Plumbers and electricians will rape you good!.......Is there any truth to that?

[seth gecko]

Hey, James T. Kirk......coincidence or what? My buddy INSISTS we go visit your future birthplace this summer. Could you please tell him you left that one-horse town as soon as you could because there wasn't anything of interest there. I'll owe ya big-time!

When I feel like plying my chosen career for free, it's either because you're a close friend, immediate relative or registered charity. I've done lots of stuff with Habitat for Humanity in the past, & my community has 3 churchs in the GTA which get my services. If your valuation of my services differ from mine, your entitled to your opinion but I don't drop my prices....I don't have to.

Decent people treat people decently, slimeballs treat everyone except themselves as slime.

Try to stay decent!

 

[Rockslinger]

Here's a question for you guys in the trade. How come whenever my neighbour has drain or roofing work done on her property these guys always seem to find a drain or roofing problem on my property and are willing to fix it for a "special on the spot cash price"?

 

[Rockslinger]

Another question for the trades. Why do quotes for a roof job or installing new furnace/central air vary so much from contractor to contractor?

 

[tboy]

Another question for the trades. Why do quotes for a roof job or installing new furnace/central air vary so much from contractor to contractor?

what do you mean by "so much"? Are we talking 10% 20% 50%?

How about this:

Why does a kia cost so much less than a bentley?

They both are cars
they both get you from a to b
they both seat 4

Different people charge different amounts due to different reasons. For eg: there isn't just "one" type of shingle and there are many different makers. For eg: some come with a 20 yr warranty, some a 5. You'll pay more for the ones that are 20 yr.

 

[333conan]

My big complaint is that if someone is an engineer (regardless of their origin), they seem to be allowed to skip the apprenticeship part of the training. That is the most important part. Theory is very important as well, but if someone doesn't even know what size, colour or insulation type of wire to use, he isn't any good in the trade. Just getting used to all the different types of materials takes a long time.
Then there is the safety aspect. How is a person who can't speak or read English supposed to read a WHMIS sheet or other documentation? As electricians, Safety people are all over us like a fat kid on a Smartee. How am I supposed to explain the lockout proceedures of the jobsite when they can't even understand me when I tell it's break time?
I'm not saying these people shouldn't be allowed in the trade, but they need to be able to speak English fluently and do an appreticeship like I had to. There has to be a level playing field. Being able to wire a house and pass inspection is one thing, but working as a commercial or industrial electrician is completely different.
As for someone who didn't want to pay my bill, it only happened once. I try not to get involved with side jobs as it is such a hassle. When the guy told me he couldn't pay me, I told him that I need to get the tools I left in his basement. When I went down to get them, I cut off all the wires in the receptacles and switch boxes. There wasn't much he could say, it was still my wire as he hadn't paid for it. Sure I didn't get paid, but he had to repull new wires. It was a good thing it ws a small job and my losses were minimal.

 

[tboy]

Hey Conan, I may be wrong about this, but a fellow (longer term) contractor told me once that the home owner could actually charge you for doing that. Supposedly the only recourse we have is to put a construction lien on the property and we can't "undo" any work we've done, whether they pay us or not.

I haven't bothered to really look into it much because thankfully I haven't needed to but.......

 

[333conan]

Hey Conan, I may be wrong about this, but a fellow (longer term) contractor told me once that the home owner could actually charge you for doing that. Supposedly the only recourse we have is to put a construction lien on the property and we can't "undo" any work we've done, whether they pay us or not.

I haven't bothered to really look into it much because thankfully I haven't needed to but.......

Actually, I didn't know that , but I guess the home owner didn't either, lucky for me

 

[lavameltme]

which is why engineers aren't really understood by anyone but themselves. But to point out the flaws in your "thinking", one has to pass english (which includes reading writing and gasp spelling) to get a high school diploma and in order to get into university one needs a high school diploma. See, spelling, grammar, co-hesive thought, are all indicators of one's intellect. If someone is putting out literature, communications with terrible spelling, that is indicative of someone who isn't detail oriented. I thought engineers were supposed to be detail oriented?

Like I said, by age 10 kids know how to spell. What's your excuse?



I agree, I often come across projects (not just electrical oriented) where some ass has really fucked it up and it would take you longer to repair the bs than to start from scratch. For eg: unnecessary breaks in electrical cable. You can't just make a connection wherever you like, it has to be in a box and that box has to be accessible.

