<p>Pet Peeve: When quoting home repair jobs, why does the sales person always find some way to ask about your marital status and job? Why does it matter - except for the obvious reason - they are trying to figure out how high they can charge…I need to come up with some witty remark…</p>
<p>In my line of work, which isn’t home repair but a scenario that would seem similarly nosey, it’s one of those questions that’s asked to see if we can infer what the odds are that you’ll be able to pay. If neither person has a legitimate job and it’s a pricey service we’re providing, we might not do it-- we ask it routinely but if we don’t get an answer we don’t push it unless we’re talking something very expensive. I could see a home repair person doing the same thing.</p>
<p>Not saying I agree with it, but I think it’s a common practice when quoting something. In my line of work, we really have to do that.</p>
<p>It’s never happened to me. In 40 years of marriage, no repair person has ever asked either my marital or job status. I’m kind of surprised- how do they ask, and how does it come up?</p>
<p>I have an older home, so it is something of a magnet for repair companies and contractors. In the 30 years of dealing with such people, I have never ever been asked these sort of questions. Sometimes they do ask if H or I will be at work (whether or not access will be a problem ).</p>
<p>I’d say you’re well within your rights to refuse to answer. No witty remark necessary. “I really prefer that we talk about the work that needs to be done, and the price your company would charge to do it.” Said civilly, but without warmth.</p>
<p>What I can’t stand is when you want to have someone come to give you an estimate for something, and they’ll say “both the husband and wife have to be there.”</p>
<p>I have found it means their products are way overpriced, and they want both of you there so they can figure out which one is the weak link and put the pressure on that one.</p>
<p>I have never been asked my marital status or job. Never. Nor have I ever been told that both my H and I have to be home if someone is coming to do an estimate. Have never heard of either situation! Very strange to me.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I had one or two companies say that to me when my basement flooded and I was soliciting quotes from basement-waterproofing companies. I *think *I told one of them, “It will not be convenient for my wife and me both to be available any time soon. I’ve already met with two other companies. Should I just select one of them, or would you like to bid?” If I didn’t, I should have.</p>
<p>I’ve been doing a lot of repairs on my house for various reasons. I’d say about 1/2 of the time, I am indirectly asked about my marital status and always asked directly about my job (" So what kind of work are you in?"). The marital question comes in various ways - today it was “I love your lawn, does your husband do the yard or do you have a lawn company?” Two weeks ago the question was directly asked “Are you married or is it just you and your kids?” I guess it makes business sense on the salesperson side b/c they want to figure out who is making the decision and whether you have sufficient funds to pay. But I don’t like it!</p>
<p>Must be a regional thing.
I wouldn’t like it either. I’d probably play with them if they hinted, indirectly. “Oh, I do my lawn.” “Yep, just me making the household decisions, by my little 'ol lonesome.”</p>
<p>Actually, I do make 90% of the house improvement decisions on my own. My Dh has no time or inclination to get involved. I’ve trained him to like my tastes. 
</p>
<p>If people often ask if you’re married…are you a hottie? 
Maybe it’s just you they’re after. No one asks me!</p>
<p>Without being sexist, some of these guys may prefer to talk to " the man of the house" and by asking they are trying to figure out who they should be talking to. It’s not right but other than being old fashioned there may not be any nefarious intent…</p>
<p>I have never been asked about marital status or employment when we’ve gotten quotes. Perhaps it’s may be a regional thing or depend on the cost of whatever you’re trying to get done (so they can be sure they will be paid for what they do). I also would find it offensive.</p>
<p>Maybe it depends where you live. I live in a bedroom community, in a single family house, and the dogs are obvious when repair people come over. Sure looks like me and a DH from the outside.</p>
<p>I was having my hd satellite service upgraded. We were the beta for the original service, and now they were discontinuing that equipment and going with what they were rolling out. </p>
<p>The repair guys could not get the new service to work. They told me I would need to pay for them putting in fatter cables because so much more information was running through them. I asked where they had heard that, as in all my studies for my degree in Electical Engineering I never heard the size of the cable would matter when changing from one data formatting to another, assuming both were HD. </p>
<p>They were exasperated, and told me they needed to talk to my husband. My answer was "me too! Unfortunately for all of us he died two weeks ago."With a little phone support from corporate they got it to work.</p>
<p>In my line of business, we give bids everyday and I would slam a book over the head of salesperson if I caught wind that any questions being asked had nothing to do with the job. Knock on wood, but it has always been our company policy to NEVER take a deposit and our contracts pay upon completion. Most homeowners will not call for a bid if they can’t afford to do the work…and if they can’t afford it, most are very up front and say so. We have never done work and not gotten paid for it…maybe it is regional…but I think the majority of people don’t authorize work with a mean to pay for it. Maybe they are just trying to be social…but I seldom cross the line unless I can see there might be commonality between myself and the homeowner…a shared hobby, kids of the same age…etc.</p>
<p>One of the companies around here that does this (I live in MA) is NewPro. They sell a very expensive line of replacement windows (think $1200+/window), and a lot of their sales schtick is safety and energy efficiency, which they try to sell to the wife.</p>
<p>Another one is Bathfitters (or something like that - they advertise one-day bathroom remodeling), it’s expensive and I would guess they are selling the look to the wife so they have a shot of getting the sale.</p>
<p>Once in a while I have given estimates and drawn plans after a conference with one or the other partner of a couple, only to arrive at the home to review and get a deposit and find the partner I conferred with is not in charge of the project or the pursestrings. I prefer to go over the particulars with both partners present to assure there is no major dissension afoot.</p>
<p>Never been asked, nor as an architect do I ever ask my clients such questions. And believe me, I’ve met every kind of couple/family. Currently I’m dealing with a lovely couple I’ve worked with before who drive me crazy since husband and wife never ever agree on anything. They’ll work it out eventually, but it makes every project take three times as long.</p>
<p>Yea, in general, I try to be careful about asking personal questions and only bring it up if the other party raised it, to show that I am interested & engaged in conversation. It seems safer to not offend anyone by being too prying.</p>
<p>They want to know if they will have to deal with a husband.</p>