W
Welder
I certainly miss the diff emojis to reflect how one feels about a post. Currently the forum is poorer for it being missing. 🙄
Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws
- Thread starter king of pipes
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Press and hold the like button you get a few more.
S
Sharp Point
Also in the actions boxes above where you type your text. If you press the smiley face you also get more.😛
B
Burger
They are definitely working on it and know there is an issue.
I will not compromise my pricing structure, I will not barter, the larger companies don't! I walk but leave on decent terms and leave the door open always. Tbh none have come back as yet but who knows down the road. My main issue would be that these who are price driven would never be happy and would cause me sleepless nights!
If buying is affected - and it's not- then people have more work done. The teality is that the holiday period is here and by some twist of freakery it is quieter than normal. I've just been to Ireland to lay an extensive UFH system. That's what it takes I'm afraid.
Approximately every 10 years a recession looms and we are in that area again, mind you with Mark Carney in charge of the bank of England we will probably be in a right mess soon.
- Nov 29, 2009
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- Heating Engineer (Has GSR)
I was just thinking today about a customer I've looked after for ten years. I'm very competitive on price - many say too cheap so I took umbrage when he wanted a fixed price quote from me to fix his knackered shower cubicle. He said he was going to get three quotes. I told him I was too busy.
Most of my work comes from my established customer base and referrals. It's all these idiots on the telly telling everyone that they need three quotes. I don't get three quotes when I get my van fixed - I go to a mechanic I trust and know will do a good job. All the negativity about tradesmen on the telly and all those parasitic companies like Don't Trust a Trader.Com and Unchecked and Vetted are driving down our rates under the pretense of protecting customers whilst enriching themselves at our expense. I bet they're all owned by solicitors!
Most of my work comes from my established customer base and referrals. It's all these idiots on the telly telling everyone that they need three quotes. I don't get three quotes when I get my van fixed - I go to a mechanic I trust and know will do a good job. All the negativity about tradesmen on the telly and all those parasitic companies like Don't Trust a Trader.Com and Unchecked and Vetted are driving down our rates under the pretense of protecting customers whilst enriching themselves at our expense. I bet they're all owned by solicitors!
I always thought the same about the 3 quotes advice.
A customer could still end up with 3 idiots giving 3 quotes and all too expensive.
It also wastes time for at least 2 companies who will not get the job.
W
Welder
The fundamental problem here is that people (customers) have no idea of a) what they actually need & b) what a 'good' job actually is.
The whole point of the 3 quotes thing assumes that the job will be assessed as being exactly the same by the quoters. Thats ok in some circumstances but mostly not when it comes to plumbing because we each have our own way of achieving the same end goal.
I for one let people know this. My advice to them is to pick someone they trust and just go with it. 😎
I had to smirk toady when I got the old "can I pay you on Thursday when I get paid" and yet there's a 18 plate Audi on the drive.
I am notincing more this year that people are suddenly asking you to come out and quote jobs for 80 quid.
If you quote over the phone you dont get the job , if uou turn up you get the job
If you quote over the phone you dont get the job , if uou turn up you get the job
Phoned customer last night to chase up on quote, they wanted to make a few alterations and I gave them an idea of how this added to the quote.
“Oh it’s getting more expensive” - the addition of wallboards in the shower area tends to do that over cheap white tiles....
I asked how it compared to the other quote she had been waiting for (singular) - “ oh, about the same as a couple of them, one a bit more one a fair bit less”
So at least 5 quotes!
Problem is the customer was confused and overwhelmed by all this, from what I can make out each tradesmen had been asked to come up with design/solution- so she has 5 different schemes she can’t sort out...
I’ve tried to be helpful, we’ll see what happens.
“Oh it’s getting more expensive” - the addition of wallboards in the shower area tends to do that over cheap white tiles....
I asked how it compared to the other quote she had been waiting for (singular) - “ oh, about the same as a couple of them, one a bit more one a fair bit less”
So at least 5 quotes!
Problem is the customer was confused and overwhelmed by all this, from what I can make out each tradesmen had been asked to come up with design/solution- so she has 5 different schemes she can’t sort out...
I’ve tried to be helpful, we’ll see what happens.
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