A good ending I would say.
Yeah I wasn't upset about it at all :)
I am constantly shocked by how poorly the people at some companies (including where I currently work) treat people they are interviewing. The reason could be carelessness, ineptitude, bandwidth problems, intentional d*cking around because they think they can, or just plain old rudeness: it really doesn't matter.
Sounds like you dodged a bullet.
You and me both! The irony is I am VERY upfront on all interviews I have ever been on and more so in the last few years explaining that this is me interviewing them as much as the other way around. If they don't understand that they have already failed however some are just horrendous.
Funny enough people sometimes think they need coaching to go on interviews and although some do I typically tell them be straight forward and as concise as you can with answers and I personally never discuss specific compensation, assuming I know they are in my range and vice versa. However MOST interviewers need coaching, it "could be carelessness, ineptitude, bandwidth problems" but I think it's more that this isn't their profession. Typically they are just asked to speak to a candidate by a manger etc and have NO IDEA what they are doing.
In this particular case I was dealing with the person who would be my manager and people who worked for him, since he/they found it acceptable to miss calls, meetings, be on time and have follow through I already realized this wouldn't work well. Once he started the "intentional d*cking around" I was sure I wouldn't be going but told the recruiter if the offer comes in whatever it is (I knew the numbers) you should be happy I will be asking for 25K more. In the end the outcome is fine and he even said get in touch when you return as our business if growing and there could be a spot, I believe this actual spot will still be open :)