Rip-off painters!

[Nossyd]

In defense of Argetine painters I have been seriously screwed by Irish workmen who never showed up or who botched the job so the fact I´ve had the same painting and decorating company at both home and the office for the last 4 years is for me a success. They just repainted the entire 4 storey house, outside and in including roof repairs and internal woodwork on floors and stairs - they built me some niches because Im bored of plain walls these days..and all for 12k pesos , including materials. It is companies like these that are very very professional and reasonably priced that make me see the best of Argentina.

 

[MizzMarr]

Hello
I have a flat rented to expats but when there is something to fix there I go with a person to fix things and I pay for it, this is on the owner`s not on the renters.
regards
Reina

Hi Reina, you responded after I mentioned the painters wanting to charge double for painting the gringo room, so I wanted to clarify: the owners were paying for it (and owners should always be in charge of repairs on a rental), but in this particular case just because we were foreigners living in the room (and this painter was a guy who was living in our building, and whose wife is a seamstress who I had brought repeat business to) he wanted more $$. Maybe he thought we were going to be paying, I don't know. But it's the principle, and I know it's definitely not the exception.

NossyD I'm glad you had such a positive experience! I always think that companies such as you mention should receive kudos and their names should be passed around so that they can prosper from their good work ethic (and just hope it doesn't go to their heads).

 

[bsas]

I've found that being direct in a kind of light way works when you want to negotiate. Something along the lines of laughing and saying 'sabia que tenia cara de extranjero, pero no tenia ni idea que era de boludo tambien' Everythings negotiable. There are plenty of foreigners that pay whatever someone asks, so they figure why not try...

 

[rihornos]

Hi Reina, you responded after I mentioned the painters wanting to charge double for painting the gringo room, so I wanted to clarify: the owners were paying for it (and owners should always be in charge of repairs on a rental), but in this particular case just because we were foreigners living in the room (and this painter was a guy who was living in our building, and whose wife is a seamstress who I had brought repeat business to) he wanted more $$. Maybe he thought we were going to be paying, I don't know. But it's the principle, and I know it's definitely not the exception.

NossyD I'm glad you had such a positive experience! I always think that companies such as you mention should receive kudos and their names should be passed around so that they can prosper from their good work ethic (and just hope it doesn't go to their heads).

Hello
YOu are right when I see someone working honestly I recommend him all the time anyway I always, always ask him how much he is going to charge me, my husband says that nowadays all janitors hired must know plumbing, painting, fixing pipes, to get a job and in my case we were right he does all the small jobs at home, he lives next door I always greet him every day he knows who Iam and I know who he is, if he overcharges me he know I won`t call him again either for my house or for the flat I have rented, where he did a lot of things, changed the counter`s board for one in marble, fixed and varnished a table and changed the shutters he even gave me an address to pay less for the same shutter I needed but if you do this start giving a small job and see what`s happens, I only speak for my experience, there are honest people who need to have some extra money, for me this works perfect! Ah and changing the sink board including the marble board and his work was around 800 or so and I did this year, he did everthing, he bought the board while I was with the kids at home, I went to the flat just for the delivery of the board, and he installed it in a while!
ciao
Reina

 

[Celia]

Well, the second painter just quoted me more than the first! But that was someone recommended by expats, so they are probs used to charging high. Have just contacted the mercadolibre person, will see what they quote.