Downhill slide

[cliffed]

Got another 5 yrs to go,& finally I can retire,will not miss the hard work & rushing around like crazy people.
where it seems the older you are the more responsibilty you get.We as electricians are working harder & longer than other trades & doing the hard graft for others,containment for fire alarm,data,security & others.
The up & coming lads,they really don't have a clue,certainly advise them to get another trade.
Mention testing ,its I don't do that,pretty sad really our industry just gets worse.
Have a good weekend,cheer up you miserable old sod.

 

[HandySparks]

I can imagine new-builds are definitely as you say, but my experience of domestic is different. It depends a lot on how you sell yourself/come across to the customer in my view. Recommendation is the best way to attain new customers, who consequently are generally then happy to pay a fair amount I have found. You also get a feel for the potential new clients, and can weed them out accordingly. I have had a couple of recent repeat offenders who would ask for numerous quotes and knock each one back. Now I just tell them I can't even get round to look at the job for three months due to work. There's a fine line between overcharging and being competitive whilst maintaining good quality workmanship.

Totally agree here. Knowing which customers and which jobs to turn down is a crucial part of the business. And if anyone wants to haggle, they can go and do it with someone else. Domestic is fine if you have good customers who appreciate a good job.

Of course, you have to put yourself out occasionally to fit in with the customer's expectations, but that's just good customer service.

 

[NDG Elecs]

Exactly, if something related to your work stops working* I am at their door within 24hrs maximum to sort it. Keep your good customers happy. And tell the hagglers how nice Istanbul is this time of year.

*Obviously it's never my work at fault...

 

[Leesparkykent]

I've never heard of one sparks on his own earning £130,000 a year doing a standard 40 hour week in this country....if your doing that Davesparks I take my hat off to you. You could live reasonably on 30K a year and become a millionaire in 10 years.

 

[robo83]

When your employed, you get put with your colleagues and I also see first hand the lazy attitude of most site workers, I would never stand for it.

The good, hardworking and loyal guys are out there. They just have more distractions these days, you need to grip them and attain their focus....

Love life, we got it good

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

 

[cliffed]

When your employed, you get put with your colleagues and I also see first hand the lazy attitude of most site workers, I would never stand for it.

The good, hardworking and loyal guys are out there. They just have more distractions these days, you need to grip them and attain their focus....

Love life, we got it good

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

Totally agree,& I certainly love & live life.
Work used to be fun,the money you earnt was what you had,none of this credit soceity we live in now.
just wish,some of theses guys would give you a good days work,go home & think,had a good day today worked pretty well & hard.
cheers for all comments,Party tonight.

 

[davesparks]

I've never heard of one sparks on his own earning £130,000 a year doing a standard 40 hour week in this country....if your doing that Davesparks I take my hat off to you. You could live reasonably on 30K a year and become a millionaire in 10 years.

If my health was a lot better than it is then I would be able to put in the hours and earn a significant amount yes. But sadly my health doesn't permit such things.

 

[davesparks]

Now I know Surrey, and dahn sarf is pricey but blimey! I am more than happy up here with £200 per day. Get occasional ~£400 days but not that often.

I'm expensive, but I've found customers who are willing to pay.
A lot of what I do is apparently 'specialist' (it's really not that special) so I'm competing with big companies who charge the earth. Hence in London I can charge £650/day and still be a far cheaper alternative for my customers.

 

[NDG Elecs]

A lot of what I do is apparently 'specialist' (it's really not that special)

Sssshhh, I would keep quiet about that bit, haha! Good on you though, it's nice to be valued.

 

[dansk]

I'm expensive, but I've found customers who are willing to pay.
A lot of what I do is apparently 'specialist' (it's really not that special) so I'm competing with big companies who charge the earth. Hence in London I can charge £650/day and still be a far cheaper alternative for my customers.

It depends on how you look at it, for a good service and the job done right your customers may not think it's expensive.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I see a "spark" who was on my apprenticeship firm when I was an apprentice in the wholesalers the other day....he's Been on his own for a few years and seems to be doing ok for himself. He was bragging to me that he changed 45 halogen gu10's for LED gu10's in a jewellers in Hatton garden, was in there an hour and half and charged the management company £950.

 

[NDG Elecs]

I see a "spark" who was on my apprenticeship firm when I was an apprentice in the wholesalers the other day....he's Been on his own for a few years and seems to be doing ok for himself. He was bragging to me that he changed 45 halogen gu10's for LED gu10's in a jewellers in Hatton garden, was in there an hour and half and charged the management company £950.

I can well believe that Lee, especially in the big smoke. Some office types have no idea of what things should cost. Best small one-off job I had was doing some work in a repossessed house for a bank; earned approx £600 profit for two hrs work in total.

 

[Midwest]

Nice work if you can get it, some people look at me sides ways when I charge 30 quid for putting up a light fitting. Some people though, feel insulted if you don't charge them an enormous fee. So for them I make it £32.50.

 

[David M]

Now I know Surrey, and dahn sarf is pricey but blimey! I am more than happy up here with £200 per day. Get occasional ~£400 days but not that often.

I'm definitely in the wrong area! I charge £150 per day and that is often considered expensive around this area! Most sparks I know are charging £120 per day (and that is the legit ones). My mate does domestic only and charges £20 per hour and subs to a couple of building firms. He is considered one of the lucky ones
There are many bigger firms that do most of their work out of the area, now I can see why!

 

[David M]

I'm expensive, but I've found customers who are willing to pay.
A lot of what I do is apparently 'specialist' (it's really not that special) so I'm competing with big companies who charge the earth. Hence in London I can charge £650/day and still be a far cheaper alternative for my customers.

A friend of mine goes to London to work quite often. He is a tiler, the company he subs for pays him (what we consider) good money, digs and fuel. I never really understood why they would send somebody from Stoke on Trent all the way to London for a just a few mtrs2 worth of tiling, when they could hire local.
I commend you, (with a little envy) its nice to see a good tradesman getting what he is worth for his hard work and professional skills!

 

[NDG Elecs]

I think we sell ourselves short as a trade. Considering scam fees, insurances, test gear, calibration, etc, etc, we should be among the top earning trades. I know tilers and plasterers that charge over £200 as a day rate. No disrespect to them but they do not have the same hoops we have to jump through. They do not have to have the same level of technical knowledge about numerous aspects of their job. Painters up here charge £120 per day. A mate of mine cleans ovens for a living and can earn £300 easily in a day. His prices are set, he doesn't have to work out often complicated quotes, fill in test sheets constantly. Yet I still enjoy what I and would not change it.

I normally price a job rather than on a day rate, as I am sure most do. That's the more profitable way to do it. Always mark up any materials I supply.