What ever happened to professional courtesy?

[dabar39]

I need some galvanized sheet steel to do a priority job that just came in. Now my suppliers only deliver to my area on Mon. and Thurs. and since it's already Mon. that means I gotta wait till Thurs. for delivery. The customer doesn't want to wait that long and I decided to call some of the local ac duct guys in my area, some of them refused to sell me anything unless they perform the work. The other guys that were willing to sell me anything wanted 200.00 or better per sheet. I'm talking about 5'x10'x16 ga. sheets, my cost is around 50-60 per sheet from my suppliers, I just can't wait for them to deliver. Now I've got to go and pickup the materials myself, 2 hrs each way cause I'm not spending 1200.00 for 400.00 worth of metal here locally. In the past I have sold all of these guys materials when they were in a bind for cost of replacement, I must be a really nice guy or really stupid, probably a little of both, to think I would get the same treatment that I have given them. I talked to my brother and he said he gets the same thing in his business, he owns a restaurant. Do you guys run into the same thing or is it just here in South Florida? Just wondering. Dave

[fun4now]

prof. curtisy went the same way as basic curtisy, right out the windo with manners and respect. its a sad thing realy. and now i suspect they have turned you into one of them by treating you exactly the oposite of how you treated them.
its the ME ME ME generation taking over. strange realy as most of those buisnesses are probly owned by older gentelmen that should know better and were most likely raised better.
sorry to here of your bind, i'd be happy to make the run for ya but it would probly be thurday befor i could get there to make the trip for ya.

so the big question is how will you respond the next time they are in a bind ????

[glockdoc]

the only professional courtesy i am aware of these days is between lawyers and sharks. a shark will never eat a lawyer.

[jjsjeff]

I need some galvanized sheet steel to do a priority job that just came in. Now my suppliers only deliver to my area on Mon. and Thurs. and since it's already Mon. that means I gotta wait till Thurs. for delivery. The customer doesn't want to wait that long and I decided to call some of the local ac duct guys in my area, some of them refused to sell me anything unless they perform the work. The other guys that were willing to sell me anything wanted 200.00 or better per sheet. I'm talking about 5'x10'x16 ga. sheets, my cost is around 50-60 per sheet from my suppliers, I just can't wait for them to deliver. Now I've got to go and pickup the materials myself, 2 hrs each way cause I'm not spending 1200.00 for 400.00 worth of metal here locally. In the past I have sold all of these guys materials when they were in a bind for cost of replacement, I must be a really nice guy or really stupid, probably a little of both, to think I would get the same treatment that I have given them. I talked to my brother and he said he gets the same thing in his business, he owns a restaurant. Do you guys run into the same thing or is it just here in South Florida? Just wondering. Dave

Sounds like they might be paying some markup the next time they want something from you.

[JimYoung]

the only professional courtesy i am aware of these days is between lawyers and sharks. a shark will never eat a lawyer.

I LIKE THAT... good one...
Jim

[KEENAVV]

the only professional courtesy i am aware of these days is between lawyers and sharks. a shark will never eat a lawyer.

BUT A LAWYER WILL EAT SHARK!!

[Anti-GMAW]

So far it seems like Fun and Dabar are the only ones that show courtesy any more (not to say others don't, I've just noticed they show alot).

[Winger Ed.]

That fits in with Ed's 'Love Story' Theory.

Over the years, I've had various relationships with suppliers, friendly competitors, neighbors, etc. sour like that.

When talking about it, I tell people that such and such relationship with someone has turned into a real love story. They normally go, "Huh"?

Then I tell them, "Yeah, its like any other love story you'd read or hear about.
Towards the end, it will have alot of screwing going on".


.

[84ZMike]

Dave,
Fl. isn't the only place like that.....I know it sucks,but you can only do what you feel is right......I wouldn't sell to them at cost anymore ,but I wouldn't make them pay the full "I have to have it now price"...... hope all works out for ya
Mike

[dabar39]

I was just venting my frustrations.

fun4now, thanks for the offer, see you thurs. and don't forget to bring that lunch I ordered a few threads back.

glockdoc and KEENAVV, how right you are, statement may be funny but sadly true.

jjsjeff and 84ZMike, I will probably still do it (sell to others) but you bet they are going to get a real hard time from me.

Winger Ed., unfortunatly this is a very true statement of have made, you are wise beyond your wisdoms.

Anti-GMAW, thanks for those kind words, I'm sure James appreciates them as well.


I was just frustrated and venting my thoughts when I posted this thread originally. I still do have many friends in this business world that I will continue to do favors for. Dave

[fun4now]

cool, i'll see ya on thursday. i got a tandum boat trailor i need to turn into a car carryer you can give me some advice on wile im there.
not shore i'll have any $$ left for the luch though, i might have to sell it along the way to cover the gas bill.
Anti-GMAW
thanks i try my best, but just like every one else i do have my bad days. but its nice to think i'm though of that way by others.

[SkidSteerSteve]

I know that there are guys out there that still try to be professional about stuff, but the biggest problems I run into that really make me mad are the situations where a contractor comes in and thinks he owns the place. It doesn't matter who else's work he tears up, the only thing that matters is his job. Get in, get out and get paid. I was raised to respect the work of other as your own and try to accommodate the next guy as much as possible and do as little damage as possible. Especially if it is a related trade that you work around on a regular basis and have a running idea of what their needs are. We've all been in the situation where the thought when through your head..."If such and such had only taken an extra five minutes I could have been out of here four hours ago!" Just my $.02 SSS

[Anti-GMAW]

[QUOTE][We've all been in the situation where the thought when through your head..."If such and such had only taken an extra five minutes I could have been out of here four hours ago!"/QUOTE]

Every dam day!

[dabar39]

SkidSteerSteve, I have been on quite a few construction jobs like you describe.
I was on one job where the electricians were pulling some wire across an area that was formed and ready for concrete, they went to lunch, when they got back the wire was under the fresh poured slab. They had a reel of wire on a trailer and couldn't get any closer to what they were doing so they were pulling across the formed area. The concrete foreman says he was on a time schedule and wasn't gonna wait for no one.

On the other hand when we go in to do a renovation on a citrus packing house we use the same contractors each time. The electricians, carpenters, us welder/fabricators, painters etc.. all work together and help one another, we get the job done and every one leaves happy, no fussing or fighting. We know what needs to be done and we just do it. We help the electricians and they help us and so on and so forth. We are like one big happy dysfunctional family. Dave

[dabar39]

Revenge is sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning one of the guys that tried to overcharge me for the sheet steel called, he was wanting some 1 1/2"x 3/16" angle. I told him to send his driver over and I would give him directions to where I had mine stored. His driver shows up and I gave him directions to my steel supplier 120 miles away. He was mumbling something about fricken as* hole as he walked out. His boss calls me a few minutes later and tries to give me crap about it and I told him that was for the professional courtesy they showed me. I hung up as he was in mid sentence about me being an a-hole. I just smiled with satisfaction. Dave