cheap customers

[electricalperson]

has anyone ever dealt with customers that question every charge on the bill? do they ever call up and say they seen the same receptacle at home depot for 20 cents and wonder why they charged him 5 dollars?

i know a guy that calls up all of his contractors and asks them why they are charging him so much for certain products when home depot has them for cheaper

i know what i would do but im just wondering what everyone else does. i have a feeling i know what everyone else will do too

[480sparky]

Simple solution: Don't itemize.

"Install receptacle in kitchen, replace ceiling fan in bedroom, add WP receptacle in deck. Total price $NNN.NN"

Simply give them a price. If they want an itemization, tell them you don't do it.

[electricalperson]

Simple solution: Don't itemize.

"Install receptacle in kitchen, replace ceiling fan in bedroom, add WP receptacle in deck. Total price $NNN.NN"

Simply give them a price. If they want an itemization, tell them you don't do it.

what if they ask what you charge an hour? or what you charge per job?

[peter d]

what if they ask what you charge an hour? or what you charge per job?

Tell them it's a secret and it's not their business. If they want a lower price tell them to shop around. If they don't like the price after the fact (and they signed a contract or you made an agreement with them), then too bad for them.

[480sparky]

what if they ask what you charge an hour? or what you charge per job?

If they ask my hourly rate, I will tell them, along with "But you need to understand two things. Hourly rate means nothing if I charge X for my labor and mark-up material XX percent, yet Joe Blow only charges Y per hour and triples his material cost. Besides, how do you know who works faster and more effecient, me or Joe?"

If I charge $100 an hour and get the job done in two hours, am I more expensive than Joe who charges 60 and takes 8 hours?

[peter d]

what if they ask what you charge an hour? or what you charge per job?

Ask them if they go to the managers office at Stop and Shop and demand to know what they paid for all the merchandise in the store.

[480sparky]

Last time I went to the doctors office for a prescription, it didn't take him much of an education to write out the script. Any 3rd grader could have done it.

But it's his education and training that's backing up his prescription is why he charges what he does. The knowledge he has accumulated over the years is well worth the money I pay because I am dealing with a professional who knows not only what to write down, but why.

[hillbilly1]

Ask them if they go to the managers office at Stop and Shop and demand to know what they paid for all the merchandise in the store.

Hey, that's "Stop and Rob"

[peter d]

Hey, that's "Stop and Rob"

LOL. I called it by name because Electricalperson is from Massachusetts and he would know what I'm talking about.

[electricalperson]

LOL. I called it by name because Electricalperson is from Massachusetts and he would know what I'm talking about.

theres one right down the street from me. i can throw a rock and hit it. i get my 50 cent gallons of gas there

[Kdog76]

But it's his education and training that's backing up his prescription is why he charges what he does. The knowledge he has accumulated over the years is well worth the money I pay because I am dealing with a professional who knows not only what to write down, but why.

Yep, and that's the part customers don't get.

[satcom]

Last time I went to the doctors office for a prescription, it didn't take him much of an education to write out the script. Any 3rd grader could have done it.

But it's his education and training that's backing up his prescription is why he charges what he does. The knowledge he has accumulated over the years is well worth the money I pay because I am dealing with a professional who knows not only what to write down, but why.

The reason most people have trouble reading the scpipt is, The Doctor writes I took him for $100 now you take him for $50!

[MF Dagger]

has anyone ever dealt with customers that question every charge on the bill? do they ever call up and say they seen the same receptacle at home depot for 20 cents and wonder why they charged him 5 dollars?
o
I pay 20 bucks to have a 3 dollar pizza delivered to my house, throw on the tip and it hits 25. Tell him you can charge him for parts at cost but your hourly rate for those scenarios is 500 an hour.

[480sparky]

The reason most people have trouble reading the scpipt is, The Doctor writes I took him for $100 now you take him for $50!

I'd be lying if i said I undertand this.

[brantmacga]

I itemize my invoices. I really haven't had too many problems; i give a total cost up-front and if they think its too high, they go elsewhere. Its no different than shopping at a retail store; they customer sees a price tag and makes a decision on whether or not they can afford it.

I don't charge by the hour, so its easy to deflect that question.

[brantmacga]

I'd be lying if i said I undertand this.

