How Do You Handle Tradie Monopoly Nature ?

ivegan on 04/02/2022 - 00:11
Last edited 04/02/2022 - 05:55 by 1 other user

HI Guys,

I've been dealing with trade people for many years now.

I noticed that while few percentage of trade have been nice but majority of them does not want to finish their job. They always leave small things here and there and demand for money.

It becomes very natural for me to give them money that I own. However, whenever I ask for what is missing, or something they did not cut correctly and put a patch, they feel very uncomfortable.

I clearly set the expectation that what I want, so that there is no communication issue; especially with non English background. However, it becomes very hard to argue with them when little things are missing. They have a very classic statement to give that - that it is somebody else fault.

Once they have got their money, forget about that they will pick your call.

How do you handle their monopoly nature?

Is something that you do differently to handle tradesperson so that both parties are happy?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Hybroid on 04/02/2022 - 00:13
    +22

    Don't pay till the agreed work is done to the agreed quality expected. Not rocket science.

    • ivegan on 04/02/2022 - 00:18

      "quality expected" makes the whole agreement into "grey area situation" . That is where they do tricks.
      The quality can be degraded because of various valid or bogus reasons.

      As an example, someone is putting a wardrobe, and there a gap between the wall and his wardrobe mdf. He can easily turn back and say it is your wall that is not straight and he can leave the ugly gap as it is or he can silicon to cover the gap.

      How will you define quality expected when you are setting expectations.

      These surprises happen when the actual work is done.

      • cashless on 04/02/2022 - 08:16
        +1

        No more gaps $4.45, Bunnings

      • Mechz on 04/02/2022 - 11:19

        You get what you pay for, go to a bigger company and get installation included so they're accountable.

  • HairyChickens on 04/02/2022 - 00:24
    -1

    Hasbro?

  • Nugs on 04/02/2022 - 03:32
    +2

    DIY
    .

    • Jenny Death on 04/02/2022 - 06:39
      -1

      Can't diy plumbing or electrics.

      • SBOB on 04/02/2022 - 07:00
        +4

        Can't diy plumbing

        Plenty of jobs people hire plumbers for which are outside the legal requirement for a licenced plumber, and perfectly capable of being diy'd

        • Jenny Death on 04/02/2022 - 08:15

          While I 100% agree (heck even a lot of electrics jobs are peace easy), it would seem that insurance will screw you over in the event of anything happening. Of course that's to say who's going to know you replaced the old busted light switch.

          Actually I bring up plumbing in particular because I've had some horrendously done jobs in the past. Not that I'd ever attempt to do the welding ones but I've been told codes were violated with how the job was done (now fixed and settled).

          • iamherenow on 04/02/2022 - 13:14
            +1

            @Jenny Death: Soldering copper pipe is far easier than most think. Clean, flux, heat and then solder. Good skill to learn to stop plumber ripping you off for simple jobs.

            • Jenny Death on 04/02/2022 - 14:07

              @iamherenow: 'm not sure it is a particularly easy job compared to replacing a P trap or toilet because you have to do bends and cutting in addition to everything else. I'm more comfortable with electrics jobs so it might just be a case of not having enough points in plumbing skills but I wouldn't say replacing copper piping is one of the easier DIY jobs. Plus again, it is illegal to do.

            • ivegan on 04/02/2022 - 15:34

              @iamherenow: the most easiest job I see in whole building is insulation and next is definitely plumbing , by the look of it:)

    • [Deactivated] on 04/02/2022 - 13:27
      -1

      Aye just DIY your own website if you need one.

      or DIY make your own car.

      you pay professionals to do a professional job.

      • Jenny Death on 04/02/2022 - 14:01

        With Squarespace it's easy!

      • iamherenow on 04/02/2022 - 23:24
        +1

        Why wouldn't you make your own website? Heaps of people do it themselves.

        Professionals required for some things yes, but many jobs tradesmen cut corners because they are counting each minute/dollar.

        Tradesman did some work on my roof. Broke 3tiles. And didn't even tell me about it. If I didn't go up and inspect, I would have had heap of water damage in my roof. And tradesman didn't give a shit…

  • 1101011100010101 on 04/02/2022 - 06:37
    +8

    Use licensed trades, use a contract with a detailed scope of works.

