Why bother!!!

[Retroviper]

What chance have we got when we have to do things by the book.

Below is a link from last weeks Times , Check the comment from Keith Welton , He hits the nail on the head dosen't he!!!

Beware: the hidden toll of adventurous DIY - Times Online

Why pay for a qualified Electrician when when you can get people like Mr Welton to come round and put a few sockets in using a old bit of lawnmower cable and connector blocks he found in his shed and he will only charge quarter of the price!!!

No one really seems to care about Part P , The customers just want it cheap or they think you are ripping them off, And it seems loads of people will attempt work without any real fear of reprisal.

 

[martysparky]

very true and well said.

I paid a lot of cash and study time etc and if people was ignoring my posts for that reason there would be no point being here.

Every body asks daft questions now and then I think some do it to just see others opinions etc.

the unqualified, however, are trying to gain experience via sucking knowledge from those who have earned it.

I suppose we all feed from each other at some level but to try and pretend to become qualified via a forum is another issue and a dangerous one at that.

 

[rocker]

You're right there - I don't think I'll ever stop asking stupid questions! I think a lot of the time you can tell if it's someone in training or not, but I guess there's nothing stopping someone saying they work in the trade and asking a question. On the other hand, a lot of the time the questions on here are very specific to the trade and have language etc that only someone who knows what they're doing would use. If someone does say 'I'm in training but I need to know how to do this [really basic thing]' I don't like to give the answer outright but say 'look at page blah in your on site guide' this way real apprentices etc will be able to get their answer AND learn a bit about referring to notes, and Terry from behind the bar will not be able to further proceed. Everyone's a winner (apart from Terry, but then again he may not kill himself, which I would count as a bonus even on a rainy day)

 

[martysparky]

Yes agreed, I'll take that on board and try to keep my posts as you've mentioned.

 

[ezzzekiel]

got to admit im clueless

 

[Golden_Boy]

They do not have calibrated test equipment, and without this how could they possibly know the little DIY bits they do are safe?

I do have calibrated test gear and do know how to use it ( but I am not an professional electrician, hence must be a DIYer ! )

 

[sonobit]

I agree with the above, but why not limit what the public can buy?? If say for instance they could only buy cable in 5 or 10 m lengths, stop selling CU's, make wholesalers TRADE only so only genuine tradesmen could buy the necessary materials to carry out major works.

I understand what everyone is saying, but bottom line is there are sparkys who over charge customers for parts, its giving the customer an option to source cheaper and better deals themselves for parts. then getting a qualified sparky to fit them, its the same in every trade.

 

[mnmwill]

I understand what everyone is saying, but bottom line is there are sparkys who over charge customers for parts, its giving the customer an option to source cheaper and better deals themselves for parts. then getting a qualified sparky to fit them, its the same in every trade.

I get that but surely anyone with an ounce of common sense would have more than one quote for major works. Whenever I give a quote for a biggish job I always give the customer a complete breakdown of what they are paying for down to wall plugs!!! Might take a bit of time but I think it gives complete transparency so they know exactly what they are paying for

 

[Retroviper]

I think that to a lot of people Diy is a hobby and they enjoy it. They probably get quite a bit of satisfaction adding extra sockets or a outside light so they will allway be doing it themselves regardless of any regulations or dangers.

 

[Retroviper]

However reading Mr Cranes views you would like to see it start to go horribly wrong for them sometimes!!!

 

[mogga]

You're right there - I don't think I'll ever stop asking stupid questions! I think a lot of the time you can tell if it's someone in training or not, but I guess there's nothing stopping someone saying they work in the trade and asking a question. On the other hand, a lot of the time the questions on here are very specific to the trade and have language etc that only someone who knows what they're doing would use. If someone does say 'I'm in training but I need to know how to do this [really basic thing]' I don't like to give the answer outright but say 'look at page blah in your on site guide' this way real apprentices etc will be able to get their answer AND learn a bit about referring to notes, and Terry from behind the bar will not be able to further proceed. Everyone's a winner (apart from Terry, but then again he may not kill himself, which I would count as a bonus even on a rainy day)

Before serving my time I helped my grandpa ( old sparky) and he always told me theres no such thing as a Silly Question because by asking your silly question your less likley to make a silly mistake his other comment was Your NEVER to old to learn even from someone younger

 

[Guest123]

how the hell do you put up a post on this forum??????!!

You need a minimum of 5 posts to start a thread.

 

[Jon Bridges]

DIY'ers will always "have a go" but Mr Cranes strikes me as the sort of person who would do his own dental work to save a few quid.

The customer can always find it cheaper if he can be bothered to look for the gear. On the few times its been provided for me its always been crap. So you might be able to buy a double socket in screwfix for 77p but its not MK thats for sure!

 

[rocker]

Can you get a double socket in Screwfix for 77p???

 

[Jon Bridges]

sorry, 75p! I think you have to be part of Electricfix though, which I am.

Cable is unbelievably cheap too. I was quoted 136quid in TLC for 50 m of 10mm t&e, got it in Electricfix for 104.

 

[rocker]

They asked me to be part of electrifix but I dismissed it as a gimmick.... wonder if they'll still have me.

I've heard that the cable, though cheap, is realy poor quality. Is that right??