Re: I don't do installs for other contractors

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Jan 4, 9:37=A0pm, nick markowitz <nmarkow...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Jan 4, 6:38=A0pm, "Bob La Londe" <nos...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
> > "nick markowitz" <nmarkow...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>
> >news:5d1c5e05-6ac9-4841-90db-f5bc2583a7dd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx=
.
> > On Jan 4, 2:39 pm, "Bob La Londe" <onebike...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > Had one of those ADT types call me the other day. I was polite at fir=
st
> > > simply telling him, "I don't do installs for other contractors." He k=
ept
> > > pushing and acting insulting. I supposed I should have just hung up, =
but I
> > > cursed at him before I hung up. He called me back now trying to insul=
t me
> > > and my ability to run a business. I asked him what part of "no" didn'=
t he
> > > understand, told him there was no business here and he shouldn't wast=
e his
> > > time, told him to have a nice day and hung up. He called back again. =
I
> > > have no idea what he had to say as I informed him he was now committi=
ng a
> > > crime and harassing me and hung up.
>
> > > I was seriously tempted to post his phone number on Craigslist and
> > > Backpage
> > > in his home area.
>
> > > Free Cat Removal - May do other animals. Tell Me what you have.
>
> > > Call any time day or night. Collect ok. Will remove your unwanted fer=
al
> > > and domesticated cats. Never any charges. Always free.
> > > 623-555-1212. Anywhere in the county.
>
> > > May also consider removing other animals. Tell me what you have.
> > > Please also see my other ad for fresh low price home made sausage.
>
> > > I didn't but I was tempted. If he calls again I will. No, that is not=
 his
> > > phone number.
>
> > * What you should do is report him to ADT =A0I turn down work all
> > * the time I am very selective who I work for .
>
> > Me too. =A0My direct clients only.
>
> > I used to say I would help out another small dealer, but the only ones
> > whoever called me were mini mass marketers who sent me out on totally f=
'ed
> > up jobs expecting me to fix everything for nothing. =A0The last two or =
three I
> > looked at were pretty bad. =A0Panels installed inside return air ducts.=
 =A0Phone
> > wire cut into the nearest jack (On a trailer for goodness sake.) =A0The
> > infamous sticky tape. =A0Customer who had been seriously misinformed ab=
out
> > what they had... and no CS or system info or feedback to check anything=
.
> > Pretty sad. =A0I don't want my name associated with those jobs at all. =
=A0Not in
> > any way.
>
> > Now I just don't take work from other dealers. =A0If they want to refer=
 the
> > client to me for the whole job fine. =A0I'll even send them a referral =
fee if
> > I get a contract out of it, but I will not do installs or service work =
for
> > other dealers anymore.
>
> > I don't even like to do finals where I get the client's monitoring beca=
use
> > when it gets to that point you know its all screwed up and the installe=
r is
> > in over their head and hoping you will fix it all just for the monitori=
ng
> > contract. =A0In the last 10 years I've only gotten three that were ok, =
and
> > they were all fire inspector tested new fire systems. =A0If they didn't=
 work
> > the contractor who installed it would be on the hook with the client, t=
he
> > builder, and the city. =A0Those were all three for new buildings where =
I
> > already had a relationship with the client, but the builder had their o=
wn
> > fire company. =A0Still its extremely rare to get anything from another =
company
> > that isn't totally hosed.
>
> Had an ass hole call me tonight who never finished =A0paying me on a
> fire job and wants me to do another one.
> he has nerve to have pastor from church call me and beg I do work
> because he is stuck when i explained what kind of a dead beat he is
> how he has ripped off others pastor understood and said they would
> find some one else.
> Some ass holes just do not get it.
> I made sure the supply house he was in other day for first time knew
> he does not pay his bills as well they thanked me and said he was cash
> COD from now on.
> Too many of these slob contractors time to put them in jail =A0where
> they belong.

RHC: Yeah, like every trade, there is a significant minority in it for
the money and screw the quality and ethics of it.  I work with a small
group of about 4 other alarm companies who are good. We know each
other, exchange contacts and will when necessary work for each other
to help out in an emergency. Other than that, I am suspect of all
other installations until I can inspect them first before a takeover.
Most I reject right away, but the few that I do take on usually end up
costing me in more service work.

Its not going to change, and it certainly isn't getting any better.
But look on the bright side. If you are even only reasonably good in
this industry, word gets around, and it puts you at the top of the
heap !!