When Customer Says You're Too Expensive

[Ermintrude]

Stan do u do quotes or does some one give you the work? Have you advertised?

 

[SafeGasInstall]

recommendations + web site

Average is 300 / some time more 🙂

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Stan do u do quotes or does some one give you the work? Have you advertised?

no I work for my self , dont have a boss and only work with customers direct no builders involve . Yes I plan and organise installs acording to plans along with other trades but only with customers , no estate agents , no landlords , no idiots

 

[gasmanrob]

Jase you naughty boy this is open forum! And if that all it is in London then I'm definitely staying in kent....

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

I will be too if I was driving a landy LP 🙂 pmsl

wuss:sleep1:

 

[bert large]

Hi Bert large, I am guessing you are a firemen, ever plumber I have met in southwest is a part time firemen!! Day rate can vary up here, from £200 to £450, depending on quality of work, customer base etc. I believe southwest (Cornwall and Devon) is maximum of £200 per day but as you say easier workload, less pressure. The big difference is the hourly wage, southwest is £20-£25 per hour, so still earning around £200 per day, up here you can charge £50-£75 per hour so potentially £600 per day. And emergency callout, you could get away with £150 per hour for out of hours emergencies. Depends how busy you are and how much you need the work

Hi Jase,
Ha ha, no I'm a full time plumber not a fireman. I don't actually know any firemen
masquerading as plumbers.
You're about right on the day rate but not on the hourly rate here, its much higher.

I try to pick & choose my jobs as I enjoy working on my own, can't think of anything worse than employing a few blokes & having to be forever chasing work for them, consequently driving prices down.

 

[Ermintrude]

Or wiping their arses and tidying up all the little bits

 

[jase158]

Thats not London, I'm in bucks. I ain't bothered in telling people what I charge, why the secret?

 

[jase158]

The more I think about it, the more I want small jobs, better pay, less risk, more time at merchants having fun. Finnish earlier. Fed up of big jobs at moment. Been on big jobs for last 3-4 months. Might advertise with yell again as that's where I get small jobs from.

 

[Killy Bing]

Thats not London, I'm in bucks. I ain't bothered in telling people what I charge, why the secret?

say a town over one of us quotes, slightly more expensive and they use your figures, decide we are ripping them off and then tell everyone we are cowboys.

i know we all charge different rates but what if someone in bucks posts up and are cheaper than you.
customer then quotes the other guys rates of pay and refuses to pay yours.

the annoying thing about the internet !!!!

i quoted to fit an outside tap.
person agreed, i turned up, they had read up on the screwfix forum it shouldn't be more than 25 quid.

hence why rates of pay aren't discussed, opens up a can of worms.
so please jase could you edit it out.

 

[bert large]

Or move the whole thread to the Arms ?

 

[Ray Stafford]

say a town over one of us quotes, slightly more expensive and they use your figures, decide we are ripping them off and then tell everyone we are cowboys.

i know we all charge different rates but what if someone in bucks posts up and are cheaper than you.
customer then quotes the other guys rates of pay and refuses to pay yours.

the annoying thing about the internet !!!!

i quoted to fit an outside tap.
person agreed, i turned up, they had read up on the screwfix forum it shouldn't be more than 25 quid.

Welcome to my world.

 

[Dotty]

Thats not London, I'm in bucks. I ain't bothered in telling people what I charge, why the secret?

I'm not asking you to edit your post Jase. I'm telling you.

You know full well that we do not discuss prices in open forum.

 

[Dotty]

Or move the whole thread to the Arms ?

As long as prices aren't mentioned it's ok. It does the customer the world of good to know that there's a rationale to what we charge.

But no prices. Therein lies a bidding war.

 

[Ermintrude]

I'm available my remuneration can be measured in jammy dodgers and wagon wheels. My work is so immense it cannot be measured and so grand that no price of less than a grand may be applied.

 

[Dotty]

I'm available my remuneration can be measured in jammy dodgers and wagon wheels. My work is so immense it cannot be measured and so grand that no price of less than a grand may be applied.

Your roses are well fertlised too

 

[Dannypipe]

I did a big job this morning, believe me you don't want to see any photos.

 

[Phil]

My diesel costs are around £20 per week, I'm lucky enough to have a good customer base right on my doorstep.

 

[WHPES]

I say if you want a cheap job, get a handyman not a plumber. If you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

 

[jase158]

These people who moan about price because they saw it on he internet quoted as that are the sort of people that you don't want as customers, they are the sort of people who will ask for a complete breakdown of everything including how many elbows and how many screws etc. if you want to delete then fine but I ain't editing as I don't know how on my iPhone. Have enough trouble writing threads, let alone editing them

 

[martin b]

i would assume 6 x 200 meant days.

