A Tradesmans rant

andyhop

nexuss wrote: »

Can i ask when tradesmen say a day do they actually mean 6-8 hours ? Also what percentage of business is cash and never goes through the books ?

All goes thro the books,its about building a reputable business that is worth something,With cash jobs the only person your robbing is yourself

My working day is 8am-6pm,for the simple reason to miss city centre rush hour traffic,Most trades will be 8hrs

marleyboy

Surely all is well in business and competition, you cannot hold it against someone for "looking" for a better deal, weighing up the competition from one tradesman to the next.

Its no different to yourself opting to buy your "branded" Tools from a cheaper company, you wouldn't call that "messing them around" would you?

nexuss

I realise most tradesmen have it tough and good luck to them but it just got me when the OP said anyone working for less than the £180 he charges must be fiddling.

marleyboy

shandypants5 wrote: »

I always use this motto.

Choose any 2 of these you cant have all 3.

You can have it fast.
You can have it cheap.
You can have it right.

By simply adding "er" at the end of the first two words, I am sure you could have all 3. In all honesty

shandypants5

marleyboy wrote: »

By simply adding "er" at the end of the first two words, I am sure you could have all 3. In all honesty

Nope..... in all honesty. cut corners if you want it any different.

Bishop_Basher

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

I'm not sure we're comparing like-with-like here, when we look at a SE tradesman charging £180 a day and the rate paid to someone who is employed.

If you're employed on a five day week, then you get paid for 261 days of the year. You get paid for having Bank Holidays off; for annual leave; for sick leave; possibly other "absence" (depends on your contract).

You probably also get pension contributions from your employer. You may get other benefits too.

Let's say you get paid for 8 BHs and you also get 25 days holiday a year. If you are SE and want the same deal, you can only do paid work for 228 days a year. So you can see that you have only 228 days to earn the equivalent of 261 days pay. The employed work 228 days for 261 days pay.

The two are not directly comparable as the SE have to meet the costs that employers pay for those of us who are employed (and I've done both - SE and employed). At work, we budget the cost of employing someone as their gross salary + 30% - and that doesn't cover business overheads .... just employment costs.

Spot on, its a MAJOR point thats lost on most.
The thing is... eventually the rogues will get their come-uppance and the 'good guys' get their work through recommendation. If you're fair and honest you'll always do ok.

andyhop

marleyboy wrote: »

By simply adding "er" at the end of the first two words, I am sure you could have all 3. In all honesty

And would you be prepared to offer a long warranty on jobs? Or would it be until the cheques cleared!

Referals,further works etc arnt given on price,Most are given on quality,finish,attitude and respect to client/home

thechippy

marleyboy wrote: »

Surely all is well in business and competition, you cannot hold it against someone for "looking" for a better deal, weighing up the competition from one tradesman to the next.

Its no different to yourself opting to buy your "branded" Tools from a cheaper company, you wouldn't call that "messing them around" would you?

I agree with you, but in my experience the cheaper tradesmen are always cheaper for a reason. However, there are always the odd few who give quite a cheap price and give a good service, but this is a minority - maybe they have very low outgoings, little mortgage left, work is tight in thier area, I don't know - but there are a few.

zax47

advent1122 wrote: »

I will then haggle, knock a further 10% off the price and pay you when I am ready.
Why would I do this? Because for the next few years I CAN. You may not accept my terms, but I guarantee someone will. After all you need me more than I need you.

With an attitude like that, you can f-off! Customers like you NO-ONE needs, you aren't worth the hassle!!

I love it when jerks like you have a cheap job go t*ts up on you and can't get hold of the cowboy to finish it or put it right. Oh, you'll ring me now, will you - because I gave you a proper, written, itemised quote (which you thought too expensive!) with contact details and a real address on?

Oh dear, the cowboy you employed has left you with no power? Oh dear he has no training or qualifications and doesn't know why the RCD he fitted keeps tripping? Oh and you've paid up front, in cash and he isn't answering his mobile?

Well guess what, the price just doubled and I'm busy for the next 50 years, now go waste someone else's time you cheapskate. Serves you right!

Or am I being harsh?

John Ruskin has a perfect quote for situations like this.

"Who is the bigger fool? He who paid the least or he who paid more? If you pay a little more, all you loose is a little money. If you pay too little then you need to keep something in reserve, to make sure what you purchased does the job it should and for as long as you need it to. In which case you could have paid a little more and got the right thing in the first place"

"Cheapest is not always best - a far better measure is value for money".

shandypants5

marleyboy wrote: »

By simply adding "er" at the end of the first two words, I am sure you could have all 3. In all honesty

Marleyboy, can I ask what type of work you do for a living?

Not being vindictive I am just interested to see what type of people see a "Tradesman" as valuable or not.

dont feel pressurised, I am just interested.