should run my business and my prices are far too expensive. Lol Never got paid, and tbh I think the whole thing was made up to get a free call out. Live and learn I guess.
I’m a bit of a yes man myself and people do take advantage,it’s just in some people’s nature to be kind and helpful,and others to be the opposite.She was looking at you as a bill and not a person.Don’t change who you are because of other people,keep up the good work 👍from a fellow Irish spark✌️good luck
I used to be a painter and decorator. I painted some really awkward metal railings 1 story up. Needed access indoors and outside . Finished job 2nd coat, customer decides she doesn’t like colour, I said ok I can change it for you as the new colour wasn’t too different... by then I had already broke even on price... by time I finished the colour change she decided she preferred the original colour... I said that’s fine but it will be £15ph or £100 for a day to repaint them... she went mental and said why can’t you do it again I paid you already... I said hang on a minute I would have finished a day ago if you didn’t change mind I decided to repaint them in another colour for you out of good will and you want to go back to original colour I can’t keep working for free... after some arguing about excessive prices etc she agreed. I spent the day day repairing the railings and she paid. I didn’t make a penny by time materials and other worker paid. Roll on 2 years, she has windows replaced which meant the railings got taken off her walls, the railings got damaged by removing them... she rang me up and asked me to come repaint them for her! I said ok same price as before... nope she wanted it for free! I told her where to go and she decided to try ruin my reputation. Sadly for her others knew me and the story and made her look like an idiot 😀😂🥃
Speaking from a customer point of view, I think your right Jordan that it's the price. So one idea which I think would benefit both the customer and tradesperson would be scheme run by the government, NICEIC or NAPIT is a special fund set aside for emergency call outs where the customer is nervous of the costs attached to a call out and once applied the tradesperson can receive a set cost. This would both ensure that the tradesperson gets paid for the call out and electrical safety is not compromised.
Yep this - we get asked (not a spark!) all the time if we can do a cheaper price. No, we can't. We set our prices based on what it costs us and the margin we need to survive, support and look after people. Want to pay less, sure, find someone else who is daft enough to do so. The end.
You handled this self-entitled individual appropriately- they have no idea of the costs of running a business and, more importantly, she doesn’t appreciate the danger she is in.
in an electricians career you should expect to meet about 30-40 of these types learn to pick on the negative vibes and avoid them can of worms jobs they f... your day up sometimes your week
Keep being a yes man. Don't be discouraged by this woman's attitude. You are one of life's good guys. You have a bloody good skill and deserve to reap all the positive energy you gain from fixing. Don't allow someone elses negative energy to infiltrate your head. Stay true to your good character. 👍
Disagree . I believe it’s 50/50 . These people believe cable from the 1950s should last 2000 years . I know we’ve all herd it but the amount of idiots that say and keep saying “ well it’s lasted 25 years “ makes me want to vomit ! At that point is when the price doubles with 25% upfront - absolute fools .
Jordan - this is why we can't have nice things !!! You are very patient, a required quality for dealing with the general public. If I were in a similar situation (I'm not an electrician) - I'd have done the same given the information you'd been given at the time. I really hope incidents like this are few and far between for you, however, you may wish to consider a blacklist of customers who have messed you about and as others have commented, maybe taking an up-front payment for times when you are just not sure or have a "feeling". By the way, there's nothing wrong with being a "yes man" so long as you know when enough is enough. Your wife is absolutely right in the regard that saying no is totally OK, you cannot be superman all the time! Keep on keeping on. Really enjoy your channel and I learn so much. Stay awesome :)
I am an electrician from Australia, and this thing that has happened to you is happening to everyone One day, a customer called me and I gave him a discount and when I finished my job he did not give me money because he said I asked a lot and on top of that he said that we are friends and thats why I will not give you money so I did not say any word I turned back and went
We send a link of our t&cs on our website. We ask the client to read and agree to them before we will go out. At the bottom of the t&cs ( on the link we send them) they can electronically sign them. This has been a game changer for us.
we've had this a few times as plumbers in London, usually for blocked drains and emergencys especially at night it happens, but we normally send them an invoice for wasting time on 1 hour or a callout charge of £75, I wouldn't have just left that's ridiculous, she should have understood that she called out an electrician and nothing is free
Businesses need to have a payment process system in place so they can take depositions or call out charges. A better way to bill is not by the hour but to have a basic payment and then charge for every hour after that.
Listing to this, blowing fuses in my head, the one main thing that I don’t miss as a gas safe registered engineer is some people/customers. You can get out of bed and go to work in a bright, cheerful and positive mood and it just takes one customer to blow your day to bits.
She should know emergency call out is not cheap, all trades tend to put a premium on it, generally people accept it's cheaper than your house burning down/flooding/etc. she wouldn't have turned you away had you been a plumber and her issue have been a pipe spraying water everywhere I bet.
@@computeraddic675 Really grinds my gears that. Me: "I think there is a leak from one of my pipes, i keep getting a mouldy damp patch in my ceiling." Landlord: "SHIIIIIIT get on it straight away, don't want to have to pay for extensive repair work". Me: "my downstairs circuit breaker trips every so often at random times, even when nothing is on" Landlord: "meh, itl be fine, just turn it back on again"
What ever you quoted, I guess it was cheaper than a funeral 😂😂 I went to quote for a rewire once, the woman seemed embarrassed to let me it, but I was there on time, I realised her embarrassment was, because the first electrician was still there doing his quote 😂😂
You did the right thing in agreeing to attend. This was a potentially dangerous fault and there will always be the "difficult" customer ....what else would a professional do.....?! I am retired now but I had more than my fair share of selfish customers when I was an electrician. I recall a builder who phoned me on a Friday night and said that he needed a first fix urgently done on an extension as his sparky was off sick and he had a plasterer booked for the Monday.....I went that Friday night, priced up the job and the builder agreed. I said I would do it on the Saturday......I turned up with cable, capping, boxes and was all ready to get stuck in......but the property was all locked up. I rang the builder and his wife said he was at a football match but she had the keys.....I picked the keys up and did the job. When I returned the keys the wife of the builder said there had been a mistake and the builder had changed his mind as the price was too high that I had quoted and he had found someone else........too late I said I have done the job.....! I think it took about three months before he paid......
The minute she ummm’d and ahhhh’d on the phone, I would have either taken 1 hour payment upfront, or told her you were too busy. End of 👍. You are too nice and trusting !!!!!
I have no idea who you are personally but I do love your channel along with Nick Bundy, David Savery and Nagy. What I do know is that you are passionate about your work and your customers and will always put them foremost, It looked like you were choked a little at the end because of how much you do care - You will never say no though will you? I'm a Cisco Network Consultant and get resued a lot of work because of my day/half-day rate, they then go cheap and get me in a few weeks later when it's all gone wrong. Just keep being you. PS - you have a great team with you.
Yes, what a polite rant 😃 There will always, always be an unreasonable customer, even to someone like yourself who is professional and friendly. The fact you are professional and friendly merely decreases the amount of silly customers you get, it won't eliminate them. You remain professional towards them at the time (as you have done), walk away, off load to your mates (or youtube) and don't ever go back!
Great video I have had this happen to me and always try and call before leave the house and on the way to get to know the customers attitude to the job and what they think of your price. Your a “do a” but not everyone appropriates good people. Good luck johnc
I bet Pete from down the road will come round later as "he knows electrics" and look at it for a 4 pack of Stella change the socket no testing 😉 and wait for the fire brigade.
You done the right thing mate. 9/10 of the clients will appreciate your kind nature and prompt service. Unfortunately not everyone understands this service or costs/process OR the seriousness of the danger. Every now and then these messers pop up, you just have to learn to sniff them out early and decline!
Don’t worry about it Jonathon. As a fellow qualified and caring heating guy I fully get your angst. I’ve been there like you on some occasions 😏. Don’t charge your professionalism or approach. These people are not worth worrying about…. PS don’t always listen to your wife 😎
Usually what happens is that we get a great run of jobs for months on end that we forget about the bad customers and drop our guard. That's when the bad ones manage to slide under our radar. If this guy had a similar phone call tomorrow, he'd know exactly what to do because he's raised his guard again due to his recent experience. It's worth remembering this can happen anytime.
As a gas technician and plumber, this happens all the time. Our only saving grace is that there is legislation that means if there is there is a report of a smell of gas. You can contact the gas transporter and report it. The gas will then be isolateded at the boundary of the property. This means you can sleep easy knowing that because you were denied entry, you can still the reduce the risk of serious injury to life and property.
