Over charging.

[WaterTight]

Don't forget to charge for the caps (at 2-5 times the actual price) and knock them off the bill on refit. Because sometimes the husband/neighbour/dog will appear and bung the rad back on. Mind you half the time you'll be back anyway when he mucks it up and floods the place.

 

[peteheat]

Some people have no pride in their trade, the skills required or the responsibilities they take on.

A smart consumer wouldn't dream of letting you in the door for £20.00, consider this, in 1978 I worked for a company servicing oil boilers, the minimum charge which had to be collected before I went near the boiler was £15.00.

A brand new Ford Escort van was around £1,500.00 at the time, it cost £6.00 to fill from the red line so lets use Henry Ford as our guide to inflation, How much is a new Transit Connect today?

Roughly £15,000 so either lose your customers or charge realistic prices because if you don't you will end up grumpy old men wondering why you have nothing except social welfare when your due to retire.

If you don't have respect for yourselves how can any of you expect a consumer to respect the services you have to offer?

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

I'll second that mate, bloke the other day scoffed at me, fitting 6 trvs for £120, hed said 'i was thinking more like 20 quid'

where do these people get these ideas from

 

[Roger Welton]

The number of times i hear, "well I've seen boilers on the internet for £400......" so have I but wouldn't touch one, and of course no other materials are required, and I do it for the love of the job not to earn a living.
:rant:

 

[peteheat]

I'll second that mate, bloke the other day scoffed at me, fitting 6 trvs for £120, hed said 'i was thinking more like 20 quid'

where do these people get these ideas from

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.

 

[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.