Over charging.

[GasmanxxxR1]

Head back to page one this and God knows how many similar threads on God knows how many web sites.

I am in a country that is supposed to be financially ruined with over 14% unemployment yet my customers are happy to pay realistic rates for quality services.

It may come as a big surprise to many but today's consumer wants Value for money not a slave, they also want good quality products installed in their homes.

So I say up your game and give the consumers what they really want, they work hard for their money and most are only too well aware of the fact that if you buy cheap you pay twice.

Think you might of missed the point of my post, the customer wanted 6 trvs fitted for £20, whos gonna do that?

I was already there fitting a new boiler when the bloke said 'how much to change 6 rad valves if i supply the trvs'

i said 'about £100 - £120'

His reply was 'i thought £20 would cover it'

What does £20 buy these days- nothing

 

[peteheat]

Sorry Gasmann,

I kind of answered your question but went off on a rant of my own.

I know where you're coming from it's one of the many reasons I never advertised Free Estimates, some consumers think what we do is easy because we make it look easy, others believe everyone is out to rip them off so they hit the google search and see silly numbers on lots of different web sites.

I would add pay as you go or throw away mobile phones into the mix, I know people who use those phones and when the call backs exceed the number of new enquires they just get a new phone, no thought is being put into building a business.

You are right £20 or €25 will not buy much maybe a lotto ticket? Certainly not peace of mind that you have bought a good service or equally been paid properly for time, skill and knowledge.

I wouldn't like to be trying to run a van or a car on those figures, would it fix a puncture?

 

[hunterseye]

Bit harsh peteheat. implying i have no pride in trade or self mate. its all new to me. the only thing i lack is knowledge. This is the reason i posted the question and why the group is here is it not. i want to be the best i can and take pride in my work and myself. I'm guilty of being too soft with people by nature and going low on price but as i'm just starting out i want that to stop. i've studied hard this last two years and will continue to do so while i am doing the job. and its that realisation when i'm stood there talking to a customer who wants it for peanuts that promted the question. I also believe that offering silly prices shows a lack of respect to the likes of you guys who have studied and worked hard.

 

[peteheat]

Bit harsh peteheat. implying i have no pride in trade or self mate. its all new to me. the only thing i lack is knowledge. This is the reason i posted the question and why the group is here is it not. i want to be the best i can and take pride in my work and myself. I'm guilty of being too soft with people by nature and going low on price but as i'm just starting out i want that to stop. i've studied hard this last two years and will continue to do so while i am doing the job. and its that realisation when i'm stood there talking to a customer who wants it for peanuts that promted the question. I also believe that offering silly prices shows a lack of respect to the likes of you guys who have studied and worked hard.

OK maybe a touch harsh but lessons never come cheap in this life, we all made very similar mistakes to the ones every young tradesman who starts out on his own will be tempted to make, it only takes a moments lapse in concentration to find yourself working for less than the lad flipping burgers in a fast food joint.

Think of it like this, your customer could be that employee or maybe started out as one, now he can employ a time served qualified tradesman for less than the lad who needed a few hours training to achieve the minimum wage status.

To go to the opposite end of extremes I have learned to "read" customers there are times it can be fun to haggle so when they ask me how much I can ask for half a million with equal sincerity to the Gent who offers £20.

As we say in Ireland, God loves a trier

 

[hunterseye]

Totally agree pete. i have to have a word with myself sometimes. but then i think. i was the one studying. i'm the one missing out on my baby growing up etc. I've trained and will continue to do so. so why should i do myself down coz i feel guilty at asking an honest price for a skill thats taken me time to learn. which is why i ask pricing and many other questions. coz if i can get the going rate then i'll stick to my guns. it also shows respect to you boys.

 

[desrob]

I wouldnt sleep at night if i didnt cap it. for the price of a couple of cap ends its a no brainer aint it. unless said customer has a thing for water features lol.

how much for a couple of cap end,they'll take a big chunk of your 20 quid....fair too cheap...how do you live

 

[850Rick]

With the money you earn from this job put it towards a wetvac, then next time you'll be quicker draining the rad but still charge the same.

This might sound silly but whats a wetvac?

 

[hunterseye]

A vac that can suck up water rick. never thought about using it for draining a rad tho. much quicker i bet.

 

[850Rick]

A vac that can suck up water rick. never thought about using it for draining a rad tho. much quicker i bet.

Any pictures mate im actually interested in this

 

[hunterseye]

Look up the thread mate think it was phil who posted a link.

