Looking for thoughts

[hightower]

Morning all - bit of a wall of text but please stick with it as I need experienced opinions,

Did a bit work for an older woman a little while ago, one of those typical pain in the arse types who thinks the world spins for her and that tradesmen have nothing better to do than sit waiting for the phone to ring.

Anyway, work I did was fine, but she phoned up saying she'd had an attempted break-in and was looking for CCTV. No problem, I gave her an estimate for the same HD Swann system I have at home (I think they are good kits) plus 20% markup, and then a days labour on top - I'd have access to the loft to run wires but know CCTV can be a pain to run still so thought day rate was fair, especially when Maplin and the likes charge £300 for a 4-camera installation.

She agrees over the phone, but 2 minutes later her son is on the phone. Now don't get me wrong, this is an OAP so I'm all for her son stepping in to make sure she isn't getting fleeced. The convo went something like:

Him: "Don't worry about the system, I'm going to get it and then I can claim the VAT back through my business and what not. I've found a nice 4-camera Swann kit online for £200."

Me: "It'll not be HD"
Him: "It is"
Me: "Believe me, it'll be 960H. The quality will be questionable"
Him: "Well anyway, can you give me a price for labour?"
Caught off guard a bit I just said "well it would be *day rate*"
Him: "What do you charge per hour like?!"
Me: "I'm not charging per hour, I'm charging per job"
Him: "Right, well leave it with me"

In the meantime, I've had 7 missed calls within the space of 30 minutes from the mother all with voicemails with a very similar message in each (something like "can you call me back" - sort of shows how high maintenance she can be.

So her son phones back but I missed it (left it because couldn't be arsed to speak to him). He's text this morning now with:

It's Mr X, I am picking up CCTV system today. Can you confirm a date you'll be able to install it.

Now after sleeping on it for a night, I don't want to do the work and not just for the reasons above. The job is about 45-60 minutes drive for me which is a pain. But I've also done work for the daughter in the past too and she was a pain to work for as well - nothing was ever good enough, a right misery.

So I want to go back to this guy and say something like "find someone else", but before I do I want to ask the seasoned pros on here what their thoughts are, and if they would sack it off what sort of message would you send to his text (above)?

I was thinking something like:

After much deliberation I won't be able to install the CCTV system. I wouldn't have confidence in a system I haven't supplied so I think it's best you find another installer

Thanks for your thoughts in advance

 

[Pete999]

Morning all - bit of a wall of text but please stick with it as I need experienced opinions,

Did a bit work for an older woman a little while ago, one of those typical pain in the arse types who thinks the world spins for her and that tradesmen have nothing better to do than sit waiting for the phone to ring.

Anyway, work I did was fine, but she phoned up saying she'd had an attempted break-in and was looking for CCTV. No problem, I gave her an estimate for the same HD Swann system I have at home (I think they are good kits) plus 20% markup, and then a days labour on top - I'd have access to the loft to run wires but know CCTV can be a pain to run still so thought day rate was fair, especially when Maplin and the likes charge £300 for a 4-camera installation.

She agrees over the phone, but 2 minutes later her son is on the phone. Now don't get me wrong, this is an OAP so I'm all for her son stepping in to make sure she isn't getting fleeced. The convo went something like:

Him: "Don't worry about the system, I'm going to get it and then I can claim the VAT back through my business and what not. I've found a nice 4-camera Swann kit online for £200."

Me: "It'll not be HD"
Him: "It is"
Me: "Believe me, it'll be 960H. The quality will be questionable"
Him: "Well anyway, can you give me a price for labour?"
Caught off guard a bit I just said "well it would be *day rate*"
Him: "What do you charge per hour like?!"
Me: "I'm not charging per hour, I'm charging per job"
Him: "Right, well leave it with me"

In the meantime, I've had 7 missed calls within the space of 30 minutes from the mother all with voicemails with a very similar message in each (something like "can you call me back" - sort of shows how high maintenance she can be.

So her son phones back but I missed it (left it because couldn't be arsed to speak to him). He's text this morning now with:

It's Mr X, I am picking up CCTV system today. Can you confirm a date you'll be able to install it.

Now after sleeping on it for a night, I don't want to do the work and not just for the reasons above. The job is about 45-60 minutes drive for me which is a pain. But I've also done work for the daughter in the past too and she was a pain to work for as well - nothing was ever good enough, a right misery.

So I want to go back to this guy and say something like "find someone else", but before I do I want to ask the seasoned pros on here what their thoughts are, and if they would sack it off what sort of message would you send to his text (above)?

I was thinking something like:

After much deliberation I won't be able to install the CCTV system. I wouldn't have confidence in a system I haven't supplied so I think it's best you find another installer

Thanks for your thoughts in advance

Dear MrX

Your Mother phoned me asking me to quote for a CCTV system, I did send Her a quotation as requested.

You contacted me suggesting that you would buy a system that is inferior to the system I quoted for, and would I give you a price for fitting it in your Mothers property. You assumed that I would be willing to fit this system, confirmed by your statement "I am picking up the CCTV system today, and could I give you a date for fitting".