As for doing jobs and not getting paid for it. I notice Holmes on Homes NEVER does a show on this problem. I am currently involved in a big project and the customer asked me (really demanded frankly) I do all kinds of extra work. They ever went so far as to say to me "we realize you've done lots of extra work, make sure you invoice us for this"! Yet when I did, they bitched and moaned and argued and I am 99% certain they won't be paying it. (we're talking $14K worth of extra work). A former boss of mine said almost daily: Our work is like that of a hooker, the perceived value of our work is greatly reduced after that service is rendered. Once we've solved the problems for the customers, they aren't as keen on paying as they were before.

You misspelled co-hesive where did you learn to spell.

Engineers are taught to use tools (like spell check) apply principals identify problems Your problem as identified is you can't spell but think you can and can't identify problems like you can't spell or use tools like spell check

Think about it if you cant spell when giving someone shit about spelling what does that say about you.

 

[tboy]

You misspelled co-hesive where did you learn to spell.

Engineers are taught to use tools (like spell check) apply principals identify problems Your problem as identified is you can't spell but think you can and can't identify problems like you can't spell or use tools like spell check

Think about it if you cant spell when giving someone shit about spelling what does that say about you.

Which is why I gave you grief when YOU were giving CONAN grief about spelling.....hello pot, this is lava, YOU'RE BLACK lol......

 

[333conan]

You misspelled co-hesive where did you learn to spell.

Engineers are taught to use tools (like spell check) apply principals identify problems Your problem as identified is you can't spell but think you can and can't identify problems like you can't spell or use tools like spell check

Think about it if you cant spell when giving someone shit about spelling what does that say about you.

I won't say anything about your spelling, but I do have to say your punctuation is atrocious. I'm not trying to to mean here, but you jump on me for a simple typo when your own writting skills leave much to be desired. Your punctuation mistakes are blatant, missing commas, missing periods, using a period instead of a question mark. Yes, I was born here and English is my mother tongue, but if I were to live in another country for 30 years I would have mastered my new language by now.
Again, I'm not trying to be condenscending here Lava, this is just a word of advise. Don't use spell checkers. They tend to make us lazy and we don't learn from our mistakes. I prefer to use an online dictionary, or a real dictionary if one is handy.

 

[OddSox]

Interesting that NONE of the spelling police can actually spell...

 

[BallzDeep]

Interesting that NONE of the spelling police can actually spell...

Haha good one.......oops I mean gud won.

 

[Moraff]

Here's a question for you guys in the trade. How come whenever my neighbour has drain or roofing work done on her property these guys always seem to find a drain or roofing problem on my property and are willing to fix it for a "special on the spot cash price"?

While I'm sure it's often a case of someone looking for easy money, I can see a plausible reason (at least for the roof)

If you're in a subdivision which was all built at the same time by the same builder by the time your neighbour's roof needs fixing likely yours does too.

They can offer a better deal to you if you do it now because they (and their tools) are already on site and can get a better deal (perhaps) if they are ordering 2x as many supplies.

As well, by doing cash then (just guessing here) I imagine the taxes aren't getting paid on it Of course if they screw it up your possibilities of recourse are few then....

 

[lavameltme]

I won't say anything about your spelling, but I do have to say your punctuation is atrocious. I'm not trying to to mean here, but you jump on me for a simple typo when your own writting skills leave much to be desired. Your punctuation mistakes are blatant, missing commas, missing periods, using a period instead of a question mark. Yes, I was born here and English is my mother tongue, but if I were to live in another country for 30 years I would have mastered my new language by now.
Again, I'm not trying to be condenscending here Lava, this is just a word of advise. Don't use spell checkers. They tend to make us lazy and we don't learn from our mistakes. I prefer to use an online dictionary, or a real dictionary if one is handy.

You are exceptional. There are at least 50% of the so called Canadian population that does not have the command of the English language as I do so I do not feel bad. My issue is with people who are ignorant bigots that feel the need to put other people down as a result of a Stereotype.
I have been the object of this for many years and now lash out against it. I have Stereotyped people who correct spelling as anal people who general can't understand what is being said and need to show they are as good or better by checking spelling. Having spent 10 years in Marketing I understand that people buy the sizzle and not the steak. However if you want a good steak one should always look beyond the sizzle.

