Should I feel guilty saying it's too late now?

He sounds thoroughly unreliable and you did the right thing. I would have done exactly what you’ve done and I wouldn’t be too bothered about how he feels.

It’s not your problem. Sounds like he’s got plenty of work and was going to fit you in only when it was convenient for him. He should have given you a quote for the work first so it’s his bad luck that he’s stuck with the glass.

You have nothing to feel guilty about. How dare he hang up on you.

I called a plumber out to do a simple job, a leak. I had to call him back as he didn't finish the job properly and when his bill came in it was way over the top and he had the cheek to try and charge me for two call outs. I rang a few other plumbers, should have done that in the first place and got a few quotes from them, all pretty much the same. I then rang my plumber and asked him to justify his bill, he reply was he didn't need to and after I told him what I was going to pay he said he would get me black listed. My reply was if I ever found out I was black listed with the credit agencies because of him I would take out a large advert in the local paper, next to his, telling people why not to use him. He thought I was a single woman living on my own as he never met or heard me talk of Mr Barmey, anyway he wouldn't accept my offer and so he didn't get paid, never heard any more.

Don't feel guilty.
We are having the same problem with tradesmen taking ages to quote and then being surprised that we'd gone elsewhere.
Even a car salesman who promised a written quote that afternoon took several days to send an email.
It seems to be a common problem at the moment.

I've only had one who told me straight away that he wouldn't be able to quote for a couple of months and couldn't be expected to start work until next year. I'd rather this than being messed around.

No need to feel guilty, next time give them a deadline ‘ please get back to me in x days/weeks or I’ll have to go elsewhere’ and stick to it. I don’t personally think women are treated differently from men, but you need to be firm.

I wouldn't be worrying about someone who has had so little interest in my jobs. I don't think it's do with being being a lone woman either - I do all the contacting and researching for house/garden work as well. I think many people have had so much work over lockdown that they are now no longer interested in small bits of work. Even using local facebook contacts hasn't helped me find people to do work over the last few years. It's always been like that but seems to have got much worse lately. Every road round here at the moment seems to have someone doing an extension or revamping their garden.

I recently phoned three local companies to look at my guttering and give me a quote to repair/replace - first one didn't bother to call back. Second one told me I needed to talk to a roofer. Third one was going to get back to me with a date to investigate and never did. All three were advertising gutter repairs. I certainly won't be using any of them for larger bits of work either. Exactly the same problem last year getting my gazebo repaired and repainted.

I bet he hasent even got the glass! Its horrible waiting in for someone and they dont show up. I would not feel guilty its his problem.

I do a search on our local community FB page when looking for trades people. Good reviews and recommendations with one neighbour inviting me along to see the work she has had done.
Becoming a member of this group has saved me from time wasters and rip off merchants/cowboys LesLee

I do exactly as you have done should any tradesperson start messing me about, they don’t get the job!

I thought the very same greenlady102.

And LesLee7 you have no need to feel guilty,he messed you about.tough.
Can i suggest in future you don`t tell anyone you need work doing that you live alone,your so and so is at work etc.

We’ve had this type of experience a few times, and pre covid, so nothing to do with backlogs or anything. We called two people out to look at our patio with a view to changing it. All we wanted was a quote. We never heard from either of them again. I tried ringing, but just got answer phones.

My friend’s husband would be capable of doing it, but he works full time. He said they were probably frightened off because the area to be done is so big!

Don’t feel bad, he had plenty of opportunity. You are the customer, and what you’re paying for needs to be right, but so does the relationship you have with the glazier. You need to feel comfortable. Go with whoever ticks those boxes.

he told you he's got the glass? yeah right!

Cloudy2clear did ours speedily and cheaply: www.cloudy2clearwindows.co.uk

Nothing at all to feel any guilt about. Probably just as well you did not go ahead with this man, as he sound very unreliable.

