Chile Forum

I live in the 2nd floor apartment and would like to install toldos (shade?) outside 2 of the large glass windows.

I tried to do some googgling but most are just for cleaning and maintenance or toldos para terraza. One guy actually came, took measures, quoted and then I haven't heard from him for a month already since he last told me that the materials are being prepared < NO EMAIL >< NO EMAIL > Tried to call him but no one ever answers the call.

What I am talking about is this white waterproof tent thing that can be extended manually further out in order to block sunlight. I dont need some european imported ones but some local mades are ok.

Thanks!!

Oh, and I'm located in Santiago

One guy actually came, took measures, quoted and then I haven't heard from him for a month already since he last told me that the materials are being prepared < NO EMAIL >< NO EMAIL > Tried to call him but no one ever answers the call.

I have been trying to get people to do work around my house for the last 2 years...same story, they show up take some measurements, ask some basic questions, and it ends right there.

Welcome to Chile, here, have a grape!

I have not seen the roll-up ones here but I have seen just the basic policarbonato door & window application. they sell them at Sodimac for about 50K pesos and looks pretty easy to install. I keep my eye open for you & if I find them I´ll let you know. I might be able to install as well!

We took our own measurments for new windows and then the guy came out took his measurements plus ours and never called for weeks, finally he shows up with windows that are way off grrrrr he tried to convince us to use them anyways and fill in the gaps with sheet metal :0

Is there any consolation in knowing this is not a "gringo" issue? All my chilean friends have the same issues with their maestros, especially with the windows not fitting etc. But even though they all hate it, it is on some level accepted, or it wouldn't keep happening, right? I even had ADT come to fit the magnetic sensors for my alarm and they were surprised (annoyed?) that I wanted them on EVERY door and window! Whatever you do, don't ask trades people to actually do their job...

sandrab wrote: finally he shows up with windows that are way off grrrrr he tried to convince us to use them anyways and fill in the gaps with sheet metal

Another tribute to the prevailing standard for Chilean service and workmanship. All those who even consider moving to Chile should be required to acknowledge that nothing involving maestros will ever be done right in the first four attempts.

I hear that there is a place in Africa where service and workmanship are worse than in Chile, but I have not been there myself to confirm it.

As long as citizens continue to accept the sort of rubbish that these maestros present, Chile will be forever the same:

"Chile a medias."

"....podría ser un buen augurio de desarrollo, siempre y cuando quienes dicen que hay voluntad, ánimo y fuerza para cambiar las cosas tengan el poder de cambiarlas."

patagoniax wrote:

sandrab wrote: finally he shows up with windows that are way off grrrrr he tried to convince us to use them anyways and fill in the gaps with sheet metal

Another tribute to the prevailing standard for Chilean service and workmanship. All those who even consider moving to Chile should be required to acknowledge that nothing involving maestros will ever be done right in the first four attempts.

I hear that there is a place in Africa where service and workmanship are worse than in Chile, but I have not been there myself to confirm it.

As long as citizens continue to accept the sort of rubbish that these maestros present, Chile will be forever the same:

"Chile a medias."

"....podría ser un buen augurio de desarrollo, siempre y cuando quienes dicen que hay voluntad, ánimo y fuerza para cambiar las cosas tengan el poder de cambiarlas."

That includes expats. A couple of weeks ago there was a forum member who offered handyman work in Las Condes. He seemed very amicable, honest, did not exagerate his skills. He seemed North American and probabaly was used to doing N american level work.... Yet in the end all people really cared about was wether he charged maestro rates.

I ind it comical that people can live in 300K USD houses in Chile yet when it comes to paying a decent living wage for decent work many won't. The trades need huge improvement in Chile. This should involve a proper apprentice/journeyman system like here in North America.

And it should also involve something that Chilean class structure will never allow. Respect. In Chile a Carpenter will always make crap and be treated the same.

Here in Canada every plumber I know makes more than a teacher, nurse, and many lawyers. I can be an engineer, doctor, teacher and play on the same rec hockey league as the guy that does my electrical. We can have beers afterwards and chances are we live in the same neighbourhoods.....

But yeah, next time you encounter someone who does a great job (and there are some) then don't be so frickin miserly.

I think too many forum members to quick to blame lowest common denominator.... It is the maestro after all who is the front line staff.... Companies will happily charge high rates but pay crap.... Companies will put zilch into training, they will gladly put up an apartment building with sub[ar concrete mixes, cut corners at every step.....

Sad to say that if you are getting trades work done in Chile you had better be an informed consumer so that you can catch the many mistakes that will be made.

PenquistaDeCorazon wrote:But yeah, next time you encounter someone who does a great job (and there are some) then don't be so frickin miserly.

There is of course a socio-political position that if you spread out the red carpet for a maestro, throw red rose petals in their path, buy them gold-plated tools, and send their children to the finest schools, that chilean workmanship will improve markedly overnight.

