Snails - Response on Threads Part 5
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So we can enjoy the rain that held off just for usSee? It's still summer Fran!
And you have a working trailer again for camping this weekend.
Sigh. The fact you don't understand that shows why you're missing the boat on the bet thing too.
He rescheduled on you several times. There's a reason for that. And all of them would probably do the same thing, to varying degrees, no matter who you picked.
Imagine that you owned that business. You pay guys to work for you (seasonally), and have equipment, material, and facilities expenses.
You book your schedule as full as you can, because you have to make a profit. You don't want big gaps in the schedule with down-time, as the equipment sits idle, and you have to pay people for doing nothing. So working = money. Not working = losing money. Right?
BUT....there's a "base cost" to doing any job. Transporting people and equipment to/from site. Travel time = expense. Going back a 2nd day is extra expense, but is necessary if the job can't be done in a day.
Basically, Bear, your job was "fill in work". That is to say, a basic small job that they schedule when they are in the neighborhood and will have an extra 1/4 day or 1/2 day available to "squeeze" you in. Maybe a sub-group dispatched from the main group working 5 blocks away.
He can't really charge you what he'd want/need to charge you for a 4x8 area to make decent money, as it would cost double what you probably paid. He's gong to charge you whatever he can get away with at reasonable cost and schedule you as fill-in to take up any "otherwise idle time" since he's paying these employees in the area anyway.
So the fact that you got "bumped" several times is due to his scheduling needs and other priorities (and any other circumstances I don't know about). Basically, he's glad to have the fill-in work, but it's hard to schedule and you don't get $$$ hit as hard as you could be, but you have to be flexible. Many places wouldn't even take it if they're real busy. Later in the fall they might have more "idle time" and you could have competed for prices.
Basically, he either lost money on the job as "good will/advertising", broke even as "fill in work" or made enough money to buy lunch.
EDIT: Buuuut... he didn't LOSE money (or he lost less money), compared to if he had had his people idle. So even if your work is a loss, it's a "less loss"/cost savings measure compared to no work at all.
P.P.S./Edit: All guesswork on my part, of course. I've not done any asphalt work.
P.P.P.S He should probably explain that more-or-less to you; that he'll take the job and you'd need to be flexible and he'd schedule you as time permits between jobs.
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Could not disagree more.
The first contractor had a $500 deposit in-hand after he handed me the proposal.
"We'll be here on (such and such dates) to do the work." One week PAST that date,
with no sighting or communication, I had to call. "We'll be there on (such and such
dates) to do the work." One week PAST that date, with no sighting or communication,
I had to call. "We'll be there on (such and such dates) to do the work." One week PAST
that date, with no sighting or communication, I had to call and THIS time fire him.
THEN I had to fight for the return of my deposit.
I am supposed to accept and EXPECT that kind of crap? I think not. Once $$$ exchanges
hands, then *I* become the one who gets catered-to. Or SHOULD be.
The second contractor did not ask for a deposit, but I was given dates, by which time, the
work "WOULD" be completed. Just like the first, nothing including no communication. Take
a hike. You get ONE chance.
Analogy:
You take your car in for a simple tire rotation. Not YOU "you" (because we all know YOU
would do it yourself). Say *I* take my car in for a simple tire rotation. "Oh, that will only
take five minutes". Six hours later, I still do not have my car because they were working on
others where they could make hundreds/thousands of dollars, pushing off my $25 job. "Oh,
you'll have to come back tomorrow. It's still only take 5 minutes." I should EXPECT and
ACCEPT that?
My last name is not "Mat", nor is my first name "Door".
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Yeah, they should do some "expectation management" up front and level with you, or make the deadlines, or at least do some reasonable "opps" communication.
But...if you'd just cool it a bit, it would get done. I can see being more upset if you had to take time off of work, for example. So the point remains. Still, you got it done eventually.
I bet you'd have had an easier time of it if you had scheduled in the Spring or Fall. I'm not making excuses for them, you understand, I'm just letting you know the other side of the story. Still not great communication on their part.
But...if you'd just cool it a bit, it would get done. I can see being more upset if you had to take time off of work, for example. So the point remains. Still, you got it done eventually.
I bet you'd have had an easier time of it if you had scheduled in the Spring or Fall. I'm not making excuses for them, you understand, I'm just letting you know the other side of the story. Still not great communication on their part.
P.S.
What part of "how it works for them" (the answer to your question) did you disagree with?
What part of "how it works for them" (the answer to your question) did you disagree with?
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If they have my money, it becomes "how it works for ME". It's NOT unreasonable.
See, it's that attitude (quoted) that has turned the service industry into what it is.
One when you need to beg, crawl, wheedle and whine to get anything done. The days
are GONE where those providing a service do anything to make you feel good because
they should. Now, they do it just to shut you up... all with a heaping helping of scorn
disdain on their faces.
Yes Sir... My pleasure, Sir.
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I "cooled it" for seven weeks with the first one before firing.
Not applicable, invalid.
EXACTLY... "eventually" rather than when it was promised... four times. And three
different companies.
Ummm... "March" is Spring, right? Any earlier, and I would have needed to shovel
the area for easy viewing.
Yeah but Bear. I didn't say they gave you great service. I just answered your question. And you DISAGREED with me. I wanted to know why. I think you're "shooting the messenger".
I disagreed with your reason ("better/more-lucrative jobs come first" - or - equipment concerns)
when money had passed hands. Me >>> Them. They also knew upfront what needed to be done
and what equipment was required.
It's not MY reason. It's a guess at THEIR reason. Or do you really believe they just sat on their hands for 7 weeks and laughed and did nothing at all, including not doing your stuff?
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I also said there could be other reasons I don't know about. Basically, if you want more details you have to ask them.
Do I need to post a pic of the parched deck?... or will I be believed when I say
the "torrential rains" and "flash flooding" have not happened?
How about: I do not have a dial tone yet? Oh... maybe it's just me, one
person out of service when a hospital or ambulance company is also out of
service. Since Sunday. That must be the case. I'm nothing. I'm dirt.
the "torrential rains" and "flash flooding" have not happened?
How about: I do not have a dial tone yet? Oh... maybe it's just me, one
person out of service when a hospital or ambulance company is also out of
service. Since Sunday. That must be the case. I'm nothing. I'm dirt.
On a positive, non-rant note:
Looks like my nic base will get here by Monday. Hoping for cool weather for the package's trip.
Looks like my nic base will get here by Monday. Hoping for cool weather for the package's trip.
Bear....
I'm not disagreeing with you. (Except on the bet thing).
Why are you all "up in arms"?
I am up in arms because "good service" is now an oxymoron. Whether
it be a tangible thing (like the contractors) or intangible (like an actual
ACCURATE weather forecast). It's rampant all over and it's SINCERELY
disconcerting. It shows no signs of abating. I hear it from a lot of
people.
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