Don't you love those calls!

Harvey Ramer

I got one today from an individual that needs to have some gas piping done. He went through the whole explanation of the project and continued on to inform me that the project cost should be around $300.

Lol, lol, lol.....

Patchogue Phil_2

Must think he called you off of Craigs List?

Bob Bona_4

Sounds like he ate that up in your phone consult alone.

Fred

Lol, At least he saved you a trip.

Harvey Ramer

Patchogue Phil said:

Must think he called you off of Craigs List?

Ha ha, My truck does not say Amazonian on it.

Harvey Ramer

Bob Bona said:

Sounds like he ate that up in your phone consult alone.

I bet he'd be surprised if I sent him a bill for consultation!

Tom_133

Harvey,

Just work until the 300 is up then pack up and go home!! J/K!

I get that stuff all the time. Then they explain how to do it, and it's never legal.

Thanks for the laugh.

Tom

Patchogue Phil_2

>>>>>Ha ha, My truck does not say Amazonian on it.

I must be dense..... I don't understand your joke. :^/

Harvey Ramer

The whole new Amazon home services bit with preset prices and stuff.

Patchogue Phil_2

Ah ok I getcha now! Sorry I wasn't thinking!

Charlie from wmass

Must be something in the air. I love the wall as it is the place that let's me know it's not just me. Thanks for the laugh.

FranklinD

As a mechanic I hear this all the time. "So and so says they'll do the job for this much"...okay, why aren't you having him do the work then? I've got enough work to where I'm not going to get into a bidding war over a water pump or a wheel bearing.

Some people get furious over my estimates just because I refuse to haggle. I know what my time is worth. They apparently disagree. And that's fine.

icesailor

Tom said:

Harvey,

Just work until the 300 is up then pack up and go home!! J/K!

I get that stuff all the time. Then they explain how to do it, and it's never legal.

Thanks for the laugh.

Tom

But that's how Vinnie the Butt Crack Plumber on the Youse Tubes said to do it, and how much it will cost.

icesailor

"" Some people get furious over my estimates just because I refuse to haggle. I know what my time is worth. They apparently disagree. And that's fine. ""

When I am in that situation where the seller wants to haggle, I tell them that I don't haggle. They get ONE chance. Give me your best price. You get one chance. If I walk out your door, I'm never coming back. Because someone else might give me a better price. My credit card or cash is as good as the next person. If you want to sell it to me, sell it.

Don't throw in the option of the jar Vaseline and the jeans the hole in the rear. That's a deal breaker.

"$400.00 trade in on the car? The tires and rims are worth more than that. You think I'm driving out of here on the rotors? I'll be seeing you never."

JUGHNE

I guess I must share this adventure;
A guy comes to the door and wants me to look at his boiler;
warnings:
1." Here is my phone number, But call before the end of the month because they usually shut off my phone and I don't get it reconnected until after payday"
2. "I sold the oil and tank because I want propane" (NG line was 50' away, so this means he owes NG Company money from somewhere else and they would not set a meter without full back payment and hefty deposit).
3. " we are buying the house but the paperwork is tied up" (house was abandoned and they were squatters)

I went to look at his house aware of all this, for entertainment and educational value (30 miles away but had other work a block from his house.) It was a very elegant house in it's day, but had a small fire at one time on second floor and been froze up. Was a 2 pipe steamer and would have a beauty 20 years earlier. All things were obvious before he got off my doorstep, but someone else paid for the road trip mileage. It didn't take much of a high ball estimate to get away from that situation.

Out here you can visit a house like this and still leave your keys in the ignition switch. (during the day anyway)

RobG

I try to shy away from middle eastern people, not because I'm prejudiced but because it is in their nature as a society to haggle. If I do end up doing work in ones home I will pad the bill a little to allow them to get the "better" of me. I was in India several years ago and my host could talk the street vendors down by at least fifty percent on anything.

Mad Dog_2

Yeah. I had a customer like that: "....yeah..I was thinkin' I wanna spend about......" He always low balled it and I would laugh and give him a reality check. We did a few jobs for him. Unfortunately, in sales you have to dance around with some people. I never liked it but, when they mortgage is due......Mad dog

Patchogue Phil_2

Its like that in Caribbean islands too. Vendors there expect you to not pay the ridiculous first offer but they try anyway. Maybe some tourist doesn't realize the money conversion rate. Your wife wants a trinket, vendor wants $100 US. You can haggle down to $25 and they throw in matching earrings too. Also if you start walking away, they drop price too.

