Woodworking Business

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Post a Response
The staff at WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at any WOODWEB Forum. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.
Your Name:
Your Website:
Email Address:
Subject: Re: Texting and clients/ Designers

Message:

(read message guidelines).
Note: Do not use the below fields to advertise your business - only for links related to the discussion.
Thread Related Link URL:
Thread Related Link Title:
  To "point" to an image (picture) from another website, provide the URL (Web Address) of the file ( include ONE reference to http:// )
Thread Related Image URL:

Date of your Birth:

Upload a Thread Related File:
File Types: Image (gif-jpg-png-bmp), PDF, Sketchup, Video (mov avi wmv mpeg mpg mp4 ogg). (Image Upload Tips)

I have read the Site User Agreement and agree with the Terms

  <= Check to receive e-mail notification of responses

Message Thread:

Texting and clients/ Designers

6/1/19       
Kevin Member

Recently on a millwork project we were selected for we've had some issues with texting and job info. (via smartphone you know). We have a lengthy contract tied to millwork drawings we produced signed by the Owner. The drawings and contract state exactly what is to be supplied and where it is to go ( this is an optical clinic) schedules, products, finishes all job info required. A few days ago we were onsite to install blocking for our cabinets, a large square room we were about to install the blocking according to our key plan (which was correct!) and noticed some tape on the wall, which prompted us to make a phone call confirming the location with the designer.

( the designer which brought us on to this project, is acting as the GC but i dont think she knows it..) Per our conversation it was told to us the blocking and future millwork would go on the "other wall" the "Left wall" which we asked "where is left" our millwork plan uses North, East, South, West to orient things within the building. Anyway the designer then sent us screen shots of old text messages (pre Contract signing) stating the millwork was going to be moved to the "other wall", to which we replied at that time "ok" and only "ok" to among a list of other job questions/ statements from the designer.

she is saying because these things were "in writing" we are now bound by them as part of the job. IMHO that BS but what do you guys think??
Personally working with architects and real GCs ive never had any of them send me a text. We've told the designer to only contact us by email from this point forward.

6/1/19       #2: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
rich c.

If you replied ok to a text explaining a change, you own it. Unless there was a previous agreement that stated only printed instructions signed by you will be considered valid, and all other means of communication are not accepted. Trying to get out of it because of the type of communication used will not win any favors for your company.

6/2/19       #3: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
Leo G Member

Gray area. If you have a written contract with signatures that is the legal document. Any legal change would need to be made to that document.

6/2/19       #4: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
Kevin Member

I would agree Leo, our agreement states all prior negotiations, proposals basically anything before signing is null.

6/2/19       #5: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
rich c.

So I reread your first post. You said you were notified of the change pre contract signing. How would it be void if you knew about the change before the contract was signed? Are you saying no plans were developed for the different wall, or are the exact same cabinets just being located somewhere else and you are fussing about a different blocking location?

6/2/19       #6: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
Leo G Member

They signed a written contract with the terms. If something was missing and they didn't notice it would be the clients fault for missing it.

Don't sign a contract without fully reading and understanding it.

Yes, it's an oversight. But a signed contract is what anyone will be looking at legally.

6/3/19       #7: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
MarkB Member

We deal with this quite a bit in commercial. Many jobs we go through most of the project never speaking on the phone or face to face its all email/text now. Im with the others that the signed contract/shops is the final answer. What I do is whenever anything is sent along via text I follow up with email so there is a single chronological message string that is on record.

6/3/19       #8: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
Paul Miller

Website: http://MCCWOODWORKING.COM

The Designer sent you the job. Do you want him or her to continue to send you jobs? It sounds like you caught it before the actual install. I don't know the layout, but this probably would not be a big deal for me. Maybe that is why Designers like us so much.

6/3/19       #9: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
Kevin Member

As Leo said they signed a contract with terms, so its hard to say you didnt know. Also, yes the designer brought us onto this job, but we work for the Owner the designer hasn't written us any cheques so far. If her future jobs continue to be run via Apple imessage I don't think I'll want the hassle of working with her in the future. Yes we did catch the blocking before install, but if we did install it, we would have signed & dated docs to back it up. They would then be paying us to move it to the "left" if the spider sense didn't go off.

6/3/19       #10: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
Leo G Member

That is one of the reasons I have a highly detailed contract. I can refer back to it when needed to find out specific information or items needed to be completed. I go down as far as how many shelves per cabinet and which way corner cabinet doors will swing as per agreed to by both parties.

I give them the contract to look at, and specifically mention to look it over for items that were missed or you'd like to add in. It's important because this is the guide to the entire job.

6/3/19       #11: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
Kevin Member

Ours is quite lengthy also, about 12-14 pages depending. I always tell them don't sign it for 24 hours at least, READ IT. In this case I don't think they did that, oh well. Its not what I say, Its what written down...on paper.

6/7/19       #12: Texting and clients/ Designers ...
Larry Schweitzer

Decorators are always harder to deal with than others in the trade. They change their mind every 15 minutes. We just went through that on an oval conference table project. $5000 worth of power/computer connections and she is complaining about the cost of the table. Size & shape is now in it's 3rd try.

 

Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)