On small jobs charging for cable

[Kelvin Waldron]

Hi all
I was just wondering how every charges for cable on a small job? Let me give you and example, you are asked to replace 4 down lights, but one 1 of them you fined that the cable is to short so you replace that cable back to the next downlight, Normally i would just charge for sundries £20 but the customer refused to pay the sundries charge as " i only use a couple of meters of cable, and he shouldnt have to pay that" and it got me thinking does anyone charge per meter of cable ?

 

[Spoon]

Maybe you should put it in the quote. "If cable needs replacing then a charge of £? per meter" or something like that.
Don't try and rip them off by charging £20 for 2 meters of cable....

 

[telectrix]

if it was just a couple of yards, i'd not charge as usually have offcuts on the van. anything over 10 ft. i charge with sundries. XXp/m

 

[SJD]

If only 2m of cable, then more like £2 rather than £20, I think.

I tend to briefly list the items: "Fixings, grommets, connectors … " £3 (or whatever).
Anything that came to more than say £5 would be listed separately.

 

[Kelvin Waldron]

The sundries was to cover, cable , few jbs among few other odd bits i had used off the van, otherwise yes i agree £20 for 2 meters of cable bit excessive.

 

[Spoon]

The sundries was to cover, cable , few jbs among few other odd bits i had used off the van, otherwise yes i agree £20 for 2 meters of cable bit excessive.

You said the job was to replace 4 down lights??? Strange that you needed a few junction boxes as well as additional cable for this.
Anyhow... again, I'd just put something in the quote for future jobs.

 

[littlespark]

If your customer is that pedantic, I wouldn't work for him again.

You had to use a new piece of cable for whatever reason... too short, or damaged... it all needs paid for. Your joint boxes, green sleeving… use of your stepladders, fuel and van upkeep...

I just list "additional materials" on my invoice and pluck a number out the sky

 

[Octopus]

I wouldn’t bother about charging for a small item .... and fwiw I never list parts or costs separately

 

[snowhead]

If that same customer bought a basket of shopping in a supermarket they wouldn't get some of the items for free, why should they get free cable.

 

[Kelvin Waldron]

3 downlights with 2 twin in earth its easier to make off in a jb and have 1 cable into the dowlight otherwise the downlights can be abit tight.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I personally would never charge for 2 mtr of lighting cable . Have loads of off cuts for such jobs and just throw in without even thinking about it...

Anything over 4mm sq I will charge by the yard

 

[buzzlightyear]

i agree £20 for 2 meters of cable bit excessive.

love this song ,reminds me of some body ,lol.

 

[mattg4321]

I don't list materials by item on my quotes/invoices. I don't normally break it down into materials and labour either.

The price is the price. Take or leave. If I needed a couple of metres of T&E I'd just throw it in. I don't like making my prices that tight that I'd need to charge extra for something so small!

 

[Risteard]

I wouldn’t bother about charging for a small item ....

Big mistake.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Surely you quoted for such a small job and not estimated? Quote gets accepted then that is what you charge unless the customer adds extras or changes something.

 

[Octopus]

Big mistake.

Why ?

 

[Risteard]

Why ?

Because cable doesn't grow on trees. Charge for everything.

 

[SparkyChick]

Depends on the size of the jobs... if it's one or two screws, I tend to not charge but for bigger jobs I'll add a line to the invoice 'Consumables' and make a reasonable estimate of the cost of all the parts I've used.

Cable... charged by the meter with all lengths used being slightly over estimated. I certainly wouldn't charge £20 for 2m of cable.

 

[Octopus]

Because cable doesn't grow on trees. Charge for everything.

I don’t agree, 2 meters of lighting cable, using this example is well under £1.00 so why be awkward and add this to an agreed price?

Makes no sense

 

[Risteard]

I don’t agree, 2 meters of lighting cable, using this example is well under £1.00 so why be awkward and add this to an agreed price?

Makes no sense

I didn't suggest to add to an agreed price, but to include it when pricing.