Yep Mid Eastern ppl expect to haggle. they reject your selling price immediately. They have to feel they got something from you - lower price or freebie too. So, you can jack your price, let them haggle. Then lower the price & add on something you woulda done anyway. They feel better with that. It's in their culture. Also I'm not being prejudice. It is what it is. Just a different method of business practice.

SWEI

I've walked off more than one car lot in order to make my point. Works every time.

EBEBRATT-Ed

What ROBG said, the harder they haggle for a lower price the more you pad the estimate

EBEBRATT-Ed

It's not just the customers either. Some of the guys that work where I do do a few side jobs on the side. They use company truck, probably a "few" company parts. Can't understand why the Co has trouble getting work, think we charge too much...just not connected to reality.

Rich_49

Wrong method guys . If you pad to haggle you are a liar . Just like walking off the lot as Swei stated , walking away and wasting no more of your time keeps integrity intact , gives you piece of mind and odds are that they really want you anyway and will call later anyway . You know they will call when their bargain shopping , game playing contractor screws it up . Then you can charge more than your original price because it does not get removed for free . Maybe after doing that a couple times the middle eastern people will begin to learn . By the way , the use of the term middle eastern people is kinda wrong , don't ya think ? Ah hah , my turn to be a self righteous as%&ole .

j a_2

I would rather be an idle fool than a busy fool...

Harvey Ramer

If I sense a haggler or cheapskate, I try to give them a ballpark price before I waste any time. Depending how it is received dictates the effort I'll put into aquiring the job.

j a_2

In the airline business there were/ are airlines that fly you coast to coast for 99.00 dollars..Ever wonder how they did it so cheap, I don’t wonder I saw it…first hand….You can blame deregulation for that…Every worker who is trained,lic,honest,and competent has the right to an honest days pay….Selling yourself short generally means you have issues…Price haggling, should be forbidden….Take it or leave it….

Harvey Ramer

While it may seem unseemly, every successful salesman learns how to negotiate price in a favorable manner. Of course it isn't right for every situation, like when someone tells you how much you should be charging. However, when it comes down to the wire, sometimes you can throw in an extra or 2 rather than back off on your price. Backing off on price usually isn't conducive to winning a bid. Labor is always nonnegotiable in the trades.

Rich_49

At the end of the day I look at it this way . 1 negotiation can make the whole community think they can screw you or that you tried to get too much to begin with . Both parties can be dishonest or appear so . I can sit home and not lose any money , better than leaving and breaking even .

j a_2

That

Rich said:

At the end of the day I look at it this way . 1 negotiation can make the whole community think they can screw you or that you tried to get too much to begin with . Both parties can be dishonest or appear so . I can sit home and not lose any money , better than leaving and breaking even .

. That is exactly correct

RobG

I don't consider it lying to be able to read a person and raise my price just to lower it to get the job. At the end of the day I get paid the same amount. JMHO
Every culture is different. As I said in an earlier post, the easiest people to work for is blue collars. They may not have the money but will go in hock to pay you.

Gordy

A bit off topic, but a true story to share on haggling. My grandfather owned a ranch in north central Florida. He grew water melons amongst other things. Every year he would find a couple of local young guys up here in northern Illinois where he actually lived to drive a truck down to his ranch to get a load of melons to bring back, and sell at the fair. The pay was fair, and a chance to see some of the south east on their trip.

Turns out a co worker much older than I, and his buddy took my gramps up on the offer. Their trip back was plagued with truck break downs. They stopped at a greasy spoon in the middle of no where in Gerorgia to eat dinner. They were the only ones in the establishment except for two waitresses,, and the cook. After the cook got their order prepared he came out from the kitchen, and sat with the other waitress in a both in which they became a bit chummy.

They finished their meal, and **** went to pay the bill while his buddy went to the truck. His waitress said that will be 25 dollars for you, and your friend. The bill should have been like 6 bucks. **** said what? I'm not paying that. The waitress said okay 20 bucks. **** said I'm not paying that either. She got down to 15 bucks, and said that's a fair price for you, and your buddy. **** started to argue some more until the cook chirped up from the both, and said " hell take it kid she's worth every penny" . **** finally realized the greasy spoon was also a hen house, and the waitress was one of the hens. He threw the 15 bucks on the counter, and got the hell out of there.

