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- Thread starter TFGplumbing
- Start date
L
LPC
Materials + 20%
Labour £x day x how many days? (my day rate varies; bigger jobs it's less because that's the way it is. Combi swaps are the most profitable)
+10% because because
price!
I don't give breakdowns at all. If customers want to look up the price of the materials they can but I don't provide those figures. They get one number.
Labour £x day x how many days? (my day rate varies; bigger jobs it's less because that's the way it is. Combi swaps are the most profitable)
+10% because because
price!
I don't give breakdowns at all. If customers want to look up the price of the materials they can but I don't provide those figures. They get one number.
Giving them a detailed estimate with brochures and other literature on what's on your estimate will sometimes backfire as it is too much information and some people will use that for quotes against yours. They will be so reassured when others will quote much lower than your estimate for your exact specification and take other plumber.
I know this doesn't always happen, but annoying when they use your time and experience for other quotes against you.
I know this doesn't always happen, but annoying when they use your time and experience for other quotes against you.
This is a great thread, I think quoting is a skill itself. It's about selling yourself to the customer. An easy way is to cut your labour and undercut the guy before you.
"How much have you been quoted?"
"£6000 all in"
"i'll do it for £5750 then"
Start like that and you soon realise your aren't making much money and need to scrape on materials and the bad ones amongst start to cut corners and rush.
Its a great kill to quote higher than the previous, get told what the previous quote was, and then maintain your price with solid reasoning.
I had a company round the over month (no names) quoting on a built in wardrobe for the missus. internal drawers, lights etc etc. He quoted at £4,000 with a 50% special, then said there was a Managers special on that took another 20% off. So we were at £3200 now. We wanted to think about it and got a call a day later saying they would do it for £2750. I lost my rag then as I had no idea if I was getting the bargain of the century (i doubt) at £5250 off retail, or if they were buttering me up with discounts to sell something that was still not worth half the amount. (i think we all know which it is).
"How much have you been quoted?"
"£6000 all in"
"i'll do it for £5750 then"
Start like that and you soon realise your aren't making much money and need to scrape on materials and the bad ones amongst start to cut corners and rush.
Its a great kill to quote higher than the previous, get told what the previous quote was, and then maintain your price with solid reasoning.
I had a company round the over month (no names) quoting on a built in wardrobe for the missus. internal drawers, lights etc etc. He quoted at £4,000 with a 50% special, then said there was a Managers special on that took another 20% off. So we were at £3200 now. We wanted to think about it and got a call a day later saying they would do it for £2750. I lost my rag then as I had no idea if I was getting the bargain of the century (i doubt) at £5250 off retail, or if they were buttering me up with discounts to sell something that was still not worth half the amount. (i think we all know which it is).
What happened to the big gold stamp on the envelope LPC?!
I like reading you quote related posts. I always quoted the same way as you, logo folder, brochures and info but now tend to do it by email. Both have benefits. The odd customer told me they like my presentation.
Half the time I think lot of customers have decided who they want . That's when the salesmans pitch comes in - I don't posess those type of skills....
You can be the best plumber in the world but if you aren't a good salesman....
Im neither
I like reading you quote related posts. I always quoted the same way as you, logo folder, brochures and info but now tend to do it by email. Both have benefits. The odd customer told me they like my presentation.
Half the time I think lot of customers have decided who they want . That's when the salesmans pitch comes in - I don't posess those type of skills....
You can be the best plumber in the world but if you aren't a good salesman....
Im neither
Last edited:
R
Ray Stafford
I am guessing that you probably put many years into learning how to become a good plumber.
Its commonplace on this forum and elsewhere to laugh at people who think that they can be a plumber with 10 weeks fast track training.
And yet how many people think that they can become businessmen (because that's what SE plumbers need to be) without A SINGLE DAY of training?
I reckon that a week invested in a good selling course would pay off about 100x for the average SE plumber.
R
Ray Stafford
So learn! you dont have to be good. You just have to be better than the next plumber .
K
Kev the gas
I was a good gas man after joining B Gas in 1986, I was promoted to a technical sales rep in 1998. 5 years in sales was long enough with them to teach me the skills.
Motivation competing against the bodgit and scarper installers is my main issue after 13 years self employment.
- Dec 23, 2011
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