cant be bothered

[martin]

I read all the time about the increase of unemployment , firms going bust etc..yet for many in business down here couldn't care two hoots

eg
Last year organizing an event I saw a woman with her van sign painted "drinks wholesaler " ..so I asked her to give me her biz card.

I asked the person in charge of catering to contact her and an appointment was made.

the rep never showed up

so the person rang her.
"where are you?"

rep reply
"oh sorry I forgot"

person in charge
"ok lets me again next week"

rep
"ok "

Next week person in charge waits , again the rep never shows up

person in charge rings her
"where are you?"

rep
"oh sorry I forgot ..I am on my way to faro now "

person in charge.
"ok never mind about a meeting, just give me your price for xxx colas xxx beers etc etc"

rep
"nao problemo ..I will speak to my boss and ring you back"

needless to say we are still waiting for the phone call.

This is not an isolated example, all the time if you ask here for a firm to contact you regarding giving them an order, they cant be bothered to answer emails, heaven forbid even turn for a biz meeting. I could give loads more examples of similar cases... when I hear the Portuguese talk about the "crisis " ...I just wonder how much is self made.

In the case of the drinks wholesaler , all she had to do was to turn up and she would have got an order but she couldn't be bothered

I wonder now if the firm has gone bust or perhaps she is now unemployed...and no doubt of course someone else gets the blame for the "crisis"

[shanagarry]

Martin

The Portuguese do not have the monopoly on 'couldn't be bothered' culture - its everywhere.

I have spent the last 9 days trying to find a supplier in Scotland for a tranche of business valued at £200,000. I contacted 7 companies - 3 said they will call me next week (no urgency), 2 said somebody else will contact me (4 days have passed - nothing), the other 2 have made contact (3 days after receiving the enquiry).

I contacted 3 companies on the Isle of Man for a tranche of business worth £85,000 - nothing.

Unfortunately, its what happens when you have to employ people

[completecarvoeiro]

Sorry shanagarry,but its not the same in all cases of employment,i have some people who have worked for me for over 30 years,the buck stops with the person employing the people,if there not up to it then what chance the company?

However i do agree with the lack of urgency here in the Algarve,i just cannot understand it,i have just sat at a desk in the finances for 40 minutes before anyone came to see me,various people just looking down there nose at me,the attitude in the Lagoa finances stinks and has done for the last 11 years.

[shanagarry]

I can't for the life of me understand why people in the private sector have that attitude - jobs are few and far between everywhere in Europe.

The public sector is a basket-case - everywhere. The Portuguese attitude is and has always been - we'll get round to you in our time - it's a culture thing. In the UK it appears they have all given up as they are in fear of their jobs and are not in a position to do anything about it - other than withdraw their labour and strike.

In the cases I outlined, we have tried to get hold of the owners to have a grown-up discussion. They are on holiday

[EMM]

Since become early retired/self employed, there is no such thing as a holiday away from work.

Like many I know we take our mobiles, laptops away with us where ever we go.

There is really no excuse with the technology available today for enquiries to be ignored.

[shanagarry]

EMM

You're pushing on an 'open-door' - I am totally staggered. Had I not made the calls myself from here - I would not have believed it.