I am seriously beginning to doubt whether I can earn anything doing this anymore

[markythesparky]

Have a look at this guys. This is the text from a quotation we produced about two weeks or so ago. I have just been told that we didn't get the job. Have a look at it and tell me what you think. I now know the other price, and after a few replies with your thoughts, i'll post it.

The job is a ground floor flat in a house conversion. There is access to the ceilings as the builder is removing them where necessary. The points are to be chased flush and the walls are brick.

To supply, wire and fix the following item, points or outlets in the listed room. These will be finished with MK Logic plus white plastic accessories unless specified as an alternative, and will be flush mounted. Any chasing should be made good by others.

Kitchen
To disconnect, make safe and strip out all existing electrical circuitry within the kitchen
1no 16a supply for the existing oven
1no 40a supply for an induction hob
1no outlet and switched spur for a fridge freezer
1no outlet and spur for cooker hood
1no SSSO for wine cooler
1no SSSO for dishwasher supply
1no SSSO for washing machine supply

6no GU10 Mains halogen downlights in Satin Nickel (Aurora Lighting version of Brushed Chrome)
To relocate light switch to lounge switch position

Bathroom
4no GU10 Mains halogen IP rated downlights in Satin Nickel
1no supply for shaver mirror and to fix the light fitting

Lounge
To supply and connect 1no 2 gang brushed chrome dimmer and replace back box
To disconnect make safe and remove the existing pendant light fitting currently near the kitchen
To relocate 1no DSSO to column


Bedroom
Supply and replace 3no existing socket plates with brushed chrome
Supply and replace existing switch plate with brushed chrome

Hall
Supply wire and fix 1no pendant light fitting and switch near front door.

Miscellaneous
To test all existing circuits for suitability for a change of fuseboard
To supply wire and fix 1no 6 way 17th edition fuseboard
To supply wire and fix appropriate MCB’s or RCBO’s
To supply and connect main equipotential bonding to Gas and Water

TOTAL £2088


NB.
Kitchen appliance sockets will be installed in the cupboard unit adjacent to the appliance where spurs are not included. We would therefore request that the units be installed once the wiring is located in that position and not before.

Let me know whether you think we're expensive and i'll post the winning figure tomorrow.

 

[markythesparky]

By the way the title is supposed to be 'I am seriously beginning to doubt whether I can earn anything doing this anymore'. I don't know if the moderators can alter this to prevent me from looking even more of a ding bat.

 

[Octopus]

Markythesparky - where abouts in the UK are you?

For what its worth I'd have been higher than you!

 

[markythesparky]

The idyllic oasis that is Croydon. This job was Crystal Palace.

 

[telectrix]

Markythesparky - where abouts in the UK are you?

For what its worth I'd have been higher than you!

so would i.

 

[MDJ]

first glance 2.75k plus vat, however I would need to look at the job to be sure, the price may be fine, who knows without a visual inspection, be interesting to see what your quote was though

 

[markythesparky]

my small print states that the quote is based on the assumption that the current installation is safe to adapt or alter. if not this would obviously involve additional work to correct it. My quoted price is on the text. The winning quote is what I am keeping from you just for the time being.

 

[brman]

I just did some very quick sums and it came out around the £2000 mark too.

 

[Andy78]

Your price sounds about right to me, but I'm up north so it's probably cheap for down where you are.
Is it a ridiculous price that won it ? If it is, all you can do is forward some information about part P, proper testing and certification to the customer, and wait for them to give you a call when it goes belly up.
Also ask your customer to make sure the quotes are comparable, and the cheapo quote hasn't omitted the bonding and other things that don't really matter to the lasso brigade.

 

[markythesparky]

Your price sounds about right to me, but I'm up north so it's probably cheap for down where you are.
Is it a ridiculous price that won it ?

Croydon, Surrey. Im not saying just yet. Be patient my tester wielding friend. All will be revealed in good time. (I may do it just before bed time so none of you can get to sleep)

 

[Octopus]

So its going to be extremely low, cash, no NI, no tax, no PLI, no scheme membership .... so how about £1350.00

 

[markythesparky]

Apparently the winner is fully registered so i assume with with scheme number. Also I assume he has insurance as this is a requirement of schemes. in addition it cant be cash as he would have to sign it off. Oh go on then i'll tell you..... £1100! Apparently he and his 'mate' have done the first fix in a day and has now left to wait until the second fix is ready.

 

[markythesparky]

seriously though, I priced another for this same builder and the same guy has got this one too and is nearly half my price on this one too. builder reckons he prices at £35 per point. I cannot see how they earn money at this rate. if you break the parts down and allow an hour at the rate I pay my guys it comes to more than this. what the hell is going on?

 

[Kamikaze]

The builder is probably using your quote to turn the other quotes he receives into a Dutch action. Do you get any work at all from this builder?

 

[markythesparky]

He's a new client and we've priced three jobs for him. we lost the two that I have spoken about and his client is messing about on the other one. I'm beginning to think the same as you. £35 a point is absolutely ridiculous. I was charging more than this in 2002.

 

[Octopus]

Sole traders, no VAT is a saving.

 

[markythesparky]

There is no VAT on mine either. We deregistered.

 

[Octopus]

There is no VAT on mine either. We deregistered.

Out of interest how can you "deregister" if there are more than 1 of you?

 

[markythesparky]

VAT is based on turn over, not number of employees. For the record there are two of us.

 

[Octopus]

VAT is based on turn over, not number of employees. For the record there are two of us.

I know that, but how can 2 people work full time, make enough to live on and keep below the VAT threshold?