Submitted by sim_BLISS_ity t3_xx8q6h in newhampshire
[deleted] t1_iravfkw wrote
I try to empathize with the tradespeople in nh but sorry I just can't.
They seem to think they are the only ones who work and are busy, and that justifies them ghosting clients or just never responding in the first place.
Almost every profession you need to deal with phones calls and emails, and almost all of them you'd get fired for flat out ignoring them.
For example theres a handful of plumbers in my region. I have been trying to get my plumber to so much as respond for roughly the past month. Nothing.
I'm sure it's because he's busy. But aren't we all?
Kyle_Smiles t1_irbgh94 wrote
I've worked in the service industry and I work seasonal trades now. I can tell you it's not the same. Most guys in my field are working 60-70 hours a week and that income has to offset the loss of income in the winter time. We still work but it's much less so the wages even out immensely. Customers are often unreasonable with thier expectations as well. A small job is not going to be a priorty especially if you have employees and overhead to juggle. For example a small job like fixing a door for $3800, that time is time you could have spent doing a bigger project that will make more money and make getting through the winter less stressful. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
[deleted] t1_irbi5vs wrote
Then why don't people just pick up the phone or call back and say "sorry we aren't taking small jobs right now ". Or, "we will take small job but we'd have to charge you x more, up to you". Or if you have a website say simply "we only do mid-large scale projects".
Point is I'm not saying anyone owes it to work with me on fixing something. It's common decency just to spend 2 minutes to say "we aren't taking clients right now".
Its just treating people like shit for no reason other than you think no one understands and you can get away with it.
Kyle_Smiles t1_irbkecp wrote
Spoken from a place of regulatory scheduled hours and normal work weeks. I've worked both and the reality is that sometimes jobs go long things happen and again the little guy isn't financially viable. I always give a number to people even for small jobs and you know the reaction I get? Customers throw a fit over the number which reeks of entitlement to me, but that's the number we can do the job for without losing money. On the side of communication, a lot of times it's a mom and pop shop working insane hours who can't afford to hire an office worker to take calls and emails. All of that said, this isn't true for every company out there and being in trades I 100% agree that there are definitely scum bags. But the majority are just hard working small operations, lower your expectations we aren't amazon.
[deleted] t1_irbl4c8 wrote
I think that's what a lot of you in the trade business need to do, and I say it in these threads all the time, is raise your prices. The price of your labor is what people are willing to pay for it. Everything is going up, so naturally your prices should be going up.
Eventually either people will pay those prices or more skilled workers will come to the area because the pay is so well and it will all even itself out over time.
The problem is now I think many of you are under charging and working your ass off and should be charging more. That's burning you all out and creating issues.
GregorVDub t1_irhdmet wrote
Cause there's probably ten other people they have to tell the same thing. They have plenty of work to do why waste time to call twenty people back every week.
[deleted] t1_irhj8d2 wrote
if they were treated the way they treat others they would be bothered by it as well. everyone has other things to do, it's just the appropriate thing to do, especially if you own a business, to communicate with your customers. when they call their bank do they expect to talk to someone? after all the bank has other customers, why talk to the little guy?
why do you think half of the reviews you see online are either "he was prompt and communicated well" or "he wasnt responsive and i couldnt get a hold of him". it matters if you are running a business. if you dont want people calling you dont set up a business where people call you to hire you.
GregorVDub t1_iri5ktf wrote
I don't disagree with you. I'm telling you as someone in the trades, this is how it is right now.
JS-PROPERTY-SERVICES t1_ircp1ko wrote
Here is your real answer. It's really hard to find good tradesmen and good businessmen in the same person. Thatvis not a knock. Each is a unique skill set. It's really easy to offend a lot of tradesmen too. Many have sensitive egos. It's very easy for one to dismiss customers for petty reasons, and for them to never even perceive the potential loss.
It's also hard for customers to really know how to get a tradesmen to work. What plumbing issue are you having exactly? I can get someone there within a week. Just give me the zip code and the specifics.
The answering the phone thing is frustrating. But do you want your guy answering his phone all day when he is billing you 150 an hour? How many calls do you think that guy gets in a day? Is it poor time management and poor business practice? Maybe, depends on the guys goals. It could be an accepted part of his model. He isn't the only high demand business that may choose to just not pick up the customers phone calls. I can think of a lot of businesses where there is not even a number to call.
So a guy gets home after a long day of dealing with drug addict workers, burdemsome red tape, and grumpy customers. He has a family and all those issues going on. And the guy probably has 15 missed calls and all sorts of texts. It's not that he is ignoring YOU, it's just that he is busy.
Everybody is busy but it is not in the same way trades people are right now. I'm completely overwhelmed with work and haven't even put up a google listing yet. I can't imagine what that will be like when it happens. A website and google listing have been a plan since February. I keep trying to expand to justify it but then I just keep adding clients and work.
I don't know anyone's business or situation but hopefully this clears up the why side of things for you. No licensing needed in New Hampshire hardly. I could probably teach most people how to make more money than they do right now in about 2-3 months. I have several ideas on how to make millions in the trades with phone calls and the internet. But finding trustworthy people willing to show up on time are rare traits these days. Anyone can stsrt a moving company and be a multimillionaire in a few short years.
There aren't many more easy ways to guarantee to be a millionaire quickly besides the trades. There are so many repeatable models, franchises, and opportunities out there it is insane.
[deleted] t1_ircqnl4 wrote
Really appreciate the post this makes a lot of sense.
I may take you up on that offer about a plumber but I'm trying to stick with my main plumber since hes familiar with my place, although at times he's not making it easy.
I agree though. If you have a website, an office manager, and reliable workers you can make a killing in trades these days.
GregorVDub t1_irhdgkm wrote
The trades are decimated right now. There are probably multiple people a day they aren't calling back. They can pick and choose the jobs they want.
[deleted] t1_irhdyhf wrote
I agree they are slammed but I'll never understand how they just flat out ignore people, even someone who is their long time customer.
I just couldn't imagine being in a job where one of my customers is calling/texting for weeks and I just get home and look at it and ignore it.
At least say "find a new tradesman I'm too busy". Don't just leave people hanging
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