I have never done it before …

[nafis]

I have never done it before …

Hi guys , I have been doing free estimate lately , I realize some of my customer uses my bid for price shopping , to stop that I decide to stop given official bid unless the customer pay for it . Today I bid on one job installing light fixture, can light and three pendant light. my verbal price was broken down for each item . The total estimate was $ 540. Customer asks if she can have copy of my bid. I said sure that will cost you $40, or I will write down for you on any peace of paper free if you just want to remember it . Then she ask me don’t you offer free estimate, I will be given you work permit to sign with my price on it once you decide to hire me and I will honor that price. she was mad i can tell . she said , once my husbend get back from out of town i will call you .

I am not sure if that was the right way to handle the issue. Would you handle this situation any different? Any suggestion will be greatly appreciate it

[Gary Glaenzer]

Did you tell her up-front about the $ 40 charge ?

Regards,

Gary

[Sparky555]

I bumped a thread on free estimates for you,

[nafis]

no i did not

[ultramegabob]

I dont see a problem, you gave her a free verbal estimate, if she wants a written quote, she can pay for it....

[ceb58]

Sounds like she got a free estimate. You verbally told her the price and offered to wright it down on a piece of paper. If you are going to charge for the estimate you should tell the customer upfront first before looking at the job and also let them know that if awarded the job the cost of the estimate would be deducted.

[Rewire]

I have never done it before …

Hi guys , I have been doing free estimate lately , I realize some of my customer uses my bid for price shopping , to stop that I decide to stop given official bid unless the customer pay for it . Today I bid on one job installing light fixture, can light and three pendant light. my verbal price was broken down for each item . The total estimate was $ 540. Customer asks if she can have copy of my bid. I said sure that will cost you $40, or I will write down for you on any peace of paper free if you just want to remember it . Then she ask me don’t you offer free estimate, I will be given you work permit to sign with my price on it once you decide to hire me and I will honor that price. she was mad i can tell . she said , once my husbend get back from out of town i will call you .

I am not sure if that was the right way to handle the issue. Would you handle this situation any different? Any suggestion will be greatly appreciate it
I never give a breakdown to any customer if they want a price for the job that is what they get often they want material seperated so they can price it at the box store or they have someone who offered time only and they supply materials my quotes say: install X light fixtures: $540.00

[Sparky555]

If you got in your truck, took your time to visit a job, talked with a prospective customer and figured up a price without getting paid...you gave a free estimate. It's splitting hairs IMO if you write it on the back of your business card or print a legal Contract Proposal.

You really should warn people though. It's not free. You charge for it. Arguing about it after you're there and have taken your time and burned the gasoline is a waste. Tell people how you do it on the phone. If they don't like it they'll call someone else. You'll save yourself the time & expense.

[bjp_ne_elec]

Sparky555 - excellent point - be upfront about it - then no one is surprised. I do agree the lady got a free estimate. I'm just wondering if she needed it written down to show her husband, or she wanted to show it to the next EC that walked through the door.

Spraky555 - what was the name of the thread you bumped? Couldn't find it, and curious.

[frankft2000]

To me, I DON'T think the OP had to say up front that there would be a fee. He gave a free estimate, but if the homeowner wanted a WRITTEN estimate, then the OP said he would do that for money. He did not write it up then say pay me $40. The homeowner had a choice, and did not loose out on anything.

[Sparky555]

Spraky555 - what was the name of the thread you bumped? Couldn't find it, and curious.

Reasons for not giving free estimates (p2 now)

[Sparky555]

To me, I DON'T think the OP had to say up front that there would be a fee. He gave a free estimate, but if the homeowner wanted a WRITTEN estimate, then the OP said he would do that for money. He did not write it up then say pay me $40. The homeowner had a choice, and did not loose out on anything.

Maybe it's a regional thing. If I called a pro for a quote, I'd expect it to be a written proposal, or I wouldn't consider him a pro. To have someone come out, tell me the price & then ask for $40 to write it up would be double-strange.