| The subject of a new TV series on the BBC here | | | | themselves follow-up on the references provided. |
| in the UK, it's also a subject that's dear to my | | | | Even when they do, they'll be checking 'primed' |
| own heart having spent the last 40 years in the | | | | references who often receive payment for the |
| construction industry myself and always delivering | | | | service provided. |
| a first-rate service, only to have it undermined by | | | | All in all, the Cowboy Trap is extremely hard to |
| the proverbial 'cowboys' who either come in | | | | identify and even harder to avoid. Once 'in' though, |
| before, or after you've done your own particular | | | | it's almost impossible to get yourself out of. The |
| job, placing you firmly into the centre of the | | | | answer? You need to find a strong 'chain of trust'. |
| Cowboy Trap. | | | | You need to find a builder or other tradesperson |
| Most people believe that if a builder has a good | | | | who is totally trustable and then you need to |
| postcode and plush offices combined with | | | | follow down or up the chain of trust to identify |
| impressive stationary that they 'must' be getting | | | | those who will leave your property clean, safe, |
| the real deal. The truth is far more scary, and it's | | | | tidy and with the work left to the standard you |
| a point that really should be taken more seriously | | | | are entitled to expect. |
| by the public at large if they want to avoid the | | | | Chains of Trust are not easy to find if you're new |
| dreaded Cowboy trap. | | | | or unfamiliar with your neighbourhood, but it's not |
| The most successful Cowboy businesses are | | | | impossible. Frustrated by the problems thrown up |
| those that are not afraid to invest 'heavily' on the | | | | by the Cowboy Traps wherever we turn, I |
| 'posture' or 'branding' of their business. After all, | | | | decided to offer the solution (as best I could). I |
| they need to attract as many customers as | | | | set up a business to business referral club that |
| possible in, so they have to make themselves | | | | wasn't driven by 'Money' but by the quality of it's |
| appear so attractive you'd be a fool 'not' to take | | | | members. |
| them at face value and trust them with | | | | To do this, I selected several tradespeople that I |
| thousands of pounds/dollars of your hard-earned | | | | knew I could 'really' trust to deliver a |
| money. The bait for the Cowboy Trap is set. | | | | quality-driven service to their customers. I then |
| You are taking all of the good advice being | | | | asked them to recommend others that 'they' |
| offered to you by getting several quotes and | | | | would vouch for without hesitation. Taking the law |
| double-checking references being offered to you. | | | | of geometric progression into account here, it's |
| The Cowboys are ahead of you here by firstly | | | | not hard to see how a good selection of very |
| tricking you into thinking you're 'safe' in their | | | | trustable tradespeople will have signed up to the |
| hands. They buy large full and half-page ads in the | | | | club and are available to be approached by |
| Yellow Pages and other referral agencies. Often | | | | 'anyone' looking to avoid the dreaded 'Cowboy |
| on credit, with no deposit. After all, you'll be paying | | | | Trap'. |
| that bill, (if it ever gets paid at all that is) because | | | | will be 'the' referral club that sensible people will be |
| you'll be paying a good deposit up-front for the | | | | going to whenever they require the services of |
| work you need completing. | | | | reputable businesses, who in turn will be queing to |
| The Cowboys will also have joined the various | | | | be invited into the membership, as memberships |
| 'trusted trade' agencies which are usually no more | | | | are decidedly 'limited' to maintain the Quality of |
| than 'subscription memberships' who are only | | | | the service. |
| after the membership fees, and do 'not' | | | | |