One price range for all

[DavidSpence]

I'm from Birmingham and back in the days I used to repair phones and computers for a living. I normally get my parts in the city centre. On that road you have many shops selling the same items, literally almost ever store. The shop I go to, because I was lucky, I asked the owner "how do you compete?" He said all the shops around here go to a meeting to discuss the selling prices for the items: screens, batteries, repairs etc. So you see, they have a set price.

Why could it not be same for the trade? Removing materials, why cant we just have a set labour price? Create a union and say: charge £x per hour or £x for the day and you work x hours per day? Who disobeys get their butt kicked lol ok Im joking but we need to set some rules so we all can make same money. We means you.

 

[Richard Burns]

Generally known as price fixing, gives the customer a bad deal and is anti competitive.

 

[The Ghost]

Well I agree it would be nice, and Richard is also correct which makes it seem...not nice! However we do have SPONS which is the tradesmans bible regards pricing. Which in effect pegs a price to any task/material in any trade. So we already have a "fixed" notional national price to compare and figure what to charge. You just might be re-inventing the wheel.
Of course JIB peg wages to the lowest possible level. And considering the training and expertise there is no parity in their wage structure compared to many people less skilled getting twice as much and more. Certainly there should be a notional ball park figure for hourly/daily rate for electricians. And of course it is always what the market will bear.
Take for instance a CU change. I have seen prices from £25 per cct up to £100 per cct. Both prices are getting the work. How is that? It is with that knowledge that we have to somehow work out where we stand in the market. I think it is a very flexible dynamic pricing reality we live in and very hard to pin down to a known constant. It is what the market will bear.

 

[Octopus]

The brutal reality is that there will always be somebody who will do it cheaper, or for cash, no tax etc.

Set your prices and stick to them.....

And prices do vary depending on where the work is.

 

[GMES]

It can't work!! How can a one man band in Barnsley Yorkshire charge the same as a five-man company in Knightsbridge London.

 

[Andy78]

It can't work!! How can a one man band in Barnsley Yorkshire charge the same as a five-man company in Knightsbridge London.

Exactly. Overheads and running costs will be different and unique to every business. Business models and customer bases will be different too. Some people charge to make money, some people charge to keep themselves busy in lean times, some people charge to undercut.
Even in my small local area I have people that think my first hour rate is way too much and people that say "Is that all ?" So how could a standardised national schedule of charges possibly work ? A row of shops on the same street is one thing, they obviously are working together to stop treading on each others toes. But as said, the customer is the loser in that instance.

 

[snowhead]

It might work with a row of small shops in the same location, but wouldn't work for all the shops in the same Town.
Major retailers / companies cannot get involved, as above there is legislation that prevents it.

2 contractors bidding for the same work cannot discuss prices they are about to quote.

This is from the .Gov website;


If you’re involved in anti-competitive activity
Your business can be fined up to 10% of its worldwide turnover and sued for damages.
You can be fined or sent to prison for up to 5 years if you’re found guilty of being involved in cartel activity.
Company directors can be disqualified from being a director for up to 15 years.

Anyone still think it's a good idea?

 

[andyb]

Because it's against the law.

 

[Hellmooth]

I'm not going to charge the same money as Dave who isn't qualified, doesn't test, doesn't pay insurances, doesn't pay to be with a scam, doesn't pay tax, and generally does a ---- job......the list goes on and on.

 

[HandySparks]

... but we need to set some rules so we all can make same money. We means you.

You're joking? Sounds like some communist state arrangement. I want the freedom to charge more for a 'better' service. Definition of 'better' depends on what the customer needs or expects. Also the freedom to charge less, if that suits me.

 

[andyb]

I'm not going to charge the same money as Dave who isn't qualified, doesn't test, doesn't pay insurances, doesn't pay to be with a scam, doesn't pay tax, and generally does a **** job......the list goes on and on.

Now I know Dave and myself have had several debates over the years but they've been mostly political. I'm sure he's nothing like you say.
He'll be on soon.

 

[DavidSpence]

I forgot about the tax doggers that pockets the cash. Hmmm yes a tough on in deed. Also prices based on the experience under your belt and the city you're in. I really thought it would work. But you do know the client would rather pay Jo £10 for a light fitting than Jim who asked for £10.50.

 

[DavidSpence]

You're joking? ...

Dead serious. But reading the comments it seemed like I was drunk typing the first post. I now see it's not possible.