Why are there so many flaky people? (1 Viewer)

[Ghost Rider]

People who are always late try to laugh off like it's a character flaw that is beyond their control - "It's just the way I am" - when in reality, no, you are just an ####### who has zero consideration for the time and feelings of others.

 

[cosjobs]

The only strange thing to me is when people act like there was ever a time when people always were punctual. For almost all of human history it was impossible to be punctual, and even when it was, most people weren't.

Link?

Why do you think we refer to dead people as "the late ..."

 

[Mr. Pickles]

And it's typically people who need the money the most who act this way.

This is what baffles me most. It's one think to flake for personal engagements. But it's truly strange to do it as a business. No return emails, no calls back, no attempt at communication until weeks later of at all. I'm sure the reason isn't that they don't want your money.

 

[The Commish]

This happens on a rare occasion for me. There are two parties to every encounter like this. If it's happening to YOU (read, "one" not you specifically Tim) then maybe the problem isn't other people I have found that, generally speaking, if they respect you they won't pull stuff like this.

Then you dont deal with contractors very often. Respect has little to do with it. I am pretty much the final decision maker on all repairs/improvements/etc at our three facilities. The amount of no shows I encounter for just getting people to give me a quote is insane. The amount of contractors I leave an initial call to and never hear a peep from them is also amusing.

We need a new roof. We received a brochure in the mail. I called the number and spoke to a woman about getting an estimate. Within minutes I get a call back from the guy who does the estimates. We schedule a time.He tells me it will take about a half hour and he will bring some samples to show me. Time comes and goes, and I am now to the point where I have to leave for the day. He calls and tells me he is running way behind had a huge repair issue 45 minutes away, blah blah. He says he is still coming in though and will be there in 15 minutes. I tell him I wont be able to wait, but my maintenance guy is here and he can show you which building needs a new roof and he can get you a ladder if you need to get up there. Told him he could show him the samples and I trust my guys opinion and that he could then send me the quote.

3 weeks later he stops by my office mid-day unannounced and I assume he is just dropping off the quote. Nope. He never came that evening. He is now doing work right up the street and wanted to now take a look at it. Told him no thanks.

I suppose contractors could be a rare breed of individual that's different from all other sorts of people. My comments weren't specific to "contractors" rather people in general. I've noticed the same with contractors I've used to do work in my house. PS made a good post above that said things way better than I did.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

And it's typically people who need the money the most who act this way.

This is what baffles me most. It's one think to flake for personal engagements. But it's truly strange to do it as a business. No return emails, no calls back, no attempt at communication until weeks later of at all. I'm sure the reason isn't that they don't want your money.

It's because they act this way in the first place that they are the ones that typically most need the money.

 

[Mister Martie]

These people are why the rest of us are paid FBG money. Even showing a modicum of competence will get you pretty far.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Throughout my professional career I've noticed the people who were punctual seemed to be sharper than the people who weren't. Time management is a skill, and some people just aren't skilled enough.

This is true outside of work too. I see a lot of friends who are just disorganized and can't get anywhere on time or commit to arriving at a specific time. It amazes me.

As the father of a young kid, I'm noticing that the kids who are always late to pre-school or sports already have the traits of disorganization. A direct correlation with the parents.

 

[Dentist]

I have had the worst time getting someone out to remove a tree for me in my yard. Tree guys are horrible. I've had better luck with contractors but they are also pretty damn flaky people.

Now imagine running an entire business around scheduled appointments like I do (and before you complain, I"m the type of dentite that doesn't overbook and thus rarely if ever runs behind schedule and people KNOW that about us if they have been here at least once or twice).... and the numbers of people that cancel, show up late, etc.. admittedly for appointments they generally don't want to be at... but appointments none the less.

It's absolutely maddening the amount of disrespect... probably the #1 or #2 thing that makes me frustrated about my profession.

And sadly, on average the type of person that needs non-elective dental work is probably the type of person that fails in a lot of other areas of their life as well since most dental disease is simply a maintenance and/or discipline issue... thus they are even less reliable.

I hate flakes... sadly it seems to be a growing not regressing trend.

 

[Dentist]

These people are why the rest of us are paid FBG money. Even showing a modicum of competence will get you pretty far.

Probably a pretty good post.

I would imagine most elite people in the business world don't have time management issues.

 

[humpback]

People who are always late try to laugh off like it's a character flaw that is beyond their control - "It's just the way I am" - when in reality, no, you are just an ####### who has zero consideration for the time and feelings of others.

Aren't both of these true?

 

[avoiding injuries]

I have neighbors like this. Always late to EVERYTHING. Their son is the same age as my daughter and we go to a lot of the same things. I'll be in my car sitting in the driveway waiting for my wife and daughter to come out. I'll see the neighbors backing out of their driveway and think to myself, "oh look, they're going to be on time for once." Then I'll see the car stop, mom run back into the house, come back out into the car and then the husband runs into the house. I'll leave while their car is still sitting in the driveway. This happens more times than I can remember.

 

[NCCommish]

I am military trained to show up on time. Hurry up and wait. Usually at least 15 minutes early. I can't tell you how many times I have waited for the person who made the appointment to actually be ready.

My boss is the worst. He is always late. And he never calls. It's so disrespectful to whomever. Our customers have pretty much gotten used to it and laugh it off though. It helps to be really talented at what you do.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

The only strange thing to me is when people act like there was ever a time when people always were punctual. For almost all of human history it was impossible to be punctual, and even when it was, most people weren't.

Link?

Why do you think we refer to dead people as "the late ..."

Also gave us the saying "late for his own funeral".

 

[Skylord]

Contractors are notoriously bad. If you let them behave this way, they will always show up late. Next time one is later than 30 minutes...leave. They will show up and be astonished that you aren't at the meeting place. Reschedule. They will be furious that "you" wasted their time but they won't be late next time.

 

[Judge Smails]

I'm going to rant. I'm sitting here in a parking lot, waiting for a contractor to show up for a meeting with my client. I've been waiting for an hour. In frustration my client has left- Saturday was the only time he could show, so now we have to put this off another week. The guy who is late isnt answering his phone or texts. Hopefully he's not dead, or I'll feel guilty for writing this. But otherwise...

Why are people never on time these days? Why do they flake so often on appointments? It happens all the ####### time! I've never missed an appointment in my life without calling. I call if I'm going to more than a few minutes late. What happened to courtesy? Punctuality? #### this ####.

End of rant.

99% of contractors are flaky. When you find the one's in each specialized area that aren't - hire them for life. The only great thing about the last recession is the contractors who did stay in business did have to learn a little about customer service to get business. Most of them will get back to overpromising and under delivering as soon as they get enough business.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'm kinda late to this thread. What'd I miss?

 

[Maik Jeaunz]

not enough lotion?

 

[jon_mx]

I'm kinda late to this thread. What'd I miss?

####### flake.