gemini52 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 I am a self employed decorator living on the wirral,i priced a job the other week,a full internal repaint and a feature wall on the stair case,it worked out eight days for two men with materials worked out at 1,700 pounds,the guy had three other prices one the same as mine,one fifty quid cheaper,and one at 1,350,from a husband and wife team,with the promise that it would be done in a week,if not they would give him 160 pounds a day back off the price,i dont have a problem with fair competition but i ask myself were do these clowns come from, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannon Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 What makes them clowns? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) And they still make a profit?Sound like a good deal providing threy can provide references.And a signed statement to state they will knock of 160 per day if they dont hit their deadline. Edited October 18, 2013 by Davyo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 It seems every trade is so cut throat these days. My job involves a lot of contact with car body repairers / painters, and the prices they charge are ridiculous now compared to 20 years ago when I was in the trade. We use to get good money where as now body shops are hacking prices down just to compete with one another. Unfortunately another sad sign of the times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Do you believe him, or is he just trying it on? Have you seen the other prices in writing on their letter headed paper? Has the client gone with the cheapest quote? If not, and he's showing each of you the others prices then he's not worth working for in my opinion as he's just playing you off against each other in attempt to get you to lower your price. There's nothing to stop him doing this of course, but its a bit of a ***** trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodo123 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 It all basically comes down to wages not following inflation,having a bigger gap between management and workforce (quite often more management than is needed , jobs for mates) oh and the government screwing us for every penny we earn (us who work). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 I dont wish to sound sexist but I have yet to come across a woman who decorates well. Seems to me to be the men who take care on these jobs. Its probably a B&Q emulsion job they have quoted for. I shall await opinions to the contrary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasper3 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 its the same with all trades , you will always be up against those who do the private jobs on the side, once your VAT registered, your 20% dearer than those who arn't..win some loose some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Funny you should mention this...I'm having my lounge re-painted in 2 weeks and my conservatory re- wallpapered.. Only a small ish job for a pro but I've had 2 quotes.. 1. £850 2. £400 How can they be so far apart?? Went for the cheaper one as I think the guy who gave the larger quote was thinking he could make a few quid out of me..and the cheaper guy was more polite and was recommended.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) Can't blame him for playing one off against another for a better deal. It's your choice to play ball or leave, I do the exact same thing and been a self employed tradesman for years in the past. Never minded people doing the same with me, I would either try and get price down or if no meat on the bone let them have it. When you buy anything do you just pay whatever price or try to get it cheaper elsewhere? Figgy Edited October 18, 2013 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Perhaps these decorators have less overheads and are simply happy making a little less money which secures them work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikky Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 I dont wish to sound sexist but I have yet to come across a woman who decorates well. Seems to me to be the men who take care on these jobs. Its probably a B&Q emulsion job they have quoted for. I shall await opinions to the contrary. hahaha..my missus does all the decorating.......a few years ago she went on holiday with her sister,as a treat i decided to decorate the front room,never done it before,took me 2 days to do the living room,stood back and admired my work......she came home...put it this way,i havnt done any since....some of the drops i had put on upside down,and apparently the patterns have to run into each other.... ...nobody told me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 hahaha..my missus does all the decorating.......a few years ago she went on holiday with her sister,as a treat i decided to decorate the front room,never done it before,took me 2 days to do the living room,stood back and admired my work......she came home...put it this way,i havnt done any since....some of the drops i had put on upside down,and apparently the patterns have to run into each other.... ...nobody told me Don't kid a kidder... you did a terrible job on purpose, acted dumb, and havent been asked to do any jobs around the house ever since ... your a god damn genius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
castletyne Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 I had a customer the other day buy a bedroom carpet and booked the fitting £30 she phoned a couple of days later to say she had found a fitter to do it for £15 and could we match the price I just let them get their cheap cowboys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemini52 Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Funny you should mention this...I'm having my lounge re-painted in 2 weeks and my conservatory re- wallpapered.. Only a small ish job for a pro but I've had 2 quotes.. 1. £850 2. £400 How can they be so far apart?? Went for the cheaper one as I think the guy who gave the larger quote was thinking he could make a few quid out of me..and the cheaper guy was more polite and was recommended.. For what looks like a three day job the 400 looks to be a fair price,you will allways get the chancers trying it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 For what looks like a three day job the 400 looks to be a fair price,you will allways get the chancers trying it on. They said 2 days, I've got the paint and paper..3 rolls of wall paper as it's mainly double glazing just a few drops.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 For what looks like a three day job the 400 looks to be a fair price,you will allways get the chancers trying it on. Yup, they price based on the car in the drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 As in you have a car in the drive, as opposed to not. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Yup, they price based on the car in the drive. I will hide the wife's Audi from now on lol.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bi9johnny Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 I dont wish to sound sexist but I have yet to come across a woman who decorates well. Seems to me to be the men who take care on these jobs.Its probably a B&Q emulsion job they have quoted for.I shall await opinions to the contrary. The woman that does our decorating is the dogs. Trained by her father and a lot of family and friends use her now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 If its based on the car you need a better house to get a real glint in their eyes. Tell them your nice car is nothing but a run around and your man that can usually does this menial stuff but after ten years daily dusk till dawn employment you had to give him time off :lol: Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemini52 Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 What makes them clowns? Only a clown would think they could do that amount of work in a week and do it to a professional standard,i have been doing this over forty years now,spent seven years as a instructor,met many people in the trade,some very good but a lot of chancers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Only a clown would think they could do that amount of work in a week and do it to a professional standard,i have been doing this over forty years now,spent seven years as a instructor,met many people in the trade,some very good but a lot of chancers, Do you put this information in your written quote (not the bit about the chancers). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemini52 Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 They said 2 days, I've got the paint and paper..3 rolls of wall paper as it's mainly double glazing just a few drops.. If you a happy with the price go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Chancers? maybe.Maybe the mortgage is due at the end of the month,maybe they haven't won a job in a few weeks,maybe its the only enquiry they have had in a while,a couple are only paying one mortgage/rent,one van etc. Many things other than your opinion of the value of works combine to help an individual arrive at a figure. And maybe they are on benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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