Widows & Widowers Support Group
This community is dedicated to those who have lost a husband, wife, or partner. Anything is open for discussion here, with the hope that we can focus on grief, bereavement, life after loss, and continuing on after a great loss.
It happened again--a contractor trying to take financial advantage of me. The first time was when I had shutters installed and needed to have the previous window treatment holes filled. I was told this would take half a day and require lots of money. This week it happened again.
I went to a local, well know hardware store and asked about having some outside railings installed. They did the estimate and told me it would be 1200 dollars. This for four steps into my house.
I went to another local hardware store to purchase a humidifier. It's a free-standing console type and just a little to difficult for me to get in the car and into my house, so I asked to have it delivered. Fine. The price was a very reasonable 40 dollars, so I agreed to it. Then I asked would it be taken out of the box for me. And was told, maybe, but I'll have to tip the drivers. Of course, I knew what was coming--so I asked how much would they expect. And he said 30 dollars.
Long story short, I'm having both jobs done. The railings by a person recommended to me by a coworker. He's charging only 300 dollars and thats everything included.
As for the humidifier, I paid with a smile and a thank you. Can you believe three of them came to deliver one tiny humidifier weighing less than twenty pounds--what was that old joke about how many does it take to change a light bulb?
Anyhow, I think it's widows beware out there. Last year I probably would have paid it because I was in so much grief.
I went to a local, well know hardware store and asked about having some outside railings installed. They did the estimate and told me it would be 1200 dollars. This for four steps into my house.
I went to another local hardware store to purchase a humidifier. It's a free-standing console type and just a little to difficult for me to get in the car and into my house, so I asked to have it delivered. Fine. The price was a very reasonable 40 dollars, so I agreed to it. Then I asked would it be taken out of the box for me. And was told, maybe, but I'll have to tip the drivers. Of course, I knew what was coming--so I asked how much would they expect. And he said 30 dollars.
Long story short, I'm having both jobs done. The railings by a person recommended to me by a coworker. He's charging only 300 dollars and thats everything included.
As for the humidifier, I paid with a smile and a thank you. Can you believe three of them came to deliver one tiny humidifier weighing less than twenty pounds--what was that old joke about how many does it take to change a light bulb?
Anyhow, I think it's widows beware out there. Last year I probably would have paid it because I was in so much grief.
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I find myself going places in the car and not wanting to get out of the car. I come back home and I don't want to get out of the car. I think it's the only time I spend reflecting. Chronic tiredness from Long Covid plus the immunosupressing meds for my Crohn's is slowing me down but everything just seems a massive effort. I am dealing with the paperwork following my father's death but it's not...
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Wow, it's the middle of the week already!Today is our 11 year anniversary, so we're going out to a nice dinner. I'm losing a lot of sleep these days, hence a wonky schedule and uncomfortable feelings. But I know it will pass, eventually.I hope all of you have a peaceful day, and may good things come your way!
Watch out for the police too - wow - got a ticket for the car being a little over the sidewalk - (I've lived here 18 yrs & live in a cul de sac where no one drives), dtr got a ticket for speeding - (not a lot over but $330 because she's under 18 - new law) and also a ticket for driving thru one parking space to another. My dtr took the ticket to her old driver's ed teacher & he hadn't even heard of that before.
Everyone is out for money these days - it's not just widows beware - but we have a bigger target on us.
I've learned that an e-mail to a corporate office goes a LONG way.
I'll preface this with If I'm not supposed to name names someone feel free to let me know and I won't do it again.
Early Oct I ordered 3 storm doors from Home Depot and paid for them to install them... the nearest HD is 25 miles away. They have set prices for the install and I thought it would alleviate the headache of trying to find someone local to install them without putting the screws to me.
AFTER I paid for them, doors and install, they informed me they could not order them until their installer came to my home to measure, because, of course, I wasn't qualified to do that. A week later they measured. Okay doors ordered, expect them in 7-10 days. 18 days later the doors arrived at the store, the installer will call me to set up an appointment. Now they tell me he can only do it on Thursdays when its convenient for me. (At the time I was working pt Thurs/Fri only). Thursday is NOT convenient for me. HD: Sorry, Thursdays ONLY, and btw next available Thursday is Thanksgiving and installer won't work holiday, so the earliest would be Dec. REALLY?? HD: Yes really, its NEVER been an issue before! All this came from the female store manager, who would bend over backwards to accommodate my husband.
So I fired off an e-mail to corporate office. The next day I received a call from corporate, a call from the store manager, and the doors were installed on TUESDAY before Thanksgiving!
I call it assertive. I'm sure the store manager calls me something else ;-)
I would say they attempted to take advantage of you and did not succeed. You don't sound like the lil old widow that can be taken advantage of. You are too alert and suspicious - a $30 tip for taking the humidifier out the box? Give me a break? Glad you did not pay it - did not think you would. Good for you!
It's a pain to be beholden to others when you can't do this stuff yourself.