Puzzling And Suspiciously Nice Behaviour
 

So, explain this to me.

We have a leak in the roof, which is coming down in the upstairs study ceiling. Not a lot of water but enough that over time the drywall sagged and split at one particular spot. Last year the gutter cleaning guy, who said he had some roofing experience, said there was one spot that needed some work, he did it, cost $200, and the leak stopped. Well, winter has come again and the leak has resumed. So, we call some roofing companies to estimate the repair.

I'll admit, I have never even been up on my roof. It is way the heck up there, about 30 degree pitch, wet, and every time I think about checking it out I hear words like "quadriplegic".

So, one of the roofers comes by. He's from a legit roofing company, good reviews on AngiesList. He inspects the damaged ceiling, goes up on the roof for awhile, comes down, and talks to me.

Him: "It's nothing big, just looks like water coming in at the dormer because [roofing talk that I didn't really follow - something about a nail and some shingles butting], and I'll take care of it".

Me: "Err, okay."

So he gets some flashing and caulk from his trailer, goes back up, comes down a half hour later, and says

Him: "Okay, I did [more roofing talk that I didn't understand] and it should be fine."

Me: "Do we need any more work? If the roof getting old?"

Him: "Your roof is holding up fine. Maybe look at it in another 5 years, depending on weather. Your chimney needs to be repointed but it can wait until next year."

Me: "Thanks, how much do we owe you."

Him: "Nothing, it was just a small thing. Think of us when you need roof work."

And he left. Well, we gave him some wine.

So, my wife and I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out "what's his angle?" Was this in preparation for selling me a new roof? But he said we won't need one for years. Maybe he just pretended to fix it, knowing the leak will worsen, then figures he'll get the bigger repair job? But why would I hire someone who failed to fix the leak the first time. Maybe he bored holes in our roof to create an even bigger repair job . . . Don't be stupid.

Anyway, we have no idea what that was about.

Karma.


The paperwork to do the job was probably more work than the repair itself.

Just pay it forward and be thankful.

Yep - thinking the same thing. Costs more time and money to bill you then it is worth. Not to mention the word of mouth advertising that he will get from you telling this story to all of your close friends and the entire world.

Give him a plug - sounds like he deserves it.

You'll probably find your answer at the next big storm.

What was the name of that roofing company again?

Gutter guy screwed you last year.;)

Had a similar experience not too long ago.

Asshats that put in my sprinkler system mixed head types so huge patches of my lawn was dying from lack of water.

Was going away for a bit and needed a fix fast.

Was getting no where with the builder so on the advice of a neighbor called the landscaping company that services our hood.

They send a guy by, he confirms the problem. Ask him how much to fix and I'd send the bill to the builder.

He says "Let me see if I can buy you some time and save you some money"

Spends an hour in my 100 degree garage reprogramming my system to get me over the hump.

Ask how much?

Nothing!

Really?

Yea!

OK, Her's a tip.

No thx.

No, please take it.

No, we're good. Have a nice day.

That is how you earn a customer forever. The lifetime value of a long term customer is much higher than the small amount of time it took to make the little fix.

Let's say for argument's sake that he's gonna bill roofing work at $100 an hour - which would be extrordinarily high. He worked for 30 minutes with probably less than $10 in materials. For $60 in soft cost, he's earned some advertising, and a customer for life.

Nothing sinister about it. Nothing overly charitable either. Just good business. It only seems odd because it's not the norm. There is a certain popular local Porsche mechanic who operates in the same way. As a result, he can pick and choose his jobs and customers. And the fact that you know who I'm talking about without mentioning his name illustrates the point. ;)

Good tradesmen are hard to find. I doubt he drilled more holes in your roof. lol

U can't go to Home Depot and buy some Rain Bird plastic heads and replace them yourself? Ahhh who dresses you and ties your shoes in the morning?

Boy ohhh boy are we cynical?

Look, I didn't grow up in PDX. I was born in NYC and moved here from L.A. and S.F. So the peculiar customs of the locals still puzzles me. This suspicious roofer isn't the only weird thing that's happened to us here. No-one has flipped me off in 3 years. When my wife broke the van, a guy ran over with a fire extinguisher. My neighbors invite us over for dinner. What's their angle, we don't know. It is scary here.

This was a builders mistake.

I've got 7 zones.

It was the middle of summer and 105 degrees outside.

F that.

Fine by me if you wanna waste your weekend and your own money to fix someone else's shoddy work.

Surely you are not suggesting I should not have held the builder and sub contractor responsible?

Quit tellin' everybody.:eek:

(oh, and by the way, this same behavior is expected from you!:))

the clear answer is that your roofer is an Oregonian

I would say he is just a nice guy...too bad there aren't more people like that.

exact thing happened to me at an independent toyota mechanic. the man checked everything on my recent purchase, and said "no charge"..when i called him for an update. out of guilt, i told him to change to oil.

I have both given & received "no charges" along the way. It's a win win. Good for future business & it justs feels really good to light someone up with a "no charge".

So, happily receive it & pass it on.

Ian

The Stepford Lives!