Contractor no shows

[april37]

I also give people the benefit of the doubt because life happens. But what's that Chinese proverb... Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I would move on. People need to call if they are going to be late. That's just rude. I'm not familiar with Angie's List rating system. Can you give him a neutral review?

Please note that I may be biased because I'm currently dealing with a "no show" contractor, to whom I've already paid money.

[karenj]

That would be so aggravating. Things do come up but he should at least call. Not sure what to do about the rating.

[pitterwoo]

when I need something done I will contact twice as many people as I'd like bids from. A couple won't show, a couple will flake later in the process, that leaves 1 or 2 to choose from typically.

[IIOY]

Jan 24, 2013 13:38:07 GMT -5 pitterwoo said:

when I need something done I will contact twice as many people as I'd like bids from. A couple won't show, a couple will flake later in the process, that leaves 1 or 2 to choose from typically.

This is actually a great approach because so many contractors truly are flaky and just won't cooperate, for whatever reason.  I cannot stand dealing with contractors.

[kaylie]

I had one come over to do an estimate a few weeks ago and still haven't heard back. He's currently doing a bunch of stuff at my friend's house so it's kinda weird that he's completely non responsive. It's annoying. Fortunately I'm not in a hurry.

[IIOY]

Jan 24, 2013 13:59:30 GMT -5 kaylie said:

I had one come over to do an estimate a few weeks ago and still haven't heard back. He's currently doing a bunch of stuff at my friend's house so it's kinda weird that he's completely non responsive. It's annoying. Fortunately I'm not in a hurry.

kaylie - do you mean that you are waiting for him to get back to you with an estimate for the cost of work?  IME, contractors are really slow getting this information to you, even if they were prompt in scheduling the initial visit/assessment.

[kaylie]

Jan 24, 2013 14:25:24 GMT -5 IIOY said:

Jan 24, 2013 13:59:30 GMT -5 kaylie said:

I had one come over to do an estimate a few weeks ago and still haven't heard back. He's currently doing a bunch of stuff at my friend's house so it's kinda weird that he's completely non responsive. It's annoying. Fortunately I'm not in a hurry.

kaylie - do you mean that you are waiting for him to get back to you with an estimate for the cost of work?  IME, contractors are really slow getting this information to you, even if they were prompt in scheduling the initial visit/assessment.

Yes, he said he'd have it to me that week but I'm still waiting. Hopefully he gets it to me before I decide to just DIY a bunch of it. I was really hoping to be able to hire out the tile and I'm too lazy/untrusting to look for someone else.

[treedimensional]

I don't know HOW contractors stay in business. They are notoriously flakey and unresponsive. It never fails that I call/email a dozen contractors, fewer than 50% will return my call/email. Of those who schedule, 50% will not show up, or will reschedule at the last minute.
The excuses are ALWAYS the same: sudden emergencies beyond their control.
Last time, I called 5 contractors and got ONE to come out, which is completely typical. This guy took a few measurements and said he'd write up an estimate and drop it off. Well, that was about 6 years ago and he still hasn't dropped off his contract.
I hired a completely shitty contractor to rebuild our porch because he was the ONLY one to respond (after his initial 'unforeseen emergency' cancellation).
It's absolutely maddening.

[IIOY]

Jan 25, 2013 10:08:35 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

I don't know HOW contractors stay in business. They are notoriously flakey and unresponsive. It never fails that I call/email a dozen contractors, fewer than 50% will return my call/email. Of those who schedule, 50% will not show up, or will reschedule at the last minute.
The excuses are ALWAYS the same: sudden emergencies beyond their control.
Last time, I called 5 contractors and got ONE to come out, which is completely typical. This guy took a few measurements and said he'd write up an estimate and drop it off. Well, that was about 6 years ago and he still hasn't dropped off his contract.
I hired a completely shitty contractor to rebuild our porch because he was the ONLY one to respond (after his initial 'unforeseen emergency' cancellation).
It's absolutely maddening.

OMG do I feel you on all of this, right down to still waiting for an estimate from a contractor from ages ago.  I'm a researcher by nature, so being denied the ability to get multiple estimates makes me crazy.

My father spent a lot of time working with contractors through his business and I've asked him a thousand times over the years why contractors are so flaky.  The best answer he can give me is that they are very in-the-moment and respond only to whatever is directly in front of them.  They don't think ahead about cultivating business or good customer relations, which makes them terrible entrepreneurs and explains why most of them aren't making money hand over fist.