Is this any way to do business? Your thoughts?

Forums › Off topic › Is this any way to do business? Your thoughts?

Xile

175 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 31

ID Verified

#119015 17-May-2013 10:16

I requested a quote from Heat Pump City in Albany to install a heat pump in my apartment. I arranged a date and a time with a particular person.

Shortly before the arranged time I was rung by a different person who said he was doing the quote now and so I confirmed the address. He asked if it was an apartment and I said it was. He asked if I had Body Corporate persmission and I said it wasn't necessary as long as the installation was on my unit and not on common property. He said he was a few minutes away.

Just before the arranged time I was rung by the same guy. I was thinking that he couldn't get into the building or figure out the intercom. But no, it was him telling me that the job was too difficult and that they weren't interested in doing it. And that was that.

He didn't come inside and have a look around or even have the courtesy of telling me in person that they weren't interested.

I appreciate they don't have to accept jobs but is this anyway to do business?

1 | 2

3892 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 164

#821008 17-May-2013 10:26

"is this anyway to do business?"

Yes.

At least he was polite enough to call you back and not just not bother.

More and more we're seeing this stuff go to department stores who just include installation as part of the package and don't require quotes.

Quotes are a nightmare and a massive time waster for no return.

I confess I'm quick to do a quote if I'm quite and looking for work, but if I'm flat out doing work for people then like so many, I'm not very interested in quotes.

I liked the guy who suggested I find someone else to clean my chimney one year. He didn't like the question "so do you put drop cloths down and ensure you don't get mess on the carpet".

D

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

gzt

18674 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7809

Lifetime subscriber

#821013 17-May-2013 10:34

They lost your respect and your business without even bothering to find out if you were up for the cost of the installation done right. Dumb.

There may be something else also behind it like a bad experience with another owner in the same building or related to the body corporate getting involved in something in the same building or same developer/management team.

I'd suggest calling the HPC manager and getting the full story. It might be interesting.

Xile

175 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 31

ID Verified

#821016 17-May-2013 10:41

The thing is I'm on the 3rd floor. How he could possibly make an assessment from the street is beyond me. Also if he'd bother to come in I could have pointed to the apartment below that has had a heat pump installed. It can be done.

Also I want a heat pump. I sent out three requests for quotes. Of those three this was the only company to respond with an appointment. They would have got the job.

I sent an email to the manager of the company complaining. I doubt I will get a response.

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#821017 17-May-2013 10:43

If you still want one, I know an installer who might be able to help - PM me your email/phone and Ill get him to contact you.

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

wellygary

8810 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5287

#821024 17-May-2013 10:51

He asked if I had Body Corporate persmission and I said it wasn't necessary as long as the installation was on my unit and not on common property.

Generally you will find that all the outside walls of apartment blocks are common property, (i.e the BC paints and repairs them) hence there is a reticence for installers to even think about punching holes in them with out approval from the body corporate...

Xile

175 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 31

ID Verified

#821034 17-May-2013 11:05

xpd: If you still want one, I know an installer who might be able to help - PM me your email/phone and Ill get him to contact you.

Thanks, I have some other companies coming to quote next week. I'll see how I get on, otherwise I might take you up.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

timmmay

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#821035 17-May-2013 11:06

If everyone asked for three quotes then each vendor only gets 1/3 of what they quote for, less for the more expensive vendors. I can see why they don't want to do quotes.

If you go back asking for an estimate based on what you tell them you may have more luck getting something done.

I have to say a third floor heat pump install in an apartment block is going to be a pain in the butt both in doing the job and body corp permissions despite what you say, so I'm not surprised they saw it then left.

Xile

175 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 31

ID Verified

#821036 17-May-2013 11:08

wellygary: He asked if I had Body Corporate persmission and I said it wasn't necessary as long as the installation was on my unit and not on common property.

Generally you will find that all the outside walls of apartment blocks are common property, (i.e the BC paints and repairs them) hence there is a reticence for installers to even think about punching holes in them with out approval from the body corporate...

Appreciate that. But I have two enclosed balconies so the heat pump wil be entirely contained within my boundary and not on any external wall.

timmmay

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#821040 17-May-2013 11:13

Beware of heat pump outdoor units attached to the outside of a house or to an attached balcony. They're big powerful units and the noise and vibration can be transmitted through the whole apartment and neighbouring unit. You'll need some kind of shock absorbtion, and make sure you get a decent size unit so the noise isn't going to bother your neighbours.

