Well, as a customer, I would say anybody coming along to do work needs to be flexible if they want to come along and do work again.
Agree with you, it's part of the way you build up a reputation. However, there are degrees of flexibility.
So I had a plasterer come round to skim a room before christmas. He originally said he would dot and dab it, but he didn't have time, so I put the boards up myself and he re-quoted for a skim only.
Fair enough.
So when he showed up to do the job, he was expecting all of the plasterboard to be ready, having made it quite clear to you that he only had time to skim it.
However I had missed a 2.5 inch wide section on a stud wall so I asked him to use some of my plaster board to fix it up first.
How did you ask him? Had you told him on the phone that everything was ready before he came?
Well, he did it, but made me go fetch some of my screws (he had thousands in his van, but he hadn't quoted for that) and then complained because he also had to cut out a few back boxes because I hadn't done it well enough.
Was it such a hardship to go and fetch a few screws for him ? - if he had changed into working boots, for example, it was probably easier to ask you to get them than change again and go out to the van. As time is of the essence with plastering, it made more sense for him to scrim up or get ready for mixing etc while you fetched the screws. Perhaps he was cutting out the boxes you left , while you fetched the screws? As for price of a few screws - are you serious? Were you that keen to get a bit more value off him?
So I suppose he was right, in that he hadn't quoted for that, took him all of ten minutes to do though.
He was right, according to what you agreed - but very wrong if he thought he was going to get a recommendation or more work from you. Personally I would have had that flexibility you spoke about, (especially after originally agreeing to dot and dab).
I just kept on making him tea (free of charge, Well whoopideedoo, what a generous soul you are, making tea for him. And didn't charge him? It sounds like you wish you had, you oul begrudger!!
didn't charge him for that, and my daily rate is a lot higher than his).
I dare say that's because you went for the man with lowest quote! Touch of arrogance here, methinks - as you seem to think a higher income makes you a tad superior. Getting to the core of the issue here, I'd say, which explains your attitude to the tradesman
So what would I say.
He gets quite a bit of work on my street, but I have already started telling people about my experience. I also had him quote for a new kitchen extension, but he won't be getting that work now either.
So he was quite correct to say he hadn't quoted for using his screws, but I am also quote correct in that I don't have to recommend him or give him any more of my cash.
The decorator following him was a hard worker, good attitude, and by the time he had finished I had given him an extra ten days work and also got him another job down the street.
Tongue now out of cheek, and with you nicely fuming, I'd say this was a simple case of a personality clash, with two blokes who rubbed each other up the wrong way. You felt entitled to a little bit extra work for free, and think a few cups of tea justifies this, he couldn't bite his tongue and do a few bits of extra work in order to keep you happy and perhaps get a bit more work off the back of it.
What would I have done - I would have ever so politely finished the boardwork, and having had a look at what I needed before starting, would have brought a few screws in from the van. When the job was finished and we were settling up, when you asked what you owe, I would have cheerfully said, I'm not charging you for the few bits of extra work, taken your money and driven off.
And depending on your attitude, I'd have made a mental note not to do any more work for you again, if I could help it OR thought what a lovely chap,I'll do a bit for him again, he kept me in tea all day with an extra tenner for my trouble, !!!!!!!!!