Gotta love it

Steamhead (in transit)

he will get what he deserves.

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Tony_23

off-site second guessing

Don't you just love it when someone enlists a relative 100 miles away to check equipment prices so as to tell you your price is too high ?

The relative is NOT in the heating business, and quite frankly, shouldn't be able to get an OTC price. Especially on something like an Ultra. I'm sure he didn't collect prices on all the necessary items either, since he wouldn't know EVERYTHING that's required.

I absolutely cherish the quality time spent with my pencil to break down my quote, piece by piece and item by item. This usually leads to nickel and dime attempts to negotiate the price, which I don't do.
Although I DID find that I left about $20 on the table. I'm such a nice guy

Just needed to vent, thanks for listening

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Wayco Wayne_2

Been there

I don't break down the price for the customer. At the first hint that my price is being considered too high I am gone like a shot. There are other customers who appreciate me and will pay for the quality and value I provide. Life's too short, and I'm too busy. WW

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Nick L. in Vt

let the other guy do it cheap

they will be back, involved in a lawsuit with that other dirty rat, and beggin to have you fix it. never fails. and costs them triple when all said and done.

Steve_35

We never break down the price

When queried, and we often are, you need to tell them the things that have no price on them.

Did you know, Mr Customer, the manufacturer doesn't warrant the labor to us if there are ANY problems with the equipment they provide? Yet we provide a 100% parts AND labor warranty to yer for xxx years.

We also guarantee the system we install will perform as we discussed. It is much more than just ripping out one boiler and dropping another in its place.

And we believe servicing the equipment after it's installed is so important we've also included a service after the first year.

You get the idea. We include many things that transcend "parts". Make your clients aware of these as well. Too often we fall into the trap of not doing that.

ed wallace

gotta love it

did a wiel mclain 4 section steamer in december week before x mass customer calls me in febuary tells me i overcharged her for the job did boiler in all black iron someone told her it should have been in copper guess she will not be calling me with warrenty issues

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Mitch_6

Bid work

Part of our initial conversation with a potential (or in some cases existing) client is if they are getting other bids.
Most people hire me because they want me to do the work period. If someone calls and said they already have some prices we tell them they are all set.

An H.O. from this board called us recently having at least seven prices, some from the find a pro, companies we know and feel offer an excellent product. We told her to go with them, we are booked for the summer. She then asked could we come over and look at the bids to help er deeside.
We said sure $105.00 to show then $95.00 per hour after the first. She has not called back for the appointment.

All to often I give a bid and I am told some one else will do the exact same thing for less. I have had several opportunities to see the "same thing for less" not even close.

We install mostly Weil Mclains I have been told the other guy is doing the same boiler, I spec-ed an Ultra, the other guy spec-ed a CGA, but it is the same boiler right.

I use to try to educate the H.O. about pumping away, micro bubble scrubbers, full size headers with tees and plugs in the end for future all in black iron, full combustion analysis including gas pressure checks (found some low ones who else checks)I ball valve off both sides of the circulators, I install a ball valve between the air scoop and the expansion tank and auto feed so you do not have to drain the system to change them, I read and follow the manufacturers instructions (funny how especially with steam you see a boiler that could have been great if they followed the instructions) I leave the place cleaner than when I showed.

The only people that care are the ones that know me and my work, the general public is generally ignorant, all they know is ya that's great but the other guy is 10% less. The funny thing is it cost me more than that 10% to do it right so the other guy makes more money than me doing it wrong or at least not as well as it should be.

How can you argue with that!

Mitch S.



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EBEBRATT-Ed

Great Post! You nailed it, Mitch.

Couldnt have said it better myself.

ED

Tony_23

Not even another bidder !

THAT wouldn't bother me as much. This guy says I'm "overcharging" him based on what he thinks it should cost. He thinks he knows what the materials (all of them) cost and what I should charge above that. Yeah, right.

If he'd said it was too much for his budget, okay, but to imply I wanted to rip them off is crap. It was actually on the low side of my range for Ultra installs besides.

Doesn't matter now, I've filled the hole in the schedule and written the check for his deposit refund. To do the job now would require an apology from him.

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[Deleted User]

You did the right thing...

Fire'em... Too high maintenance for your company...

ME

JK_3

DIY prices?

How about when the HO quotes the price of a faucet from the diy centers. No consideration for even the time to go get the faucet. My response" That's the do it yourself price. My price is XXXxx"

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Gene_3

I love

when they walk in, in the middle of a boiler install and say " hey I bought these valves and faucet at the DIY center, put them in while you're here"

AAhhaaaaa, they are so funny, they could not understand why I was laughing so hard while trying to mouth " yeah,for another $200"


people are still under the impression that the thing in the basement that keeps them warm and cool all year and gives them a hot shower every morning for YEARS is only worth a couple of hundred bucks...

while the cars in the driveway are an easy 50K each

Jerry_15

All right on. I never break down pricing, then I would have to charge sales tax on parts mark-up, and the one thing I don't want on my tombstone is: "He was always the low bidder."