    Even if it is under the threshold for your states minimum contract value, e.g QLD $3300, use a minor works contract and include all terms, if you want contractor to clean up after themselves, write it in.

    If contract terms are not met, do not pay until they are.

    If payment has been handed over but quality and workmanship is no good, raise a complaint with the licensing board.

    Don't try and save money by offering cash or half arsing part of the job and getting them to finish it, you're asking for trouble.

    • temporiser on 04/02/2022 - 07:28

      Agree with this comment. I live in Canberra and on two occasions engaged tradies / companies that are Sydney based because the price was around 20% cheaper by paying cash. Both jobs ended up costing me more after rectification works.

    • ivegan on 04/02/2022 - 07:42

      Thank you. It makes sense. I hardly see a license for a trade person unless it is plumbing , electrical.

      In terms of cleaning, I have been the one who always clean.

      I don't mind little bit of a support here and there. However, I just expect a finished job i.e. surprises to be looked after.

      I don't know if the contract was ever created; it was always word of mouth, except in the case of quote. Quote does not cover detail.

      It will be interesting to make my own contract for them to sign :)

  • holdenmg on 04/02/2022 - 08:21
    +1

    Have a Checklist of Reasonable expectations that the tradesperson completes with a checkbox,
    and mention this before you accept their quote/before they agree to the job.

    YES [ ] NO [ ]

    This should positively turn their mind to clean-up or other reasonable matters.

    They can complete and provide it together with their account. Not completed, no payment.

  • morse on 04/02/2022 - 08:55
    +1

    Wherever possibly we use someone referred by a friend or neighbours who is also a tradie or has recently had work done with them and is happy. Not always the cheapest quote but we haven’t had the problems you speak of, firstly the quality has generally been good, but secondly if there has been a small problem they’ve come back without a problem. Their reputation is on the line so I think that is still important where we live on the Gold Coast.

  • randomusername2017 on 04/02/2022 - 09:02
    -1

    Call Bob ….he seems pleasant enough for you to deal with..

    • ivegan on 04/02/2022 - 21:54

      :-) Are you a tradeperson? If so, you might have a better suggestion than this Bob_.

      • randomusername2017 on 05/02/2022 - 16:52

        Someone like Bob would be good for you to practice on until you develop the necessary skills… perhaps Diego for the non English background

  • Mr Haj on 04/02/2022 - 09:08

    Not sure how a tradie can monopolise their services…. Tradies are in abundance. Get a quote from multiple tradies. Choose tradie. Pay tradie AFTER work is done.

    • AustriaBargain on 04/02/2022 - 12:38
      +4

      I find all the electrician jobs are monopolised by electricians.

    • ivegan on 04/02/2022 - 21:54

      Correct. Issue is not during selection. It is after.

  • slow on 04/02/2022 - 09:09
    +1

    Only use people who are recommended or have multiple online reviews that appear to be genuine. You may have to pay a bit more for this
    Put scope of work clearly in writing. If they don't have enough detail on their quote write it up for them and get them to sign. This benefits both of you

  • Marty-69 on 04/02/2022 - 09:36
    +1

    I don't expect the tradies to do a deep clean when they are finished. As long as they take their building materials, hard waste and stuff that doesn't fit in my bin.

    When I've got a job, I always use the same tradies (keep their business cards) if they did a good job. I don't care if they are more expensive. I'm not shopping around for cheaper and asking the reliable trady back when someone else stuffed it up. I also only work with tradies that are recommended (check local FB or something), licenced for the job and I check the category and subcategory they're licenced for.

    To prevent communication issues I only work with tradies if they respond via email or SMS so everything is in writing, you can add pictures, links to materials etc. Smaller jobs don't come with a contract but email will be sufficient. Especially if English is not your first language and/or you have an accent, this can prevent a lot of communication issues. It's also a lot more efficient than calling and leaving voicemails.

    • TheBird on 04/02/2022 - 11:32

      This so much.

      So many go for the cheapest price and scratch their head when they get a cheap result.

      Check references/reviews to see if they suit your needs.

      • ivegan on 04/02/2022 - 13:29

        @thebird. Hard to define cheapest. Big price does not make accuracy unfortunately. I did try twice by going with an expensive one :-) but you are right, if there is a big gap then there is a catch too; have to compare apple with apple.

