Do craftsmen not want women as customers?

[CecBT]

We have moved to a row house block where the entire block needs to install crawl space dehumidifiers. I took on the task of getting a few different quotes to compare.

In May, when we had just moved in, I called a couple of companies who would get back to me but preferred to have an email with all the details. I emailed but never got a reply. In June, I decided to find someone who could provide a quote after the holidays. I emailed between five and ten companies that deal with dehumidification. No one got back to me.

Last week, I tried a different tactic. I emailed the same question to five different companies but used my husband's name, email, and number instead of my own for three of them. Now, two out of three companies have responded to him and are interested in the job.

The texts were the same for everyone. My husband and I have the same last name and my first name isn't something that stands out - Cecilia. So it's not like I'm named, for example, "Månstråhle Rullgardina" or something similar that might suggest I'm not serious. We have the same credit rating if the companies check that.

Do tradespeople/companies have bad experiences with women as clients? Or is this just a coincidence?

 

[SueCia]

We have moved to a row house block where the entire block needs to install crawl space dehumidifiers. I took it upon myself to get some different quotes to compare.

In May, when we were newly moved in, I called a couple of companies who said they would get back to me but preferred to have an email with all the details. I emailed but never received a reply. In June, I tackled it again and thought I would find someone who could give a quote after the vacation. I emailed between five and ten companies that deal with dehumidification. No one got back to me.

Last week, I tried a different tactic. I emailed the same inquiry to five different companies but used my husband's name, email, and phone number instead of my own for three of them. Now, two out of three companies have gotten back - to him - and are interested in the job.

The texts were the same for all. My husband and I share the same last name, and my first name is not something that stands out - Cecilia. So I am not named something like "Moonbeam Rollerblind" or similar, which might suggest that I was not serious. We have the same credit rating if companies check such things.

Do craftsmen/companies have bad experiences with women as clients? Or is this just a coincidence?

It's probably just a coincidence, craftsmen don't choose jobs based on a customer's gender. And if there's a few who do, the serious ones just get more work

 

[Plupp 284245]

No, I absolutely believe it is a coincidence. We used to do a lot of custom kitchens before, and it was mainly female clients. It was something we didn't even think about during inquiries, but that was the case. And, no bad experiences.

 

[BirgitS]

The three times I have been in charge of getting contractors (bathroom renovation, painting, remodeling) I have not had any problem getting quotes.

 

[Fotografen]

Well, it probably has more to do with the fact that in May-June everyone is busy with work that needs to be done before the vacation, then everyone wants time off and now they're starting to look at the autumn...

 

[fribygg]

Mja, it probably has more to do with the fact that in May-June everyone is busy with work that needs to be finished before the vacation, then everyone wants time off, and now people are starting to look at the fall...

Those who are the most skilled hantisar are usually booked about half a year in advance, right?

 

[BirgitS]

Those craftspersons who are the most skilled are usually booked about half a year in advance, right?

I was in contact with two companies for bathroom renovation in early/mid-June and both had available slots from the end of September. One of the companies is often considered the best in Greater Stockholm.

 

[fribygg]

I was in contact with two companies for bathroom renovation during early/mid-June, and both had available times from the end of September. One of the companies is often considered the best in Stockholm.

Yes, in a declining economy it could probably be as short as a quarter.

 

[CecBT]

Mja, it probably has more to do with everyone being busy with work that needs to be done before the vacation in May-June, then everyone wants to take time off and now they're starting to look ahead to the fall...

That might be the case. Although, I think that the two that haven't responded yet should have been able to, but two companies could just be coincidence.

 

[MagHam]

I actually respond contrary to others. My father passed away when I was quite young, and my mother strongly claimed that it was harder for her to be "taken seriously" when handyman help was needed. Maybe not exactly to succeed in hiring someone, but when the job was to be described or discussed, she felt they regarded her as less knowledgeable. So unfortunately - and it's sad - I think there might be a bit of truth in your concerns.

 

[Finndjävel]

No one gets in touch in June.

 

[Jonte Karlsson]

they regarded her as less knowledgeable

So based on a single personal anecdote, interpreted from another person who shared their experience, you conclude that it's probably like that generally? Okay.

It could also be that the craftsmen she interacted with were generally rude to everyone. It's also somewhat in the nature of things that one is "less knowledgeable" if they contact craftsmen rather than doing the work themselves. Most craftsmen are probably quite fed up with customers who think they know how everything should be done. That can affect the way they respond. Making it a gender issue is just silly.

 

[BirgitS]

Nobody contacts you in June.

Now I actually had two companies come in to look at a bathroom renovation in June, so that's not true.

 

[VLJ]

My wife has arranged both a plumber and an electrician this summer for small jobs, no problems. However, it's always difficult to get proper quotes that they need to calculate. If you have plenty of small jobs, they often offer good money per hour without the uncertainty. During the summer, there is also less staffing and maybe no one on site who has the authority.
A plumbing company we spoke with said that during the peak summer season, they only took emergency jobs because they were so understaffed.

 

[VLJ]

Then, you almost always have to call a handyman. I saw that you had done that in some cases with the same result, but you have to call, and then have continuous contact via SMS or phone so they don't forget about you.