cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/37042303

A builder who renovates homes sent me a huge quote for a big job by emailing me a link to a website apparently using some fancy platform they outsourced to for the simple job of giving a work quote. The idiots could not possibly fuckup a simple task so badly. I try to visit the link and get a CF block page because I use Tor.

Must say, it’s sad that there are so few Tor users in the world that perhaps they never had a customer of a customer who uses Tor. And likely many Tor users don’t even bother with activism.

What I did (and what all should do)

Left them a voicemail saying “can’t reach your quote because I am blocked. Plz print it out, fold it up, stuff it into an envelope addressed to me, and pay the postage to send me the quote the old-fashioned way”, in so many words, b/c obviously they¹ are incompetent with technology. Will be extra funny if there are gen Z office workers who cannot handle the job of printing a doc and mailing an envelope in the post. I will be happy if they have to pay postage to send me a quote as a penalty for outsourcing to an incompetent tech supplier who cannot handle a simple job of passing along a quote.

¹ by “they”, I mean both the contractor and the outsourced firm. It’s fair enough that the builder is incompetent with tech. Absolutely unacceptable that the firm they outsourced to is incompetent. Competency with technology is their fucking JOB.

"Link doesn't work"

Not my problem, and I can't solve it.

You want me to solve it I bill at $250/hr with a minimum of 2 hours, and no guarantee I can fix it. You pay regardless.

Seems like email would be a reasonable middle-ground.

But, I agree, the business should meet the customer with something as simple as providing a quote.

I paid $12,000 to have my roof replaced. They paid the tax if I paid in cash (I don't know, I don't care). I paid half up front, and when the job was completed, I emailed to get the final total so I could bring the other half. Believe it or not, I got push back. She didn't want to figure it out, or she thought I'd just show up with an approximate amount, etc.? It took three emails, and explaining that I was going to the bank to get the cash, so I'd like the exact total. On the upside, they did an excellent job on the roof, I was very happy with the work.

Sure dodged a bullet there....