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.

 

[Wilko]

For every job where Customer is ok for me to fix the other things, I get two where I'm sure they think I'm making it up and that's that.

 

[StephenRowley]

The worst cowboys are the ones i call ebay sparks. they buy the cheap imported counterfeit CU's off ebay for £45 (same model in usual suppliers is £70+).

Or buy one the local smack head robbed from their local DIY shed

 

[Pat H]

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).

See this posted elsewhere and even described as a Bribe. However far more of those who voted labour wouldn't have gained from tuition fees they would have been paying for them in their taxes. A significant number of voters for Labour where over 50's with degrees themselves. So maybe it was that they see the value of education and its importance to the UK economy as an investment rather than a cash cow as everything has to be nowadays. Depite the rightwing press being exposed for the lies and smear they used. Their voice still lingers on...

Cameron did deliver his promise for an EU referendum and look at the state we are in now.

 

[Octopus]

See this posted elsewhere and even described as a Bribe. However far more of those who voted labour wouldn't have gained from tuition fees they would have been paying for them in their taxes..

I think "bribe" seems a little strong, but to offer to abolish tuition fees and cancel the debts of "older" students does strike me as "buying" votes... The debts are estimated at £30 billion and then there is the ongoing cost of students each year.

I don't think ANY of the parties did any good with their policies or their promises - for me there was just 1 that stood out:

1p on income tax to pay for social care - by the Liberals.....

I would happily pay an extra 1p on tax to sort out this financial mess.. and give our elderly some comfort in old age. My late mother was paying £6K per month at the end..... ALL funded by her and when she lived at home, SHE had to pay for any help....

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

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).

I voted Labour because I can't stand may.
The arrogance to make no effort and blame it on having brexit to worry about... why call the election?!

And so many u turns.

 

[Deleted member 93172]

50 squid for a cu change plus bits is total madness, so no bonding upgrade or testing then, the people who except these prices deserve whatever problems are coming their way.

 

[Specialist]

50 squid for a cu change plus bits is total madness, so no bonding upgrade or testing then, the people who except these prices deserve whatever problems are coming their way.

No mate, no bonding upgrade or anything & a totally gash job of the CU.

 

[sparkdog]

I quoted £350 for a similar job, didn't get it either.

 

[Specialist]

When you've got people doing things for stupid money, it's not surprising really. Other side of the coin, there's a thread where a punter just paid £550 for a CU change.

 

[davesparks]

When you've got people doing things for stupid money, it's not surprising really. Other side of the coin, there's a thread where a punter just paid £550 for a CU change.

Which is a perfectly reasonable price for a CU change, particularly considering that in the thread in question it's explained that it's an out-of hours job.

 

[Specialist]

Wasn't aware that I'd said it wasn't reasonable in certain areas, in others it wouldn't be a reasonable price.
The out of hours job though, was the Electricians choice not the clients.

 

[Midwest]

Which is a perfectly reasonable price for a CU change, particularly considering that in the thread in question it's explained that it's an out-of hours job.

I wouldn't have paid £550 for that one, even if he did it on Christmas Day

 

[Midwest]

I had one guy leave a voicemail, trying to find an electrician who was not vat registered, so he could get a 20% discount. Another sent me the longest text I've EVER had, for a supply to a shed, and the last line was 'how much do you charge?'.

Didn't respond to either. What happened to the 'Can you give me a quotation' routine?

 

[vjsmarwick]

lol I don't think I can remember the last time I gave a quote I have so many regular customers and here word of mouth carries you a long way so the amount of work passed to me from the customers I do have keeps me going ! I do all the wiring for one firm of builders all the wiring for 1 self employed guy maintenance on two hotels and two restaurants I also do wiring for a kitchen fitter and all the private work on top of that at the moment the one private job is an old mansion with 30 odd rooms been there on and off over the past couple of years and made almost £20000 off just this one job and still more to come ! (Sometimes life is just great in the country ! You can keep your city lives fighting for work I will keep my island paradise any day) lol

 

[Midwest]

If you don't do quotes, even for kitchen fitters, all I can say is they are probably providing a quotation to their customers on your behalf.

It is very common for builders to make a mark up on other trades work. Last builder I did work for insisted I sent my invoice to them direct, and got in a right paddy when I later did some extra work for the same customer and invoiced them direct, almost accused me taking money out of his mouth. Told them his fortunes, and never worked for them again.

If you happy to do that, and making money, jobs a good'un