How often if at all, do you do free extras?

[imago]

I had to run in a new cooker point as part of a kitchen refurb. The customer wanted to have the drop in surface trunking in a corner as it wouldn't be too noticeable and saved a few quid. I didn't as I thought it would look pants, so I chased it and gave the plasterer a few quid to make good. He was working on another wall anyway, so not too much hassle. He did comment on my sanity though!

Which got me thinking, from time to time I 'just do it' usually things which mean anyone following wouldn't say "who did that?" in a negative way, even though it wouldn't have been down to me. Cable runs to new CU say, appliance switches with neons, removing a spur and making it part of the ring. That sort of thing rather than doing it because not doing it is against the regs (earthing and bonding upgrade for example).

So, what sort of unpaid extras do you put in?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

i think you can sense when theres more work at a place......so a `sweetener`..little bit of a loss leader what ever you want to call it..can smooth the path to more work.....i also dont like trunking just stuck on walls.....i think its ugly, lazy and unhygenic in kitchens and food preparation areas.....Leigh n I see loads of it in houses thats been badly cut and dressed to fit......and i just hate it.....very cheap...very budgety.....

 

[Guest111]

2 maxims to live by, it,s nice to be important but it,s more important to be nice, and also if you wouldn,t do it in your own home don,t do it in someone else,s.

 

[Marvo]

I'll tend to go the extra mile for no extra charge if it makes for a better finished result. I'm not very sympathetic if the customer has a list of premeditated items they didn't mention at the quoting stage and they're hoping to get for nothing 'while you're here'.

 

[D80]

Depends on the customer amongst other things.

I wouldn't go the extra mile free because the customer is being a miser and doesn't want to pay for it to be done "right", eg they want something run surface as that's all they will pay for and won't pay for it to be tracked in and made good - then I'm not going to be the one paying for it to be tracked in and made good.

 

[tonycoysh]

I don't like giving away too much in the way of cost items but if I can do a little extra in the way of effort to make a job look good or like others have said change a socket front or light switch over while I am there, then I'm all for it.

I went to look at a night storage heater once, the women wanted to pay me for my time there and then. I didn't think to take some flex and a 13A plug to check in fired up and couldn't be sure it was working and told her not to worry and wait until she knew if it was working before paying me. I've since been back several times for different jobs.

 

[ipf]

I'll tend to go the extra mile for no extra charge if it makes for a better finished result. I'm not very sympathetic if the customer has a list of premeditated items they didn't mention at the quoting stage and they're hoping to get for nothing 'while you're here'.

I'm with you there Marvo. Do plenty bits and bats for decent folk. It's when they expect it for nothing that bugs me! By the way, how many wholesalers would slip you the odd switch or socket for nothing ???

 

[GLENNSPARK]

you just get a feeling though when you turn up to do work on someones property....like are they tight or summat....a quick glance around though will tell you if theres any future work to be had out of it.....

 

[oldtimer]

When servicing or even surveying burglar alarm I check the mains out as when I see no FCU I open the DB I sometimes find they connected the 1.0mm T&E straight into the live side of the main switch either way I always draw the customers attention to it and if it is a survey and I may not even get the job I always move the cables to a 5A fuse or MCB and I always say this is free of charge as I could not sleep knowing it was their sometimes the reply comes back as well its been in 15-20 and nobody got hurt and i reply well you have been very lucky for 20 years but now you are a lot safer.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

When servicing or even surveying burglar alarm I check the mains out as when I see no FCU I open the DB I sometimes find they connected the 1.0mm T&E straight into the live side of the main switch either way I always draw the customers attention to it and if it is a survey and I may not even get the job I always move the cables to a 5A fuse or MCB and I always say this is free of charge as I could not sleep knowing it was their sometimes the reply comes back as well its been in 15-20 and nobody got hurt and i reply well you have been very lucky for 20 years but now you are a lot safer.

i`v come across this...once.....didn`t like it so did the same as you....but it on an MCB....

 

[oldtimer]

i`v come across this...once.....didn`t like it so did the same as you....but it on an MCB....

This mentality came from guys who were not electricians to trade ie their title was Intruder alarm "engineer" I never understood it plus I was called out to a house where the guy could not trcace the supply to the alarm panel so he thought easy I will turn off the main switch pull the panel out then tape up the supply cable and tuck it under the floor and sort it out later . Well you know what happened next so when I got there I said you have blown the main DNO fuse and you were lucky you used insulated pliers. By this time the guy was in pieces as he said I was about to cut the cable with those old un-insulated pliers but thought I better use the insulated ones plus all he could say was "there was a hell of a flash and bang.

 

[ipf]

Once found an alarm supply wired directly from a double socket............in alarm cable.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

This mentality came from guys who were not electricians to trade ie their title was Intruder alarm "engineer" I never understood it plus I was called out to a house where the guy could not trcace the supply to the alarm panel so he thought easy I will turn off the main switch pull the panel out then tape up the supply cable and tuck it under the floor and sort it out later . Well you know what happened next so when I got there I said you have blown the main DNO fuse and you were lucky you used insulated pliers. By this time the guy was in pieces as he said I was about to cut the cable with those old un-insulated pliers but thought I better use the insulated ones plus all he could say was "there was a hell of a flash and bang.

well....its not good enough is it, no proper/appropriate kit,.incompetent....it just goes on....

 

[Hiddo]

Once found an alarm supply wired directly from a double socket............in alarm cable.

I removed one of those last month whilst testing & inspecting before a board change. I'd never seen anything like it before!! Horrific.