Procurement Excercise?

[SimonG]

I do work for an old folks home down the road, have done for about 4 years. I'm their listed emergency plumber.
Got in tonight and there's a letter from them saying that if I want to provide services for them I need to complete a questionnaire.

1. Quals
2. Trade organisation
3. Registered association or organisations
4. Insurance
5. Call out charge
6. Available at weekends
7. Do you charge for materials at cost?
8. Labour charge per hour (must stay same for 12 months)
9. Response time in an emergency

Its cheesed me off a little and also can't believe the naivety of them with question 7.

Think I'll just drop their front door key off in the morning.

 

[Chalked]

Just reply! You should never burn you bridges.

 

[townfanjon]

LOL simon, answer to question 7 ... no , they asked the question, you answered it.


No doubt you provide a superb service, I would be naft off too.

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

Maybe someone new has started with ideas about saving money?

 

[Rickster123]

Price it high mate. Very high!

 

[Ray Stafford]

Don't over-react. Its just some new office manager they've hired trying to prove how clever they are.

Just respond politely, with details of your qualifications and insurance (which are reasonable requests) and explain that you are happy to continue providing the service that they have become accustomed to on your standard fee scale.

I reckon there is an 80% chance that you will not hear anything more until they have a leak or a breakdown.

 

[SimonG]

Just reply! You should never burn you bridges.

Its not a case of burning bridges. I was only there yesterday morning, 'we have no hot water to one of the flats', because the old dear cant remember to turn off the hot tap! Well in this instance its a faulty kitchen mixer. They have another property about a mile away thats empty awaiting demolition. I said it needed a new kitchen mixer and the reply was that I could take it from a sink at the old place. I told them its new or nothing.

They were really good to work for, but then a few of the committee left, the manager and assistant left and new people have come in. They dont pay on time and to be honest I wouldnt mind dropping them anyway.

 

[Ray Stafford]

They were really good to work for, but then a few of the committee left, the manager and assistant left and new people have come in. They dont pay on time and to be honest I wouldnt mind dropping them anyway.

Ah, sounds like its part of a trend. Well, if you have plenty of work elsewhere, you may as well dump the @$$h0l3s.

 

[SimonG]

Don't over-react. Its just some new office manager they've hired trying to prove how clever they are.

Just respond politely, with details of your qualifications and insurance (which are reasonable requests) and explain that you are happy to continue providing the service that they have become accustomed to on your standard fee scale.

I reckon there is an 80% chance that you will not hear anything more until they have a leak or a breakdown.

Isnt that the truth. Dont have a problem with any of the questions except 7 and 8. They're the registered charity not me.

 

[rpm]

As above ...
Q 7 would reply along the lines as per industry standards and in accordance with the last 4 yrs service supplied and new owner, manager or accountant just come in trying to save a few quid.

 

[SimonG]

At least they are slightly better than the working mens club. The treasurer struggled to comprehend why I was charging more an hour than he was paying the bar staff. I only did one job for them.

 

[Ray Stafford]

At least they are slightly better than the working mens club. The treasurer struggled to comprehend why I was charging more an hour than he was paying the bar staff. I only did one job for them.

Offer to swap. You pull the pints, and his barstaff can fix the plumbing. 🙂

 

[AlexGas]

I just wouldn’t reply. Do they want your services or not!?

 

[wetdrip]

Its not a case of burning bridges. I was only there yesterday morning, 'we have no hot water to one of the flats', because the old dear cant remember to turn off the hot tap! Well in this instance its a faulty kitchen mixer. They have another property about a mile away thats empty awaiting demolition. I said it needed a new kitchen mixer and the reply was that I could take it from a sink at the old place. I told them its new or nothing.

They were really good to work for, but then a few of the committee left, the manager and assistant left and new people have come in. They dont pay on time and to be honest I wouldnt mind dropping them anyway.

Perhaps they (the newcomers) have a family plumber or friend who has given them a nudge as he wants the work.
Answer all questions then just wait and see Simon.

 

[AWheating]

Put down for 8 ...... £@@@ per hour but Labour charge is double if materials are at cost or supplied by others.