@@sonacphotos they will at first point, try to seek permission. secondly they will then insist they come in as they do have powers of entry under law to enter your property to access their property. failing that they will dig up and cut your gas supply off. then charge a huge sum to reconnect the service, normally with a boundary isolation point. I should point out that the gas transporter will test the installation for "tightness" to confirm any gas escape. they will also use gas sniffer devices to locate possible leaks on untested pipework. its not a "s/he said" off goes the gas type of thing. its one of the main reasons now that external surface mounted meter housings are used. with smart meters, your gas supply can be stopped remotely to. This does not stop chancers however just bypassing the meter etc. if your into that territory. It then becomes a criminal offence.
From her point of view she was stuck between a rock and a hard place - ie she may not have had the money and meanwhile, things were going on that she did not understand that needed to be addressed. Obviously, safety is paramount but when it is a choice between putting bread on the table then sadly it often moves down the list of priorities.
@@Ressy66 There has been a lot of poverty created in the last year and some people are not thinking straight in how they act. Ok that is not Artisan's problem. After the initial shock of his hourly rate she apparently agreed to this .. but then may have got a scary afterthought that he might be there all-day as she obviously had no idea what the problem was. In the old days if she had been a pleasant enough genuine 'damsel in distress' and the problem had been the usual neutral that had unscrewed itself 10 min job we would not have charged an hour for it.
@@Witheredgoogie I agree if its 10 mins thats a svc call out - travel including first 15 mins onsite... but fact remains she did agree and if he records his calls thats all a court needs to know, remember we too are not charities, who pays for that time, that fuel...
@@Ressy66 Oh Yes absolutely and the law is on his side - but I do hope that as a society that somebody facing a financial set back is reluctant to call an electrical service (as they would with gas/water) in an emergency (where there is a risk to safety) to be confronted with "yeah well I don't get out of bed for less than 3 figures +vat"
@@Witheredgoogie no idea what he charges, but as one who out of the UK, I can assure you the same applies here too, std call out fee + time, some companies here do charge a fee just for turning up + time, air con contractors are famous for that, you wont get out of it under 140 even if they just knock on your door and say hi/bye. I have svc call which includes 15 mins + time in qtr hour blocks after that, often if it takes 20 mins I wont charge extra, but 95% do. Mind you for after hours emergencies, you bet I charge accordingly, svc call fee is dbl and the ongoing is 50% more per qtr. harsh? like to see you get out of bed at 2am for a normal svc call fee :)
I used to do a lot of call outs. I learnt to not give too much info on potential faults and how to fix them. She’s probably now watching your TH-cam videos learning how to change sockets and tighten connections.
I think that might be short sighted - I've called for example a heating company and he gave me some over the phone tips that worked (free) -- so when my furnace broke down and I coulnd't fix it, I used him for the job without even getting quotes from others because of his goodwill (and internet checking showed the price was reasonable). And replaced the AC and humidifier while I was at it.
Great vid, full sympathy mate!, I'm a plumbing and heating eng, had a customer phone me in lock down, I was self isolating, when I was back up & about I went to her for probs with a shower, nothing urgent tho..I got there as arranged, looked at the issues, told her the shower had been installed wrong, she asked questions, I gave her good advice,on her heating also, told her to ask the guy who installed it to come back, as he shouldn't have put it in..I told her it was£45 to cover my cost, she said what for?, you've done nothing!!!I've got to go get the money now, I'll be 20mins!!!. I said forget it, keep the money, it's Christmas, never ever phone me again thanks!!!!
We are a company in North London covering North London and Hertfordshire. Spoke to a lady landlord last night at about 9pm for about 15 mins about an Eicr that's she requires at a 3 bed house in Borehamwood After alot of talking what she had there and about her tenants she asked how much when I told her she screamed that's expensive I've been quoted £150 and I thought that was expensive so was expecting a cheaper price . Companies doing silly prices for jobs and the public think that us good quality electricians that charge a decent hourly rate that we are over charging
I completely understand your frustration has have had the same experience myself where I have been turned away after agreeing to an emergency call out. But there is nothing wrong with being a good person with the correct ethics and trying to help people because in my experience you do get the odd bad experience but the majority of people are nice and appreciative.
Some people live on a different planet and expect everyone else to work around them. I arranged to be at a customers house at 8am but as I was leaving she rang to say come at 9 instead because she had things to do. This meant I got caught in the school traffic and she started calling and texting and 9:02 to tell me I was late.
Hi Jordan, I would probably bill her anyway. Your office person should be able to run interference on calls like that. Like if there is someone injured or there is iminent danger of fire .If not shedule it .When she balked at the price,that was the first signal that she was going to do a runner. Remember you are worth what you charge. you should know that by now. The sound of a panicky damsel in distress triggers us to want to go fix whatever is wrong. That is just magical thinking. Learn from that 90 minute lesson that the universe just thought you. It shows us that you have a good heart and will continue to do so but sometimes there are people are selfish and inconsiderate of both peoples time,skill and value. Remember she still has the problem which she still has to pay someone to fix and more than likely it will cost her more to fix. she will return home from work and not be able to use or trust her electrical system, Maybe thats her lesson to be learned from the Universe. Thats my rant, "Anyone for Coffee!!!!
You having a laugh I'd never and will never pay a tradesman upfront honesty works both ways. Your always going to get the tosser customer, does not mean everyone does not appreciate having a professional tradesman do the work who they will pay on time when the job is done.
Had a customer in a block of flats we were working in whos heating went off right in the middle of a freezing cold period a few years back. Sorted it free of charge. 4 weeks later she had a kitchen renewal done and i had to go and final test the installation and certify it. When i pre-warned her her power would be interrupted she went crazy..grabbed my test kit which at that point was only 3 months old. Took it out the flat and dropped it 9 flights down a stairwell along with some tools. She then slammed the door leaving the cover off the fuseboard and cabinet door wide open. Had to end up calling the police.
Yeah I learned the hard way, don't try to explain things to a customer on the phone if you don't need to, everything you say like "it's probably a loose connection" is mentally being valued by the customer.
He never should have mentioned loose connection as it gives them the idea it is not worth repairing. It is just simple apply call out charge and then investigate and then quote if needs more work.
keep taking these jobs, most customers really appreciate it and is surprised on the quick service, always gonna be the odd job where they just dont get it, still worth it in the long run.
To be honest I've gotten use to unappropriative clients/ customers here in Trinidad. I try my best to help everyone, I also under charge and they have shown me that they don't appreciate nor value my time. So as I sense or pick up a reluctant or uninterested tone or body language I turn a no man. I would reach nowhere if I continue feeling sorry and not saying no.
I have been in sales all my life - for the last 10 years as a plumber so whenever I received a 'blow in' order I would go to see the customer immediately as you did. By responding quickly I would then be doing all their work in future. I never had the 'I don't want you' response but I have been turned down by 'Can't you do it cheaper' and I say no and go. Your response to her first call was what I would have done - but I don't have a wife to tell me not to go - its my business and I do what I think is right!!
A VERY polite rant! I’m so with you, I am equally a yes man and although 99% of the time to fine, some customers will take the p*ss and it leaves you feeling pretty angry and flat. I’m multi trade and have had this with a customer with a leaking toilet who is more interested in arguing about the price than letting me get on and fix it and limit damage. Sometimes you just have to say no….
Honestly, it's to to your credit that not only would you leave the office to go out to that customer because it was a safety issue, but that you worked with her schedule! Let alone that you only charge a one hour minimum. I honestly don't understand how someone could be so concerned about the cost (it's the cost of One hour, not a house rewiring) when it's literally their life on the life. Good on you and Artisan Electrics for such care and service, and I'm sorry you have to deal with customers like that, even if it is part of the job once in a while.
Easy solution.....take the call out fee upfront. Stops all messers in their tracks. We started to do this years ago( mobile transport refrigeration engineers) and also solves the hassle of them trying to do a deal if you do fix it quickly.
As you said thankfully these things only happen infrequently. I can’t help thinking that she may not have had the money to pay you but was stuck in a dilemma, on the spot, and panicking about what to do. Even if something is an emergency it doesn’t mean she has the funds to pay your bill. It’s tough for some people.
She must have had the money since she rang up in the first place. No there is an entitled attitude that has developed in society. They expect things to happen exactly as they imagine. Popular culture by the media has trained a whole generation of people to be spoiled children. They are so self centred that they even endanger other people lives. Drive on any road and you will see them routinely.
