Why do contractors require both husband and wife to be present at sales piitch? Even when the wife doesnt care

Question

Can someone make sense of this for me? I have had to cancle multiple appointments with contractors for work we want done on our house, just because my wife cant be there for there sales pitch, for one reason or another. And the funny thing is - she has told the contractors on the phone, herself, she doesnt care to be there and that the decision for home improvements is mine. It is beyond incoveinent and just doesnt make sense.

Answer 1

Everyone is wrong here. Sell her on the job and it will be done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What she wants she gets RIGHT!!! It's called making a sell.

Answer 2

The contractor believes their time is more valuable than the client's time and wants to do a one-call close. Cheeseball sales people know that their close ration declines No reputable sales person or contractor requires all decision makers to be present at the first meeting. The first meeting is for the home owner to screen and shortlist potential vendors. Most vendors don't make it to a second meeting with me, but if they do, I will usually involve my wife.

Source: I've been in sales for 30 years and have met with enough scumbag, high-pressure, one-call closers to know that requiring all decision makers to be present in the first meeting is an automatic no-go.

Answer 3

When remodeling is done it is a joint venture between the contractor and the home owner, in your case you and your wife. The contractor usually feels obligated to take direction from either the husband or the wife. If your wife can not be bothered to attend a meeting with the contractor perhaps the remodelling will be too much of an inconvenience for her as well.

Answer 4

It makes sense to me as my husband and I discuss and work out all the design work that gets done. He may have the engineering degree but I have the art background. I would definitely want to be part of the process so I can't fault the contractors who want to make sure they are quoting on agreed changes to the home.

Answer 5

It's to make sure that "everyone's on the same page," based on past experiences they've encountered when halfway through the construction, the husband or wife says "But that's not how I thought it was going to be done." By having having both people present at the initial consultation/presentation, the process is more straightforward, clearer and less prone to down-the-line expensive (and often resented) 'change orders.'

Answer 6

the ones that want to do a hard sell tactic and don't want you to have an out like let me run it by my wife. they will do a hard sell on you and gouge you on the price.you will see what I'm talking about because the guy that comes over wont be the contractor it will be a salesman, so he makes money off the deal, the company he works for makes money and the contractor makes money.Sears does this with the kitchen cabinet remodeling, and Gibraltar does it with above ground pools.

Answer 7

whether it is building, or insurance, the statistics clearly show that both husband and wife are required to approve a project (or purchase) to gain full acceptance. They don't want to move forward, only find out the "other" has issues that might compromise the deal (and it will for sure). To avoid doing a presentation twice, they simply prefer to have them both there to get a consensus.

Answer 8

Excellent

Answer 9

Tell them you will find another contractor.
These guys pull this because they figure they can con women into putting more improvement in that will cost more money.
If he doesn*t budge. Do just that; get someone else. and tell them up front, your wife CANNOT be involved. Better yet tell them you just have a live in girl friend and she has nothing to do with anything regarding the house.

Answer 10

I saw a case like this one on one of the court shows. The wife was sueing because she wasn't consulted about changes and she didn't appeove of what husband wanted done.