A couple of months ago an architect, we'll call him Mr. A, rang me up at the club. I thought I'd relay the brief conversation we had, without giving any details on the people involved, as I found it quite entertaining on the day.
Mr. A: It that PD?
PD: Yes
Mr. A: I'm Mr. A, I'm a golf course architect.
Mr. A: I hear you are looking to do some work on the Golf Course.
PD: Yes
Mr A: I would like to tender for the work.
PD: We have already chosen the architect and now are looking at contractors for the work, approval for the work and then will finalise the contractor after getting approval.
Mr. A: It's unusual that you haven't tendered for the Architect.
PD: We have a long relationship with (the Architecture Firm) and are very happy with them.
Mr. A: I think you are making a big mistake not tendering for the Architect.
PD: We felt as we have such a good relationship with (the Architecture Firm) and since they have a very good body of work we didn't need to look elsewhere.
Mr. A: I think you are making a big mistake going with (the Architecture Firm)
PD: I don't think XGC (here in Ireland) and YGC (halfway around the world) think they made a mistake.
Mr. A: XGC think they have made a mistake.
PD: I think they're very happy
Mr. A: YGC think they have made a mistake.....
I was about to ask him who he knew in YGC when the phone line went dead and he didn't ring back.
What I found entertaining was, how did he think that arguing with me and telling me that we had made a mistake in choosing our architect would lead to him getting work from us?
I knew who he was from the start of the conversation, he would never have come close to a shotlist of candidates for the job. I was, however, interested in what he would have had to say. As the conversation progressed, I was also interested in having a bit of a debate, but alas it was cut short.
Around the same time another couple of architects called expressing an interest in the job but as soon as they heard an architect was already chosen, they recinded their interest.
Why would this guy have kept on arguing? I found out shortly afterwards that our chosen firm were brought in to clean up some mistakes he had made. But badmouthing another firm to potential clients won't lead to too many employment opportunities?