@@bighands69 no but a van containing tools would be nice. It’s not a massively skilled job but there is definitely some skills and a reasonable level of responsibility which commands more a basic job. However if you are running a company with multiple guys working you are taking more risk and reap the reward of profit off of those guys. The high price of trades is the failing of the education system pushing people into pointless degrees
It's the same with every trade, I do carpet cleaning, my most common one is " I've got a mark on my carpet that I've tried everything to get out and can't , will I guarantee I can get the stain out" . Or the booking via facebook that when you arrive they have gone out, and you hear nothing from them ever again, even after I post a hand written note through the door that I have been and not got an answer.
ALWAYS listen to your good lady Jordan, they are ALWAYS right 🤣 (and the pain of ' I told you so' cuts so deep!! I too am a 'yes man' which has indeed bitten me on many occasions but, it won't stop us from being helpful! Keep the faith and stay safe matey, love watching your vids! Steve
Learnt my lesson years ago with idiots like this, as soon as any charge is mentioned and you hear a change in tone in their voice, I kindly decline the work. They're idiots mate, they can phone around and have other choices. Letting you go there and turning you away is naughty.
Completely understand your situation but speaking as a consumer (since I’m not a tradesperson), I kind of understand her position. She must’ve been a very price sensitive customer. Not everybody has the ability to afford the best and they’re just going through life trying to manage to stay above the bread line. A lot of people live knowing the fact their houses are in a state of disrepair but cannot afford to pay for it to be repaired. Whether that’s electrics or plumbing or anything else for that matter. I’d personally request you don’t take it to heart but understand that there’s always a lot of customers that can end up wasting your time but it’s not that they want to waste your time, rather it’s them trying to get by.
Not quite the same "cancel" story you were expecting, but it's still a good story: Quite a few years ago, I needed to get one of my vehicles in for service. I paid to have the vehicle towed to a shop and informed them of the repairs I needed. (Two front wheel bearings, nothing major.) I called back after two weeks, they hadn't gotten to look at it yet. Third week, I call. "We're unable to get the parts." What do you mean you can't get wheel bearings? "Your car's so old we can't get the parts for it." OK, it was 2001, and the car was a '92 Geo Storm (Isuzu Impulse). Not exactly hard to find parts for... Especially when I walked into an auto parts box store ten minutes from the shop, bought both wheel bearings off the shelf (they had 7 in stock) and delivered them to the shop. "Where'd you get these?" I told them AutoZone. "We've been looking everywhere for these parts!" Fast-forward a few days later. "Yeah, um, we need to replace the actual hub itself, it's damaged from the wheel bearing failure." OK, do it, call me when it's done. "OK. Should be a few more days." During this whole time, it required all sorts of complaints to the manager for my friend to retrieve his blood-sugar testing equipment and strips, and when we went to do that we noticed the strips were scattered all over the car, not in their case. We found the entire contents of the car rifled through. Spare change was stolen, along with the stereo. I kept that in the back of my mind and moved on... Finally, after another week, they would hang up on me every time I called. After two months, as soon as they picked up the phone, I blasted them. I WANT THAT GEO FIXED THIS WEEK. No excuses. Understand? **click** The next day, phone call comes from the shop. "If you're not serious about fixing this car, just bring us the title so we can scrap it." EXCUSE ME?! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO FIX THE CAR FOR NEARLY THREE MONTHS! "Well, if you really want it fixed, you're gonna have to get us the hub assembly yourself. I'm sick of wasting my time, trying to find rare parts for a piece-of-[expletive deleted] car nobody wants." I call a junkyard - ten minutes from the shop, maybe fifteen if traffic is heavy - he has 7 Geo Storms sitting in the yard. I go buy the part that day, drop it to the shop that day, and say I'm giving them three days before I contact all news media, Consumer Protection Agency, and the Department of Motor Vehicles. I hear a racket behind me, the three "mechanics" are out doing donuts in the street on their quads, one doing a "brake stand" and kicking up stones on my other car. A three-year-old off-lease mint-condition car that I just bought six months prior. The car was completed, they called ten minutes before closing and warned me about storage fees if I didn't pick up the car that day. Good news for me, a friend of mine and I were less than 1/4 mile away (the same friend with the diabetic test strips). Showed up, and they seemed shocked that I was there in a few mere minutes. We haggled over three months' storage fees tacked on, long beyond the closing time, then I pulled out my phone and showed them all the times I called them and the few times they called me, and talked about having to source my own parts from places in the same physical town they were in because they claimed they couldn't find the parts, and then I brought up the stolen car stereo now mounted in one of his mechanic's Ford Explorer, the stolen change, the car doors left ajar so the interior was moldy, how the same mechanic with the stolen radio from my Geo was at a party where we had mutual friends, and I was there as he drunkenly bragged about how they didn't even lower the flatbed to unload the car, they put it in Neutral and floored the wrecker so the GEO ROLLED OFF THE BACK AND SLAMMED ONTO THE GROUND, and then they stopped the truck and the car rolled into the back of the truck (I-beam bumper), before they pushed it back into the yard using the same I-beam rear bumper, and how I had just put front struts on the car a few weeks before the wheel bearing failed that are now completely destroyed and my hood's all scratched. Miraculously, at this point, the charges dropped to simply 4 hours of labor. Which, knowing the labor rates for that job on that car, is a significant discount. So, I paid by check, drove the moldy car straight to the gas station to replace the 3/4 tank that disappeared (trip odometer showed 137 miles - fools didn't even see I reset it to zero!), and enjoyed two new wheel bearings on four formerly-new tires that were now slicks (now we know where the gas went and where the 137 miles came from, and also why the e-brake no longer worked), with an added bonus of two free hubcaps to replace the two the car was missing before I bought it. Next morning, stepped right into the bank, and stopped payment on that check. Never heard a peep from them, and never set foot in there since. TL;DR: I got two new wheel bearings installed and two used OEM hubcaps, plus another $800-1000 in repair costs (ignoring bodywork), by having a shop do $379 worth of work that I ended up only paying $25 for because I stopped payment on the check (not including $200 in parts I had to provide). If you've made it this far, the shop is Fitchville Auto, located in the Fitchville section of Norwich, CT. I wouldn't buy a soda from their soda machine if I was literally dying of thirst, that's how much I despise them.
Worst that happened to me (security industry) Event planner calls up books 6 guards for a event in a few weeks for a 8 hour shift. I book guards and end up coming in to cover event as well as anything over 2 guards requires a supervisor. We show up, event planner tells us "oh the client didn't want to pay so much for security so we won't have security sorry" So now the company is out 18 man hours of pay at $14 a hour (labour law says 3 hours minimum if you show up for a shift that's cancelled) and we have no way of getting paid. Boy I was not impressed nor was the owner. Needless to say we never took calls from that planner again.
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Not an electrician, but I used to do a delivery job, years ago, and the worst one, which happened to me several times, is the customer who rings up to ask for items to be delivered that day, ASAP. You scramble around to collect the items, and arrive with the delivery quickly, only to be told that they never phoned you. Yet you recognise their voice. I hate liars, and soon learned to blacklist anyone who pulled that trick, so they couldn't do it to me again. Their loss; there are plenty more fish in the sea.
I'm a yes man sometimes your exactly right we get walk over. The lady on that job was out of order! They think our price in going straight into our pocket they forget its a business with big bills keep up the good work my friend!
Maybe respond to emergencies on a contingency with the first 15 minutes free to ensure no one dies? Here in the States? Picking up the phone attaches liability in some States.
People don’t realise they aren’t just paying for you to fix or find the fault but are also paying for your experience and expertise of the trade. Good video mate 👍🏻
Not to mention the fuel and maintenance of the vehicle as well
Spot on, your not just paid for what you do, your paid for what you know
It would be a bittersweet experience to see that house on the news. Everyone got out OK but the house is destroyed. Possible electrical problem caused it. Then you could contact insurers and direct them to this video.
Don’t worry about it, the time you spent making this video is highly appreciated and is definitely helpful to many, so there’s still value to be had from the whole experience.
Cheers!
I don’t think I’ve ever heard such polite ranting before.
hahahah thats what i was thinking
LOL thanks I guess
😂😂😂
This is how it's done in the South of England. This guy is absolutely raving mad. This makes it very hard to make movies in England because people all sound like the Queen. That's why all the baddies are cockneys or Essex boys in films. That's about as Ganster as it gets unfortunately.
@@GregNow Are you the orchestra conductor?
The minute they sound hesitant is the moment I suddenly become very busy and tell them i cant make it.
Only proper way to deal with em. Those kind of people do not want a problem solved, they are looking for the lowest price for someone to TELL them the problem is going to be solved.
these "customers " need to go on a tradesman ban list...
