I've had and currently got a foot in both camps.
As a tradie, I would never, ever work for an hourly rate. I supply the tools, disposables, finishes, pay taxes, employ subbies - and I have to do that all within my quote. I always walk away when potential clients start talking about hourly rates and what they think I can work for. (not that it happens often)
On the other hand, for any reno I do personally, I always prefer to pay tradies/mates an hourly rate. And I supply all materials. They can come and go as they like and as long as they do they job well and in good time I have no dramas. Once you start getting quotes you are starting to create two opposing dichotomies. Those who quote what the job is worth and what they need to make to be profitable (generally quoting themselves out of the job), and those who quote at the lowest price they can afford (creating shortcuts and potential quality issues)
That is a really honest post, but I'm curious to know if you like paying by the hour because you load up your quotes and you know other tradies will be doing that?
Our son had quotes recently for floor sanding. Two quotes were for $3.5K for a job that I thought would come in under $2K. The third quote was $2K and that is the one he will accept.
I was basing this on the last floor sanding job we had done which was a smaller job, and was about $1.5K.
So, I'm thinking the other two quotes were loading their quote up because they saw a young, inexperienced chap and thought they would try one on. I was hoping floor sanding had not jumped up so much in price that the $2K quote was not because he will cut corners and do a rubbish job. Time will tell.
Our regular plumber has given a rough ballpark figure for the plumbing work involved and will charge only for time spent, so it is an hourly rate, but this is a plumber who has done so much work for us that there is a trust involved going both ways.
If you refuse to quote by the hour, how do you feel asking tradies to do what you will not do? I'm not being smart, but really curious how you marry up the two opposing positions you hold?