←back to thread

185 points hhs | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
bradfa ◴[] No.41829386[source]
Some local skilled trade companies have been recently bought out. From feedback I’ve heard from customers, quality has declined. Lots of car dealerships locally have consolidated lately and their service quality has declined while prices have shot up.

While private equity may be making some local business owners rich, they’re ruining the customer experience.

replies(2): >>41829503 #>>41833012 #
infecto ◴[] No.41829503[source]
Which opens up the door for the next generation.
replies(3): >>41829726 #>>41829911 #>>41832720 #
tocs3 ◴[] No.41829911[source]
I have always assumed that as service (or products) get worse consumers will start looking for alternatives. This does not seam to be happening. It might be the alternatives are run out of business and are doing something else now. Maybe consumers have a hard time finding alternatives, as in independent contractors do not show up at the top of the search or are not in the app. Maybe it just cost to much and pays to little to be an alternative. I do not see a lot of open doors.
replies(4): >>41830349 #>>41831577 #>>41832836 #>>41836812 #
1. bradfa ◴[] No.41831577{3}[source]
It’s definitely harder to find the indy tradespeople now. My tactic has been to spend a bunch of time reading reviews. When the same first name of the tradesperson keeps showing up in the review then it becomes clear it’s a one person company and I’m much more likely to hire them.

If you are the business then you have incentive to do a good job. I have more faith in getting a quality job done by someone like that.

I used to have an HVAC guy like this. I currently have a plumber and a car repair shop like this. I can DIY the smaller things but I know my limits so it’s frustrating when finding good help is difficult.