We’ve had a couple of quotes for plumbing, both in the same ballpark, both seemed decent fellas, both came recommended. Anyhoo, we’ve plumped for one of them and I need to let the other one know.

However, my awfully-British-middle-class-hate-to-cause-a-fuss gene has kicked in and I can’t seem to bring myself to just say “thanks for the quote, but we’re going with someone else”. It seems so rude after he went to all the rouble fo coming round, answering our questions and sending the quote through… 🙄

So, if you’ve quoted for a job, how do you like to be let down gently?

“Thanks for the quote but we’re going with the other chap”.
Tradesmen are used to it and won’t lose any sleep over it. It is actually quite rare for someone to get back and tell you you haven’t got the job.

every so often someone else does the job we quote for, just put it down to price, an experience, or our personality, sometimes we dont quote because what the customer wants is beyond our current capabilites, so just say sorry we cant help you, thats what we do, its a quote for work, not a invite for dinner and a shag.

If you’ve quoted for something and never hear anything back it’s a bit annoying but fairly standard business practice nowadays. Just let them know that you’ve gone with someone else for the reasons that you did. All feedback is useful, nothing worse than not knowing why you didn’t get it, except for getting a job you didn’t really want or that spirals out of control!

“thanks for the quote, but we’re going with someone else”

Seems to have it covered – they won’t sleep over losing a job, neither should you about telling him so.

Just let them know that you’ve gone with someone else for the reasons that you did.

That’s the hard bit to be honest; there was no reason to pick between the two so we just went on gut feel.

Right, cheers, I’ll let him down simply and politely. It’s hard being nice sometimes 🙂

Just don’t bother getting back in touch. That’s what I do if I look at a job and don’t want it. 😀

Just don’t bother getting back in touch

Unless the one you have selected fails to turn up, in that case tell him he’s your top choice and when can he start 🙂

Indeed R_B, not letting him know keeps an iron in the fire in case the other badger lets you down! Win-win. 🙂

If you’ve quoted for something and never hear anything back it’s a bit annoying but fairly standard business practice nowadays

This is what happens to me.
I go out, measure up for the customer and give a quote. It’s annoying if you don’t hear back because you’ve spent time and petrol and don’t know why you haven’t got the job (I’m finding out more and more that people just want something for nothing nowadays).

Because you are such a decent chap I can see why you would want to let the other plumber down by giving a reason. However I would not say anything for the reasons above.

It seems fairly standard practice for us tradesmen and women to spend our time looking a people’s jobs after hours, planning and then pricing to never hear from them again.

I’d rather a thanks but no thanks than not hear anything. just tell them the truth, you’ve gone with another quote.

^^ Yeah, but there are those of us that don’t want you to do that, so pitch it at a more ‘general’ quote level, we never hear from you again! (probably because it sounds like ‘not serious’?)

To be fair, it’s probably a minefield for both parties. I can well imagine many customers are tosspots that take advice and then use that info to try an do themselves.

Best guy I’ve had so far is an ‘odd-jobber’ – he quotes me for stuff and tells me things I can do myself, and how. No ‘protecting his industry’ wafflebollox which some specialised tradesmen apply. I really appreciate that kind of stuff. No teeth-sucking and a clearly explained day rate + materials. Take it or leave it, no hard feelings either way.

He’s had more business from me than anyone so far!

EDIT: This place is fabulous for advice from tradesmen & well appreciated. Just to be clear 😀

Thanks for giving us a quote, but we’ve gone with another. Thats all that’s required.
Most people don’t bother letting you know ime.

That doesn’t trouble me at all, although I do like an acknowledgement that they have recieved the quote by email just incase it is in their spam folder and they are cursing me for not bothering to give a quote.

Pricing work is a pain, I’ll probably go out tonight after dinner for a coupe of hours, which will then generate an hour or so emailing. I’m not complaining though, it’s a level playing field and all my competitors have to do the same. It’s just a part of the job.

Just remembered a few years ago went out to measure up for some cupboard to be built into an alcove etc,did a drawing of the finished item with all sizes on it, at the behest of customer, took a while to do, customer didnt ring back for a few weeks, trhen rang to say the door size was wrong, i asked why, because i bought doors yesterday and they didnt fit your sizes, it seems as if the cheeky bugger had just wanted a cutting list for free, now all estimates dont have sizes etc.

I’d go back to number 2, tell him I’d got a price of x (which may be a little less than actual), and see if he offers to beat it.

But then I’m a quantity surveyor by training 😈

Thanks but we’ve gone for other chap. What we do usually.

They’ve usually been pretty good about it to the point of commenting on thanks for letting them know.

40mpg – Member
I’d go back to number 2, tell him I’d got a price of x (which may be a little less than actual), and see if he offers to beat it.

Do you do this between tesco and sainburys then?

Really annoys me when people start playing me off against someone else.

Its also partly a numbers game, I send quotes out, I chase some if I don’t hear back, a polite “any joy with the quote” type email, half of these come back and then order as simply been too busy to look at it properly. Some I never hear back from. Don’t take offence however its done.

Be honest. If the guy can build a picture of reasons clients haven’t chosen him this will benefit his business immensely.

Really annoys me when people start playing me off against someone else.

I’m not keen on it either, but it happens, and I try not to be upset about it. I’ll usually just tell them the other chap’s welcome to it if he can do it for that price. No point in joining a race to the bottom.

We had 3 quotes for a new heating system not that long ago. One was well out of ballpark on price and i didn’t get a great feel for the guy. The other two were very close and it came down to a gut feeling thing. Thing is, when I called to say thanks but no thanks, the guy was so obviously keen to do the job, handsome great ideas and just seemed to want the business that I changed my mind and went with him. Now the jobs done I have no regrets. He did a great job.

Make the call at least. You never know…!

deadlydarcy – Member
Really annoys me when people start playing me off against someone else.
I’m not keen on it either, but it happens, and I try not to be upset about it. I’ll usually just tell them the other chap’s welcome to it if he can do it for that price. No point in joining a race to the bottom.

Yep, same here. I know what my time is worth to me and wont get into a low bidding war. Will say the same as you “thanks but no thanks, let the other guy do it”

No point in joining a race to the bottom.

So many punchlines….most of them banable