 

[jase158]

No it means an average day rate per person as an employee.

 

[Destroyer2813]

What "big" jobs have you done recently?

Got any photos?

New boiler and 4 rads :biggrin:, not many plant rooms I guess

 

[jase158]

Yeah, got my greenhouse out in garden, doing really well this winter!! And then there's the attic, 1 guess at what plants I grow up there??

 

[Dannypipe]

I'm guessing it's not Thyme but you may be doing some if you get caught!!?

 

[Destroyer2813]

Explains the rants your posting from the loft

 

[jase158]

Rants? Me!!! Never!!!

 

[jase158]

Worcester bosch plants

 

[jase158]

I wouldn't put them up here!! Too many snots and scorch marks, the perfectionists on here would have a field day!!

 

[jase158]

I think it's better to put more solder on then to have to go back and resolder a joint!! And scorch marks are from laziness, but I am out to make a living not do a perfect job!!

 

[Toxic Ted]

Yeah, got my greenhouse out in garden, doing really well this winter!! And then there's the attic, 1 guess at what plants I grow up there??

Erm........spiderplants?

 

[jase158]

I do wipe the joint but solder doesn't move once it is on!! Too much flux probably!! The joints on here are perfect, just the right amount of solder, all shiny and clean. No snots, no scorch marks. Each joint must take about 8 minutes each!! I have used many heat mats and they all get burnt!! Heat mats burning??? Syrely they should be heat resistant. I don't have loads of scorch marks, mainly above boilers as the pipes are always so close to the wall you can't help but get scorch marks. I do have pride in my work but don't look for perfection. Mistakes happen and not everything can be perfect.

 

[jase158]

And then you look at BG installs and think they are charging £4-£5k for that terrible job, leaving it leaking and putting filling loops on mains inlet to combi's. Surely if people are happy to accept this then a few snots and scorch marks aren't the end of the world when I double check everything, do everything exactly how the customer wants it and to the regs and give customers the best solution to there problems.

 

[jase158]

Will try wiping it before soldering, good tip. I got taught at college to flux female end. But When doing gas course they say to do male end!! We got taught nothing at colleg, was taught by a bloke that came from a training centre, owned his own training centre and got sacked for having no qualifications. Absolute waste of time. Maybe I should have some more pride in my soldering, but I just want it to not leak. Nothing worse then a leaking joint at 5 pm!!

 

[jase158]

And no it doesn't drip after it's wiped, it drips and then it is impossible to clean it off

 

[gasmanrob]

If your burning things then also look at your torch selection domestic really dosent need mapp gas unless your doing 28mm+ all day long. It burns the flux and the pipe making it difficult to get a nice run.

also rothy have two heads the super fire and the thinner sure fire much more precise I personaly use the tx504 it's flame is more adjustable and the head swivels for better access

 

[jase158]

Got rid of pro about 4 months ago and it made a massive difference, had the smaller nozzle, didn't find it made a difference, turning the gas down works brilliantly on 15mm but doesn't go all the way round for 22mm

 

[cr0ft]

I did a big job this morning, believe me you don't want to see any photos.

I've done a big job too. It's actually completely blocked one of our loos. Anyone know where I can still buy wire coat hangers? 🙁

 

[jase158]

Pardon me if I don't answer Simon but I am a complete idiot and shouldn't be a plumber and apparently my name is jarse, not that I take it personally or anything

 

[gasmanrob]

Not every joint I do is perfect and no one here can claim that every joint they do is, but just limit the risk of a messy joint, I personally touch the solder at the rear of the joint to fill it where if it did run you wouldn't see it, it doesn't take any extra time to solder other any other method. But we all have different gripes and beliefs

 

[jase158]

Not every joint I do is perfect and no one here can claim that every joint they do is, but just limit the risk of a messy joint, I personally touch the solder at the rear of the joint to fill it where if it did run you wouldn't see it, it doesn't take any extra time to solder other any other method. But we all have different gripes and beliefs

I do this, which is great for upright joints, what do you do on horizontal joints? Gravity does seem to pull it down!!

 

[gasmanrob]

Whilst the heat is still applied a quick flick with the tip of the solder over the snot usually knocks it off, I am also guilty of brushing it off with the flux brush if I notice it before it's set

 

[Best]

Why not use end feed fittings & leaded solder for all heating work? Less heat needed & cheaper. You really can't go wrong & you can wipe the joint easily even when you pull the flame off.
Lead free soldering I admit I find I have to concentrate to do them tidy.

 

[Killy Bing]

I have never used leaded solder ......

 

[Dannypipe]

I generally use leaded for anything not potable. It's half the price.

