The title is somewhat misleading; the real reason for exclusion would be his reaction.
Here’s the situation:
A tradesperson offered me a service on MyHammer. He is new to the platform (or using a new account) and has zero reviews. So, I searched for his company on Google to check the reviews.
The reviews paint a very confusing picture. There are some very old reviews, all very negative (1 star). To me, these do not seem genuine. Almost all come from reviewers who only ever wrote that one review about this company and nothing else. I suspect these are either competitors’ work or other fake reviews. Following those, there is a whole batch of positive fake reviews. The company has over 40 reviews, and based on a quick sample, I would estimate over 90% are fake. This is clear especially because nearly all 5-star reviews are from “people” who a) find everything and everyone on Google absolutely great, and b) coincidentally all the people who rave about this tradesperson also rate the same ice cream shop in xyz and the erotic massage studio in Hannover as amazing. This is the classic pattern of a Google profile polished by some marketing company.
I confronted the tradesperson about the Google reviews.
His response was simply, “Like fake news, I know nothing about it.”
Somehow, my gut feeling now tells me it’s probably better not to hire him. If he reacts defensively to a simple question about his Google profile, I don’t know how easy it will be to deal with him if there are any issues with his work.
Besides, I don’t believe his answer is honest. People usually don’t write fake positive reviews for free. Companies generally pay for that, so I’m quite sure he knows about it.
Am I being too picky, or does this seem reasonable?
Here’s the situation:
A tradesperson offered me a service on MyHammer. He is new to the platform (or using a new account) and has zero reviews. So, I searched for his company on Google to check the reviews.
The reviews paint a very confusing picture. There are some very old reviews, all very negative (1 star). To me, these do not seem genuine. Almost all come from reviewers who only ever wrote that one review about this company and nothing else. I suspect these are either competitors’ work or other fake reviews. Following those, there is a whole batch of positive fake reviews. The company has over 40 reviews, and based on a quick sample, I would estimate over 90% are fake. This is clear especially because nearly all 5-star reviews are from “people” who a) find everything and everyone on Google absolutely great, and b) coincidentally all the people who rave about this tradesperson also rate the same ice cream shop in xyz and the erotic massage studio in Hannover as amazing. This is the classic pattern of a Google profile polished by some marketing company.
I confronted the tradesperson about the Google reviews.
His response was simply, “Like fake news, I know nothing about it.”
Somehow, my gut feeling now tells me it’s probably better not to hire him. If he reacts defensively to a simple question about his Google profile, I don’t know how easy it will be to deal with him if there are any issues with his work.
Besides, I don’t believe his answer is honest. People usually don’t write fake positive reviews for free. Companies generally pay for that, so I’m quite sure he knows about it.
Am I being too picky, or does this seem reasonable?
P
Pinkiponk28 Apr 2020 11:40haydee schrieb:
Of course, craftsmen also make a profit on the materials. They can’t just pass on the cost at face value. They usually use better quality materials than the home improvement store. But why is it acceptable for the home improvement store to make a profit on materials, but not for the craftsman? This was not meant as criticism. For me, the difference is that I buy the materials myself at the home improvement store. When I hire a craftsman, I had always thought I was "buying" the service. I assumed that the craftsman’s profit comes from the service, and that they get the materials at purchase price, so cheaper. However, it’s not an important issue for me; I was just curious.
Yes, he gets it cheaper than a private individual, if you can even get it at all. But he can never pass on his purchase price. Otherwise, he would incur losses. He also has costs arising from the business. And he is allowed to make a profit.
If you buy the materials elsewhere and he only charges for the service, then he will set a higher hourly rate.
If you buy the materials elsewhere and he only charges for the service, then he will set a higher hourly rate.
This is absolutely common practice and is part of cost and performance accounting, which is likely also taught in vocational schools for tradespeople.
A standard method would be, for example, to at least add the overhead costs to the purchase price of the materials.
Usually, they also want to make a small profit on top of that, of course.
The difference could be that a DIY store applies a 10-40% margin on materials (depending heavily on the product category), while a tradesperson might charge 30-50%, depending on their internal calculations.
A standard method would be, for example, to at least add the overhead costs to the purchase price of the materials.
Usually, they also want to make a small profit on top of that, of course.
The difference could be that a DIY store applies a 10-40% margin on materials (depending heavily on the product category), while a tradesperson might charge 30-50%, depending on their internal calculations.
Pinkiponk schrieb:
This was not meant as criticism. The difference for me is that at a hardware store I buy the materials. When I hire a tradesperson, I used to think I was "buying" the service. I assumed the tradesperson earns their income through the service. I thought they receive the materials at purchase price and thus cheaper. But it’s not an important issue for me; I was just curious. The tradesperson MUST provide you with a warranty for both installation AND materials. After installation, these cannot be separated! If the washbasin was of poor quality, they are still responsible. You can order a new one from Megabad, but the tradesperson must install it again.
Also quite common with tradespeople: a fixed price for installation, with materials supplied by the client. But then a pipe clamp, a special hanger, a siphon seal, or some other small part is missing. Now the tradesperson is supposed to come back just because of YOUR forgetfulness?! Who pays for that and how? That’s why tradespeople order from their wholesale suppliers, the same ones to which they send you for sample selection—thanks to cashback from higher prices, they can guarantee warranty. And the chance that something is unintentionally missing from the delivery is practically zero because it is assembled by professionals.
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NatureSys28 Apr 2020 12:10We have had good experiences with tradespeople on projects like this, especially those we have hired for other work as well.
For example, our heating and plumbing installer. Since we had already spent XX,000 euros on their services, they also installed and connected two Ikea sinks in the basement on an hourly basis. Similarly, the company that handled the drywall and tiling work ended up installing all the interior window sills we purchased ourselves, also on an hourly basis.
For example, our heating and plumbing installer. Since we had already spent XX,000 euros on their services, they also installed and connected two Ikea sinks in the basement on an hourly basis. Similarly, the company that handled the drywall and tiling work ended up installing all the interior window sills we purchased ourselves, also on an hourly basis.
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