Customer wants to supply material

[Poshspark]

what do you say when the customer wants to buy the materials after you have given them an estimate?
Do you let them?

 

[Octopus]

Presumably they want you to remove the "materials" element of your estimate.

I have a simply way of dealing with the customers who want to supply the parts - which is if they do, all well and good but when the parts are wrong and or missing I'll be charging my hourly rate to fix the issue.

PLUS: Customers never really understand all the parts you need!!

 

[DurhamSparky]

if they want to provide materials let them just make sure you send them to your wholesaler with a list and (give heads up first to say charge full price)... and when they provide a CU with no screws or wall plugs just sit there charging by the hour until he returns from B&Q with a bag of them.

 

[RWJ]

Yeah tell them to buy the from Meteor who will charge them the "web Price" and send you a cheque for discount. Meteor Electrical Wholesaler |Trade Electrical Supplies | Free Delivery UK and Ireland

Thanks mharries, yes we certainly do. In simple terms, it allows your customer to pay us directly for the materials without you loosing out on the discount you rightly deserve as an Electrician. We then post you a cheque for the difference between the 'Joe Bloggs' price total and your discounted price total. It doesn't eliminate all of your risk but a lot of Electricians have really latched onto it in the past 2-3 months Further details &

Video here or PM me if you want more info

 

[Guest123]

If they want to do it labour only thats fine.

Make them aware that you will now be working on an hourly rate as no doubt you will be messed around along the way somewhere with 'oh we haven't bought that yet' or 'we've bought this instead' etc etc.

 

[needasparks]

I think you should explain that your discounts on materials which would be of a better quality would make their project more expensive that way unless your happy just to work for labour only. Does keep your credit down by also your profit so you have to weight it up. If the client is asking questions on that you know they will be questioning the bill later so list it out to them as most people don't realise how much gear is not seen that you will get through.

 

[poppypiesdad]

Walk away they are just trying to workout how much youll make off the job and your profit , when its finished they'll argue like hell over your labour bill .

Jamie

 

[needasparks]

Forgot to mention let them know that no warrentee's on what you install apply so will cost more if things go wrong later.

 

[DurhamSparky]

think that bit of the post no.4 should be hidden from public view!!!

 

[ruston]

Plus when they say labour only ask them where they keep the dust sheets , hoover , drills, hammers, filler, etc etc .They soon get sick.

 

[RWJ]

think that bit of the post no.4 should be hidden from public view!!!

Really??

Eoin did publish it in Business related which is a public forum

 

[DurhamSparky]

yeah cause customer will say that refund cheque is mine..!!

 

[JD6400]

We often go further and offer to open a account with our preferred wholesaler with discounts on par with ours , it does depend on the client and how big the project is and how much further work is likely .
It is a pretty good way of ensuring repeat business as they firstly trust us all the more to give good value and secondly not many other contractors would / could offer this !
The clients that we offer this to relies that when it comes to guarantee work we will come to some arrangement on costs that are mutually acceptable , as it will not have been allowed for in any mark up on materials .
It can also help cash flow a hell of a lot on some of the jobs (farmers can sometimes suffer from short arms and deep pockets !) and you would be amazed at the referral rate there is , and the trust is already there between us and the new client as the one recommending us is so impressed with our open approach .

 

[mackers]

knock off cost of materials to you not your profit then explain that if they supply materials they supply everything including screws ,100mtrs of green/yellow,blue and brown sleeving, plugs,grommets (whats a grommet?)and that if any of it becomes faulty you will be charging day rate to replace also no materials on site they will be paying standing time.
funny how so many change there tune.

 

[imago]

Unless it's a large customer who you do or will work for regularly, I'm firmly in the 'walk away' camp. I quote a total price for a job, and that's what the customer pays.

Any labour only work I do for customers who are builders or commercial. I do it on an hourly rate and provide an estimate for time taken on site. They are then billed for the actual time spent. If they ask me to provide a materials list for them I charge for the time taken to make it up.

 

[D80]

Never really had the issue to date - other than the odd light/smokie etc to stick on. If I do will probably use the Meteor customer to buy service. And that payment from Meteor to me will be for my time and effort compiling the list!

