A Tradesmans rant

andyrules

andyhop wrote: »

Who will send his money out the country.....Good luck getting out the reccession:mad:

Who do you complain to when the works goes wrong,Most have gone back home, I spend the money on a insurance backed warranty on all my installations to protect the customer,there home and there possesions......

Well I think that's the responsibility of those who have allowed this situation to happen.....;) The customer has different boxes to tick, and they are difficult enough to fulfill.

However, having watched the 'cowboy builder' programme last night and the lethal condition into which a Polish 'tradesman' wrecked someone's house (and dsiappeared with her life-savings), I would steer clear of them personally.

Fridge2

To be honest, I'm surprised that people grudge a skilled craftsman £180 for a days work...

There are far too many snobs who think that having a degree or other paper qualification is somehow superior.

Don't forget, many of the "old school" tradesmen took five years to attain their qualification, the same as an honours degree....

Myself, I work offshore and earn a lot more than £180 per day, so it isn't really the vast amount that some people think it is...

oldone_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

We all have to pay NICs and tax out of our income and many of us have to pay travel/vehicle repairs, equipment, professional subs/union fees etc to be able to earn a living.

Why shouldn't people work that out as weekly/monthly income and judge accordingly?

A self employed person doesn't get paid for holidays.They don't get paid if they are sick.They don't get paid for working in the evening doing tax/VAT returns. When they finish a job, some customers take forever to pay their bill.The average weekly hours worked are probably twice those of an employed person, of which about one third is chargeable to the customer.

Being self employed is not a bed of roses

kiddy_guy

I think the fact of the matter is this.

There are lots of vital people like nurses, doctors and firemen who earn a lot less for a lot harder job.

If a workman comes on here moaning about how people are not going to pay him £180 per day - probably as much in 2 days as some earn in a week - then why should you expect people to be sympathetic ? If you don't feel that your skills are not being rewarded by the general public, either drop your prices or get out of the business. Absolutely no sympathy.

Oldernotwiser

oldone wrote: »

A self employed person doesn't get paid for holidays.They don't get paid if they are sick.They don't get paid for working in the evening doing tax/VAT returns. When they finish a job, some customers take forever to pay their bill.The average weekly hours worked are probably twice those of an employed person, of which about one third is chargeable to the customer.

Being self employed is not a bed of roses

An hourly paid FE lecturer doesn't get paid for holidays and has to do preparation and marking in their own time. Hourly rates are between £11 and £20 per hour and for that you need a degree or to be a fully qualified tradesperson and a qualified teacher as well.

These would be the people who are teaching the carpenters of tomorrow!

Hagar_uk

kiddy_guy wrote: »

I think the fact of the matter is this.

There are lots of vital people like nurses, doctors and firemen who earn a lot less for a lot harder job.

If a workman comes on here moaning about how people are not going to pay him £180 per day - probably as much in 2 days as some earn in a week - then why should you expect people to be sympathetic ? If you don't feel that your skills are not being rewarded by the general public, either drop your prices or get out of the business. Absolutely no sympathy.

£180 is not really all that much, People think its take home pay. with all costs that are involved the take home is a lot less.

A nurse does not pay their employers NI, admin costs for employing them, and tools of their trade and all their pension. When a nurse is sick or goes on holiday, or simply not much work to do on shift still gets paid. a nursing position costs to their employer costs way more than £180/day.

Locknut

I have to agree here that some posters have no concept of the differance between take home pay and earning £180 per day if I wanted to earn IE take home £180 per day i would have to turn over nearly £750 after all my over heads, the self employed dont just have tax and NI to pay.

after all the running of the business cost come out from my hourly rate I EARN £10/£15ph Im happy with that and so are my customers and if either of us isnt happy then we both have the option to go else where.

katiecoodle

My DH is a plasterer, qualified, time served, insured, own tools etc. He's based in the NW and until recently has been charging £120/day. However he's rolled with the market and is now charging £100/day (+materials) but is looking to the day when the building market picks up again...
He solely supports a family of 4, mortgage etc and doesn't get any sick pay/paid annual leave. I think its a very low income personally (I'm the one having to eke it out month by month!) and would be affronted if anyone told me that it was more than he was worth! He's an absolutely excellent tradesman, with a lot more integrity than most people I know, and its a shame he doesn't charge more but then he wouldn't be able to compete with other people to earn a crust!

nitrox

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.

While they are finding a cure for cancer ask your self this, who builds the building to which they are working in? yep you got it a builder and a it had better be a good one, (and at £180 a day he should be) as you wont want the roof to fall on your head now would you? its not just a matter of nailing pieces of wood together, there is in fact a science to it,

oh and the OP forgot to mention he dos'ent get paid sick leave or paid holidays, £180 a day dont sound so much after all?

marleyboy

thechippy wrote: »

I don't have a chip on my shoulder mr.clever!
What sort of living do you have on £80/100 per day after expenses?
I have a perfect right to make a decent living. I feel my charges are perfectly in line with my skills and standard of work and afterservice.

I get peeved with people wanting a rolls job for mini money all the time.......:rolleyes:

I guess what it boils down to ultimately is, I am one of those people who will look for the best possible job at the least possible cost.

If your more expensive than the next "professional", I will bid you farewell, unless of course you can match the price. Failing that, your overhead costs, are of NO interest to me the customer whatsoever.