Fixed price repairs a good idea or not

[Deleted member 32524]

Thinking of doing fixed price repairs. Does anyone else do this or work for a company that does. What is the charge and how often do you get stung?

Thank you for the help.

Duncan

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Sorry, wrong forum. Any chance it can be moved to private?

 

[lame plumber]

talk to bg

 

[mountainman]

Only practical if you get the spares for next to nothing imho.

 

[Dotty]

Moving to the sanctity of The Arms...

Might prove a pleasant distraction from the hot topic of the moment!

 

[dancinplumba]

Ask a keston /ideal engineer 🙂

 

[Plum Bob 66]

Recipe for disaster in IMHO, how often have you gone to a simple fix and it's escalated into a bigger/ longer job than you anticipated. If you set your cost your going to be out of pocket very soon .

 

[lame plumber]

All my repairs are a fixed price, I just fix it to match the cost of materials and time taken simples

 

[Plum Bob 66]

All my repairs are a fixed price, I just fix it to match the cost of materials and time taken simples

Ditto .

 

[Deleted member 32524]

ok. So it seems like a bad idea by most? I agree plenty jobs have turned out to be ALOT longer than thought. However, I have been to plenty that are a quick easy fix. Meaning I will loose money on some jobs on parts alone, break even on others and make good off some. Just trying to weigh up if it is more of the latter or the first. Do not mind turning money over on a few jobs keeps fuel, insurance etc covered.

What is a fair price for a what ever it takes to fix?

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Ask a keston /ideal engineer 🙂

any on here??

 

[lame plumber]

if your having to ask, you cant afford to do it!!

 

[Leo21]

Very risky, some will be past repair. Also think you'd have to be a big concern to pull it off.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

if your having to ask, you cant afford to do it!!

Meaning it is too much of a risk? Or..?
Personally, I strongly believe that people want to know exactly how much it is going to cost, no matter what, to fix their boiler. As you can never tell how long a job might take, as discussed, I understand that some jobs get carried away, but not all. If I thought every job was "one of those ones" I would do no business, as I would be too scared to leave the house.

 

[lame plumber]

unless you have a few million in the bank to back you up no small business can afford fixed price for all repairs. you just quote\estimate each one as it comes along. take a look at Pimlico pluming a rather successful company, they dont offer fixed price repairs, they quote each one as required. take a lead from those doing well in the trade, BG is a different kettle of fish, they buy in bulk and parts costs are miniscule compared to what you can achieve.

 

[Leo21]

Baxi charge around £250 and guarantee the boiler for a year. That's the sort of money you'd need to be at IMHO. People just aren't going to take them up on that unless they think its a big job. And customers always think its a five minute job.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Very risky, some will be past repair. Also think you'd have to be a big concern to pull it off.

Yes, some will be fecked. Still get face to face with a potential customer. Some will be beyond economic repair, but I am prepaired to loose money on some, but there are loads of repairs that can be done with very cheap parts i.e thermistor jobs, APS and many other reasonably prices parts. Some can even be done with no parts i.e the famous blocked venturi on a vokera.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Baxi charge around £250 and guarantee the boiler for a year. That's the sort of money you'd need to be at IMHO. People just aren't going to take them up on that unless they think its a big job. And customers always think its a five minute job.

This is very true.

 

[lame plumber]

go on you have the answer you want in your head so why keep asking on here, give it a go and let us know how it goes, but you try getting £250 out of some brick****house of a bloke for 5 mins work, send photos of what you look like

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Maybe it is not a good idea!! Probably is too much of a risk. So what is working for you guys? Local press, internet??

 

[Deleted member 32524]

go on you have the answer you want in your head so why keep asking on here, give it a go and let us know how it goes, but you try getting £250 out of some brick****house of a bloke for 5 mins work, send photos of what you look like

I can handle myself. Don't you worry son.

 

[REDSAW]

I can handle myself. Don't you worry son.

son? juses, you must be old!.lol

 

[REDSAW]

i jsut charge £100 + parts. £200 + parts. £300.......

any how, nothing stopping you walking away from one if its a loss otherwise charge in stages of defective parts?
in a good world it would be ideal, but we dont mention those boilers here, haha

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Maybe make it subject to survey??

 

[hammers4spanner]

i cant make boiler repairs pay at all better of installing where the money rolls in canny be ursed with ordering parts for some crappy worcester
boiler repairs on hourly rate for h/a where i can toss it off all day long for me

 

[chris watkins]

It can & does work as a business model even for the sole trader, it does however mean you have to be at the top of your game & normally specialise in certain areas or products so you can carry the correct spares.
Yes there are some you loose & some you win but not a lot of difference to quoting.

 

[lame plumber]

Being as we are in a depressed market and sensible custards will go for a fixed price, especially after their own guy reccomends they try that option, the chances of winning are reduced. So being a sensible chap I prefer a win win option of quotes and estimates rather than a roulette wheel option, its a much better trading solution and one most bank managers will prefer.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Was thinking about specialising in Vokera. Loads in my district. Roulette wheel does make it sound like a stupid idea and I am apprehensive. I too am struggling to make repairs pay. This is why I am thinking of going down this route, if it might work for me. Who knows what other business I might get off the back of it.

 

[chris watkins]

Being as we are in a depressed market and sensible custards will go for a fixed price, especially after their own guy reccomends they try that option, the chances of winning are reduced. So being a sensible chap I prefer a win win option of quotes and estimates rather than a roulette wheel option, its a much better trading solution and one most bank managers will prefer.

Very true, we can't all use this model, just pointing out that it is an option & it does work for some people like us. Business is all about managing risk I agree, there are risks with both but I think the last person to be talking to is a bank manager what with their track record !!!!!

 

[Leo21]

Was thinking about specialising in Vokera. Loads in my district. Roulette wheel does make it sound like a stupid idea and I am apprehensive. I too am struggling to make repairs pay. This is why I am thinking of going down this route, if it might work for me. Who knows what other business I might get off the back of it.

Why are you finding breakdowns no profitable? It's a captive market when you do the visit. I charge a diagnosis fee, so iff hey don't want it doing I still get payed.