I have other projects in the pipeline and cannot just drop everything and fit you in,I respectfully suggest you employ another Electrician who can fit you in, as your Mother is anxious to get the work done quickly, which is understandable, sorry I can't help at this time.

Yours Faithfully

ETC

 

[telectrix]

think you have it right there. you could add thet if you were to install it and a fault developed, you'd have to charge £XXXfor call-out just because you can't warranty something that he's supplied.

 

[hightower]

You assumed that I would be willing to fit this system, confirmed by your statement "I am picking up the CCTV system today, and could I give you a date for fitting".

Thanks Pete, I'm not sure he has assumed this though as he caught me off guard when he asked, but I gave him a price for fitting so if anything it's me that's back peddling as I've given a price and now want out.

On opinions of the job itself, if it were you would you walk away? Would it have your spidey senses tingling?

 

[Andy78]

One of the perks of self employment is being able to decline jobs you are not comfortable with. Be polite, give your reasons, and be happy.

You've given a price, but an estimate is not an agreement to do the work. In my experience customers who are a pain in the arse do not suddenly stop being so, and jobs get even worse as more parties wade in with opinions and demands.

 

[Spoon]

Thanks Pete, I'm not sure he has assumed this though as he caught me off guard when he asked, but I gave him a price for fitting so if anything it's me that's back peddling as I've given a price and now want out.

On opinions of the job itself, if it were you would you walk away? Would it have your spidey senses tingling?

I'd go with what @Pete999 said first. See what reply you get. Keep all future contact with them via text or email regarding this, so you have proof of conversations.

 

[hightower]

I sent a text as follows (don't have his email), a shortened version of Pete's response:

Morning Mr X, I was originally asked to supply and install a 4 camera system and I provided an estimate to your Mam for this. CCTV is a fickle beast and after much deliberation I have decided I cannot install an inferior system which I have not supplied. I respectfully suggest you employ another electrician for this work. Regards,

His response:

The system I have purchased is not inferior, the cameras are 1080 HD with a 2TB HDD but is £100 cheaper than your estimate. If you don't need the work then no problem.

So now this "£200 Swann system" he could get is only £100 cheaper (If it really was £200 it would be £190 cheaper) than the Swann system I estimated for. I think I'll leave it at that and not bother replying to his text.

I feel a major relief in this to be honest, and I think @Andy78's comment about people putting their oar in rings true.

Thanks for your responses fellas, I truly appreciate it as always.

 

[Pete999]

Thanks Pete, I'm not sure he has assumed this though as he caught me off guard when he asked, but I gave him a price for fitting so if anything it's me that's back peddling as I've given a price and now want out.

On opinions of the job itself, if it were you would you walk away? Would it have your spidey senses tingling?

Judging from your description of the clients siblings and the fact that as you put it as being a pain, seems the Son is a bit of an interfering bloke.
You have to ask yourself is a days work worth it? the traveling as well as, the sure as eggs are eggs the nitpicking calls you are likely to get, I would be inclined to walk away, the only drawback would come in the form of any adverse advertising you may get from word of mouth, you know the sort of thing "Oh don't use that bloke he can't be trusted" anyway good luck my Friend.

 

[Spoon]

the only drawback would come in the form of any adverse advertising you may get from word of mouth, you know the sort of thing "Oh don't use that bloke he can't be trusted" anyway good luck my Friend.

But you guys are always going to get that from idiots. Idiots are everywhere and whinge and lie a lot when they don't get their own way.

 

[hightower]

That's probably the main thing that kept me in for it still Pete, whether there'd be any adverse affects with advertising, but truth is this customer lives nowhere near me so in the end it didn't matter. I did a CCTV install for her daughter some months ago to help a mate out. He'd quoted her £70 for an install but didn't have time. I honoured it at that price based on the promise of her needing more work doing. I did get a bit work off her, and then off her mother, but it's the only customers I've ever worked for and been really anxious around. Oh well, there's a line drawn under it now.

 

[Andy78]

If you feel better about it as soon as ruling yourself out, then it's the right decision.

 

[Octopus]

I wouldn't be wasting any more time on this and given the distance I wouldn't be entertaining any more work for her either.

Being self employed means you can pick and choose and this is one you have called right

 

[Wilko]

Hi All - good advice all round. I think it's a bullet dodged with that Customer. HT, you were polite, timely and clear.

 

[Kate]

Hey. Slightly off topic. Installed a Swann system at my house. Great piece of kit....until it's dark. Quality is crap. I got it for the dark as my car has been hit a couple of times overnight in the past. Anyone recommend a better system?

 

[Octopus]

^^^ wot she said!

I am interested in suggestions too!

 

[hightower]

My Swann kit seems fine in the dark. I was recommended a hikvision kit when I was looking for my house, but i seem to recall reading they have disabled their cloud service or something - perhaps not best investing in them if they are struggling so much they have to shut down services.

 

[The Ghost]

If I find a job I do not really want to do I just double the price.

 

[rolyberkin]

I have a 6 camera Xvision 1080 poe ip system which I bought from HDCCTV.co.uk it is good and quality is good but a bitch to set up and didn't get nmuch change from 2k by the time I had fitted a decent sized hard drive etc.