Just had an appointment for 11am and spoke and confirmed it at 9am.

Arrived at 10.55 introduced myself to reception and took a seat.

Waited till 11.10 then very politely explained to the reception i had other place's to be and was leaving.

Panic suddenly struc8k8 as she said " no his ready, I'll go get him right now ".

I was walking up the stairs as the "professional " run up to me apologising.

I wished him a lovely afternoon.

Just saved $360 and he needs to explain to his master why and how he lost it.

How long are you prepared to wait for a service before you simply take your money elsewhere?

Daves2017 wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 10:48am:

Just had an appointment for 11am and spoke and confirmed it at 9am. Arrived at 10.55 introduced myself to reception and took a seat. Waited till 11.10 then very politely explained to the reception i had other place's to be and was leaving. Panic suddenly struc8k8 as she said " no his ready, I'll go get him right now ". I was walking up the stairs as the "professional " run up to me apologising. I wished him a lovely afternoon. Just saved $360 and he needs to explain to his master why and how he lost it. How long are you prepared to wait for a service before you simply take your money elsewhere?

You should name the names to save time to other people.

I have been late to a few appointments, and the reception just cancel. I remember walking to the dentist at the Rockhampton community dental. I realised that I left my phone in the car. Went back to get it. Got to the dental clinic 5 minutes late. Waited in line 5 minutes. Got told that I was late by 10 minutes. They rescheduled my appointment.

Daves2017 wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 10:48am:

Just had an appointment for 11am and spoke and confirmed it at 9am. Arrived at 10.55 introduced myself to reception and took a seat. Waited till 11.10 then very politely explained to the reception i had other place's to be and was leaving. Panic suddenly struc8k8 as she said " no his ready, I'll go get him right now ". I was walking up the stairs as the "professional " run up to me apologising. I wished him a lovely afternoon. Just saved $360 and he needs to explain to his master why and how he lost it. How long are you prepared to wait for a service before you simply take your money elsewhere?

I'd absolutely not wait 2 hours.  No matter who it was.

First world problems ... or old men with nothing real to whinge about ?

I take it the appointment wasn't that necessary, and you were wasting their time. 

Daves2017 wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 10:48am:

Just had an appointment for 11am and spoke and confirmed it at 9am. Arrived at 10.55 introduced myself to reception and took a seat. Waited till 11.10 then very politely explained to the reception i had other place's to be and was leaving. Panic suddenly struc8k8 as she said " no his ready, I'll go get him right now ". I was walking up the stairs as the "professional " run up to me apologising. I wished him a lovely afternoon. Just saved $360 and he needs to explain to his master why and how he lost it. How long are you prepared to wait for a service before you simply take your money elsewhere?

Depends who it is?  -

if it's a surgeon and your life is on the line - you'd wait all day.

Bobby. wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 4:15pm:

Daves2017 wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:48am: Just had an appointment for 11am and spoke and confirmed it at 9am. Arrived at 10.55 introduced myself to reception and took a seat. Waited till 11.10 then very politely explained to the reception i had other place's to be and was leaving. Panic suddenly struc8k8 as she said " no his ready, I'll go get him right now ". I was walking up the stairs as the "professional " run up to me apologising. I wished him a lovely afternoon. Just saved $360 and he needs to explain to his master why and how he lost it. How long are you prepared to wait for a service before you simply take your money elsewhere? Depends who it is?  - if it's a surgeon and your life is on the line - you'd wait all day.

In your case scenario you'd be in a hospital.

Black Orchid wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 4:25pm:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 4:15pm: Daves2017 wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:48am: Just had an appointment for 11am and spoke and confirmed it at 9am. Arrived at 10.55 introduced myself to reception and took a seat. Waited till 11.10 then very politely explained to the reception i had other place's to be and was leaving. Panic suddenly struc8k8 as she said " no his ready, I'll go get him right now ". I was walking up the stairs as the "professional " run up to me apologising. I wished him a lovely afternoon. Just saved $360 and he needs to explain to his master why and how he lost it. How long are you prepared to wait for a service before you simply take your money elsewhere? Depends who it is?  - if it's a surgeon and your life is on the line - you'd wait all day. In your case scenario you'd be in a hospital.