The prescription paper the doctor writes is a secret code between him and the pharmacist advising how much they should rip off the patient.

[steelersman]

I'd be lying if i said I undertand this.
no doubt. That's some of the most garbled English I've ever seen. Maybe if I drink a gallon of whiskey then I will comprehend it. :)

[bradleyelectric]

I itemize my invoices. I really haven't had too many problems; i give a total cost up-front and if they think its too high, they go elsewhere. Its no different than shopping at a retail store; they customer sees a price tag and makes a decision on whether or not they can afford it.

I don't charge by the hour, so its easy to deflect that question.

If you already give a price up front why would you bother to write anything other than a detailed description of what you did and the amount owed? I don't see any reason to write a detail of what you used in order to accomplish the tasks.

[480sparky]

The prescription paper the doctor writes is a secret code between him and the pharmacist advising how much they should rip off the patient.

I didn't think Latin was a 'secret code'.

[tonyou812]

Tell them it's a secret and it's not their business. If they want a lower price tell them to shop around. If they don't like the price after the fact (and they signed a contract or you made an agreement with them), then too bad for them.

oh peter !!!

[peter d]

oh peter !!!


Well I thought it was good advice. I defer to you guys next time. 8-)

[ivsenroute]

Simple solution: Don't itemize.

"Install receptacle in kitchen, replace ceiling fan in bedroom, add WP receptacle in deck. Total price $NNN.NN"

Simply give them a price. If they want an itemization, tell them you don't do it.


There is your answer. Simple. I have a bank job that I have to complete and have not sent them a bill yet. I already spent 4 hours there and some materials for ballasts, etc. I have not been there for about 5 weeks while some fixtures were on order.

The most detail they will get on their bill will be the days that I worked and what I did/installed. That's it. No breakdown of parts or labor.

[brantmacga]

If you already give a price up front why would you bother to write anything other than a detailed description of what you did and the amount owed? I don't see any reason to write a detail of what you used in order to accomplish the tasks.

When I itemize parts, the labor is included in the cost printed; I don't break it down 'parts/labor'.

Its "15A 120v Duplex Receptacle = $XXX.XX"; That would be the box, wire, device, wallplate, labor.

[charlietuna]

We were lucky enough to always have more customers than we needed to stay busy--so those few that complained we got away from "graciuosly", and picked up new customers to replace them.. Makes life a whole lot easier !

[Dennis Alwon]

I heard a an joke one day that reminds of this thread. The doctor, whose house was being wired, complained to the EC about the bill. He said to the EC that he didn't even charge $100/ hour to which the EC simply said, "I know when I was a doctor I couldn't charge $100/ hour either. :smile:

[satcom]

When I itemize parts, the labor is included in the cost printed; I don't break it down 'parts/labor'.

Its "15A 120v Duplex Receptacle = $XXX.XX"; That would be the box, wire, device, wallplate, labor.


That is how they usually bill service work, and new work, has a total contract price, one sum only, if the owner or GC wants to either add or remove an item we will give them a total changes price. when someone asks for a item by item cost list, we may suggest they find someone else to do their work, because they are a problem customer or GC looking to open the job to bargin an already aggred price, not the way to run any business.

[Teaspoon]

I usually flat rate my jobs. Don't care much for hourly jobs.
Try to be fair in priceing But if I can't make money on the Job I don't need it

[brantmacga]

That is how they usually bill service work, and new work, has a total contract price, one sum only, if the owner or GC wants to either add or remove an item we will give them a total changes price. when someone asks for a item by item cost list, we may suggest they find someone else to do their work, because they are a problem customer or GC looking to open the job to bargin an already aggred price, not the way to run any business.

I don't mind providing item costs.

I don't negotiate; any customer is free to ask, but the answer is no. Its that simple.

As a consumer, I expect to know what I'm paying for certain items; I feel I should provide the same courtesy to my customers.

[satcom]

I don't mind providing item costs.

I don't negotiate; any customer is free to ask, but the answer is no. Its that simple.

As a consumer, I expect to know what I'm paying for certain items; I feel I should provide the same courtesy to my customers.

When you buy a car or truck, do you ask for, and get a cost break down? No, but you may get breakdown cost of any extras.

If you feel the need to list the breakdown, try a retail business, not a professional service.

