Good point.

Maybe the GCs and KDs out there might learn a thing or two reading what we've got to say!

Someone on the bathroom forum posted a pic and asked what to do about her newly installed shower that was leaking. Apparently her GC was also using the Internet figure out the problem and ended up finding the thread during a routine search! He posted on the thread and asked the resident tile experts questions. Thankfully, the original thread was complimentary towards the GC and his desire to resolve the problem. It could have been very awkward for the OP.

Certainly some contractors read this forum. Homeowners are not the only ones who seek past experience with products, configurations, or problems. :)

I would hope that homeowners posting gripes realize that usually there are two sides (or more) to every issue. I would also hope that any KD who reads this forum uses it simply to be more educated on what clients want. (Which is a good thing. :)

YES!! I have wondered this myself. I have made a few gripes in the last couple of weeks, however, I have also made them directly to the GC and offending parties as well.

I am one of numerous KD's who read this forum. I'm never too old to learn something! I also regularly point potential customers to this forum for their own education. It's much easier to have an informed and opinionated client to work with from the beginning. A lot of "sticker shock syndrome" can be avoided that way, as well as reasonable expectations being set by both parties from the beginning. This forum helps enormously with that! Not to mention, it really does "upgrade" a LOT of folk's wish lists after they peruse the pages here. That's a win/win situation for KD and client. I sell more product, and a client is happier with the end result that meets her needs more closely.

I'm another longtime KD here on GW. I started coming here for the exact reasons stated. I want to hear what people are saying about design, cabinets, tops, fixtures. I have definitely learned a thing or two here.

I've yet to come across any of my clients on here. But there have been a couple of times that I see a headline and wonder if it's my client. But after reading the post, I realize it's not my customer.

I did meet a guy at a party last summer that frequented GW. He was from my neighborhood and freaked out when I told him my 'user name'. He yelled across the yard to his wife. "This is Kompy from GW!" It was pretty funny.

Too funny! Yes, I have wondered about that but ~thankfully~ my KD was fantastic from start to finish. He's a smart, very talented guy with great ideas and was so easy to work with. On the other hand, if the plumber who moved my gas line was reads this forum, he might read that his saggy jeans did NOT cover his big tush in the back and it was not a pretty sight :^0 !!! Somehow, I don't think he'd even care, though!

Well, I KNOW that my soapstone guy reads this forum, because it was one of his posts found during a google search that brought me here to begin with. :) Fortunately, Florida Joshua is even more fabulous in person that he is here, so I have certainly had nothing but praise for him.

My GC was, in general, wonderful. He was efficient, honest, thrifty, and FAST. After reading so many nightmare stories here, I appreciate him more all the time. He did make some mistakes that I posted about, but I'm pretty sure that there was nothing I posted that he would disagree with.

I hope my cabinet guy reads my posts. Other than a few complaints early on about how long it was taking, I have nothing but praise for that man! He is such a skilled craftsman and such a wonderful person. He is also very shy, and I think it embarrassed him when I kept telling him in person how wonderful he was. Maybe he could take more pleasure from reading about it here.

I also hope my two ex-KDs read my posts here. I hope they recognize themselves and learn something from them. They both had serious problems listening to my preferences and staying within my budget. The second one was also sexist and came across as very patronizing. Despite telling me that he appreciated the fact that I knew exactly what I wanted, he didn't pay attention to those details that I emphasized. That and the outrageous budget cost him a client.

Yeah,

I've wondered too. For those of you who may have been following my long sad saga, when I first had problems with our granite installation, thanks to someone's suggestion here, I posted on the StoneAdvice forum. I got lots of response (admittedly some of them were overly harsh), but as they were all in 100% agreement that I could not accept the job as it was done, I printed off my post and all the replies to show to my KG. Turns out I didn't need to pull out 'my ace in the hole'. But to this day, I wonder if he had seen it for himself.

I also have a Facebook page where I keep a running blog of my renos. Since I've taken lots of photos, my KG asked if he could see them, I said, go to my Facebook page, but let me edit it first! :>) Turns out I hadn't written anything that I needed to change- whew!

But, it is a good reminder, that everything we write on the internet can have staying power- I've been surprised sometimes at finding my own name come up on Google searches. There are lots of search engines out there scouting for all kinds of things, and our posts can end up having very long lives some where.

I'm a KD and frequent here to see what's important to my clients, and I learn about a lot of products that I wouldn't ordinarily run across. I have actually seen a few of my clients on here and I knew it was them by certain details that we talked about, and another time a client posted pictures of his "before" kitchen asking for advice and I recognized it. Another time I used the term TKO in our showroom and a client knew what I was saying. I have never "outted" myself, though.

I have to say this forum distracts me throughout the day.

In 4 years I've been coming in here, I've given out the url to this and/ or the bathrooms forum to just about every person I've met in my capacity as a tile contractor. During that time, I've found exactly TWO people who'd even heard of Gardenweb, and neither of them knew there were any home improvement forums on the site.

Honestly, I'd be ecstatic if I found a KD or contractor who regularly reads this forum; it would mean I'd found someone who was more likely to have kept up on the latest developments!

If my contractor had ever read this site, he might have realized I'm not just a picky brat, and that some people actually expect decent service.

hey bill v......do you ever let random GC's use your name to buy from tile shops?

This isn't an obvious place to find a kitchen forum. I've posted on the Gardening side for years before looking at this side. BTW, the gardening side rocks, too.

hey bill v......do you ever let random GC's use your name to buy from tile shops?

Never. If I'm not doing the work, he can ask HIS tile guy to get him a good price. If I'm doing the work, that's a different story.

I've brought this site to the attention of several KD's and cabinet people. I think it's the most amazing site and I'm always surprised when the KD's don't know of it. My KD checks things here now that I brought it to his attention.

I wished my GC/Cabinet maker read this forum so that he will stop shaking his head saying "you've got ALOT of drawers" (jokingly) every time he sees me.

I've sent my KD this link to "what I learned from this forum" to show her how dead on she was!

I actually hope that KDs and GCs read this forum.

i don't think any of the KDs i spoke with read this forum. i'd be surprised if they did since i would expect they'd be a LOT more knowledgeable than they were. i know there must be good ones out there, but i've never come across any myself.

I actually gave the link to my KD. I think it's an amazing resource. Don't know if she's ever visited. She's never mentioned it. Also, a client of mine recently began a job as a bath designer. I gave her the links too.

My GC mentioned a Bill V once when we were looking at tile...I'm sure it was someone different unless you're in TN?

It just crossed my mind! But our designers and GC are great fortunately. I would be happy if they educate themselves on this forum as I've learned a lot!

I did wonder whether posting the plans violated some type of contractual agreement with them though. Technically I think they're ours though since we paid for them...

I agree, I'd like a KD who haunts GW. I doubt the KD I met with yesterday frequents GW. He was not very knowledgeable or up to date on things we discuss here. He did say he had never had a customer who knows so much about what she wants as I do. I don't know if that makes his job easier or harder, LOL!

I'm one of them!! kd or interior architect call me what do you prefer. But usually I'm here to understand more what people looking and I give back my skills (when I have time) especially on modern, contemporary kitchens and baths.

My GC mentioned a Bill V once when we were looking at tile...I'm sure it was someone different unless you're in TN?

No, I'm up in Maine, but I consult with GC's all over the country, by email and phone.