Charging by tye of job

tacpot12

When I saw the thread title I thought this was going to be a query about multiskillled tradespeople charging one rate for one sort of work (e.g. Electrical) and a different rate for another sort of work (e.g general handyman work). I think this is a good idea, as it tends to work in the customer's favour.

But given the situation the op describes, I don't think the plumber is wrong to breakdown the task into its constituent parts: many householders don't realise how long it takes to get access to certain areas and make good afterwards. And many householders don't specify work in such a way that future access is made easy (and therefore less expensive).

glasgowdan

Marci70 wrote: »

I should consider myself stupid for becoming a scientist who tries to improve people's life daily with huge responsibility and only gets paid £20 an hour.

Nobody gets into the sciences for money. I'm a humble gardener and it's been a LOOONG time since I only earned £20/hr! I'm keen to know how that makes you feel!

John-K_3

Marci70 wrote: »

I asked for a quote but he said it would more or less like last time. I have used him once before and I was happy and I trusted him. Silly of me not to insist for a quote. I guess that if a plumbers hourly rate is an average of £80 then I should consider myself lucky for being charged only £300 for 3 hours. On the other hand I should consider myself stupid for becoming a scientist who tries to improve people's life daily with huge responsibility and only gets paid £20 an hour. Thanks for your reply it really helped me to understand and accept the quote.

Did you honestly go into science for the benefit that it would bring other people?

If you did, then good for you, but if you are paid in satisfaction then why would you get the extra money, too?

phill99

There is always an ignorance of customers who relate what a plumber (or other tradesman) charges. A plumber charging doesn't mean he earns that. He runs a business and all of his business operating costs have to be met by you, the end user. That includes all his admin coats, van running, insurances, tool investment, professional fees, holiday pay and sick pay.


It cost me £43/ day to run my business. So I have to find that money regardless of how much I earn. Then I have to take awage and cover void period, holidays etc. So If I charge £50/ hour, I will only see £20 in my pocket.

southcoastrgi

Personally I think you have been completely ripped off

plumberpaig

To be fair he did tell you approximately what he was going to charge you and you would have had the chance to query his charge.

I think the price was quite expensive for the work done.

I also think there aren't many independent plumbers charging £80+ per hour.

However, running a business requires a lot of motivation, skill, expertise and experience - all of which, to reflect the level of risk, deserve a high reward if done right.

I've just sold my plumbing business (retirement, as I'm 71) but I was earning more than my dentist wife when she was working, and she ran her own small practice. She never looked down on me...