What is your quote success rate?

[Dunlopplumbing]

No I am just a normal customer / consumer. My initial question was why would a tradesman take the time to come out to quote for work and then not quote - not happened to me before.

Which then lead me onto this question which I thought was interesting.

I have to confess that I am guilty of being asked to quote, visiting clients to carry out a survey, and then simply not having the time to get back to those clients in good time. I always say to the clients as I am leaving,
"please chase me up, I know it sounds bad, but quite often, the paperwork goes onto my desk with every intention of working out the quote quickly, but it often becomes buried under the day to day build-up of paperwork, so please do chase me up".

Some clients do indeed chase me up, and some probably think what a cheek, why should I chase him up, doesn't he want to do our job?

Of the quotes I actually do manage to get done, we have about an 80% success rate, but just lately everything I am quoting has been accepted. I am drowning under a sea of paperwork, and I know I am letting a lot of potential clients down, but unless I work from 7am until 9pm 7 days a week, there is no way I can get back to everyone.

I do try and enjoy a little of my life, spending time with my family.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Key thing for me is, does the customer have a figure in mind that is realistic. If they say 4k and it would only be 3k then I am honest and come in at what it works out at. If they say 2k and it's gong to be 3k then I tell them 2k is not enough and give them a bit of a loaded man maths figure of between x and y. See their reaction as some people want it done for peanuts. Example had a woman on phone who wanted a fully tiled walls and floor, new celing with lights, new everything Inc a new shower enclosure thought it would be 1500 quid supplied and fitted!!?? Did not quote told her it would be mote than that but gave no price. My customers are usually spending about 1500-2000 on materials at least. So 1500 supplied and fitted is not doable. Not worth visiting, waste of her and my time. Also got other wages to pay too for chippie, spark..

 

[Riley]

Key thing for me is, does the customer have a figure in mind that is realistic. If they say 4k and it would only be 3k then I am honest and come in at what it works out at. If they say 2k and it's gong to be 3k then I tell them 2k is not enough and give them a bit of a loaded man maths figure of between x and y. See their reaction as some people want it done for peanuts. Example had a woman on phone who wanted a fully tiled walls and floor, new celing with lights, new everything Inc a new shower enclosure thought it would be 1500 quid supplied and fitted!!?? Did not quote told her it would be mote than that but gave no price. My customers are usually spending about 1500-2000 on materials at least. So 1500 supplied and fitted is not doable. Not worth visiting, waste of her and my time. Also got other wages to pay too for chippie, spark..

But the problem is somebody with no qualifications will fit it for that money do a bad job and give us all a bad name

 

[Millsy 82]

I will admit it is common courtesy to contact a potential customer, even by text, just to say I am not interested, too busy, etc.
But also applies to potential customers to contact me to say they have decided to accept another quote etc.

It would be nice if customers said they just wanted to check their plumbers price and not say I want the cheapest lpg combi so I spent 2 hours phoning round getting prices sent the quote out, phoned to make sure they received it (not chasing the job up just making sure I posted it to the right address) then for her to say oh do you know ed I am getting him to do it but I needed 3 quotes so asked you.

Oh thank you very much for wasting 3 hours of my life for no reward that's fine i mean how many people like actually getting paid for their work!!!

 

[Best]

It would be nice if customers said they just wanted to check their plumbers price and not say I want the cheapest lpg combi so I spent 2 hours phoning round getting prices sent the quote out, phoned to make sure they received it (not chasing the job up just making sure I posted it to the right address) then for her to say oh do you know ed I am getting him to do it but I needed 3 quotes so asked you.

Oh thank you very much for wasting 3 hours of my life for no reward that's fine i mean how many people like actually getting paid for their work!!!

I have been there and done that.
Many people are so selfish, or perhaps just thoughtless.
Annoyingly some are reasonably wealthy people.
I hate that people get a large job done without asking me to quote and then ring me to repair some part of the job that has broken, or faulty workmanship.

 

[Justice League]

If you are fitting a new boiler - the question might be asked - what is a good boiler. I suppose most people would say they do not know or based on how their current boiler has been working either mention that.

So unless the customer has an idea what they want going out and quoting them is going to have a lower chance of success.

 

[Riley]

Depends how you sell the boiler you favour to them

 

[Justice League]

Depends how you sell the boiler you favour to them

I think the current strategy is long term warranty as long as it is serviced annually.

A combi has perhaps a 10 year lifetime before it starts breaking down too often?

 

[Riley]

Depends on the combi and the installation. I think people will say yes 10 years is fair but there’s a lot to be said for a quality install and a properly clean system

 

[Welder]

It would be nice if customers said they just wanted to check their plumbers price and not say I want the cheapest lpg combi so I spent 2 hours phoning round getting prices sent the quote out, phoned to make sure they received it (not chasing the job up just making sure I posted it to the right address) then for her to say oh do you know ed I am getting him to do it but I needed 3 quotes so asked you.

Oh thank you very much for wasting 3 hours of my life for no reward that's fine i mean how many people like actually getting paid for their work!!!

That why you ask questions.

David: Are you seeking quotes?
Punter: Yes. 3/4 or more
David: Apologies, but I'll not bother then. If I'm ever the lowest price I've messed it right up. I do the same job for you I'd do in my own home so it's never going to be the cheapest. I couldn't stand the grief off my wife.
Best wish you good luck then.
Punter: But...

 

[Best]

That why you ask questions.

David: Are you seeking quotes?
Punter: Yes. 3/4 or more
David: Apologies, but I'll not bother then. If I'm ever the lowest price I've messed it right up. I do the same job for you I'd do in my own home so it's never going to be the cheapest. I couldn't stand the grief off my wife.
Best wish you good luck then.
Punter: But...

If you do say similar to that to the potential customer, you will get the offer of some of the jobs.