When you give recommendations...?

...and you say that so-and-so was great, etc. - what do you actually base a "great" recommendation on?

Everyone knows that you get a crapload of advice and information when anyone finds out you're getting married or buying a house. Whether you want it or not.

But sometimes I think people just recommend people/places for the sake of recommending. Because when I ask why someone is "great" and what makes them better than their competition, or what they did that's over-and-above, I typically hear things that would just lead me to believe they did their job.

They were on time. They did the work. They were friendly or weren't overly rude. These are all things that are expected of someone you're paying. That doesn't say "great" to me.

Maybe I'm in for a rude awakening when we start paying people to do things for us and the house buying process. Should I expect to be taken advantage of, so when someone comes along who actually does their job, I swoon over them and label them as great?

Re: When you give recommendations...?

I think people like to talk about themselves. And 'recommendations' are often just another reason to talk about what YOU did and what YOU like and what YOUR experience is.

I like to talk about myself. That's kind of why I post on this board.

Having said that - I don't think I really 'recommend' things very often. I might tell you about a good experience - but I don't presume to think that your experience would be the same. I have had people, places and services recommended to me that have GREATLY disappointed me. People just don't have the same tastes or expectations all the time.

If I DO recommend someone or something - it will be because the experience was over the top awesome. And even then - I hope people are intelligent enough to realize that things that I love may not be the same things that they love.

I ask people for recommendations - but unless I really know/trust the person who is offering the advise... I bear in mind that everyone has different versions of FANTASTIC! GREAT! AMAZINGGGGGGGGG!

Re: When you give recommendations...?

I recommend something (or someone if it was a service) if my exprience was spectacular - meaning that it was over and above expectations.

Re: When you give recommendations...?

i tend to give recommendations on who NOT to use. if i was s crewed by a company (which i have been many times!), i'll make sure everyone knows not to use them

i did it with wedding vendors and now i'm doing it with my recent contractor who really did a c rappy job

Re: When you give recommendations...?

I will only recommend something or someone if I felt they were great.

Re: When you give recommendations...?

you make a good point.

Re: When you give recommendations...?

Sub-par service has become so common, especially in the industries you're asking about, that "just doing their job" has become practically a miracle.

Re: When you give recommendations...?

I recommend people who basically do the job, have good customer service, are reliable, and do quality work. You may be surprised by how many companies/contractors are shady- don't show up when they say (then they show up at 11:30 pm, as one did to me!), use shoddy materials, lie about the final price, etc. It is sad that your expectations are lowered for what is "great" work, but that's reality.

Re: When you give recommendations...?

Posted by baghag


Sub-par service has become so common, especially in the industries you're asking about, that "just doing their job" has become practically a miracle.