It's all good and well when its a small job, like replacing a light. But if something like a rewire with a big list of materials, I'd assume the expect that list FOC. If any part needs replacing down the line, given they supplied it, I'd charge to replace it. If I'd supplied it I would replace FOC.

 

[Dave 85]

When I give a quote, I dont breakdown into labour/materials, just price per unit. If they wanna supply second fix materials, the price is still the same for sockets/switches but I might discount the cost price to me of downlighters etc. First fix stuff I will always supply myself. Personally i would't throw my toys outta the pram and insist they supply every single screw and bit of sleeving because they are still a paying customer and they might assume I was a bit of a ----er and not call me again.

 

[mackers]

When I give a quote, I dont breakdown into labour/materials, just price per unit. If they wanna supply second fix materials, the price is still the same for sockets/switches but I might discount the cost price to me of downlighters etc. First fix stuff I will always supply myself. Personally i would't throw my toys outta the pram and insist they supply every single screw and bit of sleeving because they are still a paying customer and they might assume I was a bit of a ----er and not call me again.

don't think its a case of been a ----er but if they have asked for a estimate then say they want to supply materials i personally thing its the start of the penny pinching, if they wanna supply materials fare enough but most dont realize whats required.eg 2. 5, 1.5,6,10 ,3core n earth capping,nails, back boxes,grommets,sleeving,clips various,tails,10mm g/y,coax, long socket screws,plugs n screws and anything else ive missed soon mounts up!

 

[Spazz]

If they want to supply then let them!

Just give them a list of makes and what they need.

They will soon realize that parts are not cheap - also alert the whole sellers you use not to give anyone but you discount if someone approaches them saying that they are with you - seen that before!

Then charge them by the hour - not forgetting they will forget something.

 

[Spoon]

Personally i would't throw my toys outta the pram and insist they supply every single screw and bit of sleeving because they are still a paying customer and they might assume I was a bit of a ----er and not call me again.

Spot on. It may be that the customer may think that he can save some money by buying the main items. I dont know why there are so many negative posts. I thought work was hard to get these days. Some money is better then peeing a customer off and getting no money.

 

[ruston]

I don't mind ordinary customers supplying plates and light fittings etc,in fact it's part of the job to guide /ascertain the customers requirements. It's the landlord/ developer type I'm getting at.They will take your eyes out if you let them. The odd one(labour only) is ok, but definitely worth not getting into the habit of. Especially if you have quoted an all in price. Remember you save a lot of time not running back and forward to the Wholesalers if your customer is getting the gear, but it's a nightmare of wrong stuff and/or cheapest tat. Eg down lighters that fall apart, cooker outlets that you can't terminate into, it's not all just about the money.

 

[Goody]

Walk away they are just trying to workout how much youll make off the job and your profit , when its finished they'll argue like hell over your labour bill . Jamie

Very true! My quote usually is in the following format and they don't need to know cost of materials separately:

Two double sockets	£££
Shower installed	£££
Quote includes standard parts & labour

 

[imago]

I dont know why there are so many negative posts.

It's easy to get work for minimum wage, just to cover your overheads, or for nothing. Trouble is, it's fools doing it at those sort of rates that makes it look like people charging a fair whack for a good job done properly are charging 'over the odds'. IMHO working for a pittance is no different than cutting corners on materials or standards. It's bad practice and it shouldn't be done.

I thought work was hard to get these days.

Hard to get work? Speaking personally I have a fair bit on, and even if work was tight I would rather go and stack shelves than devalue myself and my skills by giving them away. My ability to trade was hard won, and costly to achieve both in terms of money and time.

Some money is better then peeing a customer off and getting no money.

As above really, i.e. no it's not because if charging a fair rate annoys a customer then they can either live with their annoyance or go elsewhere.

 

[Octopus]

Interestingly today I was doing some sparking for a builder I recenty met.

He told me during the day that he wants copies of all my invoices so he can show the customer that we are not marking up the materials. I add margin to the parts I supply to cover the cost of getting them and all the associated paperwork. I don't like depending on other people for the parts I need.

I told him that I reduce the margin on the parts, when I work "for" other trades to 10% Also I don't split down the parts cost either.

It'll be interesting to hear his views when I go back on site on Thursday - one thing is clear, I'm not a charity.

