We have to reroute the sewerage line from the expected entry point to another point out the front. Involves digging totally in sand approx 5mts, laying down the new pipe, filling with scoria, replacing sand. Paperwork and new plan submitted to water board and water board fee of $150 for breaking into the line (only 3 mths old) Quote $1500 - when queried he said he was charging 2 days work at $75 per hour!!!! (forget going to uni anyone - become a plumber instead). I was gobsmacked, anyone else think this is fair. He has offerered to do it by the hour but have had problems with this system in the past (carpenters charging us through the roof and an hour for lunch and starting late in the morning)
Gobsmaacked over plumbers quote
- Thread starter fernfurn
- Start date
You could always dig the trench yourself.
wouldn't it be all of it? it's not like he needs to run a cappuccino machine for visitors??
It certainly isn't.
Car, insurance, office/warehouse. all employee entitlements. also could have a cappuccino machine for visitors at his office if he is doing well.
For Each one of my blokes in a van i need to get back 70 ph to break even.
So if he is charging 75ph for them, then he is not really making much on labor at what roughly 7 or 8% on labor which is tiny.
Would you do a small job any be happy making 7%
well I guess my happiness is irrelevant to whether I get the job or not. If I am running overheads to such a level and then a sole operator comes along with nothing but a clapped out white van and a $50/mth mobile then I would presumbaly lose the business. Tho I admit people do like to pay for the slick image. Look at that show last night with that bunch of over paid lawyers - makes you gag just thinking about the misery they have inflicted on others to extract that sort of wealth. nice views - paid by schmucks who couldn't afford a better lawyer.
He's the guy in the black ute with the mobile. No office, no website, which is why he got the job. I stear well clear of paying someone else's overheads for big flashy offices and receptionists. I reckon this is 4-6 hrs work absolute tops, then make a phone call and post a letter, total $600, I was expecting quote to be about $800.
Just because a tradie has low overheads doesn't mean he quotes cheaper. Just as a slick company wont always quote higher, they have to be competitive.
It mostly depends on how much they need the work.
It mostly depends on how much they need the work.
Is usually recommended that to obtain several different qoutes with the same scope and see if there is a massive price difference....
Yes, i agree tooo. why does plumbers charge a fortunate....
You can get a labourer to dig a hole for $20 per hour....
The only expertise is needed is the connections and laying and the bulk of the work is just digging.....
Iam thinking if 80% is just digging and the rest is connecting why so much??!???
Yes, i agree tooo. why does plumbers charge a fortunate....
You can get a labourer to dig a hole for $20 per hour....
The only expertise is needed is the connections and laying and the bulk of the work is just digging.....
Iam thinking if 80% is just digging and the rest is connecting why so much??!???
because they can.
Answer this: Why does my lame accountant charge in the vicinity of $200 per hour?
Answer this: Why does my lame accountant charge in the vicinity of $200 per hour?
ring your local PM, find out who they use as a handyman then see if you can get the handyman (at $25/hr) to dig the trench and just pay the plumber for plumber stuff.
There is no way I'd be paying someone $75/hr to dig a trench!
I regularly have my handyman out to help me do renovation prep work on the houses I do (fix double hung windows, help me pour footing, build privacy screens etc) - way cheaper than a builder and usually I get him for a full day of little things.
There is no way I'd be paying someone $75/hr to dig a trench!
I regularly have my handyman out to help me do renovation prep work on the houses I do (fix double hung windows, help me pour footing, build privacy screens etc) - way cheaper than a builder and usually I get him for a full day of little things.
Here is the link to a calculator to work out how much to charge.
http://www.masterplumbers.com/utilities/costcalc/
Also understand that you do not have work week in, week out and not all days are money making. Not to mention people ripping you off builders going bust and taking all your money.
I'm not saying tradies don't overcharge, but understand the cost of doing business in this country is crazy. OHS, workers comp, and employee’s entitlements all add up to a very large %. There are plenty of hands in my pocket.
But there are always those shonks that charge way too much (and there are plenty). They usually end up with no work.
It's hard to explain to those that are employees because they have a totally different mentality and how things should be priced to someone running a business.
More calc
http://www.masterplumbers.com/utilities/costcalc/
Also understand that you do not have work week in, week out and not all days are money making. Not to mention people ripping you off builders going bust and taking all your money.
I'm not saying tradies don't overcharge, but understand the cost of doing business in this country is crazy. OHS, workers comp, and employee’s entitlements all add up to a very large %. There are plenty of hands in my pocket.
But there are always those shonks that charge way too much (and there are plenty). They usually end up with no work.
It's hard to explain to those that are employees because they have a totally different mentality and how things should be priced to someone running a business.
More calc
You may charge at a set rate but it doesn't mean people will take it if it's too high. So it ends up a catch 22 situation. You lose days from too high a quote and end up needing to charge more to cover costs. Which means you end up losing more work. You have to be flexible in different cycles of the economy. There are times where you make it and times to get by in.
Because you are using up a plumbers time digging a hole when he could be making more doing something else. He is not dropping his price because you are to lazy to get someone else to dig the hole.
Because people who work sitting down earn more than people who work standing up.
I dont think so.
But, what about those who work laying down, they make great money.
But, what about those who work laying down, they make great money.
