competition

[offshorealex]

I'm finding myself quoting against the same person for a lot of jobs. My problem is that he has 1 employee, but lists that he has between 10 and 20, he offers 5 year guarantees but i know that he folds and re starts every 2 years. Do i let customers know this at the quote or does it make me look bad to be rubbishing the competition?
Cheers
Alex

 

[bugsy]

I'm finding myself quoting against the same person for a lot of jobs. My problem is that he has 1 employee, but lists that he has between 10 and 20, he offers 5 year guarantees but i know that he folds and re starts every 2 years. Do i let customers know this at the quote or does it make me look bad to be rubbishing the competition?
Cheers
Alex

Nothing to stop you giving 5 year guarantee , he's properbly very good at selling himself, I can't see as the number of people he employ's would make a differance in fact you could play that to your advantage stating you offer a professional personal service . It proberbly boils down to cost - how do your cost's compere to his ?
Even if you more expensive play the pro , you will have to spend a bit more time talking to customers's gaining their confidence and promoting yourself.
Slagging off your competion is not really the right way to go

 

[Jason Smith]

Yes, be carefull mate, dont forget the laws of slander, if you say something about him thats not true, or innacurate, you could be done, which would spoil your day.
Look at winning none of your estimates ! you only have a 1 in three chance anyway - I refuse to spend ages on an estimate, to be tols so and so did it cheaper. I will wait untill the midnight hour, phone the customer, and ask them how much I need to estimate in order to get the business. If they say well the lowest is x I will work out if I can can afford to do the job for that, then add on about 15 percent to allow for a lying customer. Then I will estimate. Probably getting most of the jobs I estimate for now. Another quick tip is to estimate like for like !!

 

[offshorealex]

You both seem to agree with me, just need to get on with it and sell myself and forget about him. I'm usually cheaper, and do get most of the jobs I quote for. I install electric boilers and central heating so actually offering a 5 year guarantee on a product with a 2 year manufacturers one could prove very expensive.
Thanks guys