Who really gives a shit on this board about spelling. Who gives a shit about spelling in chat. If I am making a 5 or 6 digit proposal then I give it the attention it deserves. Here it does not make much difference Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[lavameltme]

I know what you are. You display your character and educational level nicely. You would have fit in as a SS officer nicely. Have you tortured any helpless animals lately.

 

[tboy]

You are exceptional. There are at least 50% of the so called Canadian population that does not have the command of the English language as I do so I do not feel bad. My issue is with people who are ignorant bigots that feel the need to put other people down as a result of a Stereotype.
I have been the object of this for many years and now lash out against it. I have Stereotyped people who correct spelling as anal people who general can't understand what is being said and need to show they are as good or better by checking spelling. Having spent 10 years in Marketing I understand that people buy the sizzle and not the steak. However if you want a good steak one should always look beyond the sizzle.

Who really gives a shit on this board about spelling. Who gives a shit about spelling in chat. If I am making a 5 or 6 digit proposal then I give it the attention it deserves. Here it does not make much difference Thanks for your thoughts.

Ah, see there's the thing there sunshine. People who correct someone's spelling has NOTHING to do with bigotry, because if that were the case, you'd be a bigot too as you corrected Conan's spelling in one of your posts.

You are correct, there are many born and bred Canadians of all heritages who can't spell worth a damn, and more importantly talk like they come from the Ghetto thinking it's cool. They too are frowned upon by professional society.

As for your steak/sizzle analogy. Are you trying to tell me, if someone came into your office smelling like they hadn't showered in a year, with holes in their soiled pants, you'd give them the same respect you would a customer who came in in a brooks brothers suit and drove a bentley? I call "bullshit" on this one my friend. The way one presents themselves is indicative of how people perceive them. Whether it be on chat, on a message board, or on the street. If you want to be taken seriously, one should pay attention to how they are perceived.

BTW: you totally missed the sarcasm on the Grammar Nazi picture.....look closely once again, you might get it eventually.

As for paying attention to how one writes. I will relate to you a story from the NASA files. On one of their Mars probes the retro rockets cut out and the thing plummeted to the surface crashing into a million pieces. They couldn't figure out what went wrong after months of going over the flight data, the design/engineering specs etc. Finally one day they found the problem: The team that designed the landing gear designed it to absorb the impact of a 100 foot freefall. The team that designed the retro rockets designed them to cut off at 100 meters. So much for engineers paying attention to details!!!

 

[lavameltme]

tboy I love playing with idots. I have never seen anyone who checks for spelling reaching for the stars. They are generally siting with a beer in fron of a TV watching others do what they can't saying things like I could have done better. PS your name says it all BOY

 

[lavameltme]

The team that designed the retro rockets designed them to cut off at 100 meters. So much for engineers paying attention to details!!!

They were to busy checking for spelling than thinking about content.

I saw Leah when she was with Hollywood and again now that she's with Cupids and I highly recommend her. She's got a great body, great attitude, playful, flirty, fun, passionate, the whole gamut.

I honestly think anyone who has a bad experience with an escort has to be doing something wrong. Especially one that has been around a while and consistantly gives good performances. I know there are a few bad ones out there who just don't live up to the hype but leah isn't one of them.

consistently is spelled with an e tboy I guess you crashed on Mars

 

[tboy]

The team that designed the retro rockets designed them to cut off at 100 meters. So much for engineers paying attention to details!!!

They were to busy checking for spelling than thinking about content.



consistently is spelled with an e tboy I guess you crashed on Mars

lol

to busy? don't you mean TOO busy?

This is fun! I could do this all week! lol....

tboy I love playing with idots. I have never seen anyone who checks for spelling reaching for the stars. They are generally siting with a beer in fron of a TV watching others do what they can't saying things like I could have done better. PS your name says it all BOY

So I guess you love playing with yourself then? *eg*

Fron of the TV? I guess you mean FRONT of the tv......

Siting? SITING? you mean sitting don't you.....

 

[lavameltme]

tboy I never claimed perfection and yes I play with myself a lot. Reward for humility. What do you do for rewards. I will most happily give you one. Do you like men or women or maybe you have not worked that one out yet. I think the T stands for transvestite boy