How do people compete with numpties quoting blind...

[Gavin John Hyde]

Been to do some quotes this week, One is a partial rewire and Cu change. The other wiring up a garage with the usual sockets, lights etc.
On both jobs 'electricians' have quoted blind and given a price over the phone with no visit or pre work testing...
One job the customer has gone with the blind quote as I couldn't compete with the £250 price to run swa out of the house to garage, then install CU with internal sockets x 6, 2 led battens, and an external lights fed from garage.
The other I have quoted for but somebody quoted nearly a third less than me and I even if they pay no tax, ni etc I cant for live of me see how they are making a living after materials... they must be on less than minimum wage..
Makes you wonder if once they have started they suck their teeth and due to foreseen issues raise the price and pressure the customer??

 

[Octopus]

Remember ........... if you receive tax credits, then there is no point in earning much ............... because you then lose the tax free, tax credits .......

As for quoting "blind" - they are mugs.

The garage install - closer to £500 minimum if you ask me, if not a bit more...

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

The garage install - closer to £500 minimum if you ask me, if not a bit more...

Well I came in at £450 on condition the customers teenage son dug the small trench to bury the swa... they seemed to like the idea of him getting off his backside playing xbox and doing some proper work!
Then get told after I emailed them that they are using the cheap quote!

 

[Squid]

Well I came in at £450 on condition the customers teenage son dug the small trench to bury the swa... they seemed to like the idea of him getting off his backside playing xbox and doing some proper work!
Then get told after I emailed them that they are using the cheap quote!

Son must of told them to F Off......

 

[Ib≤In≤Iz]

Let them blindly crack on. One day they will open Pandora's box on a job and regret it.

 

[Andy78]

Dear Mr/Mrs customer,
No professional electrician can give an accurate quote over the phone as the existing equipment needs to checked for suitability and safety, as well as the job to be undertaken properly assessed. If someone is quoting blind and they are cheaper than me, it is very likely that extra costs will mount up from the quoted price, and their attitude towards the safety of your installation may be a tad cavalier.
I'll leave you to consider my quotation.

 

[Pete999]

Well I came in at £450 on condition the customers teenage son dug the small trench to bury the swa... they seemed to like the idea of him getting off his backside playing xbox and doing some proper work!
Then get told after I emailed them that they are using the cheap quote!

small trench? how small?

 

[Squid]

small trench? how small?

depends on the neighbours.........

 

[Octopus]

My crystal ball sees a thread starting shortly from an end user in Somerset complaining about a a dodgy garage installation, paid cash, no certs, no part P, ............. and the spark not answering calls..

 

[Pete999]

depends on the neighbours.........

View attachment 41723

No it depends on does the person doing / supervising the work know how deep the trench need's to be, it's all very well making light of the subject, but if it's not done to speck then it's not done properly, is it?

 

[westward10]

My crystal ball sees a thread starting shortly from an end user in Somerset complaining about a a dodgy garage installation, paid cash, no certs, no part P, ............. and the spark not answering calls..

I didn't think Gavin was going to do it

 

[Squid]

No it depends on does the person doing / supervising the work know how deep the trench need's to be, it's all very well making light of the subject, but if it's not done to speck then it's not done properly, is it?

St Pete,

;o))))

 

[Pete999]

St Pete,

;o))))

Does your comment mean that you wouldcondone a sub standard installation for the sake of a few quid?

 

[Squid]

Does your comment mean that you wouldcondonea sub standard installation for the sake of a few quid?

No, but a trench 2mm under standards should be fine,

have you ever lied to or cheated on your wife?

 

[7029 dave]

This is what your up against, let them crack on.

 

[Pete999]

No, but a trench 2mm under standards should be fine,

have you ever lied to or cheated on your wife?

No never

 

[Pete999]

No, but a trench 2mm under standards should be fine,

have you ever lied to or cheated on your wife?

No never.

 

[Squid]

You said it twice hands trembling, so she knows the true price of every tool that you paid for ;o))))

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

My crystal ball sees a thread starting shortly from an end user in Somerset complaining about a a dodgy garage installation, paid cash, no certs, no part P, ............. and the spark not answering calls..

Well it wont be my work they are complaining about!

small trench? how small?

Small in this case means approx 3.5 nearly 4 metres from house wall to garage and i told them it would need to be approximately 50cm as the ground between house and garage is used for parking the range rover on and not being concrete etc does appear to get churned up a bit when wet and saturated.

 

[Pete999]

You said it twice hands trembling, so she knows the true price of every tool that you paid for ;o))))

No because I'm the sort of person who will own up to minor indiscretions in life which have no meaning whatsoever, in the general scheme of thing.
I take it this is what you are getting at? if it's something else then please expand, quite what I have said to my Wife has little or nothing to do with what I said about the correct procedure for digging a trench for installing an underground cables, may be a good idea to rephrase your comment. You may say I am being over senistive, but I happen to think what I say on this Forum, and what this has to do with my relationship with my wife, has nothing to do with you or this Forum.
What I have mentioned about buying tools etc, have been 50 50% in jest.

 

[Christopher Bernard]

I haven't had the privilege of being undercut yet by someone who can miraculously know the condition of an installation by not even going there. Sounds like you get a lot of hassle like this from what I can gather reading posts on here Gavin.

 

[PEG]

If i may step in to calm this unexpected diversion...i have to admit to telling a few lies to my good lady.

One of them,was when i told her the trench she was digging,needed to be deeper,when it was clearly already 500mm deep...

 

[Squid]

If i may step in to calm this unexpected diversion...i have to admit to telling a few lies to my good lady.

One of them,was when i told her the trench she was digging,needed to be deeper,when it was clearly already 500mm deep...