@@thra5herxb12s Actually that would be STORE CUM, are you sure you didn't mean customers with two Ss? 🤣
@@MM-wp5sp There is nothing wrong with a customer wanting the lowest price to resolve a problem. That's the ideal world for everyone lol. I know in reality that's not possible, but you have to understand it from the customers perspective too. I work in software, so I am on the same side as eletricians, car mechanics, etc. Very hard to quote fixing something you haven't invested time and money into understanding.
Another similar example is, someone has a old beat up car that just broke down. It's worth £1000 broken, they go to the dealership and they say it's £60 to diagnose and then a further £60 every hour longer it takes. They rack up a bill of £300 to tell the person their engine is blown and they need to spend £10,000 for a new one. At that stage the person will most likely want to bin their shed of a car for £1000, rather than pay the £10,000. So they would have effectively spent £300 for nothing (at least in their eyes). So surely you can understand why consumers are hesitant?
@@faisalmahmood1908 Sorry, but that's the cost of ownership. The car dealership is not obliged or even expected to reduce their prices because someone's car is worth 1000. The customer is the one who takes a gamble with taking the car there, because that 300 is the price it takes for the customer to know what is wrong. It might as well be also a 50 part. However, once the customer brings the car and says go ahead with diagnostics, it is up to the dealership to do the job agreed upon, and that is to diagnostics, and it is up to the customer to pay for the diagnostic, whether he likes the result or not. Business is in essence, really simple. On one side you have a job to be done, on the other you have payment for that job. No what's if and similar.
Take a callout charge up front then charge labour separately. That way your travel time and fuel are covered, many times customers have cancelled on me whilst on route at 11pm after 40minutes into the journey.
If the customer cancels en route if the appointment was made over the phone and it wasn’t more than four weeks ago . You cannot charge a callout fee under distance selling rules however if the appointment was made on the premises then you can if you show up at the clients house and they are not in you can charge a no show fee. Distance selling rules apply to goods and services
@@barrieforte2588 no
I once had a slabbing job around a swimming pool to do, with my dad, 35 years ago. We did a lovely job plus a couple of brick piers with flint inlays. Come pay day he didn’t want to pay and started looking to get the agreed price down. So my dad said “ I’ll go and reason with him”. 10 minutes later he was back with the full amount. “ how come he paid up “ said I ......“ I strangled him “ said my dad, all matter of fact..
The ones with swimming pools are the worst lol
unfortunately some people don't understand through any other method, your dad was a wise and experienced man and he did the right thing. Ironically, the police would've sided against your dad... makes you think and wonder why the police exist in the first place.
Glad you got your money, hope more people hear your story, this can happen all the time, any time in this business. People seem to forget, not be aware, or just ignore it. "Oh it won't happen to me" yeah it will, and you won't think clearly. You can go to jail for attacking a customer physically. And most likely the customer will get away with not paying a single cent.
Had a decorater mate who has payment trouble with a guy..a sikh..who wanted to re-negotiate the fee after my mate did the job more quickly than he thought it would take at the point of quote. He grabbed the guy by the throat and shook his turban off ! He was a big bast//ard. The money was in his hands pronto !
spanish peaches ...when people say “violence doesn’t solve anything” they’re totally wrong. It sorts out anything from bad debts to noisy neighbours.
@@thpxs0554 It's not always justified and most don't want to be violent. However, there are situations when the implied threat of / or actual violence is justified, i agree. Me, well I'm not such a big lad so I have to be more devious. I was £1000 down on a job which i was owed...by a woman. Tried to get it, but to no avail. Christmas eve I went, in the night, shut their water off and poured quick drying cement down the access hole... : ) Never got the money, but a lot of satisfaction.
An electrician is much cheaper than a new house, and/or funeral...
True
I would still send her a bill.
Not really... Last funeral I paid for was about 6k ish, rewire with an EV charger on my 2 bed semi... 8.5k.
Wgaf. Its their funeral if it burns down. Just laugh.
Usually the appliances are not allowed to maintain the combustion and theoretically what happened to the lady did not necessarily present a fire risk. + that the lady said that she no longer has power at the kitchen outlets, which means that the risk of fire probably passed :)
In 41 years folks never cease to amaze me... seen this several times..
In your case she probably perceived your keenness to help as your need to take lots of money from her for just an hour,.. when in reality you are clearly very solvent and were genuinely keen to save her from a potentially very bad situation...
Mate, I could write a book on such call outs,.. you would be absolutely staggered.
Great videos and keep up the good work.
Cheers mate.
Thanks a lot
Jordon, although I am a retired sparky / heating engineer (yes I am fully qualified in both, or at least I was when I retired 10 years ago) I now spend many happy hours watching you utube videos and admiring your neat workmanship. It's really good to see someone doing the job as it should be done. By the way the mouse wire for conduit work used to be called a ferrit tape and was a flat spring steel tape, it cut your hands to pieces !
The PVC solvent cement actually dissolves the plastic therefore cements the two parts together.
You are right single conduit wire did use to come in a box, what happen to those ?
Keep up the good work, Bob Jones .
You have the right attitude, don't let the odd bad customer change that. This video proves just how important customer service is too you personally and how fundamental it is to your successful business. Helping the client is the most rewarding part of the job, especially in their hour of need.
Years later reading your post … can see you physically upset in post. Calibration is key … hard to tell with a new customer… try to wake up with a smile each day … worth watching Micheal cane ‘IF’ poem . Full respect 😊
Another great raw, truthful video Jordan. Completely get the ‘yes man’ quote, I’m the same, feel some customers are ungrateful and walk over me especially when I’m there doing 1 job, I then agree to ‘help’ the customer by doing another job installing a light fitting which is a nightmare as no CPC behind old fitting, trying to sort it out and have the customer constantly asking ‘How long will you be, I didn’t think it would take you this long to put up a light!’😡😡😡
I clean and repair gutters but have seen this in my work too. I think all tradesmen develop a “spidey sense” for waste of time customers. I’ve learned to be “fully booked” for 3 months when my senses tingle - makes life much less stressful!
@@drhwindowguttercleaning2847 Exactly. I'm always fully booked for months in advance, but I find time for customers that feel right. It's a defense mechanism because we are all inclined to help people who subsequently just walk over you.
You re amazing and have a golden heart!
I live and work in PA, USA (Not the most expensive of states), and our company charges 275$ for a service call, and 89$ an hour after the first hour, and once we come and knock your door, even if you refuse service you ll get the Bill for the trip charge (like 150$), it is absolutely insane to me that you showed up and wasted your valuable time and didn't get paid for it!
We charge 275$ even if the troubleshooting take 2 minutes, but this is a service call meaning we got dispached for an emergency, regular work that is scheduled weeks in advance is billed 89$ an hour (For residential, more for commercial, and much more for industrial).
2 things, put her on a black list so she doesn't waste your time again and send her the bill for the call out anyway. In my job i have to call out contractors on a regular basis. I know full well that an emergency call is going to cost more than a "can you fix this at some point", even more if its out of hours and more again on a Sunday. I also know that if i have to cancel them for any reason i am very likely to get billed for an hours time at least.
Thanks good points there
So you're happy to be charged for distance travelled? No legal transection happened here, no work was done to the customers property, they can't be charged for nothing.
I can recall going to a ladies house for a similar problem, RCD tripping, minus the burning smell, it ended up being a simple socket screw caught the neutral wire and nicked the insulation, over time it it caused the tripping as it touched the neutral conductor. Anyway, before I went I explained the hourly rate, all inclusive rate I may add, no hidden costs. She was happy that I could help despite being so busy, she was local and I wanted to help. After the work she asked me if I could review my rate, I was in total just less than 2 hours and stated it would be a 2hr charge. She said she couldn't afford my rate and wanted to pay me in Christmas cake instead. She was of the older generation, really sweet lady so I accepted a good slice of homemade Christmas cake. Only to be told by the misses that cake don't pay the bills and I should be on a diet anyway. Hmm, maybe she was right, but the cake was good and I did a good deed. I learnt to say no somtimes.
People like that makemy blood boil. I work in computers and took a call from a company who said they where having problems with their mail server and wanted a price to fix it. I told them that we charge £750 per day and going on their description I could probably fix for that price. They said another company had quoted them £350 per day. I said thats great, go with the other company as that is our price for non contract customers. We got a call back a week later asking if we could call out, I asked ifthe other company had not turned up, she said they have been here for 5 days and have told me they cannot fix the problems and billed us £1750. We went out the next day and fixed it in about 4 hours.
