Awkward situation just happened.

[LPC]

Just been out quoting to remove a back-boiler. Nice house. BB out,tanks, cylinder etc. New combi boiler in kitchen, pipes run through property inc new 22mm gas pipe from one side of house to the other. Ceiling to come down in kitchen to run pipes as tiled bathroom above. Big job, would take me and the apprentice a good 3-4 days. They want it done before xmas.

So we're chatting in the kitchen, i've got the price pretty much in my head already, and there's a knock at the door. A fairly well known local heating guy like myself is there dropping off his quote. He's got a nice van, all wrapped with his name and logo. He goes, and she opens it in front of me. Bear in mind i've been there about 45 mins at this point.

£2200.

And they said?

'Ohh, that's a lot, can you beat that? What about for cash'

I almost fell into the door I left so fast.

 

[Rickster123]

That is proper cheeeeap! I was thinking 3200ish I take it they want a quality boiler etc not cheap and cheerful?

 

[Scott_D]

The other guy may not have quoted to fit in the kitchen.

 

[Meady]

That does sound rather cheap, I wonder what boiler he would have been fitting for that price?

 

[LPC]

His quote was to do exactly as I was to do (what they wanted), except no mention of a powerflush. Boiler was a 25Si.

I would have quoted at least £3500 fitting an Ecotec Plus.

 

[Meady]

Plus he might not be offering a powerflush, filter, TRV's if needed.

 

[SimonG]

You should have said yes you could beat it, by 1300 quid and do a proper job for 3500 🙂 Saved you typing it up 🙂

 

[LPC]

Yes, obviously i'm a better installer and will do the proper job for the proper price; but they thought 1300 cheaper than me was expensive!

 

[EPH]

4 days sounds a lot for that job, maybe he's just confident he can do it quicker.

£2,200 (I'm assuming + VAT) is still cheap though, maybe he's got no work on.

 

[LPC]

It was £2200, no VAT to pay.

I was pretty confident 3 days would crack it with day 4 a few hours doing finishing touches. It's a pretty tricky job; running the pipework from kitchen to landing is a right ballache. No way he can do it quicker on his own. I've seen him around and he doesn't seem to have anyone working with him.

If he's going to do this job for that money he might aswell sell up the van and tools and work in an office.

 

[Millsy 82]

A lot of people don't realise how much things cost. The job I'm doing at the moment she said I was more than she wanted to pay. I still got it though.

 

[Leo21]

I had a lovely phone call today, "I've got an ici caldere boiler and I'm thinking of replacing it with Sime, how much"
Very short conversation that one.

 

[EPH]

I had a lovely phone call today, "I've got an ici caldere boiler and I'm thinking of replacing it with Sime, how much"
Very short conversation that one.

You did well to let her get to how much?!

 

[EPH]

25 Si, MT10 and standard flue £768
Worcester filter £86 ish??
Sundry materials £200

Inc VAT £1,264

Leaves him £1,000 labour I suppose if he doesn't make mark up on materials

 

[LPC]

25 Si, MT10 and standard flue £768
Worcester filter £86 ish??
Sundry materials £200

Inc VAT £1,264

Leaves him £1,000 labour I suppose if he doesn't make mark up on materials

I suppose yeah if he's fitting crap like MT10s. I still wouldn't do it for that day rate but each to their own.

 

[Leo21]

I'm happy at £500 a day, the sums don't add up above to me. Oh and there's labourer included.

 

[EPH]

I'm happy at £500 a day, the sums don't add up above to me. Oh and there's labourer included.

Mine?

 

[LPC]

I'm happy at £500 a day, the sums don't add up above to me. Oh and there's labourer included.

Yeah I won't do a boiler for less than that generally. Apprentice included!

 

[REDSAW]

charge that for a swap!!!

 

[hammers4spanner]

Why did you walk out just because you were under quoted?

Half of working for yourself is the sale of your company, they contacted you because they require a service which you can provide.

I would of said its £2200 because in this game pay she it get she it or words to that effect

 

[Leo21]

Mine?

Yup...

 

[Leo21]

Yeah I won't do a boiler for less than that generally. Apprentice included!

Same here.

 

[EPH]

Yup...

What doesn't add up?

 

[Leo21]

No filter, no labourer and Sundrys to cheap. I may be wrong, but my working out wpould be different.

 

[Ermintrude]

Thought it was poor up Norf? We average 1800 to 2200 for a swap and bbu to COMBI with horizontal flue bundle of 22 and a mag 3200. Well that was today's job. Booked solid till almost January...... 2016

 

[EPH]

No filter, no labourer and Sundrys to cheap. I may be wrong, but my working out wpould be different.

I included a Worcester filter on the list, £200 was a guess as I've obviously not seen the job and allowed £1k for labour.

I didnt agree at the costs, just stating what the other engineer might've allowed for.

Id consider it it a ridiculous price, I'm close to asking for his phone number to fit a new boiler in my house because it'd be cheaper for me to get him to do it whilst I go to work.

 

[Leo21]

Thought it was poor up Norf? We average 1800 to 2200 for a swap and bbu to COMBI with horizontal flue bundle of 22 and a mag 3200. Well that was today's job. Booked solid till almost January...... 2016

Same on a swap. Bbu,s out differ hugely on gas run/condensate run etc.

 

[tamz]

Probably about 2900 inc vat and it would be done in a day and a half

 

[Ermintrude]

I like bbu that's been upgraded by council..... 4 lots of 28. Elson and loads of 22 in side of chimney

 

[tamz]

Fireplace bricked up and plastered and ceiling put back another 280.
That would fill up the 2nd day afternoon :wink:

 

[Ermintrude]

We now use expanding foam and glue thermalights in on first morning then dab board on and patch by end of play

But hate it when they want gas Fire and ask why we won't use old liner. Dimplex elec fires xxxxx

 

[Leo21]

Day and a half, and half a day drinking tea and justifying the cost.

 

[Leo21]

Fireplace bricked up and plastered and ceiling put back another 280.
That would fill up the 2nd day afternoon :wink:

Seriously half day! Collecting boards, blocks and plaster. Bricking up, re boarding and skimming?

 

[LPC]

Why did you walk out just because you were under quoted?

Half of working for yourself is the sale of your company, they contacted you because they require a service which you can provide.

I would of said its £2200 because in this game pay she it get she it or words to that effect

I didn't 'walk out', but I wrapped it up very quick and did say that I can't get anywhere near that quote and it wouldn't be worth either of our time going any further with it.

 

[Leo21]

I didn't 'walk out', but I wrapped it up very quick and did say that I can't get anywhere near that quote and it wouldn't be worth either of our time going any further with it.

Id have found impossible not to walk out, shaking my head and swearing under my breath. Well done that man.

 

[tamz]

You can brick up and undercoat a fireplace in half an hour. 3 thermalites and a bucket of compo made with rapid set. Damp the thermolite down (wet it) half - 3/4 bag browning with a couple of trowel of cement in it to make it set quicker.
Do something else for another half hour or so, scrape it down and a coat of finish, another half hour.
Skim coat ceilings take a wee while longer. It depends how much you destroy getting in.
If you are lucky you might get away with a tape and fill.

Btw if you know you are doing it you take the stuff with you. No running away to get nothing.