Customer thinks I’m ripping him off

[Octopus]

Thanks guys
I’ve recently gone on my own and I’ve never had to price jobs
Glad to hear that I’m on the right track

Where are you in Wales? I would suspect peoples pockets vary a great deal.

 

[telectrix]

some will pay with sheep or chickens,

 

[Zerax]

some will pay with sheep or chickens,

Nothing wrong with the old bartering system... that's how I got my first wife !

 

[DC-backfrom the past]

I find it hard pricing jobs . I'm still learning, but I got good advice last year . price the job at what your happy to get paid .

 

[Squid]

Where are you in Wales? I would suspect peoples pockets vary a great deal.

They can afford a hot tub.......... okay it may be a hole dug into the ground with and immersion heater but its better than mosts folks have.

 

[Squid]

Thanks guys
I’ve recently gone on my own and I’ve never had to price jobs
Glad to hear that I’m on the right track

To sweeten the deal include a pot of Pampas Grass for the front garden......

 

[Welchyboy1]

Thanks guys
I’ve recently gone on my own and I’ve never had to price jobs
Glad to hear that I’m on the right track

If any customer comments on your prices being expensive tell them (in a nice way) they are free to get other quotes. End of conversation.

Dont ever feel pressured into negotiating or lowering your charges unless its on your terms because you choose to

If its the same in wales as where i am in essex, decent sparks are extremely hard to come by and getting one to turn up and quote for a job is apparently hard enough

 

[BruceBanner]

I would be a bit more down here, but wouldn't be doing the digging unless they wanted me to get a subby in & add the cost & Mark up on. As said before, sparks make for expensive labourers.

 

[Squid]

If any customer comments on your prices being expensive tell them (in a nice way) they are free to get other quotes. End of conversation.

Dont ever feel pressured into negotiating or lowering your charges unless its on your terms because you choose to

If its the same in wales as where i am in essex, decent sparks are extremely hard to come by and getting one to turn up and quote for a job is apparently hard enough

I usually find the "do you like travel, do you like sex" line works a treat.

 

[a-z electrics]

get him to dig trench.. then about right.

 

[Rpa07]

You are far Too cheap...

Here would be my own break down of rates,
£45 per hour labour x 16 = £720
Materials very rough gestimate £300 ish

So my quote/estimate would come out about a grand

Take it or leave it

Wave Dusty’s quote in front of his face then he’ll appreciate the price you’ve given - sounds like a hustle but may just work!

 

[Jjc]

Hi people
I’ve recently given a customer a quote for a board change on a 1970 property which needs 2 x 6way boards “small space “
And installing a 40mtr supply to the bottom of a garden for a hot tub which has to be clipped half way and underground for 10mtrs
So it’s 2 days Labour and materials
835 pound he’s moaned and said it’s far to expensive I think I’m about right , thoughts please

Tell him to gtf

 

[MG201]

When u look at some of these websites they charge £50 ph and 80/120 call out

 

[Andy78]

When u look at some of these websites they charge £50 ph and 80/120 call out

If it's the websites I think you're on about it usually works out about right as they bring their own champagne.

 

[rolyberkin]

Dig................................WTF?

 

[Brian Taylor]

Wow...some of you chaps do well with your hourly rates.....I charge 15.00 per hour and do not all i quite for. Had a discusion about pay rates on this site some time ago and was advised to double my rates with immediate effect......tried it and got no work at all. Love to know where all these customers are with deep pockets . Any advice welcome.

 

[richy3333]

Crikey, how do you run a profitable business at £15 per hour?

 

[Brian Taylor]

With increasing difficulty but that's the going rate in this area....was told not so long ago that as we (sparks) are only semi skilled why are wanting so much money .

 

[Octopus]

Wow...some of you chaps do well with your hourly rates.....I charge 15.00 per hour and do not all i quite for. Had a discusion about pay rates on this site some time ago and was advised to double my rates with immediate effect......tried it and got no work at all. Love to know where all these customers are with deep pockets . Any advice welcome.

Ouch, firstly being SE on £15 per hour ....... you might as well be collecting trolleys in Tesco's

You HAVE to increase your rates, but doubling them for existing clients will always be hard so ....I would suggest increasing your existing customer rates to £20 immediately, and all new clients start with £32 minimum.

Are you registered with a CPS, have a van, the necessary insurances and your 18th?

Your overheads for the year will be about £6K so think hard about what you are doing and if some clients won't pay your new rate, let them find some MUG who will.

If you can find 10 clients willing to pay £30 per hour, means you can leave 20 paying £15 behind or you may find they will pay £20 this year then increase it next year to £24 (increments of £4 makes calculating 1/4 hours easier!)

 

[Brian Taylor]

Thanks for the advice....yes have all the overheads that come with being a business....not sure if Tescos pay their trolley pushers that much