😁👍 great story
had similar things happen when i was in london, this particular woman had kids and had to get them to school, so we agreed i would be there at 9.30,..... I knock on the door at 9.25 to a woman ranting and raving because i am late, she said i said i would be there at 8.30, so i pointed out we said 9.30 because she had to take kids to school, so she said well her husband took them and went to work a bit later, so she started ranting some more and it was only when i started walking down the path she said, where are you going?? and after a few more words, well you may as well come in now you are here. needless to say i didnt go back when she called a few weeks later wanting some other work done.
Yeah stay away from her. I would not want to be alone with that women she may make allegations.
Take solice in the fact that she will end up paying three times as much in the long run when Bodgit and Grommet have finished repairing everything with terminal blocks and insulation tape! Happens to us all mate don't stress it.
Haha so true
"Bodgit and Grommet" love that. Just thinking, would "Bodgit and Harthur" not be better :D
@@mcfrosty8739 Bodgit and Scarper
Blasphemy! Don't take St Gromit's name in vain, he's patron saint of the competent!
the world needs more people like you mate.
30 min call out is pretty fast... If i was the customer, even if I changed my mind I would be too embarrassed to turn you away the door... thats really rude
Best business advice I got was from a retired and well accomplished businessman, who said "never be afraid to say no" and he was right the work will always keep coming if you are doing good work and keeping good customers happy.
Had a call at 10pm on a Friday night - woman panicking about smoke in her kitchen “can I come over now!!” Agreed call out fee and set off.
When I got there her husband had worked out that it was the washing machine which had tripped and caught fire - but can I Check the electrics anyway.
Did some tests and all was ok - went to pay me and said “well what exactly have you done? Is £20 ok?” 😳
I explained a price had been agreed and I had come out on a Friday night to help them - “yea but you haven’t done anything so we are not paying the full price”! I could not believe it! I will never go out to an emergency call out now without payment up front or will only go for customers we have worked with before - nightmare situations
This lady had the presence of mind to look up an electricians number (had you done work for them before?) she couldn't have been all that panicked. Me I see smoke and I'm dialling 999 if I cant see a source of ignition I can deal with myself within 1 minute. For her to be able to have the presence of mind to dig out an electricians phone number my guess the husband had already sorted the issue they just wanted the electrics tested for safety and were too tight and rude to pay an out of hours call charge.
at least 25 quids a cup of tea and some chocolate biscuits. lol.
I’m a heating engineer and I’ve been to jobs where taken 5 min to fix. Then when I say about payment they say how about £20 and I turn round now and say how about I put it back to the way it was,!
So annoying when like that as there paying for your knowledge. What would you rather 5min of someone that knows what there doing or 2hours of someone that gets there eventually!
I don’t do anything until they’ve signed a contract, I’m not a charity.
@@Chequr_Prostate good! If it isnt in writing and signed - it never happened!
What is that Cory says.... "the sky is always blue with the occasional grey cloud..." just treat it that she was a grey loud on an otherwise blue sky day....
Too keen like you say. I would have asked if she wanted to try calling others first if she sounded reluctant to agree to your prices
Yeah good idea
It's too risky for unknown customers.. unless another customer knows them and can vouch for them.. probably has happened to all us us a few times.
As a customer I appreciate that someone professional would come straight away regardless the price.
Have had it a couple of times where have been asked to leave and then also work cancelled. Have a feeling you are correct, she was ‘shopping around’ for the best deal in her eyes. I can’t help but think there’s always a case for building a relationship with customers, only the good and/or long-standing customers get the instant drop-stop-and-run service.
Amen to this.
There are spoiled self centred people out there. Everything revolves around their desires and whims.
You can be sure she has treated other people in the same fashion.
Remember you are one of the good guys.Your closing comments are spot on. Paperwork vs being a super hero. Sometimes you can’t win them all.
I feel your pain. I am an electrician in the United States and have dealt with a very similar situation. It is very frustrating and unfortunately I don’t have a solution. I have to say you are doing an excellent job handling the situation. I wish I could be as calm as you. I enjoy watching your videos. It is interesting how different our wiring methods are and the similarities are in dealing with customers. I definitely would like to have a boss like you if I worked in your country. Excellent job. I look forward to more videos. Thank you.
But you did the absolutely the right thing in the circumstances - no question - clear conscience for you - I share your values - keep them !
Agree. I'd rather live with getting the occasional hit than turn away someone who was facing the risk of their house going on fire. Completely understand his frustration though.
I got one. Back in 2018, I drove around as a locksmith. Not my own company, I was just a wage slave. A small restaurant called us, they had snapped a key in their bikes lock, so they couldn't do delivery, which is unfortunate. I got the job to fix it, went there, in the middle of the capital, a right nightmare to park. They were told the price for all of it, 600 dkk, less than 70 British pound and accepted before I was sent.
Their bike had two locks, a circular one behind the seat, and a massive chain lock. They had snapped the circular locks key in the chain one, and had no spare, so both locks had to be cut off. We weren't given tools to pick the locks for reasons I guess would be obvious from a business stand point.
After dealing with both locks, I went in for the payment. At that point the two owners were arguing whether or not they could simply refuse my service, and asked me if I'd be alright with that. Like I somehow could just leave the locks be, but forget I did what they asked for. Took a bit of arguing before they accepted I too needed a wage somehow. The nerves of some people.
It sounds like she gave off the warning signs with her reluctance from the start. At least you didn’t get a non-payer after you had fixed the fault and used materials on the job.
Agreed, follow your instincts. as soon as someone hesitates at the price, you are likely to have problems.
Too true. When it happens you always look back in hindsight and think to yourself "I should've saw that coming"
@@simonclarke6970 It's the 'Canary in the coalmine' moment... and as you say, invariably leads to further issues. Awful thing is, is it's only going to get worse and happen more often as our economy goes down the shitter from Covid and Brexit.
@@semperidem2577
It has nothing to do with the economy as unemployment is down at under 7%. No this is more cultural and extends to other things as well.
It just turns out that a generation raised on left wing media have unrealistic expectations of the world.
For example they all think that a stranger can raise their child for them and that the child will still emotionally bond to them.
Have you ever held open a door for somebody and a completely unrelated person just comes rushing in past in the most ignorant fashion well those are all the same people and they can also cut you off in their car or jump a queue.
@@bighands69 I mean this is just people being cheap - it has nothing to do with any of the other crap you said. I used to work in trades - we had people try to cheap out on us all the time and they we from all different walks of life, political leanings, upbringings etc. People are always going to try and find a deal and with how hot the market is and how many contractors/businesses are abound these days they can easily find someone who will do a job cheaper. It just might not be a properly done job.
Call out should start from home to job, the fact that she instructed you and you got in your car to drive down.
Sometimes you have a gut feeling about a dodgy customer. she seemed suspicious asking about the price. Alarm bells start ringing when she said will you fix it within the first hour🤣
Your still a good bloke, don't change your ethics just around one customer, because there might me somebody genuine that needs your help, treat people how you want to be treated.
As an electrician of 45 years had plenty of these you provide a good service mate don't despair Michael
Yep, went to quote a job, arrived and she said ‘ooh I’m glad your here, my washing machine isn’t working and my clothes are locked in there’ long story short, faulty socket front behind the integrated dishwasher. Swapped it, and all back on and working.
Said to not worry about a call out charge if we get the quoted job. If not, then it’d be a £40 call out, (which I know is too cheap)
Didn’t go with the quote, then multiple emails about how I should run my business and my prices are far too expensive. Lol
Never got paid, and tbh I think the whole thing was made up to get a free call out.
Live and learn I guess.
I’m a bit of a yes man myself and people do take advantage,it’s just in some people’s nature to be kind and helpful,and others to be the opposite.She was looking at you as a bill and not a person.Don’t change who you are because of other people,keep up the good work 👍from a fellow Irish spark✌️good luck
Thanks
I used to be a painter and decorator. I painted some really awkward metal railings 1 story up. Needed access indoors and outside . Finished job 2nd coat, customer decides she doesn’t like colour, I said ok I can change it for you as the new colour wasn’t too different... by then I had already broke even on price... by time I finished the colour change she decided she preferred the original colour... I said that’s fine but it will be £15ph or £100 for a day to repaint them... she went mental and said why can’t you do it again I paid you already... I said hang on a minute I would have finished a day ago if you didn’t change mind I decided to repaint them in another colour for you out of good will and you want to go back to original colour I can’t keep working for free... after some arguing about excessive prices etc she agreed.
