Sigh

[cjsmith]

The upholstery guy couldn't make our noon appointment. Naturally, he didn't know this until I was already home. That cost me a half hour plus possibly lunch with a friend.

So now I get to do another round-trip-at-lunchtime on Friday. And this is all for the privilege of spending a big wad o' money, just because nobody makes/sells couches for real humans any more. We don't need a nicer couch this badly, do we? Do we?

Comments

[thorswitch.livejournal.com]

I'm of the mindset that if a technician can't keep an appointment they've made with you - their customer - then they either need to deduct an appropirate amount off your bill, to equal the time you wasted waiting for them, or just outright give you the cash.

You're just not having a great week right now, are you? I'll have a talk with Loki and tell him to leave you alone :) (Like he listens to me, but still... hehe)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

At least this one was sorta understandable: his car battery was dead, and after he'd had it replaced just a day or so ago, too. (I bet it's his alternator. Three hundred bucks. At least it's a fast repair.)

He couldn't pay me enough for lunch with my friend. 8-)

I'm not sure I want my name in Loki's ear. This is petty stuff so far -- he could do lots worse, so I'm guessing he IS leaving me alone. That's fine by me! Maybe you could have a word with him about cars, though. Many people I know seem to be having car trouble all of a sudden.

[thorswitch.livejournal.com]

Well, it's good that he at least had a reason.... still sucks though :/

re: Loki - hehe -- you may be right about that... best not to call attention, eh? hehe

I agree

[cwilson.livejournal.com]

I think there should be some financial penalty for technicians who miss their
appointments. If some company had a policy of paying cash for missed
appointments, I would choose that company over a competitor unless the
competitor had some really compelling advantage.

Since that isn't a common policy, usually the best I can do is avoid any future
business with a company or individual who fails to keep an appointment.

Unfortunately, and not coincidentally, the companies most likely to stand you
up are those that don't have viable competition, like the electric or cable
company.

Re: I agree

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

If some company had a policy of paying cash for missed appointments, I would choose that company over a competitor unless the competitor had some really compelling advantage.

So would I. I wonder if we are in the minority. If enough people felt this way, I'd expect to see this sort of policy from time to time. Have you seen something like this? (I haven't, myself.)

Since that isn't a common policy, usually the best I can do is avoid any future business with a company or individual who fails to keep an appointment.

Did you hear the story of us "firing" a landscaping guy for exactly that? We were told he did excellent work, but when he stood Kim up more than once, she got ticked. Rob concurred that we just didn't need that kind of headache. When the guy called to reschedule for oh, I don't know, the third time or so, she told him politely but firmly that we were no longer interested and she told him why. It was sweet. :-)

Unfortunately, and not coincidentally, the companies most likely to stand you up are those that don't have viable competition, like the electric or cable company.

"Not coincidentally," indeed. Blech.

Re: I agree

[cwilson.livejournal.com]

> If some company had a policy of paying cash for missed appointments, I would choose
> that company over a competitor unless the competitor had some really compelling
> advantage.

> So would I. I wonder if we are in the minority. If enough people felt this way, I'd expect to
> see this sort of policy from time to time. Have you seen something like this? (I haven't,
> myself.)

I have seen something like this, but only a few times and I don't remember where. It wasn't
always cash, sometimes it was $20 off your next month's rent or something like that, but still
some incentive is better than none.

> Did you hear the story of us "firing" a landscaping guy for exactly that? We were told he did
> excellent work, but when he stood Kim up more than once, she got ticked. Rob concurred
> that we just didn't need that kind of headache. When the guy called to reschedule for oh, I
> don't know, the third time or so, she told him politely but firmly that we were no longer
> interested and she told him why. It was sweet. :-)

That's great!