Estimate ghosting

[libbygrl109]

We are in the home stretch of our kitchen reno. We just had the counters and sink installed today, and appliances will be installed on Monday, hopefully along with the tile and trim work shortly after. We are trying to find a painter. One came, told us they could do it in April, and sent us a quote a few days later. The other painter gave a similar quote, but couldn’t do the job until June.

We decided to go with the first painter, so I replied to their email, and because I didn’t hear anything after almost a week, sent a text. It’s been 4 days since then. The other painter has been very communicative - checking in with me the same day to make sure I saw his email because others he’s tried to send to me have gone to spam. I told him we were waiting on another estimate and hoped to get him an answer by the end of the week. He emailed me again tonight to see if we still wanted his services.

I am not sure of what to do - we had communicated in our email to the first painter that we wanted to use them, but they’ve essentially ghosted us. We want to get on someone’s calendar so that we can finally be done. Do I just email the other painter and just say that because we haven’t heard from them that we are going in another direction or do we wait them out?

[mccallister84]

We have had this happen many times. I would just move on. It totally sucks.

[libbygrl109]

Mar 24, 2022 19:50:02 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

We have had this happen many times. I would just move on. It totally sucks.

Did you contact the one that ghosted you to say, “Even though we said yes, we haven’t heard from you, so thanks but no thanks.” or did you not bother? This is where I’m at.

[mccallister84]

Mar 24, 2022 19:58:12 GMT -5 libbygrl109 said:

Mar 24, 2022 19:50:02 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

We have had this happen many times. I would just move on. It totally sucks.

Did you contact the one that ghosted you to say, “Even though we said yes, we haven’t heard from you, so thanks but no thanks.” or did you not bother? This is where I’m at.

Personally, I wouldn’t bother. But if it makes you feel better you could always send an email saying you are moving forward with a different option since you haven’t heard back.

You haven’t signed a contract or paid a deposit right?

[sandandsea]

Move on. We were ghosted by a landscaping company after choosing them and waiting for the final final bid to sign. 7 weeks and no communication later after we reached out 2-3 times, we got another bid and then told the original company we no longer needed them. That got a response that went something like “oh so we aren’t doing the project?” and I replied “correct” and that was it. Like how could they be surprised!!?? It sucked but was a huge major red flag. Better to cut our losses now than halfway into a 6 figure project.

ETA. My message to them was something like, “we’ve decided to go another route for our project and will no longer need your services”.

[libbygrl109]

Mar 24, 2022 20:25:13 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Mar 24, 2022 19:58:12 GMT -5 libbygrl109 said:

Did you contact the one that ghosted you to say, “Even though we said yes, we haven’t heard from you, so thanks but no thanks.” or did you not bother? This is where I’m at.

Personally, I wouldn’t bother. But if it makes you feel better you could always send an email saying you are moving forward with a different option since you haven’t heard back.

You haven’t signed a contract or paid a deposit right?

No money yet.

[heygrey]

If you haven't signed paperwork or set a start date, I would just not contact them again. If they finally reach out I would be honest that after hearing no response, you chose another company.

[libbygrl109]

Thank you, everyone. We have emailed them again, and if we don't hear anything from them by the end of the weekend, we are going with the other painter.

[heygrey]

Mar 25, 2022 16:54:29 GMT -5 libbygrl109 said:

Thank you, everyone. We have emailed them again, and if we don't hear anything from them by the end of the weekend, we are going with the other painter.

I know you want this project done sooner than later, so the April timeline is definitely appealing. But this company is telling you that they absolutely suck at communication. They will almost certainly continue to be terrible throughout the project... IF you are able to nail down a contract. Giving them a 3rd (4th?) chance is reinforcing that they can treat customers like this and still have work. 

As annoying as it is to push the finish line out to June, I would go with the company that has proven they will communicate well. 

[libbygrl109]

We are all set with painter #2. He has even moved things around so that he can come next week! I am so excited to be completely done and have my house back in under 2 weeks!