jmellc
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
- Occupation
- Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
I had another guy say the other day my price was too high. I understand that from people who really don't have much. I don't love it, but I have to say no to things too, as I don't have any money nowadays either.
A man in one of the wealthiest old money neighborhoods in town had me price a job. Power to a new gazebo behind his pool. Ceiling fan, switch & receptacle. I would have to feed from a pole about 30 some feet away that has an existing GFI recep. Would have to cut the feeder conduit, set a j box, refeed recep. Down from j box to just above ground level, 5 feet across to brick wall. Strap to wall, turn 2 90's around corners, go 10-15 feet to adjoining chain link fence. Another 10-15 feet along fence, using driven struts to secure conduit. Turn LB through fence, under gazebo, 90 up through wall plate, offset to recep box. up from there, offset around a bracket, drill a 2x4, offset again to switch box. Up from there, back to back 45's to follow a bracket, across, kick, LB & angle up along roof rafter to bell box. Set bell box flush with a pt 5/4 board, set 10-32 rods down through it for fan support.
I figured a full day's work for 2 men. Not rocket science but a lot of work. Getting to other side of fence means walking a long distance to a gate & circling back, working 2 sides of a fence & tight spaces between fence & gazebo. Lots of heating & bending, driving struts, etc. I figured $995 and he said too much he couldn't do it. I told him price was good until end of year if he changed his mind. He has a mansion of a house, several high dollar cars, a pool, 2 gazebos, etc.
A man approached me in a parking lot that I thought looked familiar. Told me about a job on a duplex he needed done. Sounded very similar to another one I had priced over a year ago. Got his info and realized later he was the same guy. Another electrician had referred him to me. I met him on site, looked it over & next day delivered a quote to his wife & never heard back from him. I'm looking for my original quote. I will add 10% & call him with a price, telling him I priced it before & costs have gone up since then. He's not quite as flamboyant as the man above, but does have fairly expensive cars out front. He said he'd had quotes before but they were too high.
I WILL NOT cut prices for people like this. I may have to shut down but I will not be picked to death by people who freely spend on luxury items then want to beat me down. Either of these guys could buy a lesser car, pay me for my work & have money left over. I've had the same battle with people riding up on golf carts to greet me, or $7,000 Subaru yard vehicles. I don't envy people those luxuries, I'm glad someone can afford them. But they should not expect me to finance them. Also, I do not overprice for their deep pockets either. I just don't stretch to give them a break as I might do for a person of lesser means.
A man in one of the wealthiest old money neighborhoods in town had me price a job. Power to a new gazebo behind his pool. Ceiling fan, switch & receptacle. I would have to feed from a pole about 30 some feet away that has an existing GFI recep. Would have to cut the feeder conduit, set a j box, refeed recep. Down from j box to just above ground level, 5 feet across to brick wall. Strap to wall, turn 2 90's around corners, go 10-15 feet to adjoining chain link fence. Another 10-15 feet along fence, using driven struts to secure conduit. Turn LB through fence, under gazebo, 90 up through wall plate, offset to recep box. up from there, offset around a bracket, drill a 2x4, offset again to switch box. Up from there, back to back 45's to follow a bracket, across, kick, LB & angle up along roof rafter to bell box. Set bell box flush with a pt 5/4 board, set 10-32 rods down through it for fan support.
I figured a full day's work for 2 men. Not rocket science but a lot of work. Getting to other side of fence means walking a long distance to a gate & circling back, working 2 sides of a fence & tight spaces between fence & gazebo. Lots of heating & bending, driving struts, etc. I figured $995 and he said too much he couldn't do it. I told him price was good until end of year if he changed his mind. He has a mansion of a house, several high dollar cars, a pool, 2 gazebos, etc.
A man approached me in a parking lot that I thought looked familiar. Told me about a job on a duplex he needed done. Sounded very similar to another one I had priced over a year ago. Got his info and realized later he was the same guy. Another electrician had referred him to me. I met him on site, looked it over & next day delivered a quote to his wife & never heard back from him. I'm looking for my original quote. I will add 10% & call him with a price, telling him I priced it before & costs have gone up since then. He's not quite as flamboyant as the man above, but does have fairly expensive cars out front. He said he'd had quotes before but they were too high.
I WILL NOT cut prices for people like this. I may have to shut down but I will not be picked to death by people who freely spend on luxury items then want to beat me down. Either of these guys could buy a lesser car, pay me for my work & have money left over. I've had the same battle with people riding up on golf carts to greet me, or $7,000 Subaru yard vehicles. I don't envy people those luxuries, I'm glad someone can afford them. But they should not expect me to finance them. Also, I do not overprice for their deep pockets either. I just don't stretch to give them a break as I might do for a person of lesser means.