Why can't people stand by appointments?

[crinkles]

Selling an appliance, buyer called up and agreed to come pick it up for said price. He even specified a time, 8:30AM on a Sunday. This suits me fine as I am up before 7AM because of the kids.

Well 8:30 comes, 9 comes, 9:30 comes, I am becoming fed up because we did a lot to get ready - cleaning the house etc so it is respectable.

So i call him at 9:30 asking if he is still interested and he goes "aaah just realised the time, i've been washing my truck since 7, can i come around later today?" (as in any time on a sunday, like i have to be ready for him all the time).

I said no, you pick a time, if you're not here at that time, i'm releasing it for sale to someone else. I got at least 5 calls I had to turn down because this guy had made an appointment to me.

My wife wonders why I am so cynical about people. Who just totally forgets about an appointment THEY THEMSELVES made?? and / or doesn't bother calling up an hour after?

What little faith I had in people I've lost all over again. something basic like keeping an appointment, well,. says a lot about the person. If I have an appointment, I am there at least 10 minutes prior come rain or shine. ALWAYS.

 

[Panzerman]

Bad upbringing.

 

[dave123]

Thats why I say first one with cash takes it away.

 

[Dave Hess]

One word. EGO

People feel they are more important by keeping you waiting.

 

[Vizzy]

Complete Selfishness

Teh self centered nature of most Americsns today is painfully bad!

Glad that you told this guy NO after he blew you off the first time....That is another word that seems increasingly impossible to use in this "ALWAYS "can do" society.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I sold old refrigerator and something else on Craigslist, my customers all came on times, within few minutes before or after appointment. I bought something on Craigslist too and I came to the places 5-10 minutes before appointment.

That guy may forgot the appointment he had with you, give him second chance.

 

[crinkles]

I did give him a second chance to specify a time when he will be here, so i am still holding it for him, but did say that if he doesn't come on time i'm releasing it to someone else.

 

[Vizzy]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
I did give him a second chance to specify a time when he will be here, so i am still holding it for him, but did say that if he doesn't come on time i'm releasing it to someone else.


I'd bet bottom dollar that you WILL be selling it to the next customer...

 

[Dave Hess]

When I call a person in for a job interview, if they are more than 10 minutes late, they have zero change of getting hired.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

No one else's time has any value.

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

When I call a person in for a job interview, if they are more than 10 minutes late, they have zero change of getting hired.


Even if things are beyond his control?

 

[94MaxGXE]

Quote:
Glad that you told this guy NO after he blew you off the first time....That is another word that seems increasingly impossible to use in this "ALWAYS "can do" society.


+1

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Quote:

When I call a person in for a job interview, if they are more than 10 minutes late, they have zero change of getting hired.


Even if things are beyond his control?


It's job interview, you plan for the uncontrollable.

 

[Fazzone]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
When I call a person in for a job interview, if they are more than 10 minutes late, they have zero change of getting hired.


That's pretty generous if you ask me. Wen I'm hiring crew, if you're late you simply are not hired. The only time I'll consider making an exception is if they call and tell me they are running late. If you can't get there on time for something as important as the interview and I hire you, what's going to be your motivation to show up on time every day??

 

[Dave Hess]

If you are going to be late for a job interview (flat tire, traffic accident, you get hungry and stop off at BK for a Whopper Jr, etc...etc) then you should have the courtesy and decency to call and say you will be late and reschedule.

 

[twentynine]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
When I call a person in for a job interview, if they are more than 10 minutes late, they have zero change of getting hired.


Mr LT4 Vette

"Back in the day" when I had a job interview, I garauntee I showed up 10 minutes before appointed time, fresh hair cut, shined shoes, ready to stand tall before the man. And if you would have looked out in your parking lot 30 minutes before appointed time I was their waiting on appointed time. Further more if I was late by as much as 1 minute, I would never expect you to give me an interview let alone a job.

 

[Dave Hess]

Back in the day I would actually do a 'dry run' the day before to see the travel time, distance and the EXACT location of job interview so that I would not be driving around looking for the address on the day of the interview. I would also be 30 minues early to prep myself for the most common questions they would ask during the interview.

20 years ago there was no Google Map, MapQuest or GPS.

 

[twentynine]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Back in the day I would actually do a 'dry run' the day before to see the travel time, distance and the EXACT location of job interview so that I would not be driving around looking for the address on the day of the interview. I would also be 30 minues early to prep myself for the most common questions they would ask during the interview.

20 years ago there was no Google Map, MapQuest or GPS.


All joking aside. My last job interview was in 2003. I am in my current employment for 32 years but in 2003 we had a big threat of layoff. So before the ax fell I got moving.

Low and behold I got an interview at a chemical plant in a neighboring parish. Interview 0900 Monday morning. Guess what I did Sunday afternoon? I drove down their, checked out the parking lot, entrance gate I was to use. That way come Monday morning I was not wondering around in Garyville La trying to find my way into the Nalco plant.

Turns out I was not layed off, but out of 9 guys possibly getting layed off I was the only one to actually go on an interview.

I read a fable, story or whatever you want to call it a few years ago. It went like this:

On the plains of Africa a gazelle is grazing, if he alert, if he stays smart, and if he runs real fast he will out run the lion, and get to live another day.

On the same plains is the lion, he is hungry, if he is sly, if he hunts well, and if he runs fast, he will catch the gazelle, he will then feed and get to live another day.

The morale of the story: It matters not whether you picture yourself as the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up you better be moving if you want to live another day.

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

It's job interview, you plan for the uncontrollable.


Sounds good, but unrealistic in many circumstances. I agree a phone call explaining the situation may be in order, but one guy @ work left to go home and arrived 4.5 hours later for an 8 mile drive due to a multicar/truck pileup on an interstate. I guess he didn't plan to take the helicopter that day 8)

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
No one else's time has any value.


Yep, there is a certain mindset that has the impression that whatever I'm doing is infinitely more important than what you are doing.

I've been in $2,000 an hour meetings (pay rate plus o/heads), where after half an hour waiting, people make the sensible decision to make a start...then have to replay the decision making process all over again.

In Crinkles'case, I wouldn't be surprised if the buyer has semi cold feet.