I spent the day day repairing the railings and she paid. I didn’t make a penny by time materials and other worker paid. Roll on 2 years, she has windows replaced which meant the railings got taken off her walls, the railings got damaged by removing them... she rang me up and asked me to come repaint them for her! I said ok same price as before... nope she wanted it for free!
I told her where to go and she decided to try ruin my reputation. Sadly for her others knew me and the story and made her look like an idiot 😀😂🥃
🤦♂️
Speaking from a customer point of view, I think your right Jordan that it's the price. So one idea which I think would benefit both the customer and tradesperson would be scheme run by the government, NICEIC or NAPIT is a special fund set aside for emergency call outs where the customer is nervous of the costs attached to a call out and once applied the tradesperson can receive a set cost. This would both ensure that the tradesperson gets paid for the call out and electrical safety is not compromised.
Well put it this way, when a client starts whinged about pricing, it's simple, get someone else. 7 out of 10 times always the case, waste of time.
Yep this - we get asked (not a spark!) all the time if we can do a cheaper price. No, we can't. We set our prices based on what it costs us and the margin we need to survive, support and look after people. Want to pay less, sure, find someone else who is daft enough to do so. The end.
You handled this self-entitled individual appropriately- they have no idea of the costs of running a business and, more importantly, she doesn’t appreciate the danger she is in.
I've had similar, not a sparks but now take card payment for the callout before setting off. Look at iZettle, no affiliation.
Had one like this the other day - ohh sorry husband has the card and he is not here :-( then wrote a check then that bounced :-( fxxx
in an electricians career you should expect to meet about 30-40 of these types learn to pick on the negative vibes and avoid them can of worms jobs they f... your day up sometimes your week
Keep being a yes man. Don't be discouraged by this woman's attitude.
You are one of life's good guys. You have a bloody good skill and deserve to reap all the positive energy you gain from fixing. Don't allow someone elses negative energy to infiltrate your head.
Stay true to your good character. 👍
Unfortunately it won't be the last time it'll happen,everyone wants 5 star service but doesn't want to pay for it
99% of people are not like that just the 1% of people that issues.
Disagree . I believe it’s 50/50 . These people believe cable from the 1950s should last 2000 years . I know we’ve all herd it but the amount of idiots that say and keep saying “ well it’s lasted 25 years “ makes me want to vomit ! At that point is when the price doubles with 25% upfront - absolute fools .
Jordan - this is why we can't have nice things !!! You are very patient, a required quality for dealing with the general public. If I were in a similar situation (I'm not an electrician) - I'd have done the same given the information you'd been given at the time. I really hope incidents like this are few and far between for you, however, you may wish to consider a blacklist of customers who have messed you about and as others have commented, maybe taking an up-front payment for times when you are just not sure or have a "feeling". By the way, there's nothing wrong with being a "yes man" so long as you know when enough is enough. Your wife is absolutely right in the regard that saying no is totally OK, you cannot be superman all the time! Keep on keeping on. Really enjoy your channel and I learn so much. Stay awesome :)
I am an electrician from Australia, and this thing that has happened to you is happening to everyone
One day, a customer called me and I gave him a discount and when I finished my job he did not give me money because he said I asked a lot and on top of that he said that we are friends and thats why I will not give you money so I did not say any word I turned back and went
We send a link of our t&cs on our website. We ask the client to read and agree to them before we will go out. At the bottom of the t&cs ( on the link we send them) they can electronically sign them. This has been a game changer for us.
we've had this a few times as plumbers in London, usually for blocked drains and emergencys especially at night it happens, but we normally send them an invoice for wasting time on 1 hour or a callout charge of £75, I wouldn't have just left that's ridiculous, she should have understood that she called out an electrician and nothing is free
Businesses need to have a payment process system in place so they can take depositions or call out charges.
A better way to bill is not by the hour but to have a basic payment and then charge for every hour after that.
Listing to this, blowing fuses in my head, the one main thing that I don’t miss as a gas safe registered engineer is some people/customers. You can get out of bed and go to work in a bright, cheerful and positive mood and it just takes one customer to blow your day to bits.
That’s very true unfortunately
She should know emergency call out is not cheap, all trades tend to put a premium on it, generally people accept it's cheaper than your house burning down/flooding/etc. she wouldn't have turned you away had you been a plumber and her issue have been a pipe spraying water everywhere I bet.
Yes!A electrician is under rated!They think its just a couple off wires together and your done..
@@computeraddic675 Really grinds my gears that. Me: "I think there is a leak from one of my pipes, i keep getting a mouldy damp patch in my ceiling." Landlord: "SHIIIIIIT get on it straight away, don't want to have to pay for extensive repair work". Me: "my downstairs circuit breaker trips every so often at random times, even when nothing is on" Landlord: "meh, itl be fine, just turn it back on again"
You are a good guy Jordan, don’t beat yourself up about this negative, issue..
Really enjoy the Artisan Electric videos, keep them comming
What ever you quoted, I guess it was cheaper than a funeral 😂😂
I went to quote for a rewire once, the woman seemed embarrassed to let me it, but I was there on time, I realised her embarrassment was, because the first electrician was still there doing his quote 😂😂
You did the right thing in agreeing to attend. This was a potentially dangerous fault and there will always be the "difficult" customer ....what else would a professional do.....?! I am retired now but I had more than my fair share of selfish customers when I was an electrician. I recall a builder who phoned me on a Friday night and said that he needed a first fix urgently done on an extension as his sparky was off sick and he had a plasterer booked for the Monday.....I went that Friday night, priced up the job and the builder agreed. I said I would do it on the Saturday......I turned up with cable, capping, boxes and was all ready to get stuck in......but the property was all locked up. I rang the builder and his wife said he was at a football match but she had the keys.....I picked the keys up and did the job. When I returned the keys the wife of the builder said there had been a mistake and the builder had changed his mind as the price was too high that I had quoted and he had found someone else........too late I said I have done the job.....! I think it took about three months before he paid......
The minute she ummm’d and ahhhh’d on the phone, I would have either taken 1 hour payment upfront, or told her you were too busy. End of 👍. You are too nice and trusting !!!!!
Yeah thanks good shout
I have no idea who you are personally but I do love your channel along with Nick Bundy, David Savery and Nagy. What I do know is that you are passionate about your work and your customers and will always put them foremost, It looked like you were choked a little at the end because of how much you do care - You will never say no though will you?
I'm a Cisco Network Consultant and get resued a lot of work because of my day/half-day rate, they then go cheap and get me in a few weeks later when it's all gone wrong. Just keep being you. PS - you have a great team with you.
Yes, what a polite rant 😃
There will always, always be an unreasonable customer, even to someone like yourself who is professional and friendly. The fact you are professional and friendly merely decreases the amount of silly customers you get, it won't eliminate them. You remain professional towards them at the time (as you have done), walk away, off load to your mates (or youtube) and don't ever go back!
Great video
I have had this happen to me and always try and call before leave the house and on the way to get to know the customers attitude to the job and what they think of your price.
Your a “do a” but not everyone appropriates good people.
Good luck johnc
I bet Pete from down the road will come round later as "he knows electrics" and look at it for a 4 pack of Stella change the socket no testing 😉 and wait for the fire brigade.
Till he runs out of Stella.
Rcd wouldn’t happen champ
You done the right thing mate. 9/10 of the clients will appreciate your kind nature and prompt service. Unfortunately not everyone understands this service or costs/process OR the seriousness of the danger. Every now and then these messers pop up, you just have to learn to sniff them out early and decline!
Don’t worry about it Jonathon. As a fellow qualified and caring heating guy I fully get your angst. I’ve been there like you on some occasions 😏. Don’t charge your professionalism or approach. These people are not worth worrying about…. PS don’t always listen to your wife 😎
Usually what happens is that we get a great run of jobs for months on end that we forget about the bad customers and drop our guard. That's when the bad ones manage to slide under our radar. If this guy had a similar phone call tomorrow, he'd know exactly what to do because he's raised his guard again due to his recent experience. It's worth remembering this can happen anytime.
As a gas technician and plumber, this happens all the time. Our only saving grace is that there is legislation that means if there is there is a report of a smell of gas. You can contact the gas transporter and report it. The gas will then be isolateded at the boundary of the property. This means you can sleep easy knowing that because you were denied entry, you can still the reduce the risk of serious injury to life and property.
