Why so big a difference in price?

[steve_jones]

Hi All,

Just wanted anyone's views on why electricians prices are so different, had a few quotes for wiring in a kitchen, quotes came in at:

£1200
£950 (reduced to £850 when I questioned it)
£460

Went with the £460, did a great job, safety certificate the lot. I know none of you will have seen the job in question but how do people quote up for jobs and why the vast difference?

 

[David M]

There's not enough information to make judgement on the electrician. Where I live 10 hours work would equate to around £250. So assuming the job was straight forward and done correctly £460 is not out of the realms of realistic. But due to the large difference in prices I can understand why there is suspicion.
If the OP would post some pictures of the completed work and maybe more information regarding consumer unit, bonding etc... then we could make a better judgment as to whether it was value for more or a bodge job.

 

[Acmacm]

Anyone recommended by a fitter is most probably not an electrician. If he is a domestic installer, he is not an electrician. Let's make that very clear as domestic installers are exactly that and not electricians. What city and guild is that? There are thousands or city and guild courses but is it the required one? I think your another member of the public who doesn' actually understand electrical work or what is involved and jump at cheap prices. I can't blame you for that. 90 per cent of the public is the same.

Would you say an electrician is a person who does single phase and three phase then. The reason I ask this if you do only domestic refits or completely new and join a scheme and your now classed as designer and skilled amendment 3 ? Inteested to here your veiw

 

[elsparko]

Would you say an electrician is a person who does single phase and three phase then. The reason I ask this if you do only domestic refits or completely new and join a scheme and your now classed as designer and skilled amendment 3 ? Inteested to here your veiw

that wont work, some domestic premises have 3 phase

 

[The Ghost]

An Electrician is anyone who installs or maintains electrical systems LV or HV. Domestic , Commercial, Industrial Electricians are all Electricians. The skill and knowledge level differs vastly. Coming mostly from a domestic and light commercial end of the array, I must admit heavy end commercial and Industrial Electricians are in a different class to me. I would not even begin to attempt to do what they do unless I was fully instructed. However an Industrial electrician may likely make a complete mess of a domestic installation. Like all professions there are many skill levels.

 

[The Ghost]

Final word; Good question @steve_jones and it is a mystery to me as well as to you. In Bristol we have a man who will rewire your house for £2000. Nobody can compete with him. I cannnot fathom how he can do it. £4000 is about the average price. I am sometimes undercut by other electricians at sometimes as much as 50% as the customer tells me. Again I have no idea how they can do it and make a living. I am not living in the Canaries sipping pina colada on the beach I can assure you. I make a decent living no more.
People ask for reductions on the price and I never give any. Why? Because the price I worked out is an honest price based on my perception of the labour and materials and there is no wiggle room in that. I am not a used car salesman with a mark up of 500% to play with your head with.

 

[MJPD29]

I disagree, how is a domestic installer course which can be obtained in as little as 18 days on par with a time served electrician? Do they have simply a different knowledge base? I don't rank them n the same level at all

wow... that sounds very stuck-up...
I suppose it's everyone to their own opinion.
How about just thinking that they are electricians, but just at a different knowledge base to you...

 

[MJPD29]

I would say An electrician is a competent time served, qualified perso. I do not rank an 18day course on par with a 4 year apprenticeship. The qualified electrician can still do domestic work as many Do and be an electrician but being solely qualified as a domestic installer is a different thing entirely .

Would you say an electrician is a person who does single phase and three phase then. The reason I ask this if you do only domestic refits or completely new and join a scheme and your now classed as designer and skilled amendment 3 ? Inteested to here your veiw

 

[peterhyper]

As a domestic installer, I consider myself to be a senior level DIYER. I do however, tell customers that I am an electrician just to impress them.

 

[Spoon]

I disagree, how is a domestic installer course which can be obtained in as little as 18 days on par with a time served electrician? Do they have simply a different knowledge base? I don't rank them n the same level at all

I think you misread my post mate. I did not say they are 'on par with a time served electrician'.
What I said was "they are electricians, but just at a different knowledge base"

 

[MJPD29]

I have misunderstood you sorry

I think you misread my post mate. I did not say they are 'on par with a time served electrician'.
What I said was "they are electricians, but just at a different knowledge base"[/QUOTE

 

[Spoon]

I have misunderstood you sorry

No worries mate.
No need to apologise, we all misread posts sometimes...

 

[Christopher Bernard]

Deleted.

 

[RWJ]

Trying to start the old DI vs Apprenticeship served argument......Definitely a WIND UP!!!!!!

I did warn this was a whole wind up just to cause a DI vs Apprenticeship served argument!!!!

 

[MDJ]

Domestic or apprenticeship trained, who cares, it is a domestic situation so even a Domestic spark should be able to carry out this minor work, it seems though as if the person doing the work is inexperienced, this is the problem, one- is he competant and two- did he drop a clanger with the price? lets hope it was two, because if it was one then god help the OP.

 

[PEG]

I think the most effective,thorough and complete job,is the one the OP has done on this thread.