 

[ruston]

Interestingly today I was doing some sparking for a builder I recenty met.

He told me during the day that he wants copies of all my invoices so he can show the customer that we are not marking up the materials. I add margin to the parts I supply to cover the cost of getting them and all the associated paperwork. I don't like depending on other people for the parts I need.

I told him that I reduce the margin on the parts, when I work "for" other trades to 10% Also I don't split down the parts cost either.

It'll be interesting to hear his views when I go back on site on Thursday - one thing is clear, I'm not a charity.

As he got into his £80k merc he tells the customer he's sorted the sparky out.

 

[Octopus]

As he got into his £80k merc he tells the customer he's sorted the sparky out.

Actually he's got a 10 year old Honda!!!!!!

 

[ruston]

Actually he's got a 10 year old Honda!!!!!!

:blush5: I'm old and cynical lol.

 

[Dave 85]

I suppose it all very much depends on the circumstances. If its a builder who's gonna feed you loads of nice new builds and you can get a labour only price that will still work out quite a bit better than your day rate, then go for it.

But generally speaking if I get asked for a price 'with' and a price 'without', from a main contactor then my price 'without' is going to deduct only the cost to me of materials so profit is the same. I did this to a kitchen company guy I work for who's a total control freak and basically just wanted me to work out the material cost for him to supply. After the job he was moaning that he made £34 profit and I made £1,100 in 3 days. That put a smile on my face.

 

[Dcf]

The Internet is great for these tight arses to get an idea for your price.a little info n all these landlord types are all experts eh?iv recently had Landlords ask for a price for jobbing works before I have even got there to see what the fault is!hang on a minute and I will phone up Derek acora on the phsycic hotline n ask him what he thinks u donut.i don't mind clients supplying stuff if that is what they want but it betteR be correct and in the right quantities or I'm off somewhere else til they sort it out.

 

[Spazz]

I had a similar situation today/yesterday.
Went to view a job and he asked can he supply materials - ya fine but I will be able to supply them cheaper than you can buy them for

He called me today - asking how I can supply the items cheaper than he can get them from city electrical - I explained that its because I have trade accounts with online suppliers.

In the end he saved £150 getting parts through me compared to CEF.

I use Gil-Lec - Still love the CU fully loaded for £68 (inc VAT)
I sold it to him with Labor included - £250 - his best price for same CU and all MCBs - £150 + VAT

I find cheap sites with good quality and order in bulk

 

[supasparxs]

A few years ago, I put some outside PIR lights up for a customer. (she supplied them)
about a week later she calls me up stating that one of them wasn't working.
I arrive and tested the light in question and showed that the light had power and the over-ride was working.

In the end we went to B&Q and I fitted the replacement light.

The customer was put out for me charging her for the 3 hours of my time (30 mins each way, fault finding, going to B&Q with her and fitting the new light).

she didn't realise that as she supplied the light, the responsibility of the light working correctly was down to her.

the the case of a customer wanting to supply the materials
I feel if they supply the materials, so be it, however they will pay waiting time if the material isn't there to be installed.
including any materials I had forgotten to include in a material list.

On a shopfit recently, the shopfitter changed his tune.

If I supply if I will warrantee it, if I don't I won't

 

[Spoon]

however they will pay waiting time if the material isn't there to be installed.
including any materials I had forgotten to include in a material list.

I agree with everything you have just said, but the above. If you have missed it off the list then its not the customers responsibility, but yours.

 

[Spazz]

I fully agree with Spoon.

If you dont list something down - sorry its your fault, not the customers!
Same situation if you do a quote for an installation of an item (e.g. CU change and you forget to charge for the RCD) Its down to you to fit the bill on that item, but you should be making enough in the first place to cover for little things like that.

If you forget to list something down, either get on with something else or dont charge for that time the customer or you have to go and get it - if you have to us your fuel then yes charge for fuel only at the government rate of £0.45 per mile.

Charging the customer for something thats your fault is why we get called the things we do - We are not ment to rip the customer off - Fair Trade!


Otherwise I fully agree with you supasparxs

 

[Goody]

... including any materials I had forgotten to include in a material list ...

This isn't right. However, the fact that everyone makes mistakes, it always pays back if we show some leniency towards these customers.