 

[desrob]

Bit harsh peteheat. implying i have no pride in trade or self mate. its all new to me. the only thing i lack is knowledge. This is the reason i posted the question and why the group is here is it not. i want to be the best i can and take pride in my work and myself. I'm guilty of being too soft with people by nature and going low on price but as i'm just starting out i want that to stop. i've studied hard this last two years and will continue to do so while i am doing the job. and its that realisation when i'm stood there talking to a customer who wants it for peanuts that promted the question. I also believe that offering silly prices shows a lack of respect to the likes of you guys who have studied and worked hard.

what qualification have you gained in two year,and is this a side line or like many are we playing the system,the reason i ask is because your knowledge is limited so god knows what you were studying and your prices to me seem to be just a token gesture

 

[hunterseye]

Desrob you obviously dont condone anyone trying to better themselves and try to provide for a young family. I'm sure when you started out you never had to ask questions but for me i like to ask questions. and for the most part i get supportive informative answers. i've offered like many to work for free with plumbers but no one is willing to. should i sit back and let my college work go to waste or should i throw myself in at the deep end. apologies i dont come up to your obviously high standard.

 

[850Rick]

Desrob you obviously dont condone anyone trying to better themselves and try to provide for a young family. I'm sure when you started out you never had to ask questions but for me i like to ask questions. and for the most part i get supportive informative answers. i've offered like many to work for free with plumbers but no one is willing to. should i sit back and let my college work go to waste or should i throw myself in at the deep end. apologies i dont come up to your obviously high standard.

Everyone has to start some where

 

[hunterseye]

Everyone has to start some where

exactly rick, and i don't see why anyone should be made to feel inferior for being the bottom end of the scale and asking questions.

 

[850Rick]

exactly rick, and i don't see why anyone should be made to feel inferior for being the bottom end of the scale and asking questions.

Never be affraid of asking,doesnt matter how stupid it is.Getting it wrong can be costly

 

[Dannyparty92]

Iv studied two years for my 6129 qulification spend well over £1500 on tools and now looking into buying a van am I going to stop what I enjoy doing just because I haven't got an NVQ? No. Its so hard to gain an apprenticeship at the moment but I enjoy plumbing so that isn't going to stop me .

 

[850Rick]

Iv studied two years for my 6129 qulification spend well over £1500 on tools and now looking into buying a van am I going to stop what I enjoy doing just because I haven't got an NVQ? No. Its so hard to gain an apprenticeship at the moment but I enjoy plumbing so that isn't going to stop me .

City and guilds and the nvq are the same.The only difference is the nvq is done on site and city and guilds is done in the class room.If your confident at what you do you wont have a problem.They are stopping this now though so soon you will have to be in the trade to do this.

 

[Dannyparty92]

What do you mean? You will need an NVQ? To practise plumbing?

 

[desrob]

the tec cert gang! your numbers are large..... i feel intimidated

 

[hunterseye]

You only require nvq on new builds i think so you need both parts to be "industry recognised". I may be wrong.

 

[Dannyparty92]

I thought there are currently NO legisation in plumbing apart from the obvious i.e Gas safe OFTEC and unvented?

 

[LegionellaSlave]

You young plumbers should get into burglary and drugs :bomb:

The money's much better :shame:

 

[Koogatubac]

I thought there are currently NO legisation in plumbing apart from the obvious i.e Gas safe OFTEC and unvented?

You not heard of the water regulations?? Unvented hot water??

 

[hunterseye]

I'm 32 with a house and young family mate. my days of drugs and stealing are long gone. we all have to mature like a fine wine at some point lol.

 

[peteheat]

I'm 32 with a house and young family mate. my days of drugs and stealing are long gone. we all have to mature like a fine wine at some point lol.

I fully agree everyone has to learn, some are destined to be tradesmen other are destined to be businessmen, it's worth bearing in mind that a Ltd. company does not need any qualifications in fact the directors of some of the biggest service providers in this industry are accountants.

I suggest that young men starting out would do a lot worse than employing a retired plumber, kind of mentor / instructor, the combination of the wise old head and the young energetic tradesman could be winning combination.

A couple of things to note, there is no such thing as a silly question only the one you didn't ask, as for qualifications we graduate from the college of life in our last moments on this earth so never be afraid to continue learning, finally remember any small job you do includes traveling to and from the job don't forget to charge that out as well as the hour you spend on the job.

Have fun.