Minimum charge

[maharg]

I seem to be coming up against pricing problems.Every phone call starts with how much would it cost?
Today one phone call enquiry was to replace 2 lounge pendants in ground floor lounge.
I asked if they were of a similar weight and explained if not I would need access through floorboards to install supports.Initially the caller said they were heavier but then changed her mind.I informed her that I would charge £55.00 which would include fitting,testing,mwc.She said she would call back.
Next phone call was to move a surface mounted socket.caller did not want wall chasing but happy with trunking,I qouted £45.00 Caller then asked me if I could do it cheaper.I told him that my quote included installing,testing and mwc and should I come across a problem on the circuit up to 1 hour of my time to rectify it.He told me that he knew the installation was ok because he had it tested.Again he said he will call back.
I have just started working for myself and although I have had a few good clients prepared to pay a reasonable rate I am not so flush with customers that I can afford to loose these small ones.
Am I overcharging on these small jobs.
I have just paid a plasterer £100.00 for 2 hours labour and have just been approached by a gardener who offered to cut my grass and weed my garden for £15.00 an hour.I asked him whether he was qualified,insured and registered and he told me to xxxx off.
Any advice on how to approach these jobs

 

[sixfingers]

For a start put your prices up! They seem a bit cheap where are you based?

 

[Spudnik]

They do sound cheap, although i think given the current climate and depending on how busy you were, sounds reasonable.

Im afraid you do get this sometimes, and i generally like to go and look at the job and talk to the customer face to face.

This way you can "sell" yourself.

 

[maharg]

I generally quote higher prices than this but when I quote what I think is right Im being undercut.
eg customer wanted to install towel rail,underfloor heating,10 kw shower(existing cable 6 mm) on a 4 way board no rcd, no supplementary bonding.He supplied the materials. I quoted for new Rcd board.Rcd spur for u/f heating.All circuits on new board.
Someone got the job for £300.00

 

[sixfingers]

Yeah to be true i always seem to get undercut aswell on rewires with my qoutes that are around £1800.00 for a 3 bed and people seem to under cut that! which i think is a far price!
Everone wants a deal at mo!

 

[Wotsit]

I recently quoted for a friends extension, Large extension, partial rewire, new consumer unit, upgrade bonding and earthing. My parts came to £450 and labour at £1000, I did all the parts at trade and labour reduced to £150 a day as he is a mate.

I lost the job to somebody else who offered to do it for £500 all in. Cant wait to go round an see what has been done.

 

[Guest123]

Sounds like he's a good friend Wotsit old buddy.

No doubt it'll come back and bite him on the rear. Then he'll be asking you to do it properly which will cost more than getting you to do it in the first place.

 

[iceman]

i quoted 230quid to supply power outside to a water foutain and pump tht included all parts and labour testing and cert
the woman said shes hav a ring round first for other qoutes tht was over a week ago never got the job, i had another customer askin me to move 3 bedroom lights and fit 2 ceiling mounted fan lights quoted her 150
and again testing and cert thn she asked me how much just to move 2 of the lights i told her 95quid i never got tht job eather wot do people want it done for it seems thy expect it done for like a tenner a somethin, im worse of now under the niceic thn i was last year unregistered, wots goin on?????

 

[Sparkydan]

Maybe we should have been plumbers they seem to charge a fortune for little jobs and get away with it.

 

[Spudnik]

Maybe we should have been plumbers.........

I think you will find they are in a very similar situation.

 

[suburban]

I've been keeping my prices as they were a year ago and have kept two of us busy even in the current climate. I aim for providing quality and a good service.
Customers who get sparks (I use the term loosely) to do jobs for next to nothing will more than likely have the work come back to haunt them.