How much to change a ballcock!

[MickBrown]

Went to a client of mine in my village today to sort out a small leak. While there the lady told me a few weeks ago she came back from holiday and the cold water tank overflow was running. She couldn't find my number (she looked under 'P' for plumber but she had filed me under 'B' for Brown) so she called somebody from the yellow pages. A polish guy arrived, being an old house with dormer bedrooms the loft space is very restricted and he had to take out the F&E tank to get to the cold water tank. Once he had done that he went off for an hour to get a ballcock. Came back and fitted it and refitted the F&E tank. He was there less than 4 hours, bill £400. I said I would have to work for 3 days to charge her that sort of money.

 

[plumben]

Pop along to your local pound shop, buy a fridge magnet, then write your name and number on a piece of paper, pop back to the custards home, and stick all on the fridge.

That's a good argument to get the magnetic business cards from vista print to give to your regular customers

 

[BLOD]

Went to a client of mine in my village today to sort out a small leak. While there the lady told me a few weeks ago she came back from holiday and the cold water tank overflow was running. She couldn't find my number (she looked under 'P' for plumber but she had filed me under 'B' for Brown) so she called somebody from the yellow pages. A polish guy arrived, being an old house with dormer bedrooms the loft space is very restricted and he had to take out the F&E tank to get to the cold water tank. Once he had done that he went off for an hour to get a ballcock. Came back and fitted it and refitted the F&E tank. He was there less than 4 hours, bill £400. I said I would have to work for 3 days to charge her that sort of money.

I'd say it serves her right she didn't try very hard did she !
If you're in the same village she could have knocked on your door or put a not through your letterbox.
some people have no loyalty. :thumbs_down:

 

[Rickster123]

Mick browns retired now. He's taken up metal detecting in Dungeness.

 

[cable_guy]

sorry to interrupt your tales but how much is a reasonable price to change a ballcock?! I assume mine has just gone (I have water dripping from an overflow pipe anyway). I'm in Staffordshire

 

[brum]

sorry to interrupt your tales but how much is a reasonable price to change a ballcock?! I assume mine has just gone (I have water dripping from an overflow pipe anyway). I'm in Staffordshire

£45 if done within 30 minutes .

 

[Rickster123]

£45 if done within 30 minutes .

Plus parts!

 

[cable_guy]

i'm serious i dont want to rip anyone off.

 

[brum]

Fell for it didn't I ??
We are not in arms should not talk prices..brum

 

[julesverne]

Two camels and your first born.
plus parts

 

[Dotty]

Cable Guy.

We do not discuss prices in open forum.

Charging a fair price for a fair job is not ripping someone off. Consider your overheads, van, tools, training, tax, professional affiliations etc, then how much you want to take home at the end of week. Use this to work out your hourly rate.

 

[cable_guy]

sorry mate I'm a customer, I know nothing about plumbing and come on here to look for advice. If i'm not meant to ask for prices fair enough sorry.

 

[rpm]

Hey thats one of the best responses I`ve heard for awhile, with an attitude like that I reckon your welcome back anytime.

 

[Dotty]

No worries buddy, its just the prices vary so much across the country that what might be a fair price to a londoner could be an arm, leg and baby horse to a northerner, you dig?

Your best bet is to get recommendations of plumbers from your friends and family, word of mouth works wonders.

And remember, there is actually a thing as "Reassuringly expensive!"

Too cheap and they're probably a handyman with a set of molies!

 

[solutions]

No worries buddy, its just the prices vary so much across the country that what might be a fair price to a londoner could be an arm, leg and baby horse to a northerner, you dig?

Your best bet is to get recommendations of plumbers from your friends and family, word of mouth works wonders.

And remember, there is actually a thing as "Reassuringly expensive!"

Too cheap and they're probably a handyman with a set of molies!

And handyman is not a term anyone should use for someone who advertises himself as such.

 

[SimonG]

Look up Red Adairs saying.