Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Ways to get me to not consider your bid for our home improvement project

We're pricing patios. We need cement poured and a cover built. I hate the way I'm treated by contruction workers. I'm the one doing the research, I'm the one that'll be home when it's being done and I'm the one who knows what I want. Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean that I'm incapable of making a decision about 'manly things' like concrete...

#1 Refusing to come over unless my husband is home will almost automatically kick you out of the running.
#2 Coming over and telling me stuff- then the moment Steve walks in the door saying, 'oh good, the boss is home!' (To which Steve replied, 'um, she's the boss' - he knows the right answer!)
#3 Insisting that your product is different then Alumawood (made from aluminum). When we ask what it's made of you reply, 'aluminum'. So when I try to clarify that it's the same material just thicker you insist that it's not made from the same stuff... Apparently we're not communicating.
#4 Ask me repeatedly if my husband is going to pour the concrete. When I inform you that it's not something he is planning on ever doing you ask again. Like by virtue of his testosterone he has innate knowledge about all things construction??
#5 Quote me double the price of every other estimate- then talk trash about the competition.
#6 Be creepy
#7 Be way to interested in my kids and keep asking them, 'do you want to come home with me?'
#8 Try to 'close the deal' by saying you'd take us out to the buffet at the Rio when the project was completed. Yeah, not really a selling point.
#9 Ignore me and my opinions/questions once Steve is present. Thank you for valuing me as a human being.

So yeah- we didn't choose him. BUT we did choose someone else and construction will start in a week or so. THEN we'll get our grass in! The lawn guy is already figuring up and estimate for us. YAY!!!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amber, I've gotta say, I love your writing style and your sense of humor. It comes across so well! Hope the patio turns out well! Send pictures! (and of your recent projects too, hint hint)
Love ya cuz!
Maria =)

sheri said...

Dude, the Around The World Buffet at Rio rocks! Guess I'll have to come up w/another place to take you on our first date.

ShelahBooksIt said...

eeew. I hope you find your man and he's not too much of a sleazebucket.

Kermit~the~Frog said...

That was all one guy? Holy creepiness. Glad you found someone. You'll be sunbathing in no time.

Sabra at Sew a Straight Line said...

I totally was going to post the same as Cyl--that was the same guy??? YIKES! I'm super excited for your yard, though.

Anonymous said...

oh my goodness. wow. l-o-s-e-r. and you should feel really glad that Steve came home in the middle. I'd be worried about being alone with that guy! CREEPY!

Lacey said...

Maybe must have the husband home because of complaints.

Amber said...

Creepy sexist pig. Yes- all the same guy.

Sugarmama said...

I just went through this with some fencing contractors. My favorite is the guy who said the reason they were so much more expensive is that everyone else hired Mexicans, and who knows whether THOSE people even know what they're doing. We didn't hire him either.

Amber said...

Nice- I like sexists and racists about the same.... if that tells you anything.

Anonymous said...

Found you through "the MAMA" awesome list!! Will visit again soon.

KAT said...

Stop living so much and write us another funny blog!

bon said...

oi! Happy patio to you! If you lived over this neck-o I could hook you up... as it is, good luck with htat!