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.

 

[westward10]

Our industry is falling so fast downhill and no one is making any attempt to stop it.

 

[Specialist]

We have a Chinese "Electrician" down here £50.00 + Cost of CU for a change out, another (Eastern european) is doing Domestic EICR's for £45.00.
Was talking to a commercial butcher a while back, he'd just had his PA testing done £65.00 for 56 items of equipment.

It's getting totally out of hand.

 

[hasel5]

Would of quoted about £300 to do that job

 

[Sooby2]

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..

Because he's not paying tax, NI, liability insurance, being one of those eastern europeans who stays here for a few months at a time doing this kind of work. Doesn't do any testing and if it goes wrong, he'll disappear.

 

[Andy78]

Would of quoted about £300 to do that job

Me too.

 

[telectrix]

just shows how brilliantly effective part pee is. by forcing up our overheads, it's just a licence for these cheapskate bodgers to operate and charge unsustainable prices.

 

[buzzlightyear]

next time you quote for a job, and a customer says that a eastern European
quoted cheaper. ask the customer will he be insured when he price for the job .
and ask them.,got good insurance if you house burns down.

 

[LankyWill]

I would of laughed and said if you want a monkey pay peanuts. Most people just want a bottom dollar service and don't think about the wider picture. When stanvril's poorly terminated downlights go faulty and there's a fire I bet you he doesn't have any insurance.

 

[Octopus]

It could be that the individual quoting is deliberately pricing low, so their earnings are low, and then tax free tax credits get paid if they have kids......

Madness.

 

[telectrix]

It could be that the individual quoting is deliberately pricing low, so their earnings are low, and then tax free tax credits get paid if they have kids......

Madness.

or claiming JSA or income support at the same time.

 

[Octopus]

So when Jeremy gets voted in, there will be tax credits, and tax payers supporting employers wages too

That is madness

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Would of quoted about £300 to do that job

I only quoted what i did as the access hatch meant i could get up in the roof space without any problem. otherwise had it been a normal ceiling with no access i would have quoted £300+

 

[telectrix]

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).

 

[telectrix]

I only quoted what i did as the access hatch meant i could get up in the roof space without any problem. otherwise had it been a normal ceiling with no access i would have quoted £300+

just wait for the call to put it right after the competition has gone back to lala land.