A half baked theory

[Harbourwoodwork]

I've got a half baked idea that people are driven into the arms of unscrupulous agencies like Check- a-Trade, all the rest of middle men and craft associations claiming to have the welfare of the public at heart by programs like Rogue Traders which raise the fears of the general public that they will be ripped off by tradesmen as a matter of course.

The problem is that good news is bad. People don't want to watch a programme about tradesmen where everything went well and they did a 'lovely job.'

The irony of the situation is both the programmes and the agencies are supposedly protecting the public but in actual fact are doing the opposite as well as being a dis-service to the industry.

 

[joe-90]

Yeah but it makes money from TV advertising.

 

[AndrewSchofield]

The problem is that we, as humans, tend to be much more inclined to complain about people who have upset us than we are to praise those that have done something good.

If you're pleased with something you buy or a service you've received, most people might tell other people how good it was if they're asked about it. Whereas if you've bought something and it turns out to be rubbish, or you've had someone do some work for you and they ripped you off or did a bad job, people tend to tell every member of their family about it, all their friends, everyone down at the pub on a friday night, the woman behind you on the bus and post things on internet forums and review sites.

We like to complain about things, but aren't so keen to give praise when its due.

 

[EddieM]

The problem is that we, as humans, tend to be much more inclined to complain about people who have upset us than we are to praise those that have done something good.

If you're pleased with something you buy or a service you've received, most people might tell other people how good it was if they're asked about it. Whereas if you've bought something and it turns out to be rubbish, or you've had someone do some work for you and they ripped you off or did a bad job, people tend to tell every member of their family about it, all their friends, everyone down at the pub on a friday night, the woman behind you on the bus and post things on internet forums and review sites.

We like to complain about things, but aren't so keen to give praise when its due.

indded, if you get good service you are inclined to only tell a few people, if you get bad service you will tell anyone who will listen. human nature.

 

[joinerjohn]

You have to remember that companies like Check a Trade and their ilk are purely in business to make a profit. I don't believe that these companies provide any sort of service to Joe Public, but are more interested in ripping off tradesmen.