Tinman

"Your price is too high." I hear it all the time.

"You're going to turn down X amount of money to do this job." My response is yes. I've got 5 customers willing to give me X times 1.25 to do the exact same job. The extra .25 is critical. It keeps me in the black.

And just like you guys say, I'd rather stay home than spin my wheels.

Steamhead

My favorite line was "Well, my cousin in California says it should only cost half that much".

I said fine, have him do it. And walked out.

RobG

Steamhead said:

My favorite line was "Well, my cousin in California says it should only cost half that much".

I said fine, have him do it. And walked out.

Yeah, you have to love the "my brother in law is a builder and he says.......". I just can't figure out if these people are stupid or if they think we're stupid?
If people actually new the cost of keeping a service truck on the road they might understand what we HAVE to charge.

j a_2

RobG said:

Steamhead said:

My favorite line was "Well, my cousin in California says it should only cost half that much".

I said fine, have him do it. And walked out.

Yeah, you have to love the "my brother in law is a builder and he says.......". I just can't figure out if these people are stupid or if they think we're stupid?
If people actually new the cost of keeping a service truck on the road they might understand what we HAVE to charge.

Rob, they all for the most part think we are stupid…they expect us to work in there dark unlit basement with half open sewer pipes smelling like s..t, stairs with dowels for railings, stair treads built by amazon.com carpenters..open elect boxes and half **** asbestos all around…kids running and screaming on the floor above….Yup I signed up for the job,so I never complained as long as they paid me my due…When I was working,and doing a job the money was theres till I was done,when I was done it was my money…Some did not understand that…They would say,nice job, so send me an invoke and ill send a check…No way get your money in the glory when your done...

j a_2

I also had a saying…when I priced jobs..I would say after I gave them the price,there are two things you can not do,, YOU CANT PAY ME MORE AND YOU CANT PAY ME LESS…Oh amazon,com have yourself a blast…and make sure you carry plenty of liability…I may even call you to my house

RobG

The problem with the future Amazon thing is that the only contractors who will sign up for it are the same ones installing water heaters for Home Depot currently. Flex connectors and no permit equals danger.

j a_2

It all comes back on ya...In these parts offenders will get caught...Myself never turned anyone in but I knew plenty that did...to the point of following people home from the cheapo depo...I don't agree with that at all but I do enjoy listening about it....If you do rat someone out you best be Mr. Perfect...I know I was never Mr. Perfect

STEAM DOCTOR

Good morning. Take a look at the attached pic. This was taken from a sign posted near the cash register in a small mom and pop clothing store. Really hit home.
These days, I have two "go to lines" when I get the "why so much" type of lines.
1. I am running a for profit business.
2. I base my price on what is considered fair. I am in the money making business. If I thought it was fair to charge more then I absolutely would be charging more.
Both lines resonate with people and I almost always get the jobs on my terms after using these lines(afterall, who can argue with the logic behind them).

jonny88

It is something I have being guilty of and that is being a busy fool.Walking out the door every morning knowing I had work was great.Ahh but then the bills started coming in.Taxes,supply house,etc.As stated in a previous post its easy to be busy but hard to make a profit and profit is not a dirty word.I should have taken a business course before i started.Working is the easy part.

ttekushan_3

@jonny88 said "Working is the easy part."
I totally agree. I had an epiphany one day when my business was in a storefront and I was subject to all manner of the public. Mind you, I was too cheap in my charges to begin with. So a customer, who was otherwise pleasant --but cheap-- started to say "I really appreciate the work you did but--"
I stopped him right there, and in a playful manner told of how I called the electric company and told them how much I appreciated their electricity and suggested an adjustment more pleasing to me. Can you imagine their being so unmoved by my affirmation that they wouldn't budge on the balance due? And the same for the insurance company and the phone company. The phone company hung up on me, I told him, adding that nothing is more unsettling than the phone company hanging up on you.
In that one instance the reasoning was effective.

I'll leave you with this. At one point my landlord brought in a sign for me to hang at the counter. It said,

Satisfaction Guaranteed!
If for any reason you are unsatisfied with your purchase
Please return the unused portion of your purchase and
We will cheerfully refund the unused portion of your money!