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Don't you love those calls!

Harvey Ramer
Harvey Ramer Member Posts: 2,239
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.....
Bob Bona_4

Comments

  • Patchogue Phil_2
    Patchogue Phil_2 Member Posts: 304
    Must think he called you off of Craigs List?
    icesailor
  • Bob Bona_4
    Bob Bona_4 Member Posts: 2,083
    Sounds like he ate that up in your phone consult alone.
    kcoppicesailor
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    Lol, At least he saved you a trip.
    Bob Bona_4
  • Harvey Ramer
    Harvey Ramer Member Posts: 2,239

    Must think he called you off of Craigs List?

    Ha ha, My truck does not say Amazonian on it.
    Bob Bona_4
  • Harvey Ramer
    Harvey Ramer Member Posts: 2,239
    edited April 2015
    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
    Tom_133 Member Posts: 883
    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
    Tom
    Montpelier Vt
    Harvey Ramer
  • Patchogue Phil_2
    Patchogue Phil_2 Member Posts: 304
    >>>>>Ha ha, My truck does not say Amazonian on it.

    I must be dense..... I don't understand your joke. :^/
  • Harvey Ramer
    Harvey Ramer Member Posts: 2,239
    The whole new Amazon home services bit with preset prices and stuff.
  • Patchogue Phil_2
    Patchogue Phil_2 Member Posts: 304
    Ah ok I getcha now! Sorry I wasn't thinking!
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,318
    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.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
    jonny88AlCorelliNY
  • FranklinD
    FranklinD Member Posts: 399
    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.
    Ford Master Technician, "Tinkerer of Terror"
    Police & Fire Equipment Lead Mechanic, NW WI
    Lover of Old Homes & Gravity Hot Water Systems
    AlCorelliNYkcoppTinman
  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    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.
    AlCorelliNY
  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    "" 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
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    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)
    icesailor
  • RobG
    RobG Member Posts: 1,850
    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.
    AlCorelliNYicesailor
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 6,831
    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
    AlCorelliNYicesailor
  • Patchogue Phil_2
    Patchogue Phil_2 Member Posts: 304
    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.


    RobGAlCorelliNY
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    I've walked off more than one car lot in order to make my point. Works every time.
    AlCorelliNYicesailor
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,452
    What ROBG said, the harder they haggle for a lower price the more you pad the estimate
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,452
    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.
    icesailor
  • Rich_49
    Rich_49 Member Posts: 2,766
    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 .
    You didn't get what you didn't pay for and it will never be what you thought it would .
    Langans Plumbing & Heating LLC
    732-751-1560
    Serving most of New Jersey, Eastern Pa .
    Consultation, Design & Installation anywhere
    Rich McGrath 732-581-3833
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    I would rather be an idle fool than a busy fool...
    Rich_49icesailor
  • Harvey Ramer
    Harvey Ramer Member Posts: 2,239
    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.
    RobG
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    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
    Harvey Ramer Member Posts: 2,239
    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
    Rich_49 Member Posts: 2,766
    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 .
    You didn't get what you didn't pay for and it will never be what you thought it would .
    Langans Plumbing & Heating LLC
    732-751-1560
    Serving most of New Jersey, Eastern Pa .
    Consultation, Design & Installation anywhere
    Rich McGrath 732-581-3833
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    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
    RobG Member Posts: 1,850
    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.
    icesailorjonny88
  • Tinman
    Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
    "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.
    Steve Minnich
    RobG
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    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.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Rich_49RobGSWEI
  • RobG
    RobG Member Posts: 1,850
    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
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    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 assed 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...
    RobG
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    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
    RobG Member Posts: 1,850
    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
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    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
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 1,951
    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).
    RobGjonny88
  • jonny88
    jonny88 Member Posts: 1,139
    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.
    SWEI
  • ttekushan_3
    ttekushan_3 Member Posts: 958
    @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. :smile:
    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!
    terry
    RobGjonny88