When customers insist they want a quote for a small job

[Best]

I hate it when I go out and spend ages going into every detail a customer wants to know about a job and then once I give them a verbal quote, they ask me to put it all in writing.
As if me losing a couple hours isn’t enough for them.

 

[Knappers]

I think I'd be charging for any quotes less than a days work in your situation, or free over the phone if they can supply details you need (room size, pictures etc).
If works slow then I'd be more flexible, if you dont get the job but are helpful and professional then they'll keep your number and that's as good as a job, like an advertising cost and if your van's signwritten then it's good to be out and about.

 

[hammers4spanner]

Its becoming part of the job now i was asked toquote for new syphon and float valve on Monday. Place was a right pig to get to as well over a ferry with a toll to boot.

She explained whaT she had and i said decent parts probaby be about 50 quid plus my labour to fit . Then on top of that where you live is an absolute nuisance to get to which she said herself is a pain.
Said estimate 150 quid .

Oh thats very expensive she said , think i will shop around then hung up.

Weirdly had same job on Friday charged 140 as easy to drive to and they bit my hand off.

 

[Welder]

Its becoming part of the job now i was asked toquote for new syphon and float valve on Monday. Place was a right pig to get to as well over a ferry with a toll to boot.

She explained whaT she had and i said decent parts probaby be about 50 quid plus my labour to fit . Then on top of that where you live is an absolute nuisance to get to which she said herself is a pain.
Said estimate 150 quid .

Oh thats very expensive she said , think i will shop around then hung up.

Weirdly had same job on Friday charged 140 as easy to drive to and they bit my hand off.

Totally 'professional' in my view 😉😉

 

[Old Account]

That's what I've had. If I put the time of the quote on the job then I'm too expensive but they have the size of the rad.

At the moment though I've gone dead. All I seem to be getting is jokers! Bring on the winter.

Happens to me a lot though even though I get always recommended by my other customers. They still want the quotes even though they know it’s out of their budget. They also try to suck your knowledge and getting a cheap Labour in to do the works. Everybody want works done but don’t want to pay a decent money. Too many cheap labours and non qualified people which will beat you

 

[Old Account]

Do you go out and quote for a tap washer? Do you go out and give a quote for half a day job?

I've always given an estimate of time and a rough idea of price for small jobs. I bet people that work in Tesco's get paid for pricing up but we should give up our free time to quote for something that we cannot hide the cost of your time going out.

That would be perfect as I can’t remember that we ever went out for free back in Germany.
Too many people trying to outsmart the others with offering free quotes and stuff like this. How often people told you when you came out to diagnose or priced a job that other people offering free quotes and you should do it too 🙂 lol the amount of people who don’t appreciate your time, knowledge and your skills is beyond me.

 

[Millsy 82]

That would be perfect as I can’t remember that we ever went out for free back in Germany.
Too many people trying to outsmart the others with offering free quotes and stuff like this. How often people told you when you came out to diagnose or priced a job that other people offering free quotes and you should do it too 🙂 lol the amount of people who don’t appreciate your time, knowledge and your skills is beyond me.

I've been told a couple of times that I shouldn't charge as I didnt fix the boiler when it was beyond repair and I recommend a new boiler.

My response is always the same, if you go with me for a new boiler I knock the diagnosis cost off the final bill.

Been caught out a couple of times when people say oh yes we will go with you then when you hand the quote over they change their mind and go with dodgy Dave or cash Carl that will do it cheaper.

 

[Harvest Fields]

I've been told a couple of times that I shouldn't charge as I didnt fix the boiler when it was beyond repair and I recommend a new boiler.

My response is always the same, if you go with me for a new boiler I knock the diagnosis cost off the final bill.

Been caught out a couple of times when people say oh yes we will go with you then when you hand the quote over they change their mind and go with dodgy Dave or cash Carl that will do it cheaper.

I would then send the invoice for the call out.

 

[WaterTight]

No need to. Get paid there and then. Knock it off boiler change if and when it's done.

 

[hammers4spanner]

What a day wasted , i thought i had 4 small jobs booked in , two jobs with taps a float valve and a house with few odds and sods.

Turned up at all of them wanting quotes to fit new taps if they supplied , the float valve one this bloke took the lid of and goes how much to fit that . When i said supply fit 80 he said ideal but needs 4 more quotes !!!!

Absolutely wasted my time today , if its faulty it needs a repair not endless quotes ffs

 

[Harvest Fields]

What a day wasted , i thought i had 4 small jobs booked in , two jobs with taps a float valve and a house with few odds and sods.

Turned up at all of them wanting quotes to fit new taps if they supplied , the float valve one this bloke took the lid of and goes how much to fit that . When i said supply fit 80 he said ideal but needs 4 more quotes !!!!

Absolutely wasted my time today , if its faulty it needs a repair not endless quotes ffs

Just one of them days

 

[hammers4spanner]

4 quotes to fit a float valve tho whats that about , house was in a right affluent area as well

 

[Harvest Fields]

4 quotes to fit a float valve tho whats that about , house was in a right affluent area as well

I visit every job and then add that price onto the installation job.

 

[Scott_D]

What a day wasted , i thought i had 4 small jobs booked in , two jobs with taps a float valve and a house with few odds and sods.

Turned up at all of them wanting quotes to fit new taps if they supplied , the float valve one this bloke took the lid of and goes how much to fit that . When i said supply fit 80 he said ideal but needs 4 more quotes !!!!

Absolutely wasted my time today , if its faulty it needs a repair not endless quotes ffs

Did none mention wanting a quote only?

 

[Welder]

... house was in a right affluent area as well

Thats why! Tight as a gnats foreskin 🙄

 

[Best]

I wouldn’t go out to quote for a ball valve job. That is ridiculous.
That sort of job might only take a couple minutes to do the job, plus all the other time involved spent looking at it, getting tools from van, etc and travel time.
So for a potential customer to ask you to do everything other than fix the fault - all for free, is robbing you of time you could be earning elsewhere.
Just quote them on the phone your callout and hourly rate.

 

[Best]

I must ask a car mechanic to drive out to my home to look at the worn wiper blades on my car.
Then I will ask him to give me a quote to fit new wiper blades as I am getting a few other quotes. 😱

 

[Harvest Fields]

I wouldn’t go out to quote for a ball valve job. That is ridiculous.
That sort of job might only take a couple minutes to do the job, plus all the other time involved spent looking at it, getting tools from van, etc and travel time.
So for a potential customer to ask you to do everything other than fix the fault - all for free, is robbing you of time you could be earning elsewhere.
Just quote them on the phone your callout and hourly rate.

So if the custard had water leaking from the overflow in the loft you wouldn’t go and inspect? You would just quote?

 

[Millsy 82]

What a day wasted , i thought i had 4 small jobs booked in , two jobs with taps a float valve and a house with few odds and sods.

Turned up at all of them wanting quotes to fit new taps if they supplied , the float valve one this bloke took the lid of and goes how much to fit that . When i said supply fit 80 he said ideal but needs 4 more quotes !!!!

Absolutely wasted my time today , if its faulty it needs a repair not endless quotes ffs

Do you give them a rough idea of price over the phone?

I'd be fuming if that was me I would probably say dont bother phoning me.

 

[Millsy 82]

So if the custard had water leaking from the overflow in the loft you wouldn’t go and inspect? You would just quote?

I would go out to do the job but I wouldnt go out to quote. If I turned up I would expect paying for my time. But I would say on the phone I wont be coming out to just quote.