@@sonacphotos they will at first point, try to seek permission. secondly they will then insist they come in as they do have powers of entry under law to enter your property to access their property. failing that they will dig up and cut your gas supply off. then charge a huge sum to reconnect the service, normally with a boundary isolation point. I should point out that the gas transporter will test the installation for "tightness" to confirm any gas escape. they will also use gas sniffer devices to locate possible leaks on untested pipework. its not a "s/he said" off goes the gas type of thing.
its one of the main reasons now that external surface mounted meter housings are used. with smart meters, your gas supply can be stopped remotely to. This does not stop chancers however just bypassing the meter etc. if your into that territory. It then becomes a criminal offence.
From her point of view she was stuck between a rock and a hard place - ie she may not have had the money and meanwhile, things were going on that she did not understand that needed to be addressed. Obviously, safety is paramount but when it is a choice between putting bread on the table then sadly it often moves down the list of priorities.
then she should not have told him to come round...... yeah I agree with other commenters, invoice her in mail for wasting your time
@@Ressy66 There has been a lot of poverty created in the last year and some people are not thinking straight in how they act. Ok that is not Artisan's problem. After the initial shock of his hourly rate she apparently agreed to this .. but then may have got a scary afterthought that he might be there all-day as she obviously had no idea what the problem was. In the old days if she had been a pleasant enough genuine 'damsel in distress' and the problem had been the usual neutral that had unscrewed itself 10 min job we would not have charged an hour for it.
@@Witheredgoogie I agree if its 10 mins thats a svc call out - travel including first 15 mins onsite... but fact remains she did agree and if he records his calls thats all a court needs to know, remember we too are not charities, who pays for that time, that fuel...
@@Ressy66 Oh Yes absolutely and the law is on his side - but I do hope that as a society that somebody facing a financial set back is reluctant to call an electrical service (as they would with gas/water) in an emergency (where there is a risk to safety) to be confronted with "yeah well I don't get out of bed for less than 3 figures +vat"
@@Witheredgoogie no idea what he charges, but as one who out of the UK, I can assure you the same applies here too, std call out fee + time, some companies here do charge a fee just for turning up + time, air con contractors are famous for that, you wont get out of it under 140 even if they just knock on your door and say hi/bye.
I have svc call which includes 15 mins + time in qtr hour blocks after that, often if it takes 20 mins I wont charge extra, but 95% do. Mind you for after hours emergencies, you bet I charge accordingly, svc call fee is dbl and the ongoing is 50% more per qtr. harsh? like to see you get out of bed at 2am for a normal svc call fee :)
God Bless your Kind heart. Don't be discouraged. Keep going broo
I used to do a lot of call outs. I learnt to not give too much info on potential faults and how to fix them. She’s probably now watching your TH-cam videos learning how to change sockets and tighten connections.
I think that might be short sighted - I've called for example a heating company and he gave me some over the phone tips that worked (free) -- so when my furnace broke down and I coulnd't fix it, I used him for the job without even getting quotes from others because of his goodwill (and internet checking showed the price was reasonable). And replaced the AC and humidifier while I was at it.
Great vid, full sympathy mate!, I'm a plumbing and heating eng, had a customer phone me in lock down, I was self isolating, when I was back up & about I went to her for probs with a shower, nothing urgent tho..I got there as arranged, looked at the issues, told her the shower had been installed wrong, she asked questions, I gave her good advice,on her heating also, told her to ask the guy who installed it to come back, as he shouldn't have put it in..I told her it was£45 to cover my cost, she said what for?, you've done nothing!!!I've got to go get the money now, I'll be 20mins!!!. I said forget it, keep the money, it's Christmas, never ever phone me again thanks!!!!
We are a company in North London covering North London and Hertfordshire.
Spoke to a lady landlord last night at about 9pm for about 15 mins about an Eicr that's she requires at a 3 bed house in Borehamwood
After alot of talking what she had there and about her tenants she asked how much when I told her she screamed that's expensive I've been quoted £150 and I thought that was expensive so was expecting a cheaper price .
Companies doing silly prices for jobs and the public think that us good quality electricians that charge a decent hourly rate that we are over charging
Eicr 2 bed terrace /semi = £300
Eicr 3 bed terrace / semi = £400
Up to 8 circuits .
I completely understand your frustration has have had the same experience myself where I have been turned away after agreeing to an emergency call out.
But there is nothing wrong with being a good person with the correct ethics and trying to help people because in my experience you do get the odd bad experience but the majority of people are nice and appreciative.
Some people live on a different planet and expect everyone else to work around them. I arranged to be at a customers house at 8am but as I was leaving she rang to say come at 9 instead because she had things to do. This meant I got caught in the school traffic and she started calling and texting and 9:02 to tell me I was late.
This video show how professional you are and is the best advertising
God bless you 🙏
Hi Jordan,
I would probably bill her anyway. Your office person should be able to run interference on calls like that. Like if there is someone injured or there is iminent danger of fire .If not shedule it .When she balked at the price,that was the first signal that she was going to do a runner.
Remember you are worth what you charge. you should know that by now. The sound of a panicky damsel in distress triggers us to want to go fix whatever is wrong. That is just magical thinking. Learn from that 90 minute lesson that the universe just thought you. It shows us that you have a good heart and will continue to do so but sometimes there are people are selfish and inconsiderate of both peoples time,skill and value.
Remember she still has the problem which she still has to pay someone to fix and more than likely it will cost her more to fix. she will return home from work and not be able to use or trust her electrical system, Maybe thats her lesson to be learned from the Universe.
Thats my rant,
"Anyone for Coffee!!!!
not a nice man, youre just a kind person, keep winning god bless
Take money upfront, its the only way nowadays, a lot of people are not as honest as we were a few years ago.
You having a laugh I'd never and will never pay a tradesman upfront honesty works both ways. Your always going to get the tosser customer, does not mean everyone does not appreciate having a professional tradesman do the work who they will pay on time when the job is done.
Had a customer in a block of flats we were working in whos heating went off right in the middle of a freezing cold period a few years back. Sorted it free of charge. 4 weeks later she had a kitchen renewal done and i had to go and final test the installation and certify it. When i pre-warned her her power would be interrupted she went crazy..grabbed my test kit which at that point was only 3 months old. Took it out the flat and dropped it 9 flights down a stairwell along with some tools. She then slammed the door leaving the cover off the fuseboard and cabinet door wide open.
Had to end up calling the police.
Yeah I learned the hard way, don't try to explain things to a customer on the phone if you don't need to, everything you say like "it's probably a loose connection" is mentally being valued by the customer.
I learned tha a long time ago, ;-) don't give the enemy info! lol
He never should have mentioned loose connection as it gives them the idea it is not worth repairing.
It is just simple apply call out charge and then investigate and then quote if needs more work.
keep taking these jobs, most customers really appreciate it and is surprised on the quick service, always gonna be the odd job where they just dont get it, still worth it in the long run.
To be honest I've gotten use to unappropriative clients/ customers here in Trinidad. I try my best to help everyone, I also under charge and they have shown me that they don't appreciate nor value my time. So as I sense or pick up a reluctant or uninterested tone or body language I turn a no man. I would reach nowhere if I continue feeling sorry and not saying no.
I have been in sales all my life - for the last 10 years as a plumber so whenever I received a 'blow in' order I would go to see the customer immediately as you did. By responding quickly I would then be doing all their work in future. I never had the 'I don't want you' response but I have been turned down by 'Can't you do it cheaper' and I say no and go. Your response to her first call was what I would have done - but I don't have a wife to tell me not to go - its my business and I do what I think is right!!
You should have a trade blacklist you can all access for people like that , I could then choose to decline the job or charge minimum fee up front.
Unbelievable I have no words this is our world fella
Everything is an "emergency" until they realize they have to pay.
SO true
A VERY polite rant! I’m so with you, I am equally a yes man and although 99% of the time to fine, some customers will take the p*ss and it leaves you feeling pretty angry and flat. I’m multi trade and have had this with a customer with a leaking toilet who is more interested in arguing about the price than letting me get on and fix it and limit damage. Sometimes you just have to say no….
Last time I heard that annoyed voice was when you had the faulty wire job when installing the floor socket at that odd scout hut.
Honestly, it's to to your credit that not only would you leave the office to go out to that customer because it was a safety issue, but that you worked with her schedule! Let alone that you only charge a one hour minimum. I honestly don't understand how someone could be so concerned about the cost (it's the cost of One hour, not a house rewiring) when it's literally their life on the life. Good on you and Artisan Electrics for such care and service, and I'm sorry you have to deal with customers like that, even if it is part of the job once in a while.
Learning to say no, when you are by nature kind and helpful, is essential for the preservation of your sanity, and blood pressure.
