Undercut again. What is going on here?

[Nostrum]

No worries, probably sounds rich coming from a 29 year old, but i've had businesses before and done a lot of research before launching my new business, which couldn't have come at a worse time with the economy in the shape it is, plus being laid off from my old firm due to lack of work. I was planning on doing what I do now, but in a more controlled way with an income to support me into it etc

I actually learnt a lot from seeing the failure of my old firm, surprising how blind you can be when your looking at things in a certain direction but the market wants something else etc easy for an insider to point out the mistakes i guess.

It's a saturated market though, which is why I said about being able to adapt, gone are the days of being a master of one specific job.

Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't think I know it all and I could fall flat on my face but I won't be doing jobs for fork all that's for sure.

 

[Howsie]

Deffo not like for like so apples and oranges.

 

[Guest123]

Why not give her a price for fitting/labour only and let her buy the materials off the internet? She'll soon realise the real cost involved, but you will still end up with the work.

 

[cr0ft]

It'll be priced on a different spec. Cheap tatty boiler and rads, surface pipe, no trv's etc etc etc. Customers responsibility to be asking why such a huge difference. Doesn't help you, but await phone call when it goes pear shaped and needs digging out the clarts. 'Certainly I can help, but you do appreciate I will be charging my muppet rate', 'muppet rate', 'basically double time, because your a muppet for taking a ridiclously low price'. Kerching.

Well her property is needing a full re-wire and I have that job so the chances are I am going to see this 'plumber'/'gas fitter' who is installing the full system for £2,200 as it happens, supply and fit. Even the cheapest boiler and rads would be £1,700 as far as I can tell, that's based on internet prices. 10 radiators, pipework to be chased into solid walls on all of them then rendered over after? Quite amusing actually.

I have warned her and showed her that the cost price of the materials I would be buying on the internet is £2,400 so I feel that's as far as I can push it.

 

[grahamgas]

Nice situation to be in mate. Keep looking at him working, put the ****ters right up him. At least you may be on site when the thing dont work

 

[SimonG]

Well her property is needing a full re-wire and I have that job so the chances are I am going to see this 'plumber'/'gas fitter' who is installing the full system for £2,200 as it happens, supply and fit. Even the cheapest boiler and rads would be £1,700 as far as I can tell, that's based on internet prices. 10 radiators, pipework to be chased into solid walls on all of them then rendered over after? Quite amusing actually.

I have warned her and showed her that the cost price of the materials I would be buying on the internet is £2,400 so I feel that's as far as I can push it.

Nice position to be in, getting a look at the competition actually working. Just make sure you don't scare his horses away when you pull up in the van.

Good chance to make some 'consultancy' money when it goes breasts upwards.

 

[stevetheplumber]

will await the outcome of this one dont forget to let us know

 

[Rickster123]

I had a call today from the customer who turned down my price. The guy she accepted a 1350 quote from hasn't showed up and she's now without heating and hot water! And the best bit, can I fit it tomorrow?! Haha nope afraid not I'm booked till the end of June... (fishing!)

 

[dontknowitall]

It's rare for me to be asked how much for smaller jobs. Just put the price in at the end and people seem happy with it. I nearly always ask, "Is that okay?" just before I write the invoice out. The brave one or two do say if they feel it's a bit steep but most people either say "Yes" or "I was expecting a little more" or "That sounds fair to me", so I know I've got it about right for most customers and when I get a recommendation I know I've got my price correct too.

On the larger jobs (1 day+) I give an estimate and range of prices if applicable when we talk about the job then never mention prices again until the job is finished. I tell them my daily rate, they judge my work and know how long I've been there for and my invoice is either bang on the estimate or if above I explain why and again ask if it's acceptable. If the job changes and will take longer I never mention figures unless they specifically ask.

Generally I walk away from jobs if price is asked first thing or before I've seen the job. My reputation is on quality and value as opposed to quick in/out or cheap as possible.