Liar, it was on your wedding day when you agreed to obey and to honour........ then it went downhill from there....

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I haven't had the privilege of being undercut yet by someone who can miraculously know the condition of an installation by not even going there. Sounds like you get a lot of hassle like this from what I can gather reading posts on here Gavin.

It seems to have been the last year or so people have gone into a race to the bottom on pricing. Likewise the bloke down the pub is doing electrics on the side to his bricklaying and people think thats the going rate for a professional!

 

[Darkwood]

Guys ... I've deleted a few posts, had several reports about the direction this thread went and the personal lewd comments made about members families, while between regular members who have an understanding of each other they may be fine, please remember that such comments in the public arena reflect on the forum and other members who are not use to the established banter, we have areas of the forum where such talk is not so scrutinised like the Arms so please remember where you are posting before making such comments.

 

[PEG]

Liar, it was on your wedding day when you agreed to obey and to honour........ then it went downhill from there....

Love her too much for a wedding 30 years together this August...

Wouldn't make it on the outside now...institutionalised ...

"Bathroom break, boss ? ..."

 

[Wilko]

Getting the new submain established in the CU and the run "RCD free" to the shed can take a day and cost that kind of money by itself. Let em crack on.

 

[peterhyper]

It is definitely getting worse as time goes on because there have always been time wasters around but not to the level there is now. I just don't entertain the idiots and any hint they are a time waster I won't even quote.

 

[Rpa07]

A fair bit of work comes from putting other work right though. Had one this morning, outside lighting by a handyman. Just needed testing and correct wiring and it was done - one new contact!

 

[FatAlan]

Nothing new. Bit like public private contracts. The big boys always put in ridiculous low quotes to get contacts. They either go bust like Carillion or the public end up paying over the odds in the long run.

 

[SparkyChick]

I don't worry about it. I quote and I either get the work or I don't. To the best of my knowledge I've lost less then 10 jobs in 18 months due to price and to be honest, that suits me down to the ground because quite simply I'm not willing to cut corners. The only job I'll usually give a price for over the phone is changing a light fitting. Other than that I insist of going and having a look.

It's like EICRs. I was asked a while back about how much I'd charge for a hotel I've worked on previously. Around 30 circuits and I know it's not organised etc. So my feeling was 30 hours isn't unreasonable. Then the owner of said building (I'd previously been dealing with the lease holder) phoned me and asked me to quote but never got back to me after I returned his call (I'm not into chasing people for work either). I know who got the job.... £9-10 per circuit, and that didn't include taking a look in the attic where a lot of the cables run along with the mices. Just seen a report for a property that I'm going to quote for a rewire (owners want it).... unless I'm misreading it or misunderstanding it, 5 accessories were inspected.... FIVE! In a 3 bed + two down + basement property. I don't want to compete with that kind of garbage... I like to sleep at night.

It's the same thing as has been discussed in the race to the bottom thread. Personally it's not my bag, if people want cheap they can go elsewhere, especially EICRs (in fact I ask why they want the inspection... if it's to sell the property on or for their obligations as a landlord I straight out say I can do it, but I'm not going to be the cheapest and let them make the decision). It used to wind me up somewhat, but I don't worry about it now. What will be will be.

 

[Martyn Fletcher]

If you are worried about losing jobs to cheaper, unqualified, uninsured and less skilled people may I suggest you have a look at where and to whom you are marketing yourself? Or indeed, how you are marketing yourself.
If your marketing material or website (for those of you who bother with it) says that no job is too small, or omits information such as insurances, qualifications and scheme membership (AND WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT), then you are likely to be lining yourself up for the time-wasters, price-hunters and customers who do not care about these things. Also, you are then competing with the very people with whom you do not wish to be compared.
Odd world isn't it?

 

[Octopus]

I find most of the time wasters are internet based enquiries.....

 

[sparksfly]

I am wary of customers who push for a price there or mention too often if the price is right ? Good constructive comments Sparkychic, Martin, Murdoch. I use my gut feeling but sometimes ignore it for the job challenge, then dread taking it on. Some customers are too focussed on price alone so they can spend it on anything other than boring electrical safety. Could the schemes get together & do more to educate the wider public ?

 

[Pete999]

I am wary of customers who push for a price there or mention too often if the price is right ? Good constructive comments Sparkychic, Martin, Murdoch. I use my gut feeling but sometimes ignore it for the job challenge, then dread taking it on. Some customers are too focussed on price alone so they can spend it on anything other than boring electrical safety. Could the schemes get together & do more to educate the wider public ?

Doubtful sparksfly, nothing init for them is there?

 

[Toneyz]

No because I'm the sort of person who will own up to minor indiscretions in life which have no meaning whatsoever, in the general scheme of thing.
I take it this is what you are getting at? if it's something else then please expand, quite what I have said to my Wife has little or nothing to do with what I said about the correct procedure for digging a trench for installing an underground cables, may be a good idea to rephrase your comment. You may say I am being over senistive, but I happen to think what I say on this Forum, and what this has to do with my relationship with my wife, has nothing to do with you or this Forum.
What I have mentioned about buying tools etc, have been 50 50% in jest.

Well put Pete, there are some people on the forum that seem to have anything constructive.

 

[stevels4]

“I’m sorry...the phone line’s really bad did you say it was 16 or 60 metres from your house to the garage?”

“Why does that make a difference?”

“Yes it does to the price, the shorter the distance the cheaper the price”

“OK in that case it is definitely SIXTEEN, when can you come and do it?”

 

[Squid]

Nothing new. Bit like public private contracts. The big boys always put in ridiculous low quotes to get contacts. They either go bust like Carillion or the public end up paying over the odds in the long run.

They make there money on the "extras"