Update: I saw a contractor in Phoenix get yelled at over a $50 change order

I was grabbing coffee near a job site and overheard a client screaming at a contractor because a small extra cost came up. The contractor was super calm, explaining the materials went over budget, but the client kept saying it was a 'bait and switch'. It made me think, is it ever okay to blow up at a vendor over a small fee, or should you always keep it professional even when you're mad? How do you handle surprise charges without losing your cool?

3 comments

3 Comments

vera291mo ago

Hot take: Never worth the scream. You said it made you think about keeping it professional even when you're mad. That's the whole thing, right? Yelling over fifty bucks just wrecks the whole work relationship. A surprise charge is annoying, but you get way further asking for a clear breakdown of the new cost. If the contractor can't explain it calmly, then you have a real problem. But losing your cool first just makes you the problem.

robin8961mo agoMost Upvoted

Yelling over fifty bucks" is the real shocker here.

nina_thompson501mo ago

What about the times when yelling is the only thing that gets their attention? I've seen people get ignored on polite emails for weeks, then one firm phone call and suddenly the problem gets fixed. It's a bad system, but sometimes acting upset is the only way to be heard. The trick is knowing when to use it, because you're right, over fifty bucks it just burns a bridge for no good reason.