Giving contractor another chance

[IIOY]

I posted a complaint on here a couple weeks ago about a contractor who never showed for an appointment.  The purpose of the appointment was to obtain an estimate for some possible work.  We set the appointment up on a Tuesday, and the appointment was for Thursday, so not enough time to forget.

I wrote the company off after that, but in googling to try to find contractors, it appears this one is one of the bigger names for our intended purposes.  Should I try one more time with them (and yes, I would mention the fact that they blew me off the first time with the hope they would step it up) or is it just not worth it?  We are looking at some pricey work, so my goal is to meet with as many contractors as possible so that I can be as knowledgeable as possible and get the best deal.

[imojoebunny]

I would try a couple of other contractors first. The thing I find most helpful when dealing with contractors is having good communication with them and being comfortable telling them what i want and don't want, as well as having details of what exactly i am paying for. If it is a large company, the estimator will likely not be the person you are working with, so that may not be a problem, so I would not write them off entirely. These things happen. Did you call them when they missed the appointment? What did they say?

[Deleted]

Depends on the reasoning. I have contractors miss appointments all the time. Usually because they got wrapped up in a meeting/were busy solving someone else's problems. If it's a valid excuse I let it slide but make it be known. I wish they'd have the courtesy to call, but it's just the way of the contractor world apparently.

[IIOY]

Mar 1, 2013 8:51:33 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

. Did you call them when they missed the appointment? What did they say?

I've made contact with 10 contractors, met with 6 thus far, received estimates from 3 (a couple can't or won't do the work).  We are looking at ~$70,000 worth of work, so my goal is to leave no stone unturned.  I did not call the other contractor back when he failed to show because he was my first scheduled appointment so I let it go, assuming I'd have plenty of other options.

[kitty]

The fact that he didn't call and apologize and try to reschedule would really, really turn me off.

[emoflamingo]

I might call him again, but I would probably have the "but he flaked" caveat on any quote he'd give me.

[IIOY]

Mar 1, 2013 14:36:47 GMT -5 emoflamingo said:

I might call him again, but I would probably have the "but he flaked" caveat on any quote he'd give me.

This is pretty much where my head is at.

[treedimensional]

Give him another chance to do WHAT, exactly? Inconvenience you again, or REALLY screw you over?
I am always AMAZED at how these characters stay in business. I would NEVER treat a customer this way. I haven't blown off an any type of appointment since I was a teenager. It is appallingly disrespectful. And no phone call, no apology, no amazing offer to make up for shitting on you in the first place?

[sratsey]

Did he even call to say whey he'd be missing the appointment?
If not, I wouldn't bother. $70,000? No way I'd give that amount of work to someone that doesn't even respect my time.

[adhdfashion]

Hell to the no! Keep looking.

[sweetreverie]

No way. I would pass on him. When you are doing a big job like that, time is money. And he will likely waste time.

[315]

I agree with others about not reaching out to them again. They clearly indicated that they do not value your business by not keeping the appointment or, in the least, explaining the no-show. And they would know that they could dick you around during their work for you. When stuff like this happens to me, I always think how I dodged a bullet and try to find someone willing to be professional and courteous.

[niknik]

I probably wouldn't want to but we are doing 70k worth of work and our contractor was great and had great references and all that and it's gone all to hell so really it's a crapshoot. I would meet with him, find out why he missed appointment and see what your overall feeling is. That way you can write him off in your mind or maybe move forward but it doesn't cost you anything to meet with him.

[IIOY]

Mar 4, 2013 12:08:39 GMT -5 niknik said:

I probably wouldn't want to but we are doing 70k worth of work and our contractor was great and had great references and all that and it's gone all to hell so really it's a crapshoot. I would meet with him, find out why he missed appointment and see what your overall feeling is. That way you can write him off in your mind or maybe move forward but it doesn't cost you anything to meet with him.

This is just it. Our current "small job" contractor was a total flake the first time we interacted with him but we really liked his work and had a very smooth relationship with him, and he even did me a freebie solid not too long ago.

Since I'm in the information gathering stage and my goal is to learn as much as possible about this project, I think there is no harm in meeting with this company to at least get their thoughts on the work and to get get a free estimate. Like a PP said, any estimate will come with a huge flake caveat. The company was recommended by our inspector so at the very least I can tell the contractor what is going on, which may have ramifications for the contractor down the road.

[treedimensional]

Mar 5, 2013 6:22:24 GMT -5 IIOY said:

Mar 4, 2013 12:08:39 GMT -5 niknik said:

I probably wouldn't want to but we are doing 70k worth of work and our contractor was great and had great references and all that and it's gone all to hell so really it's a crapshoot. I would meet with him, find out why he missed appointment and see what your overall feeling is. That way you can write him off in your mind or maybe move forward but it doesn't cost you anything to meet with him.

This is just it. Our current "small job" contractor was a total flake the first time we interacted with him but we really liked his work and had a very smooth relationship with him, and he even did me a freebie solid not too long ago.

Since I'm in the information gathering stage and my goal is to learn as much as possible about this project, I think there is no harm in meeting with this company to at least get their thoughts on the work and to get get a free estimate. Like a PP said, any estimate will come with a huge flake caveat. The company was recommended by our inspector so at the very least I can tell the contractor what is going on, which may have ramifications for the contractor down the road.

It DOES cost you something to "meet" with someone who doesn't show up. Unless, of course, your time is worth nothing.
Phoning this guy again and reminding him that he has fucked you over once already doesn't strengthen your negotiating position, it weakens it, just the way it does when you take back a cheating spouse. 

[IIOY]

Mar 5, 2013 7:55:30 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

Mar 5, 2013 6:22:24 GMT -5 IIOY said:

This is just it. Our current "small job" contractor was a total flake the first time we interacted with him but we really liked his work and had a very smooth relationship with him, and he even did me a freebie solid not too long ago.

Since I'm in the information gathering stage and my goal is to learn as much as possible about this project, I think there is no harm in meeting with this company to at least get their thoughts on the work and to get get a free estimate. Like a PP said, any estimate will come with a huge flake caveat. The company was recommended by our inspector so at the very least I can tell the contractor what is going on, which may have ramifications for the contractor down the road.

It DOES cost you something to "meet" with someone who doesn't show up. Unless, of course, your time is worth nothing.
Phoning this guy again and reminding him that he has fucked you over once already doesn't strengthen your negotiating position, it weakens it, just the way it does when you take back a cheating spouse. 

I think we have very different levels of emotional investment in dealing with flaky contractors, LOL.

[niknik]

Yes, it does cost you time but every contractor I have ever met has given me ideas and made me look at something even a little differently so I guess the payback would be education.

[TBM]

Mar 5, 2013 17:37:02 GMT -5 niknik said:

Yes, it does cost you time but every contractor I have ever met has given me ideas and made me look at something even a little differently so I guess the payback would be education.

That would be true, if, you know, the contractor actually showed up.   If the contractor doesn't show up, than it is a waste of your time...or not, since it does let you know that they don't value your time or your business.