Hey folks,
I'm starting to get to the point where I'm seriously considering getting out of the plumbing/gas game and trying to find something else to do.
I broke my wrist last week, so I'm at home with probably too much time on my hands. But, to be honest Ive been feeling this way for the last 6 months or so.
I've been Gas reg for 3 years now and plumbing for 4 ish. I kinda did things the wrong way around as I trained with a friend who was gas reg before learning all the basics in plumbing. It's been one big learning curve for sure and for the most part I've enjoyed it.
The last year or so has been difficult with the economic down turn. Never really knowing what I'm doing from one day to the next. But I've survived and kept the ship afloat.
But I've become more and more despondent with the market/customers. People want things doing for nowt it seems. I live in a town where I'm quoting for a decent mid range boiler, and yet the houses seem full of chaffoteaux specials that look like they have been thrown on the wall. So I rarely get the job.
Most of my work is word of mouth. I seem to have a core group of customers who trust me and like my work. I also worsk for a couple of letting agents doing there breakdowns. This is fine, but does not keep me busy enough and finding new work and getting it is difficult.
I went out to a boiler breakdown the other night and on route called in to a job that wanted a new siphon fitting (they had the siphon and it only needed twisting in as it was a direct replacement for a faulty one). It only took me 5 mins, but it was 7pm on a tues night. As I was on route I said just give me £30 quid for the call -out. The reply I got was amazing: "you should try being a supply teacher" Long story short she was a supply teacher and thought I was expensive.
I can give loads and loads of other examples but I won't bore you.
It seems the recession has brought the worst out in some people coupled with some engineers carrying out work for what seems like the minimum wage has made it difficult to operate a genuine and qulality orientated business.
Rant over, I'm off to torch my van and feed my G1 book to the dog
I'm starting to get to the point where I'm seriously considering getting out of the plumbing/gas game and trying to find something else to do.
I broke my wrist last week, so I'm at home with probably too much time on my hands. But, to be honest Ive been feeling this way for the last 6 months or so.
I've been Gas reg for 3 years now and plumbing for 4 ish. I kinda did things the wrong way around as I trained with a friend who was gas reg before learning all the basics in plumbing. It's been one big learning curve for sure and for the most part I've enjoyed it.
The last year or so has been difficult with the economic down turn. Never really knowing what I'm doing from one day to the next. But I've survived and kept the ship afloat.
But I've become more and more despondent with the market/customers. People want things doing for nowt it seems. I live in a town where I'm quoting for a decent mid range boiler, and yet the houses seem full of chaffoteaux specials that look like they have been thrown on the wall. So I rarely get the job.
Most of my work is word of mouth. I seem to have a core group of customers who trust me and like my work. I also worsk for a couple of letting agents doing there breakdowns. This is fine, but does not keep me busy enough and finding new work and getting it is difficult.
I went out to a boiler breakdown the other night and on route called in to a job that wanted a new siphon fitting (they had the siphon and it only needed twisting in as it was a direct replacement for a faulty one). It only took me 5 mins, but it was 7pm on a tues night. As I was on route I said just give me £30 quid for the call -out. The reply I got was amazing: "you should try being a supply teacher" Long story short she was a supply teacher and thought I was expensive.
I can give loads and loads of other examples but I won't bore you.
It seems the recession has brought the worst out in some people coupled with some engineers carrying out work for what seems like the minimum wage has made it difficult to operate a genuine and qulality orientated business.
Rant over, I'm off to torch my van and feed my G1 book to the dog
