A Tradesmans rant

thechippy

advent1122 wrote: »

You keep harping on about "getting what you pay for".
I could pay someone £250 a day and still get a sh1te job.
Which is why I want it as cheap as possible from Mr Zwarzxiaz, then if it is a botch job, I will be happy that I have helped my East European cousin buy some more potatos for his grand monther in Gdansk, rather than pay Mr Flash to have an extra bit of vinyl on his van.

You just keep reaffirming that you are the type of PITA client that no-one wants.....:D

thechippy

advent1122 wrote: »

Do you have chippie C's number?

How did I know you'd say that?

marleyboy

Interesting history Chippy it reminds me when I was 18 in my 1st flat, I had a washing machine break down on me and as their was a plumbing shop on the corner, I decided to pop in to ask about repairs.

To cut a long story short, I had this Professional plumber call into my house who took one look at the washing machine, and sighed "Its the motor mate, needs a new motor", (he didn't even look at the motor), he quoted me a price (about the cost of a new one) and I said "No thanks" as at that age I could not afford anything near the price.

I ended up going to the Library and finding a book on washing machines, I literally stripped it down, discovered it was a blockage in the pump, and promptly fixed it.

I not only as a result, saved myself a fortune, but mastered the art of washing machine maintenance.

The Lesson I learned from this, anything is capable if you put your mind to it.

Sorry I know its off track, your post jolted memories

advent1122

thechippy wrote: »

You just keep reaffirming that you are the type of PITA client that no-one wants.....:D

Mr Zwarzxiaz wanted to be my friend.
Granted he did a sh!te job and nicked my signed photo of Simon Cowell BUT he only charged £175 an hour, which is a fiver less than you - so not all bad.

advent1122

thechippy wrote: »

Hi,

I rarely see a scribed joint on the internal mitres

I was saying the same thing to Mrs Advent only this afternoon.
She agreed, scribed joints on internal mitres are not as common nowadays.
I blame Thatcher.

thechippy

advent1122 wrote: »

Mr Zwarzxiaz wanted to be my friend.
Granted he did a sh!te job and nicked my signed photo of Simon Cowell BUT he only charged £175 an hour, which is a fiver less than you - so not all bad.

£175 per hour!! Fantastic, I wish I was earning that. I charge the bargain rate of £180 per day........:D

Even though you're a PITA I'm taking a liking to you..............;)

advent1122

thechippy wrote: »

Even though you're a PITA I'm taking a liking to you..............;)

You'll be asking to scribe my joints next, you little tease.:iloveyou:

advent1122

thechippy wrote: »

£175 per hour!! Fantastic, I wish I was earning that. I charge the bargain rate of £180 per day........:D

I really must read the post before I press send. The problem is I get all excited with my ready wit - press send - and inevitably make a total t!t of myself.

Note to self - Read post before sending to avoid looking like a pleb.

thechippy

marleyboy wrote: »

Interesting history Chippy it reminds me when I was 18 in my 1st flat, I had a washing machine break down on me and as their was a plumbing shop on the corner, I decided to pop in to ask about repairs.

To cut a long story short, I had this Professional plumber call into my house who took one look at the washing machine, and sighed "Its the motor mate, needs a new motor", (he didn't even look at the motor), he quoted me a price (about the cost of a new one) and I said "No thanks" as at that age I could not afford anything near the price.

I ended up going to the Library and finding a book on washing machines, I literally stripped it down, discovered it was a blockage in the pump, and promptly fixed it.

I not only as a result, saved myself a fortune, but mastered the art of washing machine maintenance.

The Lesson I learned from this, anything is capable if you put your mind to it.

Sorry I know its off track, your post jolted memories

Hi Marley,

To a point you are confirming what I am saying, you were attended by an idiot.
I know I ramble about getting what you pay for, but it's GENUINLY what I've seen over the years.

A while back, I attended a client who had a large area of expensive laminate fitted. After two months the laminate buckled up in three places - the original fitter point blank refused to attend or put it right. He had either left the incorrect expansion gap, not allowed the material to acclimatise, or a combination of both.

If I'd had fitted it....

1. It would not have buckled
2. If it HAD, I would have attended site and put it right foc, without question

That's what you pay for.......;)

We are all not money grabbing ba$tards..

A while back, I had a call from a lady at 10pm on a Sunday night. She got my number from the local hardware shop.

...."Hi, got your number from the local shop, we have no hot water and have a 3 day old baby. I've made a few calls and nobody can attend for 3-10 days. I found one local guy and he'll come out tonight, but it's £100 callout and £25 per 15 mins as it's late on a Sunday, but we can't afford that"

It turned out she was a 10 min drive from me.

I said " OK be with you in 15 mins"
After 30 mins on site I had the hot water back on.
While there, they poured me a beer and looked after me

Upon packing up, she asked how much.

I gave her a few of my cards and said " pass these to your friends. That's the bill paid"

freeride

thechippy wrote: »

Hi,

To answer your question.
There are many that consider themselves carpenters as they can fit skirting (often badly - I rarely see a scribed joint on the internal mitres!) Hang a door (often badly) and fit wood / laminate flooring (often badly)

I do all these (properly), as I suspect you do.
I also make built in wardrobes / bookcases etc and freestanding made to measure furniture. Bedside tables, hi-fi storage etc.

My original trade for many years was refrigeration and a/c (which I still do now on a sub contract basis)
I learnt carpentry as it was my fathers passion and I enjoy it. The fridge and a/c trade was usefull as it incorporates complicated electrics and being able to install pipework which has to withstand pressures WAY above that of plumbing.
Due to these various skills, my work also involves kitchen and bathroom fitting. I learnt tiling through necessity as it is part and parcel of kitchens and bathrooms and I was fed up with either sub standard work from "tilers" or being let down.

I find it hard to convince people to pay for a reasonalbly days pay, let alone £180. I think people are happy to try "DIY", hang a door or cut and fit a piece of skirting, then stand back and admire their work. There's a carpenter in every house,...:eek:

I think having a carpenter in your house is mostly a luxury, whereas having a plumber in is often a nesessity, most people haven't got the knowledge or are not brave enough to have a go and thats why plumbers get away with charging high prices, they've got the game by the b@ll@cks...:D

Also, people can get a door hung and locks/latch fitted for around £25 nowdays, if you want to earn £180 per day, you will have to hang around 7 doors in a day, which is impossible if you want to do a good job...

Freeride