I reckon this is
a familiar story.

I work in a different industry to you, but we basically supply stuff to people.

I work as an arbitrator, which means I get to see lots of arguments between other companies in my industry. It always amazes me how even after hundreds of years of developing trade practices, dozens of years of extrememly competent and experienced people working out standard contracts, there are so many details that either haven't ever been thought of, or have been but someone still forgets about them.

Or put another way, with hindsight you could say you should have had an agreed schedule for production of different products, but either it wasn't clearly agreed, or they ignored it.

No criticism, just saying how easy it is for these things to get overlooked / screwed up. You're certainly not the only person who it has happened to.
(username failed moderation, Thu 27 Sep 2012, 15:16, 1 reply)

There was a very clear order of production, based on the specific unit, down to which colours of which units were to be made first.

He simply thought he could get away with keeping his girls happy by giving them the simple and quick piece rate units to complete first.

I think many UK companies don't realise the chain of events this causes, and what eventually will see his company (200 odd years old) go bust as no one will use them. Its one reason I now source from offshore, which saddens me.
(feedingtimeatthezoo day 1 of his bikini diet started, Thu 27 Sep 2012, 15:28, closed)

Problem is
that when he thought he could get away with it, he actually did get away with it.

For every dispute I get dropped in front of me, I'm sure there are 10 others where the 'victim' didn't have the will or the means to pursue a claim against the other side.

Being devils advocate, it's not actually a bad business tactic. Some businesses actually have it as an unofficial part of their plan - if they can fuck about on every contract, and only get fucked back on 1/10 of them, they're probably winning.

Doesn't help the guys like you who get shafted at all. I hope you're right, dodgy buggers like that don't deserve to thrive.
(username failed moderation, Thu 27 Sep 2012, 15:46, closed)

Yes he royally shafted me from every angle. However he shot himself in the foot, as he will still have had to pay wages, taken staff off other production orders, and I didn't pay him a penny. Cold comfort I know, but you have to remain positive.

I did look into attempting to take him to small claims, but the process let alone the cost would not have been worth it, even if I were to win I am sure he'd claim poverty and pay 50p a month.
(feedingtimeatthezoo day 1 of his bikini diet started, Thu 27 Sep 2012, 16:21, closed)

I only source offshore now too
Russian hookers are much more reliable
(magic the cat will someone please think of the kittens, Fri 28 Sep 2012, 11:08, closed)