A Tradesmans rant

Oldernotwiser

thechippy wrote: »

You are quite correct, the good ones are a minority. Professional people charge professional rates - what's wrong with that?

We're not discussing professions, we're talking about trades.

marleyboy

I think the worst kind of tradesmen are the ones that give you a quote, and half way through the job, up the price for one reason or another, from Landscape gardeners, to Driveways or Roofing, interior to exterior of any property, it does go on.

All by those who claim to be "Fully qualified, professional tradesmen".

Do I stick to a big well known company (that employs many in the trade), or a self employed tradesman? I guess it depends on the level of service offered as well as the price its going to cost me. I have no doubt either one would offer me some kind of guarantee.

zax47

sodamnfunky wrote: »

Everything you have wrote there, is exactly why I work the way I do. I get so annoyed when I arrange an Electrician/Plumber/Plaster to do some work for me, and do they turn up when they say- Hardly ever.

Tradesmen have a bad reputation and in most cases its justified. If I had a pound for everytime I am asked 'You will turn up' I would e a very rich man

Then trying spending a little more on getting good, reliable, tradesmen instead of cowboys! :p

sodamnfunky

andyhop wrote: »

You are missing the point,I put any profit back into the business,I see this as a investment into my future for myself and my family.Yes you could have the best of tools and still not be able to do a good job,But in the last 10 years i have never had a trade tool such as dewalt,Rubi etc fail and let me down

Your £14 van signs will look very proffesional,Why did i waste £1500 getting my van fully wrapped in eye catching vinyl....As a investment to my future.

How i portray myself is important to me and my business,hence why i am willing to spend ££££on works vehicles,plant/tools,advertising and appearance afterall 1st impressions count

I am not missing the point at all. What you have to realise is, you don't have a business, you merely work for yourself. £1500 on 'eye catching vinyl' yes you wasted your money.

The only impression that counts, is you the person, the way you speak to people, introduce yourself, vocabulary, clear speaking not a murmur. Along with estimates on decent paper, with a letterhead and decent grammar, punctuation and spelling.

The van means jack, and someone once said to me, I am always suspect of people in flash vans, it usually means they are expensive and unable to do the job.

The main problem with what people charge (as this is what the thread was originally about)is the greed that has crept into our society, the need to have big houses and huge mortgages, seen to have new cars, etc etc, it's ruined this country. No longer to people buy a house as a home, but as an investment.

thechippy

diable wrote: »

Bit of a racist comment what you just made, we are all in the EU and have rights the same as British workers working in Germany in the 80's and if the British hadn't screwed over the Poles after the war they you wouldn't have this problem.

A lot of Poles died for this country and as I can see the typical Brit is so up his own !!!!. Oh and I am the child of Polish immigrants who did their bit for this country and am sick of all the negative comments.

There is a house not far from me rented by 6 Polish guys. As the bills are spread among 6, they do not need to earn a lot a day. They also do not claim what they earn and avoid tax - that's why they work for £80 per day!
I have nothing against the Polish or foreign people in general, my wife is eastern european. When the bills are spread between two and you claim what you earn and actually pay your tax, £80 per day does not give a very good standard of living.

sodamnfunky

zax47 wrote: »

Then trying spending a little more on getting good, reliable, tradesmen instead of cowboys! :p

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::T:T:T

thechippy

zax47 wrote: »

Then trying spending a little more on getting good, reliable, tradesmen instead of cowboys! :p

Funny.........:beer:

diable

thechippy wrote: »

There is a house not far from me rented by 6 Polish guys. As the bills are spread among 6, they do not need to earn a lot a day. They also do not claim what they earn and avoid tax - that's why they work for £80 per day!
I have nothing against the Polish or foreign people in general, my wife is eastern european. When the bills are spread between two and you claim what you earn and actually pay your tax, £80 per day does not give a very good standard of living.

You have to start somewhere to build up a business and to get a foot on the ladder. One day these people may be running large a large company with many contracts employing local builders and trades people like someone I know and his last VAT bill was £41k.

Where in Eastern Europe is your wife from as then she may tell you what it was like under Stalin who the British Government feted as a "friend"

thechippy

diable wrote: »

You have to start somewhere to build up a business and to get a foot on the ladder. One day these people may be running large a large company with many contracts employing local builders and trades people like someone I know and his last VAT bill was £41k.

Where in Eastern Europe is your wife from as then she may tell you what it was like under Stalin who the British Government feted as a "friend"

When I first started I paid my tax!! - I claimed what I earnt.

BTW my wife is Slovak

sodamnfunky

marleyboy wrote: »

.

All by those who claim to be "Fully qualified, professional tradesmen".

.

That really, really annoys me. I know a few around here, that have that in their ads. One did a loft conversion, and cut all the roof timbers, BEFORE strengthening everything up, he then laid flooring on the existing timbers... He had a flashy sign written van too