Gotta love it

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

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

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.

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.



To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

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.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

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"

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

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."