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Pi55 take or what!.........do people actually work for these rates?

if you work cheap you wont work long. Funnily enough if too many dont charge decent rates it affects the whole industry in the end and thats not funny
 
Ideally we'd all stick together and charge decent rates. But in reality there are guys who need to feed family's and there always will be.
 
If some guys dont have enough work to support the family, then something is wrong, you should start to build up a customer base before going self employed imho, if you dont, you are going to be working for scraps, the grass on the other side only looks greener, when you get your ticket, stay with the guy who helped you get it to build up experience and build up some custom in spare time, if you have to work for peanuts and then work longer hours/more days because of it, you are actually doing more harm to your family, because you dont have sufficient time with them and are likely regularly stressed out and they will feel the impact of that, sorry if that sounds a bit harsh to some, but if more took notice of this kind of advice there would be far less going out of business or going bankrupt, I have lost count of the amount of 'ex' traders in my area.
 
I think if this is what the industry is starting to do, a race to the bottom, then were are all fooked. The writing is well and truly on the wall. I may do what everyone else does in my area and find a bird whom wants lots of kids, fain a back injury or something and live of the state.
 
Been to an induction today for a serviceing contract for federal houseing association through an agency they are paying 17 pound per property no matter how many appliances are in, the arse is dropping out of this game!!
 
someones copping the money just not the guys doing the work. just id everything and walk away, theyll get the picture soon enough.
 
health and safety should get on top of this sort of thing housing associations shouldnt be allowed to sub work out they should be forced to have there own gas safe registration and directly employ their work force as all they are doing is abdicating their responsibilities by allowing the work to be subbed down to the man on the shop floor but then that is all health and safety is about, keeping the blame as low down the food chain as possible
half the blokes doing this work are realy employees working for one company full time to negate the laws they are employed via agencies and paid via another company
 
If your self employed your a business man/woman. as a business man/woman your job is too make money so if your not making money LEARN it is just as important a skill as being whatever chosen trade you are in.

Some have a gift for it others dont but it can be LEARNT ( you learnt to be a plumber you can do it).

there are plenty of courses around to do it and it doesnt cost the earth and it aint rocket science although plumbing/gas isnt far off being rocket science.

you have to believe in yourself know your worth and dont give in. its hard but it can be done.
you can be the best plumber/gas engineer in the world but if you come across to a customer as a bell end/arrogant/condescending doesnt matter matter how good you are you wont be asked back for the next issue
so learn the art of customer service that aint rocket science either.

got my GSR REG in Aug2010 next wednesday i sign the lease for my new showroom it can be done you just have to believe in yourself. good paying work is out there.

ok rant over back to Guiness
 
I used to bend over backwards for customers, work too cheaply, and found myself working all hours, 7 days and never seemed to have any money about, it is a well known fact that if you increase your prices by 10%, you might lose a small percentage of your clientele, I did as advised and found i work less hours for more money, AND, several of the customers who objected and left, came back over a short time as well, honestly lads and lasses, there is no good in working for nothing, know your worth, and charge your worth, it may take longer to build a customer base, but your regulars will then be quality customers, who want quality work, and pay you decent money. I know from experience this to be true.
 
Derek Hardman said:
I used to bend over backwards for customers, work too cheaply, and found myself working all hours, 7 days and never seemed to have any money about, it is a well known fact that if you increase your prices by 10%, you might lose a small percentage of your clientele, I did as advised and found i work less hours for more money, AND, several of the customers who objected and left, came back over a short time as well, honestly lads and lasses, there is no good in working for nothing, know your worth, and charge your worth, it may take longer to build a customer base, but your regulars will then be quality customers, who want quality work, and pay you decent money. I know from experience this to be true.
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see folks others agree and despite a minority of posters accusing me Im not spouting bs
 

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