Pros and cons of screwfix

[piggyitm]

Recently,I had a customer that said to me" if you can get the materials cheaper than I can get myself at screw fix,go ahead!" for 6 bathroom spots and a shower install
I said they would have to incur my premium charge of £17 PH if they supplied their own materials.
After agreeing,but then after a survey, I found their was no bonding(not even main) and advised upon a 17th board with 10mm bonding.They bought the board for £100 from screwfix and I had a shag end of 10mm in the shed.
The total bill for the job in hours was £255.00 with admin for cert.They got a mains change at the price of 3 hours labour.Some of you guys charge £350 just for the CU
I know i'm shorting myself but without dragging your heels and if the guys got the catologue what do you do??
I might be better with a job on the bins!

 

[alarm man]

She comes from a council house background and can't help her self but to drag me down to council estate prices?

id divorce you on that alone...

 

[piggyitm]

LOl, I can't win,divorced by her,now i'm divorced by him

 

[alarm man]

LOl, I can't win,divorced by her,now i'm divorced by him

..from my experience those with the real money are the tightest of the lot. as my granda said you dont get rich by spending it..

 

[piggyitm]

I'm thinking, I'm also one of those tight arsed ****s your grandad was on about

 

[rocker]

Again, if they reckon they can get it cheaper than you at Screwfix, let them do it but don't guarantee. You can say to them 'Well, I can charge you 200 for labour and you'll spend 60 on materials and get no guarantee, or you can let me supply everything, do it all for 260 anyway and you get the guarantee'. You should be able to do this as, if you are using a decent wholesaler, you should be able to get materials for at least 10% less than bloody Screwfix, and if you can't then you're doing something wrong!

On the other hand, why would you? To be honest I'd be happy to eat the 10% markup (which would only go on fuel getting to and from the wholesalers anyway), to be in a position where I don't have to gurantee the rubbish materials the customer provides. If they are from Screwfix or B&Q, they are probably going to break in six months time, and at that point you can provide your materials, make your markup AND charge for the job all over again! If they think they're so clever and savvy about wholesale prices, let them stew in it, I say!

As far as different pricing for different people, it can go a tenner each way for me, but to be honest that's normally knocking a bit off for old dears or people who obviously don't have a great deal. Contractors normally get quoted quite a bit on top, because you know they're going to haggle you anyway, and even if they don't, they are going to be a pain in the rear expecting you to fix what their other trades have knackered, extras etc.

 

[lloyd1980]

These all sound like good,yet reflexed responses What are the real counter measures. If the customers have catalogues as arms and the ungratefull,out of habit,who counter all final bills quoting so called whole sale prices,do you walk away?


On the side,my missus has just accused me of not really wanting to work for my self because I won't drop my prices to guarantee the work.Obviously she is envious of the sparks potential to earn,but also becomes annoyingly aware if i've over priced a job according by her own wages.She comes from a council house background and can't help her self but to drag me down to council estate prices?I try not to discriminate between customers but does anyone else look them up and down and make an instant judgment as to how much to charge? Cheers

if you come accross a customer with catalogues as arms then in your price just put what you normaly charge for materials witha mark up, if they question it then just say these are my prices for supplying the materials, this is what im charging, if you want to supply then go ahead , also make sure you only give estimates for the work
when inevitably the customer gets the wrong matirials 1 way switches instead of 2, not enough cable, generally no screws or plugs,extractor fans without the ducting, LV lights without the transformers or jb's, no brown sleeving ( I could go on ) so you keep sending them out on errands as you need the stuff straight away
generally after 3rd trip they cant be bothered and send you for the rest
so you mark these up more than you would have normaly, and the wasted time you spend at the house waiting for stuff goes on the final bill as hours spent on the job
either way you make your money mate, I prefer labour only as there is NO responsibility to reapir the stuff or replace it without charge

 

[BluSparx]

all depends on the job mate. i have never been to extortionate. i usually see what i can get the bits for through the discount the wholesalers give me and then i mark up to the big orange prices. if there is no mark up i have just put the labour onto the bill for the running around.

I normally get my price from the wholesalers then mark up to £1 less than the big orange prices this way with Screwfix and the good old orange "consumer diy" store prices the customer is still getting a better price from me and getting better quality stock

I also advise any supplied CU or cable will not be fitted as I cannot guarantee where it came from and as such I refuse to put my name to an EIC and sign it to say safe. However sockets & switches if the customer wants to pay me my minimum hourly rate and buy their own socket or switch I am happy for that as it would probably be more expensive for the customer that way anyway.

 

[Mark_Burgess]

?I try not to discriminate between customers but does anyone else look them up and down and make an instant judgment as to how much to charge? Cheers

No, They pay my rates or I will walk away, if they want an electrician pay for it, if they want a cowboy for cheapness, good luck looking!

If when confronted with the screwfix prices I say no problem to that, then go to the electricfix counter and get it cheaper as its near to home anyway.

 

[flukey]

No, They pay my rates or I will walk away, if they want an electrician pay for it, if they want a cowboy for cheapness, good luck looking!

If when confronted with the screwfix prices I say no problem to that, then go to the electricfix counter and get it cheaper as its near to home anyway.

dont find electricfix prices that much cheaper, couple of quid at best

screwfix always seem to be doing a complete 10 way wylex board for £79.99 inc vat, (same price in electricfix) now thats not bad value in my book

 

[Mark_Burgess]

dont find electricfix prices that much cheaper, couple of quid at best

screwfix always seem to be doing a complete 10 way wylex board for £79.99 inc vat, (same price in electricfix) now thats not bad value in my book

Plain old B&Q had a fully loaded 10 way dual RCD for £56 a couple of weeks ago

My local electricfix counter are good at matching or beating prices if for a decent order, but what they dont ever have in stock is 20mm white conduit singles or bulk, but sell all the accessories

 

[flukey]

Plain old B&Q had a fully loaded 10 way dual RCD for £56 a couple of weeks ago

what make board was that though

 

[Mark_Burgess]

was a volex for £56, british general are £50, same spec.

 

[oldtimer]

I had a customer who wanted some small works done plus PIR lighting put up He said a scored a bit by getting the PIR lights himself. Two weeks later got a phone call me thinks one of the PIR lights you put up is not working. I said me thinks you better take it back to the supplier as the contract is between you and them I only fitted it and if you want me to swap it over I will send you a quote. Mmmmmmmm stillwaiting for the phone call

 

[keniff]

i have an electricfix catalogue, some of the stuff is cheaper but for example the wylex board, its 79.99 in both electricfix and screwfix BUT with screwfix i always have an email with a voucher code for 10% off or other offers so seems you cant win!!

 

[flukey]

i have an electricfix catalogue, some of the stuff is cheaper but for example the wylex board, its 79.99 in both electricfix and screwfix BUT with screwfix i always have an email with a voucher code for 10% off or other offers so seems you cant win!!

thats exactly what i mean, im an electrifix member but 9 times out of 10 use screwfix instead as they have better offers