That applies in almost any profession...
That’s so true
Easy solution.....take the call out fee upfront. Stops all messers in their tracks. We started to do this years ago( mobile transport refrigeration engineers) and also solves the hassle of them trying to do a deal if you do fix it quickly.
Sometimes when we try to oblige , we get crapped on.
Unfortunately true
As you said thankfully these things only happen infrequently. I can’t help thinking that she may not have had the money to pay you but was stuck in a dilemma, on the spot, and panicking about what to do. Even if something is an emergency it doesn’t mean she has the funds to pay your bill. It’s tough for some people.
She must have had the money since she rang up in the first place. No there is an entitled attitude that has developed in society.
They expect things to happen exactly as they imagine. Popular culture by the media has trained a whole generation of people to be spoiled children. They are so self centred that they even endanger other people lives. Drive on any road and you will see them routinely.
Turns up in a Telsa and a clean uniform, I think I called the wrong person.
Electricians are technicians and engineers that work on technical systems. What do you think they show up in a horse and cart dressed as peasants.
@@bighands69 no but a van containing tools would be nice. It’s not a massively skilled job but there is definitely some skills and a reasonable level of responsibility which commands more a basic job. However if you are running a company with multiple guys working you are taking more risk and reap the reward of profit off of those guys. The high price of trades is the failing of the education system pushing people into pointless degrees
It's the same with every trade, I do carpet cleaning, my most common one is " I've got a mark on my carpet that I've tried everything to get out and can't , will I guarantee I can get the stain out" . Or the booking via facebook that when you arrive they have gone out, and you hear nothing from them ever again, even after I post a hand written note through the door that I have been and not got an answer.
You dodged a bullet there Jordan
ALWAYS listen to your good lady Jordan, they are ALWAYS right 🤣 (and the pain of ' I told you so' cuts so deep!!
I too am a 'yes man' which has indeed bitten me on many occasions but, it won't stop us from being helpful!
Keep the faith and stay safe matey, love watching your vids!
Steve
Thanks! 👍
As soon as the warning signs show themselves, I tell them NO! Make 'no' your default answer. Let them convince you to do their job for them.
Attend in ten minutes!!!! She was lucky to get you there with in half an hour i like how you kept things polite 👍
Learnt my lesson years ago with idiots like this, as soon as any charge is mentioned and you hear a change in tone in their voice, I kindly decline the work.
They're idiots mate, they can phone around and have other choices. Letting you go there and turning you away is naughty.
Haha thanks
I have just clocked the age of this video and you didn't change.
Completely understand your situation but speaking as a consumer (since I’m not a tradesperson), I kind of understand her position. She must’ve been a very price sensitive customer. Not everybody has the ability to afford the best and they’re just going through life trying to manage to stay above the bread line.
A lot of people live knowing the fact their houses are in a state of disrepair but cannot afford to pay for it to be repaired. Whether that’s electrics or plumbing or anything else for that matter.
I’d personally request you don’t take it to heart but understand that there’s always a lot of customers that can end up wasting your time but it’s not that they want to waste your time, rather it’s them trying to get by.
The customer had a choice! Once she heard the price, she a choice to say yes or no but instead she went ahead and wasted peoples time.
Not quite the same "cancel" story you were expecting, but it's still a good story:
Quite a few years ago, I needed to get one of my vehicles in for service. I paid to have the vehicle towed to a shop and informed them of the repairs I needed. (Two front wheel bearings, nothing major.) I called back after two weeks, they hadn't gotten to look at it yet. Third week, I call. "We're unable to get the parts." What do you mean you can't get wheel bearings? "Your car's so old we can't get the parts for it." OK, it was 2001, and the car was a '92 Geo Storm (Isuzu Impulse). Not exactly hard to find parts for... Especially when I walked into an auto parts box store ten minutes from the shop, bought both wheel bearings off the shelf (they had 7 in stock) and delivered them to the shop. "Where'd you get these?" I told them AutoZone. "We've been looking everywhere for these parts!"
Fast-forward a few days later. "Yeah, um, we need to replace the actual hub itself, it's damaged from the wheel bearing failure." OK, do it, call me when it's done. "OK. Should be a few more days."
During this whole time, it required all sorts of complaints to the manager for my friend to retrieve his blood-sugar testing equipment and strips, and when we went to do that we noticed the strips were scattered all over the car, not in their case. We found the entire contents of the car rifled through. Spare change was stolen, along with the stereo. I kept that in the back of my mind and moved on...
Finally, after another week, they would hang up on me every time I called. After two months, as soon as they picked up the phone, I blasted them. I WANT THAT GEO FIXED THIS WEEK. No excuses. Understand? **click**
The next day, phone call comes from the shop. "If you're not serious about fixing this car, just bring us the title so we can scrap it." EXCUSE ME?! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO FIX THE CAR FOR NEARLY THREE MONTHS! "Well, if you really want it fixed, you're gonna have to get us the hub assembly yourself. I'm sick of wasting my time, trying to find rare parts for a piece-of-[expletive deleted] car nobody wants." I call a junkyard - ten minutes from the shop, maybe fifteen if traffic is heavy - he has 7 Geo Storms sitting in the yard. I go buy the part that day, drop it to the shop that day, and say I'm giving them three days before I contact all news media, Consumer Protection Agency, and the Department of Motor Vehicles. I hear a racket behind me, the three "mechanics" are out doing donuts in the street on their quads, one doing a "brake stand" and kicking up stones on my other car. A three-year-old off-lease mint-condition car that I just bought six months prior.
The car was completed, they called ten minutes before closing and warned me about storage fees if I didn't pick up the car that day. Good news for me, a friend of mine and I were less than 1/4 mile away (the same friend with the diabetic test strips). Showed up, and they seemed shocked that I was there in a few mere minutes. We haggled over three months' storage fees tacked on, long beyond the closing time, then I pulled out my phone and showed them all the times I called them and the few times they called me, and talked about having to source my own parts from places in the same physical town they were in because they claimed they couldn't find the parts, and then I brought up the stolen car stereo now mounted in one of his mechanic's Ford Explorer, the stolen change, the car doors left ajar so the interior was moldy, how the same mechanic with the stolen radio from my Geo was at a party where we had mutual friends, and I was there as he drunkenly bragged about how they didn't even lower the flatbed to unload the car, they put it in Neutral and floored the wrecker so the GEO ROLLED OFF THE BACK AND SLAMMED ONTO THE GROUND, and then they stopped the truck and the car rolled into the back of the truck (I-beam bumper), before they pushed it back into the yard using the same I-beam rear bumper, and how I had just put front struts on the car a few weeks before the wheel bearing failed that are now completely destroyed and my hood's all scratched.
Miraculously, at this point, the charges dropped to simply 4 hours of labor. Which, knowing the labor rates for that job on that car, is a significant discount. So, I paid by check, drove the moldy car straight to the gas station to replace the 3/4 tank that disappeared (trip odometer showed 137 miles - fools didn't even see I reset it to zero!), and enjoyed two new wheel bearings on four formerly-new tires that were now slicks (now we know where the gas went and where the 137 miles came from, and also why the e-brake no longer worked), with an added bonus of two free hubcaps to replace the two the car was missing before I bought it. Next morning, stepped right into the bank, and stopped payment on that check. Never heard a peep from them, and never set foot in there since.
TL;DR: I got two new wheel bearings installed and two used OEM hubcaps, plus another $800-1000 in repair costs (ignoring bodywork), by having a shop do $379 worth of work that I ended up only paying $25 for because I stopped payment on the check (not including $200 in parts I had to provide).
If you've made it this far, the shop is Fitchville Auto, located in the Fitchville section of Norwich, CT.
I wouldn't buy a soda from their soda machine if I was literally dying of thirst, that's how much I despise them.
Jordan had to get out of his office outfit (we all know he meant yoga outfit) all for nothing!
pyjamas
Worst that happened to me (security industry) Event planner calls up books 6 guards for a event in a few weeks for a 8 hour shift. I book guards and end up coming in to cover event as well as anything over 2 guards requires a supervisor. We show up, event planner tells us "oh the client didn't want to pay so much for security so we won't have security sorry" So now the company is out 18 man hours of pay at $14 a hour (labour law says 3 hours minimum if you show up for a shift that's cancelled) and we have no way of getting paid. Boy I was not impressed nor was the owner. Needless to say we never took calls from that planner again.
"office outfit"? was there slippers & PJ's involved, lol
or was it suzzy's and suspenders. Woop's sorry that my friend ian over in waterloo hope he don't find this ha ha ha ha