Xile

175 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 31

ID Verified

#821042 17-May-2013 11:14

timmmay: If everyone asked for three quotes then each vendor only gets 1/3 of what they quote for, less for the more expensive vendors. I can see why they don't want to do quotes.

If you go back asking for an estimate based on what you tell them you may have more luck getting something done.

I have to say a third floor heat pump install in an apartment block is going to be a pain in the butt both in doing the job and body corp permissions despite what you say, so I'm not surprised they saw it then left.

They offer the service of a free quote. If they don't want to do quotes then they shouldn't offer it.

webwat

2036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 145

Trusted

#821528 18-May-2013 11:18

Xile:
wellygary: He asked if I had Body Corporate persmission and I said it wasn't necessary as long as the installation was on my unit and not on common property.

Generally you will find that all the outside walls of apartment blocks are common property, (i.e the BC paints and repairs them) hence there is a reticence for installers to even think about punching holes in them with out approval from the body corporate...

Appreciate that. But I have two enclosed balconies so the heat pump wil be entirely contained within my boundary and not on any external wall.

If the outdoor unit is too enclosed then it will not be effective/efficient in summer when the enclosed area can't move sufficient heat to outside. Your "boundary" is often not the relevant criteria anyway, since the bodycorp probably owns the external wall, and will have rules about aircon units due to visual and noise issues as well as the actual wall penetration.

If there are plenty of unknowns in an install job, they will probably decline to quote on it because who wants to wear the cost of sorting out problems that weren't known when they quoted it. You may still need an estimate that includes a recommended location for the units and pathways for the pipes so that you have something to take to the bodycorp.

Time to find a new industry!

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

Byrned

455 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 27

#822034 19-May-2013 17:46

Recently had to get some plumbing work done. Organised to get three quotes. One plumber was still there when the next next one pulled up. Saw the other plumber there and drove off. His chances went from 1/3 to nothing.

timmmay

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#822047 19-May-2013 18:08

Totally understandable. A quote can take a fair bit of effort, 0.5-3 hours to create a quote with a 1/3 chance of getting the job isn't great.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2159

#822060 19-May-2013 18:26

Xile:
I appreciate they don't have to accept jobs but is this anyway to do business?

I had a similar issue with an insulation company.

We needed insulation installed onto the underside of a suspended concrete slab (because architect #$#$% it up by not saying we needed it in the first place then underfloor heating guys ^*&&^ it up too by incorrectly installing the water tubing -- can't anyone do their job properly these days?).

Anyway, we rang a company and they gave us a quote.

We were discussing things with the architect / plumbing company for a couple of months before deciding to go with it.

Called the insulation company back and.... they were no longer interested. He said they were making so much money from government funded insulation grants it just wasn't worth doing our job for what he previously quoted.

We just did it ourselves, took a couple of days, and saved $2,000 in labour.

Linuxluver

5833 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1639

Trusted

Subscriber

#823527 22-May-2013 13:33

Xile: I requested a quote from Heat Pump City in Albany to install a heat pump in my apartment. I arranged a date and a time with a particular person.

Shortly before the arranged time I was rung by a different person who said he was doing the quote now and so I confirmed the address. He asked if it was an apartment and I said it was. He asked if I had Body Corporate persmission and I said it wasn't necessary as long as the installation was on my unit and not on common property. He said he was a few minutes away.

Just before the arranged time I was rung by the same guy. I was thinking that he couldn't get into the building or figure out the intercom. But no, it was him telling me that the job was too difficult and that they weren't interested in doing it. And that was that.

He didn't come inside and have a look around or even have the courtesy of telling me in person that they weren't interested.

I appreciate they don't have to accept jobs but is this anyway to do business?

What floor are you on? A heatpump requires an outside unit, access to electricity and somewhere to drain condensation. They also need to pass through the exterior wall. How would you see those things be provided in your situation? (Just asking).

Background: Heatpump City installed a heatpump in my rental flat (part of renovations I'm doing for letting it) 3 weeks ago with no issues. It works great. You spoke to Phil Taylor?

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

1 | 2