bignoel Posted November 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 you hit the nail on the head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr W Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 True but isn't it your decision to do this for which you'll be paid? Even though you're helping someone out, they expect to have to pay a fair price for calling you out at night? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 really makes me think I should have learned a trade all these tradesmen not happy with earning £750 a week to me thats a wage you can live on pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 I pay £75 a week rent, and live off £40 a week surplus Oh, the student life - can't beat it! Any left overs goes on clays at the shooootin' ground. Just think yourselves lucky... when I leave University in a couple of years time, I will be £23,310 in debt!! :lol: And that'll be a heck of a lot more if the governments plan to increase tuition fees goes through... **** me. Let's just hope I can get a well payed job at the end of it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 al4x... do you realise just how much work id have to do to earn 750 a week ? it dont come for free mate... sometimes 15-16 hour days.... big responsibilities too... yes,i can say no i aint coming out, its not that im greedy, but if you dont keep on top of your work load you get sloppy,forgetfull, rush jobs etc..... thats just not my style. i understand that there are alot of cowboys out there who do ripp off vulnerable people,but i always suggest they get another quote if they feel unhappy, the reply i always get is "oh no, its fine we do trust you...." thats how recommendation and reputation serves you well. you have to understand, an un skilled worker can be replaced by anyone at a moments notice, a good tradesman cannot... im not looking for a medal here, but you have to understand how hard i work for my wage. how many years of apprenticships/training/course after course... but dont get me wrong, im not suggesting that its down to the customer to pay indefinaitly for that, but because of the effort ive put in over the years, im in high demand... you know the old saying time is money, well for me, its money is time.... time away from work is so valuble to me, that s why my pay may be a little higher then another mans.... i know, i dont have to be a hero and work all hours every day, but the job demand simply dictates thats how it goes.... gas and water leaks wont wait... its half twelve now, i left for work this morning at 7am.... ill be out tomorrow at that time too, and working sat/sun... this week will be a 750 quid week, but how much do you get paid and for how many hours in a week, and, are them hours spent doing real graft or a job which requires skill/knowledge and experience ? what time do you put your feet up every night ? are you off at the week end, will your get a phone call in the middle of the night......... blah blah blah...... sorry to go on, i know i am, but i just cant stand it when people think i rip people off. i work damn hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 (edited) i often wished i did a 9-5...today, on site at 8am grafted hard all day, and if im honest, for the level of skill/knowledge involved, i would just not entertain doing it for £150. i can do a boiler swap in a day, no problems, but its not a job that id take 150 for.... reasons, well, what it cost me to learn my trade (properly) and pay outs to all the governing bodies such as corgi etc... running costs, plus the fact ive already visited to survey the job, spent time accurately quoting the job rather than just thinking of a figure and doubling it, got quotes from several merchants for best price to get the costs down, rang back with quotes....done the work, left site, disposed of the rubbish(at cost) then returned for any tweeks required in the following days, usually to top up a sealed system or show a customer for the millionth time how to use there programmer etc...... what this lot equates to, is very long days, evenings out looking at jobs, doing drawings/quotes etc.... alot of running round,diesel costs.... and basically a **** social life wich often impeeds on family life too much..... ive just sat down now after a long day crawling through a crappy loft, covered in insulation and brick dust from cutting a flue hole out.... up a ladder with a transformer in the freezing cold wind......blah blah blah.... feet up.... phone rings... someone else... "my boilers died, can you come and get it up and running we've got a baby etc etc..... "....... im off out again, sons in bed, wifes sat board watching telly....again..... its not all its cracked up to be....believe me.... makes you wanna rip someone off don't it? I would'nt be having any of that ringing you up at all hours and expecting you to jump to it for no candy-no way at all. i just pay the boiler insurance these days..... Break down call them out and send off the bill-No hassle. Edited November 21, 2008 by starlight32 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 really makes me think I should have learned a trade all these tradesmen not happy with earning £750 a week to me thats a wage you can live on pretty well. Joking arn't you? That figure don't keep my old lady in lipstick.....Or me for that matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy W Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 Also working for yourself the hourly rate apart from the things I have already stated which need to be paid for, training courses are expensive so is replacing worn out specialist equipment, one item I replaced last month cost me £1100, I have also attended 3 training courses this year, one was one night a week for 12 weeks in my own time which I dont get paid for. Vehicle costs, if it is your van it has to be repaired regardless of cost, if my car breaks down I can leave it for a while, I cant with my van and public liability insurance, as soon as you mention that you carry out hot work the price rockets! All said and done I would never work for a company again, no one can sack or make me redundant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 Living here in the Scottish Borders , which is never a hive of activity other than building new homes, there is a considerable downturn in trade. A number of builders have gone to the wall for one reason or another and my own trade of plumbing and heating in my own instance at least is down 50% on telephone enquiries. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 al4x... do you realise just how much work id have to do to earn 750 a week ? it dont come for free mate... sometimes 15-16 hour days.... big responsibilities too... yes,i can say no i aint coming out, its not that im greedy, but if you dont keep on top of your work load you get sloppy,forgetfull, rush jobs etc..... thats just not my style. Don't worry I know if you're doing different jobs it does take travelling time etc, I've been having issues with tradesmen when i've jobs where i know i'll give them a months solid work turn up at 8.30 and gone at 4.30, to me £150 a day for a months work is pretty good and chancers after £250 a day for the same deal is pushing things especially in this economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nial Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 really makes me think I should have learned a trade all these tradesmen not happy with earning £750 a week to me thats a wage you can live on pretty well. If being self employed is as easy/simple as you seem to think why don't you re-train now? Nial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 dont mean to harp on, but just to give you an idea al4x... ive just got in from work now.... started at 8am... i *****ed mate.... my hands are ****ck*d.... i saw my son for ten mins this morning before i left for site, and i saw him at 5 pm when i nipped home for a brew and some dinner, 20 mins max.... im out again in the morning, no lie in, no shooting or relaxing, just graft... i earn a good wage, not a rediculas one, and when i think about how hard i work for it, it makes me think twice.... so, when some one rings me up and wants me to come out and fix what evers broke... i aint doing it for peanuts. my time is just too valuble to me and my family....if they dont like it, they can always use someone else, but they'l find most charge more than i do and they know ill do the job quickly, efficiently and right. thats why people say they'l wait till i can get out to them, this invariably makes my work load heavy ... if you base the quality of a tradesman on lowest price, quickest response and shiniest van, youl soon find youve got the wrong guy in.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy W Posted November 22, 2008 Report Share Posted November 22, 2008 Myzeneye, you sound very similar how I was, just be careful of your health, I was a workaholic but after a couple of scares I decided to cut my work back, I refuse quite a lot of work and dont go out of my way to find new customers, I have a good customer base with customers who dont mind waiting an extra day for me as like you I will do the job quickly and efficiently, dont miss out on your family growing up, you will regret as I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted November 22, 2008 Report Share Posted November 22, 2008 wise words mate... i plan on slowing down after xmas... i am very conscious of the fact that i see my son for ten mins in the morning and, if im luckyi get home before he's gone to bed at 7...... its not good i know.... and that phrase "work workaholic" certainly rings true... my mates all takes the mick with thats one and the fact that i never ever stop..... i guess id better slow down before i do stop a bit too suddenly !!! :blink: cheers mate... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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