Does Laid Back Austin = Flakey? (Van: appointed, house, buyers)

[G Grasshopper]

I know there was a thread along these lines recently, but I couldn't find it. Sorry if I am repeating.

I just put an ad in Craig's list for free moving boxes. I got a couple of responses, so I closed the ad. The first one, when I contacted her by phone, said she would come get them that afternoon at 3:00. No show. I called her at 4:00 - so sorry, someone else made her late, "maybe I should have called..." So we rescheduled for that same evening at 7:00. No show. OK, I'm done with her.

So the next morning, I called the back-up person, the second person who responded to the ad. Made arrangements for her to pick them up. No show. I left a message at her phone ... no call back.

What is wrong with people? I know this is a free item and maybe they feel they can flake out on someone they don't know, but why is that? People just don't care enough about other people to be responsible and considerate.

I have also had numerous experiences with landscapers and other trades people who likewise don't show up at the appointed time, people who do show up to do an estimate, but then they never send the estimate (wasn't that a waste of their time, too?)

Maybe I'm remembering poorly, but I don't remember this kind of behavior being so pervasive in other places I have lived.

I guess I need to just recycle the boxes - less aggravation.

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper

I know there was a thread along these lines recently, but I couldn't find it. Sorry if I am repeating.

I just put an ad in Craig's list for free moving boxes. I got a couple of responses, so I closed the ad. The first one, when I contacted her by phone, said she would come get them that afternoon at 3:00. No show. I called her at 4:00 - so sorry, someone else made her late, "maybe I should have called..." So we rescheduled for that same evening at 7:00. No show. OK, I'm done with her.

So the next morning, I called the back-up person, the second person who responded to the ad. Made arrangements for her to pick them up. No show. I left a message at her phone ... no call back.

What is wrong with people? I know this is a free item and maybe they feel they can flake out on someone they don't know, but why is that? People just don't care enough about other people to be responsible and considerate.

I have also had numerous experiences with landscapers and other trades people who likewise don't show up at the appointed time, people who do show up to do an estimate, but then they never send the estimate (wasn't that a waste of their time, too?)

Maybe I'm remembering poorly, but I don't remember this kind of behavior being so pervasive in other places I have lived.

I guess I need to just recycle the boxes - less aggravation.

You know, I buy/sell a lot on CL and have since it's early days in the mid to late 90s while living in SF. But in the last two and half years, buyers have been shockingly flakey (and sometimes shady) that I've given up on selling unless particularly high-ticket items that are eBay-prohibitive. SAME experiences you describe. That said, I never associated it with Austin, it just never occurred to me that it might be city-specific.

But looking back, I sold just as much in Denver and didn't have many issues at all. It could be the place or it could be the extra years to cast a winder net full of flakes... or it could be both.

[Moonlady]

I quit using craigslist for free items - way too much flakiness. Try Freecycle. I've had much better luck there.

[verybadgnome]

I've noticed the same thing and I think it is more prevalent here. Handymen and tradespeople unfortunately are in the same category. What they don't realize at first is that they do not get a second chance after a no show/no call. I have NEVER not shown up for work and did not at least call or email IN ADVANCE so why should I expect any less from people working for me? I have heard the excuse that "I was too busy to call" but that just means they have overcommitted themselves - not my problem.

[Austin97]

i havent noticed things worse than before. People in general are flaky

[Trainwreck20]

I guess I have been lucky - I don't know how many contractors/repairmen/etc I have hired over the past 25+ years, but have never had a 'no-show' that I can recall, and other than an occasional late arrival (which is generally preceded by a warning call that they were running late), I haven't had any issues at all. I have dealt with both 'small' outfits (i.e. individuals) for AC, plumbing, and handyman tasks as well as with 'big' outfits (ABC Pest, Christianson AC/plumbing, Home Depot, AT&T, DishTV, Advance Landscape come to mind off-hand). The two that have been most irregular have been the ones that come out on a schedule - the individual that does our lawn slides a day or two sometimes, but usually because of the weather and I couldn't care less. The lady that cleans our house probably can't come on the scheduled day probably about 1/4 of the time, but she always lets us know if possible - sick kids, etc., sometimes make notice difficult, but otherwise we get warning.

[AustinGuy]

Craig's List = Flakey

[orngkat]

CL is flaky because its anonymous. And the more people use the internet for transactions, the more accustomed they become to not following old-fashioned face to face expectations.

[Westerner92]

I'd be surprised if the free stuff section of craigslist wasn't flakey.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper

.....

What is wrong with people? I know this is a free item and maybe they feel they can flake out on someone they don't know, but why is that? People just don't care enough about other people to be responsible and considerate.

I have also had numerous experiences with landscapers and other trades people who likewise don't show up at the appointed time, people who do show up to do an estimate, but then they never send the estimate (wasn't that a waste of their time, too?).......

Believe me, this sort of behavior is all too common---all over, and not just Austin.

If someone does that, and I have another choice, they are GONE and I won't ever call them again for anything.

People in general are inconsiderate--and just simply don't care. Period.