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Conference 7.286::home_work

Title:Home_work
Notice:Check Directory (6.3) before writing a new note
Moderator:CSLALL::NASEAM::READIO
Created:Tue Nov 05 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2100
Total number of notes:78741

2038.0. "Contractors - Interpreting language ?" by JOET::WEISS (Trade freedom for security-lose both) Mon Feb 22 1988 19:34

This note is for recommendations for the type of contractor listed in the note
title.  If you need to ask for recommendations, please delete your query after
you receive responses so that only recommendations remain in the note.  Queries
not deleted by the author may be deleted by the moderators. 

In any recommendation, please include as much information as you can.  Cost, 
quality, and timeliness are all important.  DON'T forget to mention the area.  
Other information like sub-specialties, and the name of the particular person 
you dealt with if it is a large company, are also useful.

*VERY IMPORTANT*

Any negative references must remain as factual as possible.  As a mental 
guideline, ask yourself if you would send your response in to be printed in a 
major newspaper.  Any responses which could be considered libelous will be 
deleted.



The opinions expressed in this note do not represent Digital Equipment 
Corporation or the moderators of this file.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
2038.1Interpreting subcontractor/supplier language ?2038BOSTON::SWISTJim Swist BXO 224-1699Tue Apr 18 1989 14:4662
    Suppliers of building materials and services to end users are
    only slightly ahead of used car salespeople when it comes to honesty
    in dealing with the customer.  This seems to stem from their
    belief that lay people won't understand enough about the mechanics
    of the business to catch them in the act.  (This kind of sleaze happens
    much less in pro-on-pro dealings, since they know they won't get
    away with it).
    
    This note is to alert the less-experienced DIYers amongst us as
    to what some of these commonly heard "lines" are and what their
    true meaning is.

    Here's a start:
    
    WHAT YOU HEAR
    
    "We can't make it today because my helper called in sick / got stuck
    in Peoria / had to go to court / etc"
    
    	WHAT THEY MEAN
    
    	"I've planned my workload poorly and am stiffing you in favor
    	of someone who gives me regular work"
    
    
    WHAT YOU HEAR
    
    "We discovered the X we we're about to deliver was damaged in shipment
    to us. We've order a new one which will only take Y days to get
    here"
    
    	WHAT THEY MEAN
    
    	"We screwed up your order and are buying time to get it right"
    
    
    WHAT YOU HEAR
    
    "You don't need an X permit for this job"
    
    	WHAT THEY MEAN
    
    	"I don't want to risk someone discovering my shoddy work"
    
    
    WHAT YOU HEAR
    
    "I'll get back to you with an estimate"
    
    	WHAT THEY MEAN
    
    	"If I want the job I'll call you, if I don't I'll simply ignore
    	you and not return any calls"
    
    
    WHAT YOU HEAR
    
    "It will take X days"    

    	WHAT THEY MEAN

    	"It will take 2X days.  I can't estimate any better than a DIYer"
2038.2and they're not lying as they didn't specify which week....DAGWUD::FLATTERYTue Jun 04 1996 20:5211
    ..i have to add one 
    
    What you hear   
    
    "i'll be there to do XXX job at the end of the week"
    
    
    What they mean
    
    They'll be there to do your job whenever they feel like it or they have
    nothing else to do but your job........