How can people quote so low?

[Gavin John Hyde]

Went to price up a job this morning to install 6 downlights in a dining room.

Nothing too complex, with nice access to the extension roof space via a small access hatch to make the install relatively straightforward. would be able to work directly above the joists and come down through the ceiling.

i quoted what i thought was a good price, given that there is little in way of drilling or effort to run new cables., the guy then tells me my quote of £200 for labour and parts is a little high.

The lights the customer wants are fire rated and come in at £80 or thereabouts for the 6 plus junction boxes, cables etc and making good the hole from the existing light pendant. I quoted for 2 hours labour at £40 for 1st hour 30 for 2nd. factor in parking in the area(residents parking scheme you have to pay for permit from council), diesel and tax, NI, insurances etc.. it doesn't leave much.

He has had a quote off a eastern european spark (apparently fully qualified), who has said he will do it for £140 all in.!! i cant see how the guy is going to make a living... i told the guy that if he wants to pay that then i can't do the job.

Anybody else find they are up against some really crazy quotes that you just can not compete with... it is a complete race to the bottom. There is a bloke round here offering CU changes for £150..!! i am assuming there is no testing no certs.. no comebacks... its become a crazy world.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

labour only got so many votes because youngsters voted labour in the mistaken belief that their manifesto would help them ( tuition fees etc.) when jeremy and his cronies promise the earth but have no idea of how to pay for it, and as usual, have no intention of carrying out their election promises. ( remember that blair promised a referendum on the EU but never delivered).

If the nutter that is corbyn gets in to no 10 in the next few weeks then my prices will be going up as will all the suppliers prices. as the dopey fool wants to raise corporation tax upto 26%... a 9% rise will have an effect on businesses large and small. try explaining to your customers why everything has gone up and then ask them who they voted for...

 

[westward10]

Tories got in because people confused Teresa with Vanessa.

 

[Upton Sparks]

There are some proper bandits out there!!. lashing in sh!t on the cheap.

I know its a free market all and all, And I get that to a bit.... but I am a bit tired of the UN-Certified doing illegal job on the Cheap..

I always like to talk quite a bit about the importance of the testing and certification to my customers and the benefits of having a fully insured electrician!...

How on earth.... Who on earth could do a CU change for £ 150, surely that's just labour only Plus materials... whats the cheapest CU out there? about £60 - 70, that's not taking into account any other sundries.
so at £150 - £70 gives you £80 a day, £400 a week and £20K a year. !!!!

No actually I think I've got Now............ he's doing two a day!

 

[Specialist]

More like 3 a day

 

[telectrix]

nobody can do 3 a day. even me and i can eat 50 eggs,

 

[rolyberkin]

I am always dubious when people say they have had a quote of x, and as far as i am concerned they can crack on. I always tell customers what they are getting and show them photos of the quality of my work and also the few jobs that I have been to where lives have been placed at risk by cowboys, I outline why they should be using a fully insured and qualified electrician . We sometimes forget we are salesmen, people want to know what they are getting and the advantages of employing you, tell them.

 

[Specialist]

Depends what you do & how long you take tel, if your doing a proper job then I'd agree with you. These muppets don't do a proper job though, it's just slam it in & collect your money then on to the next one.

 

[LankyWill]

Depends what you do & how long you take tel, if your doing a proper job then I'd agree with you. These muppets don't do a proper job though, it's just slam it in & collect your money then on to the next one.

They probably don't even own an MFT, or have the capacity to use one.

 

[LankyWill]

Depends what you do & how long you take tel, if your doing a proper job then I'd agree with you. These muppets don't do a proper job though, it's just slam it in & collect your money then on to the next one.

They probably don't even own an MFT, or have the capacity to use one.

 

[Specialist]

They probably don't even own an MFT, or have the capacity to use one.

Totally agree with you mate, why would they need it ?. They don't do paperwork or give receipts & if you have a problem the next day, they sure as hell won't answer the phone.

 

[7029 dave]

Why are you all surprised ,? this has been going on for donkeys years, and always will.!

 

[Octopus]

So that's £400 per week before overheads..... Far too low....

Then there are days off, holidays, bank holiday......, So then you're down to about £12k k

 

[Specialist]

Why are you all surprised ,? this has been going on for donkeys years, and always will.!

I'm not in any way surprised Dave, like others tel & I have been beating this drum for years. It's just that nowadays there are more and more of them coming in & doing botch jobs then once they've ripped off loads of people bugger off back abroad.
At the moment we have a couple of Eastern Europeans, at least one Chinese guy, one from Greece & a Turkish guy within about 10 miles of me all touting as sparks. None of them give Receipts or Paperwork & from what I've seen all do a S$$T job.

 

[Specialist]

So that's £400 per week before overheads..... Far too low....

There's the thing though, they don't pay overheads. Except a mobile phone bill & petrol.

 

[buzzlightyear]

don't for get the eastern Europeans live in vans & some peoples sheds
like del boy says of only fools & horses.
no income tax no vat.
no money back no guarantee.