Troublesome Customer

[highspark]

I have a customer who asked me to split labour and materials costs on quote which I did....I recieved a voicemail today saying she wants every single material itemised plus cost!!! Does she think I just sit round with all this free time? I've already done something I don't normally do because she asked me for a good quote as she has more work for me. That being splitting labour and materials costs on a written quote. I haven't even put a mark up on materials for her and I've knocked off 30% of my labour. Not my mates because he would work for anything less! Anyone dealt with one of these people before. I get the feeling shes the type to hold the money back because a socket is out by 0.0001 degrees!

 

[D80]

I have no issue with that Dave 85.

I took it more as being broken down as per material item, such as:

Kitchen:
4 D/S - £5.00
25M 2.5MM T&E - £20
3 Lengths 20MM conduit - £3.60
4 Flush double backboxes - £2.80
etc etc etc

 

[Geordie Spark]

Whenever I was askid if I could do a job cheaper I always said "Yes I can ..... but I'd rather stay in business !!"

 

[Guitarist]

I once asked a client to wait while I found my registered charity number. Then put my hand to my head and said "oh wait, I'm NOT a charity". That made them smile.

 

[Mattty]

When people try to haggle I usually tell them that while I like my job. It is how I make my living and not a hobby.

 

[Welchyboy]

To be honest
When I give a quote I always give a per item breakdown but never labour/materials. The per Item breakdown has won me jobs before even though I've not had the lowest price.
I find if you divide labour and materials they will either say "why's the labour so much" or they'll go out and buy a load of cheap crap from screwfix with bits missing which you have to wait for.

I always give a fair price and never negotiate. The only circumastance in which I'd reduce a price is if it was a nice job with plenty of profit and they showed me a better quote from another contractor.

I often do this too, to supply and fit, break down the price per job, to be honest i think you can charge more this way than just having one big figure at the bottom of your quote!

 

[sythai]

I didn't realise so many people were against showing unit costs..
My quote looks like this
Kitchen
4 D/S-£200
4 Down lights-£200
Bathroom
4 Downlights £200
etc etc
I do this to save any arguments when variations happen. Im not out to punish my clients for changing their minds, I pride myself on having a very freindly relationship with all clients which generally means once I've done one job for them, most wouldn't consider looking for anyone else.
Note. I have NEVER had to argue with a client about money on invoicing.


As I've said already, I dont breakdown labour/materials although occasionally I'll give unit prices for the option of chrome front plates so

Install Double socket-£50 (white plate included)

Supply Polished chrome double socket (optional)-£15

With you on this one Dave, every job I price whenever possible is priced this way - simples:smiley2:


Reference OP - would decline from quoting further, suggest they find another contractor and wish them luck with their project :fuk2:

 

[UNG]

I once asked a client to wait while I found my registered charity number. Then put my hand to my head and said "oh wait, I'm NOT a charity". That made them smile.

I've used that one many times, told quite a few "you may not have noticed but my letterheads don't have a charity number on them"

Always remember one job we tendered for the customer rang up after the tenders had been opened told us we where £200 more than the lowest tender but they wanted us to do the work and would we match the lowest tender they couldn't understand why we declined so we quoted to them what the other company were going to install and that the technology was dated and to match the price we would have to fit the same equipment ISTR it took a couple more calls before they took the hint that we didn't want the job unless they where going to pay our tendered price