[growler]

has anyone ever dealt with customers that question every charge on the bill? do they ever call up and say they seen the same receptacle at home depot for 20 cents and wonder why they charged him 5 dollars?

I just tell them the truth, that there is a certain mark-up to cover my cost. Cost to stock and warranty the item.

Explain what happens when you install a GFCI type receptacle ( provided by homeowner with no material warranty) and it goes bad in three months and you have to come back and replace it. Do they want to pay the extra for the one year parts&labor warranty or not?

Let them know that Home Depot does not cover the labor cost that they will only exchange the 20 cent receptacle ( or even $10 receptacle). It only going to cost about $5 in gas and an hour of their time to get that. They still have to pay the labor cost. Let them know what a good deal that is. :grin::grin:

[brantmacga]

When you buy a car or truck, do you ask for, and get a cost break down? No, but you may get breakdown cost of any extras.

If you feel the need to list the breakdown, try a retail business, not a professional service.

i wasn't the one asking advice on billing methods.

mine works just fine; i give them a bill, they see what they paid for, they write a check.

if i were having problems with the method i would come on here and ask advice on how to fix it.

just because you don't feel comfortable doing it doesn't mean i should be too. i think people deserve to see what they're paying for.

i'm not letting some big trade secret out by doing it.

i'd like to know why you think its inappropriate for me to bill this way?

[satcom]

i wasn't the one asking advice on billing methods.

mine works just fine; i give them a bill, they see what they paid for, they write a check.

if i were having problems with the method i would come on here and ask advice on how to fix it.

just because you don't feel comfortable doing it doesn't mean i should be too. i think people deserve to see what they're paying for.

i'm not letting some big trade secret out by doing it.

i'd like to know why you think its inappropriate for me to bill this way?

But with some offering a breakdown price, it tends to make the customer think we are ready to bargin, when in fact not one of our suppliers will bargin with us, from the supply house to the phone services we use. In this country, you can operate as you choose, one of the rights we earned the hard way, so the way you operate is your choice, but when anyone in this industry, bills with breakdown, they open the path for others to try to bargin price, when none of us can buy that way, why on earth would we bill that way?

[GUNNING]

I give people an invoice when I leave. Its itemized. I don't make as much as I should. I would make a whole lot more if I did the flat rate or Give em a proposal up front and them let em pay that. That's the point of this exercise. He who has the most toys at the end wins. That's why I'M only going to sell CRYOGENIC 15 and 20 amp RECEPTACLES. $40 each. $225 Installed. Gotta have special glubs to install them.

[steelersman]

That's the point of this exercise. He who has the most toys at the end wins.

Unless you are a religious man.

[satcom]

I give people an invoice when I leave. Its itemized. I don't make as much as I should. I would make a whole lot more if I did the flat rate or Give em a proposal up front and them let em pay that. That's the point of this exercise. He who has the most toys at the end wins. That's why I'M only going to sell CRYOGENIC 15 and 20 amp RECEPTACLES. $40 each. $225 Installed. Gotta have special glubs to install them.

Toys? most of the ECs working T&M and itemize everything can't afford to pay their normal expenses no less buy toys, and that is fine if you want live on a low income level, but please don't drag the rest of the industry down to lower standards of living, I value my worth, and my time is worth something.

[brantmacga]

But with some offering a breakdown price, it tends to make the customer think we are ready to bargin, when in fact not one of our suppliers will bargin with us, from the supply house to the phone services we use. In this country, you can operate as you choose, one of the rights we earned the hard way, so the way you operate is your choice, but when anyone in this industry, bills with breakdown, they open the path for others to try to bargin price, when none of us can buy that way, why on earth would we bill that way?

I've never thought of a breakdown as a doorway to negotiating, even when I'm trying to get service from another business.

I would say because this isn't a problem for me, I can't understand the issue. I've had a couple of GC's look at items and ask if it can be lowered to "help keep the project cost down", and I can only tell them it costs what it costs.

The only time its been somewhat of an issue for me is when I'm bidding against other EC's who breakdown the same way, and the customer does a comparison of individual items; some I may be higher, others lower. But again, I simply deflect any questions about negotiating or hourly rates. There's no requirement to answer such an inquiry.

[dsandberg]

There's time and material = it is what it is. If you provide a fixed price, that's it regardless of what you run into.