        • TheBird on 04/02/2022 - 14:33

          That's why I said you need to check them out to see if they suit your needs. As you mentioned, it has to be an apples to apples comparison when comparing on price. I find less things go wrong when you focus on the outcome you require rather than focus on the price.

          All that being said, I'm not saying get ripped off and pay a premium for poor workmanship. What I'm saying is when people focus on price, they get exactly what they're focusing on. The price. Sometimes spending a little time with the tradesperson explaining that the quality of the work is your primary goal to you and you'd rather pay a little more to get it done right the first time goes a long way. I'd rather kick in a few hours of overtime and pay a little more than fight with a tradie over shoddy work.

        • TheBird on 04/02/2022 - 14:37

          Look, I try to treat the tradies that I work with well. I get in there and help if they want (to the limits of my ability). Buy them a good lunch and so on… if it's a big job, a slab of beer. Show I appreciate their hard work and so on. You can get burned occasionally, but relatively speaking, that's the exception. Most of the time, it pays back with top notch results.

  • Blackadda on 04/02/2022 - 11:19

    Had a guy come around to fix a broken door tension on a dishwasher (door would flop down) fixed that and totally destroyed it's installation (it was built in behind the cabnitry) stood over my wife to get payment and told her not his fault it wasn't originally put in properly and he couldnt fix it so now I have a gap under my dishwasher and a misaligned door… do you think i can find someone to fix that … :/

    • ivegan on 04/02/2022 - 13:17

      OH very sad to hear that. This is exactly I find into the situation - "NOT MY FAULT" Or because it was like that or it was your previous problem.
      I definitely like to DIY so that I don't have anyone else to blame :) but things are not always that easy as it looks for DIY.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 04/02/2022 - 12:55
    +1

    Join your local community facebook group and ask for recommendations there. Have had some good experiences so far through community recommendations.

    • ivegan on 04/02/2022 - 13:17

      I find this a very practical recommendation that have you made here.
      I appreciate your comments.

  • TheBilly on 04/02/2022 - 14:36

    A lot of people will always go with the tradie with the cheapest price. This is not a monopoly on tradesman. If I guaranteed you a tradesman that will satisfy your every need and do the job with absolute perfection every time but you have to pay double. Say its a $500 job at the cheapest price and the perfect tradie is charging $1000. You will still not pay the extra amount. So this is not a monopoly this is just a consequence of the market and the decisions you choose to make.

    • macfudd on 04/02/2022 - 19:26

      If someone could guarantee absolute perfection, I'd happily pay double the cheapest price every time. But in real life it's not guaranteed. You're less likely to get a crap job perhaps by paying double but that's about all.

  • Iwantthebestprice on 04/02/2022 - 19:00
    +2

    I agree with OP, tradies have had it good for a very long time, the only people I know who still get paid for doing a bad job, how does that even happen!!
    Literally electricians, carpenters, concreters all get paid more then most people who have a uni degree and rock up when they want, do a average job then leave and when you bring something up - not my fault, or pay to fix it?! I feel you OP but nothing we can do, until there is more plumbers, electricians and carpenters in this country they will continue to do what they want, they just havnt felt the affect of competition yet, and when they do, then they will notice they have had to to good for far to long!!

    FYI no other country in the world can you get paid more then university equivalent education for a trade! Plumbers make more then GP’s, doctors, who went to uni and spent over 80K on education for 6 to 8 years lol

    • bradl822 on 04/02/2022 - 19:36

      You're joking right?
      Have you ever been into a retail store? They're far from the only people being paid to do a bad job.
      Not here to defend the trades but I have experienced uselessness in so many other places.

      I have also never had an issue with a trade, I can't figure out how do many issues arise for people. You can tell when someone is full of it. Just hire someone else.

      • AussieDaddy on 05/02/2022 - 19:01
        +2

        Except that retail workers get paid f all! Not that it excuses a bad service, but at least one can argue that the latter group is getting screwed in the first place, whereas the tradies are the ones screwing everyone else over.

    • ivegan on 04/02/2022 - 19:52

      They are known for not paying (too much) of tax as well.

      You are right that there are shortages. I now use handyman where I can and go to specialist only when I have to :)

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