Building Merchants and timber yards

D

DJS

Junior Member
Messages
76
Is it just me but why do they seem to employ the rudest most obnoxious plebs known to mankind ( womenkind )
I m in the trade and myself and a lot of colleagues often comment on and pretty much dread having to go to these establishments .
Its as if everything is too much trouble for them - they re probably on pretty 5hit money and dealing with the public can be a pain but
even so there s no reason to be that rude to paying customers .I think most could do with a course in public relations - Day 1 - how to not be such a dick head
 
Scaf

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,629
I am amazed at how poor customer service in this country is generally, do people not realise businesses will prosper or fail based on the level customer service.
It’s not just the larger firms either, best vote with your feet if you can.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,930
But it won't. People complain about the high prices, so it becomes a race to the bottom. If all the service is ****, there's no choice so....

C
 
Oishi

Oishi

Member
Messages
825
My son worked his way thru university, and as part of his degree, got his teacher's cert. Here in N. Carolina we get a lot of grief for being at the bottom in new teacher's salary, but if you teach for 5 years, the state reimburses your tuition costs. He took that money and bought a hardware store. When he did, he asked me what to do to be successful. I told him to treat every customer like they were his best friend, and have what they need in stock. He is 33 now, his home is paid off, and he is looking to buy a Bora.
When the competition stinks so bad, success is very easy...
 
D

DJS

Junior Member
Messages
76
Oishi said:
My son worked his way thru university, and as part of his degree, got his teacher's cert. Here in N. Carolina we get a lot of grief for being at the bottom in new teacher's salary, but if you teach for 5 years, the state reimburses your tuition costs. He took that money and bought a hardware store. When he did, he asked me what to do to be successful. I told him to treat every customer like they were his best friend, and have what they need in stock. He is 33 now, his home is paid off, and he is looking to buy a Bora.
When the competition stinks so bad, success is very easy...
Click to expand...
Love it- good for him
 
lifes2short

lifes2short

Member
Messages
5,865
DJS said:
Is it just me but why do they seem to employ the rudest most obnoxious plebs known to mankind ( womenkind )
I m in the trade and myself and a lot of colleagues often comment on and pretty much dread having to go to these establishments .
Its as if everything is too much trouble for them - they re probably on pretty 5hit money and dealing with the public can be a pain but
even so there s no reason to be that rude to paying customers .I think most could do with a course in public relations - Day 1 - how to not be such a dick head
Click to expand...

i'm surprised you actually found any staff at all, every time i turn up they all tend to conveniently disappear from the yard, so i just help myself and like magic they appear out of nowhere to give me a counter ticket, poor buggers have to deal with probably rude trades all day and lugging materials around all day on **** money as you say, doesn't bother me if they're rude as i can be rude back, it's not a DIY environment like B&Q
 
allandwf

allandwf

Member
Messages
11,008
I use a local timber merchant quite often, and often for other stuff too. I have found it quite the opposite, helpful and with a bit of banter. I tend to go there instead of the usual DIY chains.
 
Oneball

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,132
Ones round here are great.

When I go to our local DIY place I don’t even bother looking I just ask for what I want and they help you find it, just down the road from the Morgan factory.
81911

and Benfields in Tenbury could have come straight from 50s, you want sash window cord or a toilet pull chain, no problem.

81912

or there’s Carvers in Wolverhampton, family run since the 1800s. Always helpful.
81915
 
sionie1

sionie1

Member
Messages
1,318
We have a great choice around here, 3 are great, the others shocking. I sent my wife recently to the timber shed in one of the awful ones with a list, to which they took great delight in trying to mess her around, metric/imperial, all sorts of nonsense. What they didn't know is she's been renovating with me for 20 years, so knows a fair bit and is a big fan of letting people hang themselves, which she did in due course. A quick conversation in the main shed soon brought about an apology but that's not the point. The good ones are like above, always helpful and happy to help and answer questions. I always found my day went faster when I was nice to customers, because they'd come back again and again and have a chat. I even had a customer from my early days in retail sending in a personal character reference for a significant promotion based on us having had conversations for many years and him following my career. You never know.....
 
Gazcw

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,800
How many times have I been stood in Screwfix and there is a muppet in front with the catalogue who needs some cable but doesn't know what size. FFS.. Read the book moron, then place an order and get out of my way. I have better places to be..
 
D Walker

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
I use our local builders merchants, always surprised when they round the cost down or knock 10% off. Nothing is ever a problem, if they don’t have it, they will get it, and deliver for free.
Not always the cheapest, but I won’t use anywhere else.
 
midlifecrisis

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,278
You have to remember that some guys who work in builders yards are unskilled labourers, they haven't got much building experience.
However some do surprise you and are quite helpful

 
S

Simon1963

Member
Messages
819
I lived in a market town in Norfolk until recently. There was an ironmongers which had been there for years. I went in for some screws once took a box of the size I wanted to the counter and he asked me how many I wanted. Was a gem of a place and if he didn’t have it he would get it for you.
 
rockits

rockits

Member
Messages
9,184
I don't think it is just builders merchants. I have found some woeful and some excellent but it is just down to individual people really isn't it?

I worked in Asda when at school and if anyone ever asked anything I was polite and wouldn't just point where it was or tell them it was aisle 4 but take them there and find it. While also having a little chat along the way. Doesn't cost much time or money really and goes a long way IMHO.

Nothing is ever too much trouble for me for my customers. They pay my bills so why would I not look after them. Yes, we all have customers that are a bit more difficult than others but you can still be polite and helpful. I try to lose those painful kind of customers where I can by putting up prices or telling them sorry but we are too busy to accept their business but some still stick around

I have no sympathy for anyone who gives bad customer service. We all have choices agreed some more than others. However if you don't like the job get another one. If your are not doing your best then no sympathy. Do you want a job or not?
 
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