Do you all carry crystal balls?

Octopus · Oct 2, 2017

Went to see a potential client on the way home today ............. if the MCB is reset, the RCD trips ........

This is a property to be rented out, so its currently empty (and in a poor state)

The owners want a maximum price agreed before I start...... which I told them I couldn't do!

Don't think they were too impressed............................... I gave them a price for 1/2 day to fault find plus parts ............... wonder if they will call again?

Muppets

If you car / van is playing up, would a garage give you a fixed price?

I despair!

Andy78 · Oct 2, 2017

Crystal ball would be handy.
I'd not use it to diagnose faults though. I'd use it to foretell these numpties calling me and make sure my phone was off.

Midwest · Oct 2, 2017

My garage charges £45 an hour last time our car went in for service. Imagine the prices if I asked them to come round my house and fix it.

There's people with a little bit of money that consider getting a sparks in to fit a new light e.g., otherwise they'll bodge it themselves. There's others who have a little more money, and want to skin a fart. Then there are others, who have more money than sense.

Guess these guys were in the middle faction.

Whilst on the subject of free quotations, when I ask to get my car fixed, I have to take it to the garage, they have a look and give me a price, during the day. I get some customers say, yeah drop by at 8pm to see what we want!

Leesparkykent · Oct 2, 2017

Women phoned me today and asked how much for a couple of fluorescents in a loft...Told her £140 if the rest of the installation is up to scratch....says she will get back to me (it's a £140 job

.....) about an hour later get a text saying to go ahead but only want one light now... I text back saying ok that's £100....get a reply saying are you sure as half of £140 is £70.....I'm not going to bother replying

The Ghost · Oct 2, 2017

Chinese restaurant - issued danger notice diss. all supplies provided temporary power to keep business/fridges etc. running. Quoted for box change...ok. Quoted £280 per day fault finding...not ok as I could not say how long it would take. Remedy, no quote...insists on quote I insist can't give a quote. Had to explain forty times I can't quote for remedy until I know the fault! Language and logic really twisted that communication up, but we did get there though.

Wilko · Oct 2, 2017

Call out is £40 plus parts, rewire is £5k, so it's something between the two

I actually had this conversation with Mr Quack a few year ago :
Wilko "I'm feeling really bad, how long till I feel better?"
Mr Quack "Well Wilko, if you were 18 you would already be better. If you were 80, experience shows that improvement is unlikely. But as you are between 18 and 80 you will get better sometime."
Wilko "Am I paying you for this advice?"
Mr Quack "Yes and quite handsomely too"
He was right on both counts ... cheeky bar person.

NDG Elecs · Oct 2, 2017

Murdoch said:
Went to see a potential client on the way home today ............. if the MCB is reset, the RCD trips ........

This is a property to be rented out, so its currently empty (and in a poor state)

The owners want a maximum price agreed before I start...... which I told them I couldn't do!

Don't think they were too impressed............................... I gave them a price for 1/2 day to fault find plus parts ............... wonder if they will call again?

Muppets

If you car / van is playing up, would a garage give you a fixed price?

I despair!

I sort of had exactly the same on Saturday. RFC sockets for up and downstairs doubled up in one breaker, numerous completely knackered machine screws and lugs where it takes around 2-3 minutes getting a screw out that should take 15 seconds. And then spend another 10 minutes rethreading loads of lugs. Got 180 ohms between L and CPC on one leg of one RFC which became clear when I pulled the intruder alarm fuse, despite taking the cover off the alarm and finding no possible reason for the 180 ohms to occur. The alarm spur is right next to the panel which is Class 2 anyway.

Eventually tracked the problem down to a single conservatory spur. Don't know cause yet but left it dissed for now and going back Friday to fix and have another look at this alarm puzzle. Also getting a board change out of it too.

I expected to be at the property for 1-3 hrs, was there for five in total. On a good day without the numerous red herrings and issues which I encountered, I reckon I could have found it in 2 hours, and then another 1-2hrs to fix.

So yes Murdy, it is bloody hard to give an accurate price. It sounds to me that these people were worried about being ripped off - probably been watching too much rogue traders! You could have said £500 fixed price I suppose, worth a punt unless a rewire is needed!!

SJD · Oct 2, 2017

With fault finding, if someone asks for a quote, I explain the only way I can give a fixed price is to give quite a high one to cover the time it might take worst case. And that I prefer to charge for the actual time taken. Most reasonable people understand that, and if they don't, I'm happy to let them find someone else.

static zap · Oct 2, 2017

My crystal ball predicts , they will pay a small fee ,
and be disappointed when it fails again !
( unless murphs law gets involved )

ED17 · Oct 3, 2017

Conversation with a builder last week.

"We're starting six refurbs which will need a test and some electrical work doing."
"I can quote for the work, excluding any remedial work required"
"You'll have to include for remedial work."
"I can't till I've carried out an EICR"
"Nope, we need the price before we start"
"Allow a PC sum of four grand per property for remedial work then"
"I'll see if I can get you in before we start"

plugsandsparks · Oct 3, 2017

I have a commercial client who asks for a repair quote for a dead machine. When i ask whats wrong with it, they cannot tell me just that its dead. mmmmmmmmmm
What chance do i have.......
BTW, i hired a trailer and broke the light. The trailer hire company hourly rate for fixing a 12V trailer lamp is £45pph. I need to put my rates up...lol