Is my quote fair?

[John_]

Hi all, went to do a quote today to replace a combi (all in - parts and labour, customer insisted on valliant ecotech 28). I tried to match a local firm quote of £1800 but I didn't get the job as I am not cheap enough - the response I got was 'what is the point if I am not cheaper'. No big deal but from what I heard from other engineers is that this firm is a bunch of cowboys but that is none of my business really. When I did pipe sizing it does seem that existing pipework is undersized, also when I had the gas hob on I see there is a jump when existing boiler comes alive. Also all the rads have no TRVs. The customer insisted it a straight swop so it shouldn't be as expensive. As I am fairly new to this quoting business, is my pricing unreasonable? Thanks all in advance. John

 

[Barry98]

Where you based ? Price seems good to me

 

[SimonG]

I wouldn't worry about it sometimes the cust can be full of it when it comes to pricing and what the job really entails. Prob best away from this one.

 

[buckley plumb]

just base your price on the time it would take you on a fair days wage . dont get to greedy its a cut throat industry.

 

[TBServices]

No. Customer sounds like a wolly who's best avoided tbh, trying to string you out. Let the cowboys do the terrible job they deserve.

 

[SimonG]

Here's one for you. Sparky I know priced up some work for a cust, then wanted extra things included which he sorted in the estimate. Went round to go through it all and the cust was a pain in the rear. He estimated about 650 for the works, cust was questioning cost of extra lights, telling him how he should do it. Sparky told cust to stick it and walked out. Cust paid 1100 for the works from somebody else.

 

[Blake]

The OP has not actually told us his quote, just that he tried to match 1800.00 but could not. So without knowing that, I have no idea if it was reasonable or not :dizzy2:

 

[Avatar]

People want cheap only these days and to hell with the consequences!

Good - Cheap - Quick

You can have two of these, but you have to sacrifice the other - alas many people want all three which is impossible!!!!

 

[colchesterplumb]

You would do very well to do a straight boiler swap using a Vaillant for £1800.

 

[grahamgas]

Personally do not think that pricing structures should be discussed in an open forum

 

[acecharly]

If id been there i think my approach would have been to cap of the cooker that was jumping charge them £150 and offer to take it of the price of the new boiler.

Up here for thinkin down there for dancin


I would add some donk on ebay offers to supply and fit for £1300

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vaillant-...arden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item3a7a15b389

They obviously steal all the fittings .....

 

[radswilldo]

Hi all, went to do a quote today to replace a combi (all in - parts and labour, customer insisted on valliant ecotech 28). I tried to match a local firm quote of £1800 but I didn't get the job as I am not cheap enough - the response I got was 'what is the point if I am not cheaper'. No big deal but from what I heard from other engineers is that this firm is a bunch of cowboys but that is none of my business really. When I did pipe sizing it does seem that existing pipework is undersized, also when I had the gas hob on I see there is a jump when existing boiler comes alive. Also all the rads have no TRVs. The customer insisted it a straight swop so it shouldn't be as expensive. As I am fairly new to this quoting business, is my pricing unreasonable? Thanks all in advance. John

Times are tough and you cannot get all estimates regardless of the economy. This year has been my toughest, I've gone from getting roughly 4 out of 5 estimates to probably less than 1 in 3. Nigh on all the customers I am seeing are not in poverty, they just want everything for nothing now. Just keep your chin up; if you are happy with what you do and how you do it then carry on, your work is built up over time. I just got a refusal on an estimate I knew I wasn't going to get; customer thinks I should be replacing three rads, pipe alt, flushing and full boiler service ( Alpha, hasn't been looked for over 8 years) for £200.00 labour.
I find that in general the best customers to work for are the self employed, they know that your a business with overheads and that your labour price is not your earnings.

 

[Avatar]

tell you the truth I would like to move over to site work - no moaning about the work, guaranteed payments every week and no running about like a blue arsed fly trying to please people . . . .

working for the public is a joke quite frankly!!! (a not very funny one that has cost me thousands of pounds)

Present situation continuing I will be moving fully out of plumbing in the next 5 years . . .

 

[buckley plumb]

tell you the truth I would like to move over to site work - no moaning about the work, guaranteed payments every week and no running about like a blue arsed fly trying to please people . . . .

working for the public is a joke quite frankly!!! (a not very funny one that has cost me thousands of pounds)

Present situation continuing I will be moving fully out of plumbing in the next 5 years . . .

been there most site prices are hopeless .last place i worked unvented cylinder cupboards worked out at£65 kitchen sink £ 28

 

[John_]

Thx all for your feedback. The guy came back and decided to go with me, even though he initially didn't see the point as I am not cheap enough. We agreed on £1800 but later he literally begging me to go do better, reluctantly I knock off another £100. Also he wants guarantee from me, when asked what sort of guarantee he's expecting but he can't tell me. However I did say that if there's any fault due to improper installation I will guarantee to fix it, and the boiler will come with 5 years warranty. He then want it done in a couple days which I can't do, in the end it just got too stressful I basically politely said to him that he's better off going with the original firm. God, this job is so stressful and its only at the quoting stage!!

 

[Barry98]

Seems to me like you've dodged a bullet

 

[northstar]

Present situation continuing I will be moving fully out of plumbing in the next 5 years . . .[/QUOTE]

what are you thinking of getting into ?

 

[Leo21]

Sounds like he was trying to pull a fast one, he's obviously listened to the other guys B/S. in time you'll learn to spot it, but you still won't get them all.

 

[RGII79]

I got a call from a customer on the mobile a while back
he says... ive got a problem with my radiators upstairs and do i charge a call out fee
i said... yes i do its 70 quid and covers an hour time
he says ..why are you charging me for a call out its just a few rads upstirs not heating can you give me a price now it shudnt cost much
I said ... i said i cant give a price as i dont know whats wrong with the system yet and had to investigate problem could be a small job or may be other issues as you never know what your walking into
he said... but i just told you what the problem is rad arnt working upstairs
Isaid ... If you know whats wrong fix it yourself good luck

 

[Avatar]

I hate it when people want a fixed price before you have seen it - they obviously think we are psychic!!

My response in the same.

 

[Keefy]

I recently had friend of a friend ask me how much I'd charge to fit a new set of bath and basin taps for him. Reluctantly and foolishly (under pressure from my mate to give him a 'good' quote) I told him "about £30" and the fella glared at me like I'd just killed his dog and said "I only paid £40 for the taps, forget it!"

I'm glad he turned down my 'extortionate' quote to be honest because I'd have been ripping myself off plus he'd have probably charged me for a cup of tea while hovering around me all the while.

 

[kay-jay]

I recently had friend of a friend ask me how much I'd charge to fit a new set of bath and basin taps for him. Reluctantly and foolishly (under pressure from my mate to give him a 'good' quote) I told him "about £30" and the fella glared at me like I'd just killed his dog and said "I only paid £40 for the taps, forget it!"




some people eh?

I'm glad he turned down my 'extortionate' quote to be honest because I'd have been ripping myself off plus he'd have probably charged me for a cup of tea while hovering around me all the while.

lol he'll either do it himself and flood the place, or get a real shock when he phones another plumber for a quote...

 

[buckley plumb]

lol he'll either do it himself and flood the place, or get a real shock when he phones another plumber for a quote...

show him this lol

Funny Plumber cartoon - YouTube

 

[kay-jay]

The thing that gets me is he is justifying paying peanuts on the strength of having bought cheap taps.
Ask him if he would pay more labour if the taps were £300.


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