 

[Best]

I have never used leaded solder ......

You must be too young! :smile:
Try it & you won't want to use the lead free.
Lead solder melts quicker & hardens slower & frankly is very easy on end feed soldering.
Obviously I wouldn't use it on anything other than heating pipes.

 

[Dannypipe]

Unleaded is always on a green roll, leaded is on yellow and sometimes red.

I won't mix them up. I mentioned on here that most tap fittings (including kitchen taps) have brass containing lead in them so it is amusing that we are now so hot on this. I agree with the sentiment.

Right now I'm using lead free for everything as I bought a bulk load of it. Enough to last me a couple of years, but I should buy a roll of leaded as I'll be back to almost twenty quid a roll of unleaded after this lot runs out.

 

[Killy Bing]

You must be too young! :smile:
Try it & you won't want to use the lead free.
Lead solder melts quicker & hardens slower & frankly is very easy on end feed soldering.
Obviously I wouldn't use it on anything other than heating pipes.

Haha, im only 21.....
i'll grab a roll and give it a go.

 

[bigman]

I only really solder gas pipe don't really do much potable find lead solder much easier to use and needs smaller flame on your blowlamp.

 

[Best]

I used only Butane gas for years. Habit really, but more than powerful enough for up to 28mm except in severe weather/strong winds outside or wet pipes. These modern torches like the Surefire (I use) are a bit too powerful for most normal soldering & i find i need to back off with the flame.
I use leaded solder with Fluxite traditional flux & the solder flows just as if it was heated grease. You can wipe the joint with a cotton rag before it hardens & then touch of heat again.

 

[gasmanrob]

Haha, im only 21.....
i'll grab a roll and give it a go.

21 !!! Oh I remember the days, so much hope and ambition, knees didn't hurt back then either. It makes me sad typing this as until some younger comes along pointing out there youth I still think of myself as that same 21 year old walking into customers houses wondering if they were going to take me seriously... I'd do it all over again and I wouldn't change a thing

 

[Killy Bing]

21 !!! Oh I remember the days, so much hope and ambition, knees didn't hurt back then either. It makes me sad typing this as until some younger comes along pointing out there youth I still think of myself as that same 21 year old walking into customers houses wondering if they were going to take me seriously... I'd do it all over again and I wouldn't change a thing

All i would change so far would have been starting this at 16 instead of 18!

 

[Best]

21 !!! Oh I remember the days, so much hope and ambition, knees didn't hurt back then either. It makes me sad typing this as until some younger comes along pointing out there youth I still think of myself as that same 21 year old walking into customers houses wondering if they were going to take me seriously... I'd do it all over again and I wouldn't change a thing

Me too! I could have worked flat out occasionally at heavy manual work on a 12 or more hour day & just got up the next morning no aches & well rested!
Now I still think of myself as young but anytime I have an awkward job I seem to hurt the next day.

 

[gasmanrob]

Well my only tip is this! If you are on your way home from a pleasant days work and think to yourself I feel lucky I'm going to grab a lotto ticket on the way home and as you are filling it out decide to change a few numbers DONT!!

Just stick with the same numbers!!!

for gods sake why didn't I just play the usual numbers

 

[Best]

Well my only tip is this! If you are on your way home from a pleasant days work and think to yourself I feel lucky I'm going to grab a lotto ticket on the way home and as you are filling it out decide to change a few numbers DONT!!

Just stick with the same numbers!!!

for gods sake why didn't I just play the usual numbers

Lol! That's why I never did same numbers as I would never forgive myself if I missed a week & they won decent money.
I am too miserable to waste £2 on it anyhow & the odds are bad. Guess if you aren't in, you can't win though.

 

[gasmanrob]

It wasn't millions but I'd be mortgage free and driving a Bentley with a pipe rack on its roof

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Use compression, no need for solder 😉

 

[oz-plumber]

It wasn't millions but I'd be mortgage free and driving a Bentley with a pipe rack on its roof

I doubt whether you could get anything suitable for Bentley.
Not from Bentley anyway.

Years ago, I had a customer who drove a Rolls Royce, and he was so annoyed that he couldn't get a tow ball fitted.
He wrote to Rolls Royce and complained.
He actually got a reply that stated they were not suitable / available for the model he bought.
He had an after market one installed - just so he could tow his golf cart to the golf course.
He played at different golf courses around Melbourne so he couldn't leave his cart at one.
Everyone to their own - I wish I had his troubles.

 

[Admin]

Don't mind me while I bump some threads in the plumbing forum category. This thread might not be a current topic, if it isn't, just let it drop off the list.

If you DO want to reply to it, go ahead, that's fine. Your post might add some value to the thread and help newer members in the future.

 

[Admin]

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