Is it wrong to ask for a written estimate?

[SimonG]

I've re-read this a couple of times and have come to the same conclusion as the engineer that you contacted.

 

[Keefy]

I'm on the fence at the moment but if a customer calls an engineer out to look at a problem then proceeds to imply that they're more interested in the price than the cure it can make one wonder if this customer is wasting the valuable time of a professional tradesman.

 

[carpman]

leaky i am not asking for anyone to come out for free, as already stated i will be PAYING (£55+vat hr) for the first call out to diagnose the problem. I do not have to speak to anyone to ok the job, i just want it in writing how much is going to cost after problem has been diagnosed.

I am a professional photographer and i have to give prices for jobs, i can't just turn up to a job do the shoot and then bill client without telling them how much it will cost.

You may think that photography may not require the same type of diagnoses, but i still have to take into account many factors such as location and type of shoot, what post processing will be needed before given a price.

I am sure all the guys on this forum are hard working and honest, but not everyone out there is and simply asking for written price AFTER the problem has been diagnosed is not being unfair.

I have had issues in the past, and my girl friend, whose flat it is, was ripped by the people who fitted boiler and one on another occasion who claimed to know what wrong, but did not and tried over charging her.

She evidential found a good engineer who fixed it, he did give her a price once he diagnosed the problem.

 

[carpman]

If you car had problem and not just a service, would just leave at a garage for repair with asking them to let you know how much will cost once problem had been diagnosed?

 

[kay-jay]

The way i understand the issue in this thread i have to say i sympathise with the op.

If i am paid as a professional for an initial fault finding diagnosis.
I would not find it difficult to then provide a quote for parts and labour for the second visit.

If for example it is a scenario where two or more faults could be responsible for the symptoms i would communicate this with the customer and in this case estimate the potential costs.

 

[carpman]

The way i understand the issue in this thread i have to say i sympathise with the op.

If i am paid as a professional for an initial fault finding diagnosis.
I would not find it difficult to then provide a quote for parts and labour for the second visit.

If for example it is a scenario where two or more faults could be responsible for the symptoms i would communicate this with the customer and in this case estimate the potential costs.

This is all i am asking for

Thanks

 

[peteheat]

Appears there has been a problem with communication, most engineers can give a guide cost don't be surprised if the guide ranges to as much as a replacement boiler.

How much are you willing to pay for a written quote or guide cost?

Very few (if any) tradesmen have a laptop and printer in their van so they must call or return to the office and type up the estimate, post it or deliver it back to the customer,
all valuable expensive time which someone must pay for.

Then we have what I call the attitude test, an each way experience some potential customers don't like mine and equally I may not like simple things like the tone of their voice
when they ask a specific question or indeed the question itself.

The overall size of the job can also be an issue, the appliance may be beyond economical repair try explaining that to someone who believes he has already diagnosed the problem.

Self employed is an inaccurate job title (we just have many employers) that carries many responsibilities, we are responsible to both the customer and ourselves, if the enquiry or
enquirer doesn't somehow feel right I reserve the right to refuse the job just as the consumer can refuse to employ my services.

It appears that both you and the party in question were not designed to get along or there was some misunderstanding, I have no doubt there is a tradesman out there for you
just a matter of finding him / her.

P.S. Ever had a bad day yourself?

May account for your experience.

 

[stevetheplumber]

part of the problem may be the fact that you have already diagnosed the problem iim always defensive of customers who already know whats wrong as your never sure if theyve already had someone look at it and shafted them its just one of those things that sets the alarm bells ringing in the same way that your not prepared to trust the engineer we often get the bad feeling about customers
for breakdowns its normal to charge a diagnostic fee

 

[REDSAW]

i never give a quote to fix a problem i quote to fix a fault on a boiler.

i charge a diagnosis fee to find a fault with the boiler, before informing the customer what it is i want paying for that.
i am not quoting for the complete guarantee of a faultless boiler fix!! i am quoting for a fault that is found that needs doing first, this is because after fixing one thing other faults may be found after.
yesterday i went to look at a boiler, it was totally dead. it requires at least one pcb if not two before it will even switch on!.
then it will or will not show any other faults going through the ignition sequence.

the only real quote for a guaranteed fix is 'you need a new boiler luv' comes to mind.

 

[TBServices]

If I gave a written estimate for every single repair I did, I'd spend 50% of my time writing, and thus not working.