Actually I was at a surgeons consultation room next to the hospital
and I waited 3 hours over the appointment time.
I went to my car - put on the car radio and used my mobile
to check out the forums.
I told them to phone me and I was only 1 minute away in my car - in their carpark.
It worked.
Turned out there was nothing wrong with me
so in fact - it was a complete waste of time and money.

It was a new accountant.  Definitely a first world problem but I was also paying first world money.

I suspect after several polite phone calls from himself after I cancelled the meeting that he was just playing a game as he was taught in university to establish dominance over a new client. 60k in Hecs and this is the outcome.  Sacked before we shockhands.

Unfortunately I can not be bothered with such games.

The person with the dominance is the person with the money and this will only become stronger position as the Australian economy continues to tank.

If that is a issue I simply take my money elsewhere.

If I'm running ten minutes late I will have the courtesy to call and happily rebook.

If an professional cannot be on time ( particularl after insisting i be) no amount of phone calls apologies and grovelling will tempt my money to them.

I'm quite happy to see my old accountant at noon tomorrow and she is more than happy to be on time and accept my money.

Dave,
sometimes - people who are good at what they do are late -
it means they put in that extra time when it's needed -
a correct job comes first.
Also if they're busy it's often because they are so good, they are booked out.

What is more important is that they do the best possible job for you.

I misread the opening post.   Ooops!   It wasn't a 2 hour wait at all.

How long exactly was the wait?   If it was only 15 minutes I don't see anything to get upset about.  It happens.

Black Orchid wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 7:16pm:

I misread the opening post.   Ooops!   It wasn't a 2 hour wait at all. How long exactly was the wait?   If it was only 15 minutes I don't see anything to get upset about.  It happens.

Dave thinks the world revolves around him.    ::)

Not at all.

I'm very polite and never upset.

No service within 10 minutes i simply take my money and self elsewhere.

Perhaps I have been spoiled by other cultures that value great customer service and experiences as well as efficiency.
Quite the opposite to what we find some business in Australia achieve.

Nevertheless as topic suggests?

How long will you wait?

I was speaking to a bloke that back in his day was a builder.  He explained he had an account at the hardware . He would drive in collect what he needed into the Ute drive to the payment counter and if he had to wait ten minutes to pay he drove out and declared it was free.

I'm okay with a 20 minute wait.

Getting frustrated after 30 minutes.

Walking out after 40 minutes.

Bobby. wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 6:05pm:

Dave, sometimes - people who are good at what they do are late - it means they put in that extra time when it's needed - a correct job comes first. Also if they're busy it's often because they are so good, they are booked out. What is more important is that they do the best possible job for you.

I have no hesitation that you are right.
However there are equally as brilliant people who are extremely professional and always on time.

I choose to spend my money with the later.


Gee, Greg. That's very reasonable.

I never considered a time scale.

I always turn up a bit early for appointment, and I just assume a waiting time for appointments as I start to clock watch after 5 minutes, 10 minutes, up to 15 mins is reasonable.
I say to hubby if he’s with me, “ooh 15 mins past the appointed time”
If there’s a a tv in the waiting room I watch that or I read stuff on my phone.
After 20 mins I start to get restless.
At 25 mins I would go ask reception how much longer.
So up to half hour I can tolerate as long as I amuse/entertain myself.
It would not encourage me much, if I wait a long time, to want to turn up early or on time for appointment. Maybe that’s what happens, others are late for their appointment then makes the whole day late.

The other day, we arrived at the imaging place for hubby to get a scan of the lump at side of his face to see if it can he removed easily or operated on.

There were a few patients already waiting before us. I thought, yep we gonna wait a bit.

Now I have a hearing problem, so I like reading subtitles on the tv, which just happened to be a tv with no sound but subtitles.
No one else was watching the tv.
There was a food thingy on about strange food combinations, like a choc chip cookie in between a burger, but one was so odd I said out loud (but I don’t think I am loud but obviously I am  ;D) actually talking to hubby …
“How would that taste? Peanut butter and beetroot on toast!”

