A Tradesmans rant

thechippy

sturll wrote: »

The problem you've got is that most tradesmen are dodgy. You probably included.

Stop moaning. If you dont wanna do your job there is probably some Polish guy more than happy to do it

I'd normally tell you to fekk off, but being polite, I won't......:rolleyes:

I'm far from dodgy, so don't make that assumption. In fact, I'm the opposite. I give a very high standard of work and guarantee it, I have countless repeat clients.

Bumming the public for years eh? I charge a fair price for the quality of my work and my experience. Bumming the public is a dentist charging £100 for a filling that takes 15 mins.........

freeride

£180 a day...:rotfl:

thechippy

freeride wrote: »

£180 a day...:rotfl:

Yes, that's what some skilled people earn......;)

Maybe YOU should learn one.......

isplumm

freeride wrote: »

£180 a day...:rotfl:

Well, as someone who works in IT .... I would expect to earn far more than £200 a day .... so there are people out there earning more than that.

Mark

BubbleFrogette

Oh get over yourself OP. My ex-colleagues (research scientists) are finding the cure for your grandmother's cancer, with PhDs in things you can't even spell let alone understand. They earn nowhere near what you seem to be on for nailing pieces of wood together.

thechippy

BubbleFrogette wrote: »

Oh get over yourself OP. My ex-colleagues (research scientists) are finding the cure for your grandmother's cancer, with PhDs in things you can't even spell let alone understand. They earn nowhere near what you seem to be on for nailing pieces of wood together.

"Nailing pieces of wood together"? You obviously know nothing about skilled craftsmen. How do you know what I can spell or understand?......:rotfl:

Toothsmith

thechippy wrote: »

Bumming the public for years eh? I charge a fair price for the quality of my work and my experience. Bumming the public is a dentist charging £100 for a filling that takes 15 mins.........

Be a dentist then!

Bishop_Basher

Interesting thread, as a 'time served' self employed joiner/carpenter (over 22 years) I'll obviously side with the OP.

I occasionally do sub-contract work for £16 to £20 an hour, ie; working for some one else, so I always try to make at least that for myself. (Not always possible mind you)

The worst case scenario is making £450 a week for an agency, so why the hell would any one bother with all the hassle of being self employed for any less than that?

As with all 'normal' expenses there is also Liability insurance.
I own hand and power tools worth in excess of £6000, I'll spend approximately £1500 a year on consumables like router bits, blades, saws, drill bits and tool repairs alone.

I spend over £2000 a year on advertising.
What the 'civilians' forget is we don't get any holiday pay either, thats 5 weeks you get automatically which is what £2000+ ish?

These are all necessary expenses at least £6000 outside of the 'normal' expenses like fuel and NIC etc, that have to be paid for and incorporated into my prices.

You're paying for years of experience and the knowledge gained, combined with piece of mind that I'm insured and won't disappear once you've handed over your money.

Sure builders are definately NOT rocket scientists, but its hard physical work, done in all weathers and contrary to popular belief a modicum amount of brain power is required!

If customers don't want to pay my price/quote I don't get the job, simple as that, there is one saying that rings true in 99% of cases... pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

thechippy

Toothsmith wrote: »

Be a dentist then!

Nice one.......:rotfl:

Maybe I should........:D

freeride

thechippy wrote: »

Yes, that's what some skilled people earn......;)

Maybe YOU should learn one.......

I'm actually a city and guilds qualifie carpenter/joiner with 19 years experiance, I've worked all over the world and in many big cities in the UK.
Never, Never have i heard of an everyday carpenter/joiner earning £180 a day.

I totally understand that a carpenters tools, bit and blades etc, cost more than any customer realises and it annoys me to, but people will not pay that kind of money.

I ting a carpenter should be able to earn around 140/ 150 a day, theres to much competition from Polish workers now days that will work for less.

good luck chippy