I think the internet has made many people price conscious (I'm as bad as the next person) but many of my customers don't use the internet, let alone do online shopping so this is an advantage to me.

If people want a quality job and a rough idea of price that's what they get from me. If they want cheap I send them to the internet or Yellow Pages but warn they won't get quality.

Perhaps my laid back view won't work in towns/cities but out here in the sticks it's the way things are.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

cant wait for update croft , i am sure all pipe work+rads+valves+boiler comes from left over from the firm they work for

 

[desrob]

I priced up a vaillant ecotec plus 831 standard flue, internal clock, flush, scale protection and magnaclean. I went in at 1560. Bargain! Or so I thought! Same materials same job, a guy went in at 1350. I was only going to make a days cosh as it was!!

my god..!...shocked...!

 

[ecowarm]

Think I've been there, young couple and he's a carpet fitter? Priced last year and never heard anything! They contacted me through this forum

My price was NOT 2.5k BTW

 

[Dannypipe]

I hate time wasters. Your price was right Croft. It'll be very interesting to see how it goes.

So you're a sparky too are you? I really want to get qualified myself but it's mega money.

 

[cr0ft]

Think I've been there, young couple and he's a carpet fitter? Priced last year and never heard anything! They contacted me through this forum

My price was NOT 2.5k BTW

Mate,

I think I got that job. It's been nothing but hassle. PM me with the name of the guy if you remember it 🙂

If it's any consolation I've been waiting 4 months between first and 2nd fix plumbing. He has been living without a bathroom for 4 months after asking me to rip it out and running out of money lol.

 

[cr0ft]

Just to avoid confusion though, this thread wasn't about them. This lady contacted me recently.

 

[cr0ft]

I hate time wasters. Your price was right Croft. It'll be very interesting to see how it goes.

So you're a sparky too are you? I really want to get qualified myself but it's mega money.

Hi mate,

Not if you find the right centres. A 5 week course that will lead to your 2391 Inspection and Testing Certificate will cost around £2-£2.5k. They will charge VAT so you can claim that bit back if registered.

2 re-wires will pay for it.

What you won't learn much about on the course is any fault-finding on existing circuits. Not a problem for re-wires though.

 

[buckley plumb]

Hi folks.

Seem to be having no problem winning small jobs around here but large jobs, that's a different story entirely.

Went to do a quote for a new central heating system install. Old heat-only boiler ripped out, HW cylinder and tanks out, new combi-boiler fitted in different location. 3 bedroom bungalow, 8 radiators in total.

All pipework in copper, to be chased into walls and wrapped. Chases to be filled with render ready for plastering. Come back on completion of plastering to 2nd fix rads. All pipework in loft to be insulated (everything is up and over as ground floor is concrete).

Customer wants a top-of-the-range boiler with new radiators supplied in the price.

I gave her a ballpark figure of £4-£4,500 with everything supplied and fitted. She told me she had a quote to do it all for £2,500. Erm, the cost price (on the internet) of the materials I would need is more than that.

Am I missing a real trick here? Am I paying 2x what these guys are paying for materials or something?

I just don't understand it at all tbh!!

i seem to get undercut by people working for a company and doing sat jobs without their own gas safe number and not registering boilers with gas safe.

ant

 

[northstar]

i seem to get undercut by people working for a company and doing sat jobs without their own gas safe number and not registering boilers with gas safe.

ant

you are spot on, hear of this all the time now.

 

[cr0ft]

I'll definitely be shopping him if he is. Can't be doing with people like that, they know the score.

 

[tamz]

So you're a sparky too are you? I really want to get qualified myself but it's mega money.

2 and a half grand attendance money and a few weeks lost wages (a lot more than 2nhalf) plus registration with the obligatory approved body of my choice and i'm a fully qualified course cowboy electrician. I just looked into it last week. Just as much of a joke as the gas is.