And everyone looked up at the tv  ;D
Then I said, I’m writing this in notes in my phone to try it out.
A few smiles all round.

No one wants to watch the tv with sound off.
It makes no difference to me as I always read closed captions.
Even at dentist last week, a beautiful big tv with scenic stuff around Italy …it was mesmerising.
I’m the only one watching. Everyone else is on their phone.






And

I walked out on a specialist who thought he was 'god in a suit' because he kept me waiting.... I moderated my departure by going for a pee, and came out just as they were frantically searching for me... their last remaining patient who had an at least two hour drive to get home and who was going through heart failure ......  a little respect...

He's Paki or something and resembles a Meerkat - I call him Dr Meerkat... and he only accepted cash.... can't help but wonder why...

Some are just not suited to the job...

Black Orchid wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 4:25pm:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 4:15pm: Daves2017 wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:48am: Just had an appointment for 11am and spoke and confirmed it at 9am. Arrived at 10.55 introduced myself to reception and took a seat. Waited till 11.10 then very politely explained to the reception i had other place's to be and was leaving. Panic suddenly struc8k8 as she said " no his ready, I'll go get him right now ". I was walking up the stairs as the "professional " run up to me apologising. I wished him a lovely afternoon. Just saved $360 and he needs to explain to his master why and how he lost it. How long are you prepared to wait for a service before you simply take your money elsewhere? Depends who it is?  - if it's a surgeon and your life is on the line - you'd wait all day. In your case scenario you'd be in a hospital.

Don't worry - I was so pissed off after a triple bypass operation, about the care etc, that I was prepared to walk out and head to my specialist and pay him outright... they learned a lot from my stay there for eight days... not least that they need to get their act together... when I ask if I can make the walk with all the drips etc for a real coffee at the cafeteria - a little creature comfort when feeling like a corpse -they need to make it clear they want a staff member to go with me and not just say, 'OK', then search for me when I went on my own.

I'm used to getting by on raw courage... and am totally independent, so if you say OK, the old bloke with the faded green beret will go alone.

I guess I was a difficult patient...

I call incidents like this a " micro suck"
Then I try as quickly as possible to reframe it and find a lesson.
You can always use it to build emotional resilience.
Work on your patience.

In a way it's a good habit to seek out micro sucks as opportunities to work your emotions.
Like your muscles need constant training or they become weak
Your emotional control needs constant training or it becomes weak

Little things like picking up litter on the street or replacing the toilet roll
Making the bed, staying calm in traffic delays.dealing with a flight cancellation

These are the exercises that , if you can smile through them
Will help you when you get told you have a tumour or your kid gets injured or your business gets broken into.

Embrace micro sucks. Build your emotional muscle and then you can be calm when real adversity hits

I have enough patience and I have no desire to work on my micro  suck.

I'm happy to wait ten minutes whilst Google a competitor who can sell me the same product or service then politely explain I'm unable to wait and leave.

On reflection of Greg post I will add to my politely spoken words when leaving could they ring me when they have an appointment available in the future.

Not that I have any intention of returning.  It just sounds nicer.

Daves2017 wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 8:27pm:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 6:05pm: Dave, sometimes - people who are good at what they do are late - it means they put in that extra time when it's needed - a correct job comes first. Also if they're busy it's often because they are so good, they are booked out. What is more important is that they do the best possible job for you. I have no hesitation that you are right. However there are equally as brilliant people who are extremely professional and always on time. I choose to spend my money with the later. Gee, Greg. That's very reasonable. I never considered a time scale.

So why were you planning to switch from your old accountant?

Thats an intelligent question.

My small coastal town is a nortously difficult nut to crack for anyone who isn't a local  ( minimum 30 years  lived here) to open a business in.
It matters nothing how deep your pockets or how willing you are to undercut your established "local " businesses.
Locals look after locals.

I am not a local and I am always prepared to give someone new to the area a go if they are brave enough to open their own business.

Perhaps that was part of the issue.  I am used to prompt professional service.

The Seachanger from the city was use to making clients wait to establish some sort of control over the dealing.

Have a nice day.