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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:34 pm
by Mercedes
What IS it with British workmen ??
[Hiiii btw to everyone - still alive & kickin - just got my main comp in bits on the floor, and SuN is more important, been brill ain't it 
]
Have I got a brand new lovely drive or did Engerland win the world cup ?
a) Started out ringing 4 peeps.2 tavellers turned up.
b) Month later : Rang 6 more out of the yellow book.1 turned up, and one from list a
c) Month later : Rang Everyone !!! oh & did lots of "drive stalking" in between, taking pics of strange peoples houses [well I never thought to knock and ask first]
Men and Quotes start rolling in, from a, b & c [well sort of - quite a few would only verbally give me "maybe" figures]
Came down to 2 in the running.
Decided on number two fella [beige stone chippings with resin on top,black edging] double the £notes of number 1, but really liked his work and professionalism here & on the phone, and number 1 only does blocks or tarmac.
K, you ring em up to say, your'e the fella I want, & ohh theyv'e already told you, that they can fit you in, in 3 weeks = today !! {confirmed 3 weeks ago}
But Why, once they know theyv'e got the job, I'm suddenly mid August.
I'm gutted,,,,, ok I lied, I'm totally p****d off. Dumped a hol for this b****y drive.
Why cant people be honist ?? Dont even feel better now Iv'e got me rant off me chest :/
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:47 pm
by Stuarty
My boss is very bad for that. Very bad. Im going to be starting a job tomorrow that was promised to be finished for a fortnight ago. And once i get this job to the levels, its almost guaranteed im pulled off of it to start another job. Bearing in mind ive also got to do the grounds maintainance inbetween all these private jobs, any wonder why some of us landscapers look haggard :p
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:40 pm
by Ian CHP
I too am a culprit for this, however some customer don't understand that jobs do overrun, due to clients extending work, building suppliers not turning up on time, rain, equatorial heat and labourers picking and choosing which days they 'might' turn in.
Contractors such as myself not only have to complete the job personally they also have to go out pricing, arrrange all quantities and deliveries, not to mention that we also have personal lives and young children who would like to see their father between the months of March and October. The father would also like to see his wife and indeed have some sort of a life apart from laying paving 24/7
Mercedes has no reason to miss his holiday as he should have simply told the contractor, I'm on holiday from date x to date y. So don't turn up
Yes, as it sounds I'm seriously pi$$ed off at the moment, if any one wants a boat load of work let me know, you can have the lot. 
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:10 pm
by flowjoe
In general i would be a bit worried if any decent contractor in any trade could fit you in within 3 weeks of finally, after several visits to site and umpteen calls was told he had the job. Good tradesman are busy, its as simple as that.
Nobody want`s to be spread too thin, it would be nice to start a job, finish the job and INVOICE the bloody job, but because of the list of variables mentioned by Ian CHP life ain`t like that.
Contractors will take on to much work, because many can remember the lean times, and its not unknown for a customer to cancel at the last second and leave you (and your workforce) high and dry for a few days, but in general its the unforseen, the weather and the workforce`s Bob Geldof (i don`t like monday`s) attitude that trips us all up.
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:20 pm
by Stuarty
Im afraid i seem to have put all the contractors / employers in a box. Ive confused real hardworking people, who just try to make a living, with the types like my boss. Hes the "gentleman farmer" of landscaping heh. He gets the work, tells all 3 squads what their doing and then he retires to his house for the day, maybe go to a site meeting now and then.
I agree with flowjoe about a decent contractor getting your job started in 3 weeks. Theres enough work for my squad to keep my going till November. I also agree with Ian about the holidays situation, I can never work out why clients do things like cancel holidays for the works to begin rather than saying that they dont want it done between two fixed dates.
I understand why we have work that will go on for ages, last winter i spent a good couple of weeks doing oddjobs in the yard, because we ran out of work.
Basically all you can say on the matter is, thats life.
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:05 pm
by Nigel Walker
Stuarty
You have a lot to learn
Firstly do not say bad things about your boss on an open forum he may notice.
Secondly You think your boss retires to the house and does nothing ? If he has got 3 gangs operating, there is a lot of organising to do, ordering to do , office work, vat, tax, wages, paying bills , filling out the hundreds of forms we get every year etc etc
I can assure you, he will not be lounging in the sofa watching daytime telly.
Where do you think all the work comes from ? He will have to visit the jobs, price them, work out a quote and send it off, order all the materials, organise the transport etc etc
He will be visiting the sites to make sure young up starts like you are actually doing the work he pays you for
So next time you knock your boss for skiving off home, just think about all the un-seen work that is needed to run a business
And then just concentrate on your work !
As for the topic of this thread - I am constantly altering my schedule due to all the things
Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:39 am
by Suggers
Mercedes - " Drive Stalking" - now officially enters the Thesaurus - brilliant - sung in 3 pt. harmony & v. high voices.
ps - how's old peeping-tom?
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:35 pm
by slickboy
Nigel Walker has it spot on. Me and my Brother run a landscaping business and the hours we work form-filling, quotes, site visits etc. etc etc. ad nauseum- is phenomenal. This is not to mention back-breaking physical work as we like to be hands on even though we have a few lads and subbies. And bear in mind working for someone else you get paid every friday or whatever, sometimes we don't ..at all! Grrrrrrr! Sorry but it gets my blood up.
Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:48 am
by mouldmaker
Nigel Walker wrote:Firstly do not say bad things about your boss on an open forum
So true.
My boss is a wonderful, warm-hearted guy who is kind to animals and radiates calm, cool and professionalism. He is a god amongst men, and is a shining example to us all.
Hang on, I'm the boss! Must be true then!
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:26 am
by Stuarty
At the end of the day, im effectivly anonymous. I detailed info about one person in particular, not all employers. There is secretarial staff who deal with wages, materials, and alot of the other office work. By his own admission, he has no real interest in landscaping any longer, he just does it because he wouldnt know what else to do. He is also involved in a few other projects. Again, this was not a gripe about all bosses, just mine.