This "treat your maestro like a king" is total bullshit. You can't compare them to workers in the civilised countries. Too many years of trying to pay for better work from these maestros has had the opposite effect. These guys have their own cars and make good money and have the proper tools. I have overpaid my own maestros, treated them to asados, taken them out to eat, and generally treated them well -- certainly better than they are treated elsewhere. And the trend has been to increasingly poorer and poorer work and more and more attempts to take advantage of the guy who might have treated them better. They may know what needs to be done but they are too fookin irresponsible to do it right. The reason is just this: a lack of responsibility. It's in the culture. They have always gotten away with being irresponsible. They do shit work because it is their way.

patagoniax wrote:

PenquistaDeCorazon wrote:But yeah, next time you encounter someone who does a great job (and there are some) then don't be so frickin miserly.

There is of course a socio-political position that if you spread out the red carpet for a maestro, throw red rose petals in their path, buy them gold-plated tools, and send their children to the finest schools, that chilean workmanship will improve markedly overnight.

This "treat your maestro like a king" is total bullshit. You can't compare them to workers in the civilised countries. Too many years of trying to pay for better work from these maestros has had the opposite effect. These guys have their own cars and make good money and have the proper tools. I have overpaid my own maestros, treated them to asados, taken them out to eat, and generally treated them well -- certainly better than they are treated elsewhere. And the trend has been to increasingly poorer and poorer work and more and more attempts to take advantage of the guy who might have treated them better. They may know what needs to be done but they are too fookin irresponsible to do it right. The reason is just this: a lack of responsibility. It's in the culture. They have always gotten away with being irresponsible. They do shit work because it is their way.

Really if you had read what I wrote I said if.... Hey you are preaching to the choir..... Most suck. No argument from me.
Lack of responsability is one thing. But you have to admit the training is not what it is here either....

But I agree with you..... If I had not helped my brother on stuff, done my own home renos, etc. I would be terrified to get a house built..... When my cousingot his house built in Colina there were just so many red flags.... And I am by no means a contractor but some were so blatant....

Penquista de Corazon

I was the expat offering handyman services. As you say, what seems to be most important to both locals as well as expats is finding the cheapest person around, regardless of the quality of his work. I don´t mind, as if that´s what´s important then I´d prefer not to do the work anyway. As I said in my reply to zeronz, I´m interested in doing a good job, not getting rich as I´m comfortably retired and just like to keep busy and feel I´m doing something worthwhile. Having said that, I´ve found in general in Chile, that no matter what job is advertised, all ask for your salary expectations, ie they will no doubt choose the cheapest one(s) to interview. I found when working here that the company I worked for ( a foreign one) also followed the same criteria- take the cheapest; and then what happens?- they spend all day moaning about how useless the person is once they´ve employed him, then once again with the tight minded attitude present , they don´t want to fire the person becasue it will cost them something in compensation. It´s something we just have to accept if we insist on living here.

patagoniax wrote:This "treat your maestro like a king" is total bullshit. You can't compare them to workers in the civilised countries. Too many years of trying to pay for better work from these maestros has had the opposite effect. These guys have their own cars and make good money and have the proper tools. I have overpaid my own maestros, treated them to asados, taken them out to eat, and generally treated them well -- certainly better than they are treated elsewhere. And the trend has been to increasingly poorer and poorer work and more and more attempts to take advantage of the guy who might have treated them better. They may know what needs to be done but they are too fookin irresponsible to do it right. The reason is just this: a lack of responsibility. It's in the culture. They have always gotten away with being irresponsible. They do shit work because it is their way.

As a chilean born I'm mortified by the work these so called "maestros" do and not only applies to them but to any handyman or helper. Not long ago we hired an unemployed neighbor to plant some flowers we had bought. I could have done the job myself but we figure we would give him the opportunity so he could make few pesos. There was no bargaining whatsoever, we just left him alone to do the job. It took him 4 days to finish and that was because I called him!!.... something we could have done in a matter of hours. He'll never do anything for us again if I can help it.
PDC, you actually need to live in Chile 24/7/365 to realize that Px is right on the money. I was on denial for few months after arriving here. Now I know better and I came to realize it's the culture, it's a state of mind, it's lack of pride. Chileans as a whole is an irresponsible society in every sense of the word with an " I don't give a shit attitude". I see this daily.

PenquistaDeCorazon wrote: The trades need huge improvement in Chile. This should involve a proper apprentice/journeyman system like here in North America.

The few trade schools are taught by chileans that don't know better or differently so you tell me if there is any possibility of improvement. And even if there was, it's so ingrained in their minds that they will go back to do what they have always have done...crap work!

I do not live there.... True enough. But I cite Handyman's experience above..... I actually have seen my uncle get good work done for him.... On a kitchen, then later an addition, a brick fence/wall...... I am not disagreeing with Px.... Many do crap work. As far as the I don't give a crap attitude? Trust me.... One does not have to live in Chile to see that daily. I see it in every facet of everything I do when I am down there.

I do note that you did not choose to address some of my other points though....

Nice to C U back btw. I thought that you had been swept out by a maremoto....