Do not think it is anything to do with being a lone woman. Just that at present anybody involved in building work etc in homes has so many jobs that many of them cannot be bothered to offer any sort of customer service.

My daughter and SiL needed a plaster - comparatively small job. My SiL (home husband/Dad), contacted nearly ten plasterers in their local area. Three managed actually to come to quote, none of these managed to send in a quote.

Took them ages to find someone to do this job, and even then he twice cancelled when he was comng to do the work. Did finally turn up and carry it out.

He shouldn’t have got the glass before giving you a quotation and you accepting it. Don’t feel guilty; he is unreliable and you are better off not using him. Trades people should turn up when they have an appointment and not unannounced, if they can’t make the appointment then they should let you know. If they don’t do this then steer clear of them.

Don’t give the pane of glass another thought: it’s small change.
We fitted ( with the help of a friend) all our windows so I know what they cost.
He didn’t give a good service: end of.
We have a neighbour who’s always moaning that she’s been ripped off with glazers, plumbers, gardeners dispute the fact that we continuously tell her to ask us first if she needs anything done. Her answer: I don’t like to trouble you ?
Listening to the phone calls when the damage is done is more trouble than doing the job.

He should have given you a quote and received your acceptance before he ordered the glass. I am sure he will be able to use it elsewhere so I shouldn’t worry about it. Perhaps he will learn to act in a more professional way and treat customers with respect. As it is not only has he lost your custom for his ineptitude but you certainly won’t be recommending him to anyone else.

We are waiting for an electrician to come and fit some lights in our conservatory. He came at short notice to do something with the cabling, (we had a new roof fitted on conservatory) but is rather dilatory about the lights. DH has chased him a few times, said he would come either Thursday or Friday, this about a month ago, no sign.
DH will ring again, but say if he’s too busy we will get someone else.
It really annoys me. If they are so busy, they should tell you and say “I can’t fit you in for 2 months’” or whatever, or simply say they have too much work on to bother with you!

Lack of Customer Care, Trades failing to communicate & Trades simply not turning up on the pre-arranged day seems to be the norm’ in my recent experience. It’s very wearying and wastes hours of customer time. There’s too much blame on COVID but the reality is, it’s a lack of respect & plain & simple courtesy. Do as you would be done by Mr/Mrs Tradesperson!!

Thanks for your comments which make me feel a bit better knowing it's not me being funny. I'm sure over the years I've had "mug" on my forehead. If I had thought he would get the glass without giving me a quote or coming back I would have rung and said don't bother.

Don't feel guilty. Likely as not, he'll sell it on ebay. He should have kept you in the picture.

Of course you were right. He will think twice before messing another lone woman about again.

I have had this recently with a fencer. As I was doing the contacting he thought I was on my own and was very slow responding so I contacted someone else, who was quick off the mark, no 1 was then aggrieved when he finally contacted me to hear I had given the job to another fencer who responded promptly.

My reaction was 'tough'. Contact people faster and do what you say you will do.

I’ve lost count of the number of times someone has given me a quote for a job and then not turned up. Thankfully I’ve found a local person that does odd jobs but can turn his hand to anything and advise me on other things. As DH isn’t practical at all he’s been a lifeline over the past few years. There’s usually someone like him in most areas eg my cousin does something similar in Birmingham. Some tradespeople have terrible communication skills but it’s no excuse for letting people down. I wouldn’t worry about that man having some glass he can’t use. If he was telling the truth he would have got it at trade price. It is infuriating. I did have a lovely guy come out to measure a window for new glass but he pointed out that there was a bit of rot in the window and, much as he’d love the work it would be wasting my money. We then had a long conversation about Frog Tape and instructed the young apprentice working with him on it’s superiority over other masking tape. There are some good’ uns out there!

No need to feel guilty you were more than patient with him and his fault for not following up in a reasonable time or even answering your messages

You were right to do what you did.
After all you are the customer. If they don't treat you properly they lose the custom.