Got a question about businesses not taking on new customers

[NQAS]

Called a plumber today. I have what I think might turn out to be an expensive job. Could be in the thousand dollar range. Could be many thousand. I'm not a current customer, so they said they're not interested.

My regular plumber is coming to give me an estimate, but I wanted to have several to be sure they're in the same ballpark and, if I submit for insurance, that's what insurance will require.

I kind of get that companies may not want to take on new customers. We're increasingly selective in our business, but we try to qualify new customers to see if they're tire kickers or they've heard about us and are serious. But this is a job that is not an emergency. It needs to be done, but if we have to wait, well, we have to wait. And it just seems weird that the response was not to ask any questions but just to say no. Maybe they don't want to grow their business, and I guess that's a legitimate decision. But at some point customers move, or die, or choose other providers, and then where would they be. Because I'm not calling again, so I'll never know if they're going to be looking for new customers in the future.

As I said, I kind of get it. But it just annoyed me, so when I'm annoyed, I post.

I guess this is kind of like Reddit's Am I the Asshole? What say you?

[HelpImSurrounded]

1. Same problem here - businesses keep ghosting me

Can't get estimates from them even when we have a history.

Get an estimate and they still disappear.

Not sure what's behind it.

[NQAS]

4. Strange

I don't think it's a work availability issue. I'll wait. I don't need someone tomorrow.

If it were a case of "we can't find any workers," I'd understand that. But this is a large(ish) local company in businesses for 50-plus years. I guess it's one of those things that I'll just have to live with. Hopefully my regular plumber will give me an estimate that doesn't generate a heart attack.

[Freethinker65]

2. Not enough employees/workers to take on new jobs?

I cannot find anyone to do small maintenance (but too big for average homeowner) jobs on some property in a rural seasonal resort area with major multimillion dollar home construction backlogs. When I ask workers at those sites if they know anyone interested, they take my name and number, but pretty much tell me no one is taking side jobs these days. They can work 7 days/week if they want to on big jobs with incentive pay.

[cachukis]

3. If they are licensed, they probably have plenty of work.

New construction is much easier and the contracts don't get messy.
We just don't have a lot of trained construction workers not finding plenty of work.

[SheltieLover]

5. Disgruntled employee on phone?

Call back during lunch hour.

Good luck!

[Harker]

6. I'd rather be told outright than strung along, and then blown off.

I should've been suspicious when I was told, "I won't let you down."

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

7. There is a skilled trade worker shortage

At least near me. I have a few friends who are electricians and plumbers. Every single one of them is booked through January. A couple said they'd be booked further out but they don't schedule past a couple months. They couldnt find workers since the pandemic and some parts and components are hard to come by or overly expensive now. To make the situation worse, they are also now hesitant to hire anyway since they expect a downturn coming and don't want a bunch of workers once the jobs dry up next year.