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  Austin Powell-Allen May 2, 2012 at 11:58pm

  I think its bad too its just begin rude i have got stuck in traffic but have tried to call to inform the customer. I have had the same with customers in the past to and they have not had the respect to call and cancel.
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  Jen@A&J Owenwindows&gardens May 3, 2012 at 10:05am

  Whatever way round it is, just bad manners - pure and simple. We had a customer approach us to do some work last week. We gave him a price and said we'd e-mail to confirm price and start date for this week. Sent e-mail, he agreed time, we turned up, no answer. Sent an e-mail - nothing.  I am resisting the urge to send him an e-mail thanking for wasting our time and petrol!!!
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  Austin Powell-Allen May 3, 2012 at 5:24pm

  Hopefully you did not buy any materials as I would post him an invoice for labour to cover cost of returning them and your time. Hopefully they will not want you again.

  I did work a while ago and they only part paid me. for some reason spent ages chasing it with no joy its only £40 but its the princable of it as your cant go to Sainsburys and say im going to pay 50p for this loaf when its a pound! If they ring back i will tell them the invoice needs settling before i commence work again and this is what you get for helping people out prior to a party! 

  
  
  Jenny@ A & J Owen Gardening said:

  Whatever way round it is, just bad manners - pure and simple. We had a customer approach us to do some work last week. We gave him a price and said we'd e-mail to confirm price and start date for this week. Sent e-mail, he agreed time, we turned up, no answer. Sent an e-mail - nothing.  I am resisting the urge to send him an e-mail thanking for wasting our time and petrol!!!
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  phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com May 3, 2012 at 9:14pm

  i agree there is a lot of time wasters around, not only contractors, but customers aswell, it annoys me when i spend my time to go and look at a job, return home and sit down sometimes for best part of an hour working out the prices then type it all out on headed paper, then either email the quote to them or deliver it if local and then the customer doesnt even have the manners to let me know they are using someone else, they dont even need to speak to me they can text or email, very annoying.
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  Andy Lawrence May 3, 2012 at 9:28pm

  Just a though Phil, why not just give a verbal quote?

  If quote is accepted then write it up and provide customer with a copy. Might save a bit of time/hassle in future.  
   
  phil smith yewtree landscapes said:

  i agree there is a lot of time wasters around, not only contractors, but customers aswell, it annoys me when i spend my time to go and look at a job, return home and sit down sometimes for best part of an hour working out the prices then type it all out on headed paper, then either email the quote to them or deliver it if local and then the customer doesnt even have the manners to let me know they are using someone else, they dont even need to speak to me they can text or email, very annoying.
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  phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com May 3, 2012 at 9:52pm

  would never just give a verbal quote, in my opinion its not professional, its not realy the time it takes, the bit  that annoys me is the customer cant even be bothered to get back in touch, or even a quick email to say thanks for the quote, its just manners.

  i am not saying people shouldnt give verbal quotes, its just not my way
  
  Andy Lawrence said:

  Just a though Phil, why not just give a verbal quote?

  If quote is accepted then write it up and provide customer with a copy. Might save a bit of time/hassle in future.  
   
  phil smith yewtree landscapes said:

  i agree there is a lot of time wasters around, not only contractors, but customers aswell, it annoys me when i spend my time to go and look at a job, return home and sit down sometimes for best part of an hour working out the prices then type it all out on headed paper, then either email the quote to them or deliver it if local and then the customer doesnt even have the manners to let me know they are using someone else, they dont even need to speak to me they can text or email, very annoying.
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  Justin Hemming May 4, 2012 at 12:16pm

  I've just been to see a new customer, first thing she said "Thanks for turning up"
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  David Cox May 4, 2012 at 1:05pm

  I picked up a new customer back in Feb, whos first comments were "Please say you'l do my garden" - I was abit puzzled - until she explained she had accepted 3 quotes over the past year, and each gardener had disapeared without a trace without telling her!

  I think alot of this impression may be caused at this time of year by the dozens of have-a-go's who spring up each spring, win a few jobs, realise its bloody hard work and quit /  dont quote because the jobs beyond their abilities etc
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  Dan Frazer Gardening May 6, 2012 at 8:44pm

  You need to back up a verbal quote with a written one which also explains your terms; specifically how you accept payment and frequency of visits. It is important to get these basic items across in writing so they don't forget or question things later on.
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  Andy Lawrence May 6, 2012 at 10:51pm

  As per my comment, give a verbal quote, if accepted back it up with written quote before work carried out. That's not an unprofessional way to work.  
   
  phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com said:

  would never just give a verbal quote, in my opinion its not professional, its not realy the time it takes, the bit  that annoys me is the customer cant even be bothered to get back in touch, or even a quick email to say thanks for the quote, its just manners.

  i am not saying people shouldnt give verbal quotes, its just not my way
  
  Andy Lawrence said:

  Just a though Phil, why not just give a verbal quote?

  If quote is accepted then write it up and provide customer with a copy. Might save a bit of time/hassle in future.  
   
  phil smith yewtree landscapes said:

  i agree there is a lot of time wasters around, not only contractors, but customers aswell, it annoys me when i spend my time to go and look at a job, return home and sit down sometimes for best part of an hour working out the prices then type it all out on headed paper, then either email the quote to them or deliver it if local and then the customer doesnt even have the manners to let me know they are using someone else, they dont even need to speak to me they can text or email, very annoying.