Should I say Yes or No?

[Mule]

Got a call from a church today, a new trustee. Seems like a nice guy, and he did a "walk through inspection" of the church and found two items. He wants us to quote, or give a estimate on converting 6 outside recepts to GFI recepts.."No Problem" .....second thing is, that he found 24 lightning rods missing on the roof. Says the clamps are there, but the rods are missing. He want us to provide the rods, and they will install them. He presumes someone has stolen them while copper was so high....who knows.


So my question is,... should I give the man what he wants, refuse, or make him a really good deal (installed) that he cant resist, since he's a new customer? Im sure he has a board of trustee's directing him....and I know money is tight..

[76nemo]

Give him a good deal and make sure he keeps your card on his desk. Nothing beats word of mouth.

[active1]

I would just stick to the GFI install quote. For the 24 lightning rods I would just say you don't service lighting rod systems and have no source for parts. Sugest they contact a specialty contractor that does that or just give them the name of an electrical supplier.

Churchs never seemed to be money makers for me. Always a waist of time. Need price on some small deal. Maybe you do it. Maybe you get paid that season. Except maybe from making contacts with the members from attenging functions.

Remember they are not a customer until your paid.

[nakulak]

I have found one course of action which virtually always, and by always I mean 100% of the time, guarantees possibly satisfactory results.


Give him a definite maybe.

[Karl H]

I would just stick to the GFI install quote. For the 24 lightning rods I would just say you don't service lighting rod systems and have no source for parts. Sugest they contact a specialty contractor that does that or just give them the name of an electrical supplier.

Churchs never seemed to be money makers for me. Always a waist of time. Need price on some small deal. Maybe you do it. Maybe you get paid that season. Except maybe from making contacts with the members from attenging functions.

Remember they are not a customer until your paid.

I agree. Everytime I have to bid a job for a church I can't help
but think to myself,"There goes another hour of my life wasted!":D

[ishium 80439]

I know my insurance won't cover me for lightning systems so I would have to say "No".

[cadpoint]

I know my insurance won't cover me for lightning systems so I would have to say "No".

What does your insurance say when you hire a consultant or a sub contractor as part of your line of work. ? ? ?

[petersonra]

tell him you are not certified for lightning systems and thus are not in a posiiton to bid on the lightning rods.

[jmsbrush]

Most jobs around here require specialty contractors for that line of work.
Some jobs you also have to have 5 years in business as well.

[480sparky]

See if you can find someone locally to do the lightning rod work as a sub. You'll make money and not have to perform the work itself, just 'manage' it.

[Mule]

Ok, I understand that lightning rod systems are engineered systems, but Ive never heard of having to be certified?? Is that a state thing or what? If they have orginal construction doc's or dwg's showing the rod system, why can't I replace rods that are missing...

Not arguing, just learning.....

[Fulthrotl]

Ok, I understand that lightning rod systems are engineered systems, but Ive never heard of having to be certified?? Is that a state thing or what? If they have orginal construction doc's or dwg's showing the rod system, why can't I replace rods that are missing...

Not arguing, just learning.....

if they do have prints, and you want to do it, go for it... if they just need
a source of replacement parts, be a hero, and give them mayday grounding.

http://www.maydaygrounding.com/

have fun......

[augie47]

not to worry. at the next trustee meeting when they announce your price, a churcvh member or "member's brother" will do it for free and save them yoru fee. :D

[Mule]

if they do have prints, and you want to do it, go for it... if they just need
a source of replacement parts, be a hero, and give them mayday grounding.

http://www.maydaygrounding.com/

have fun......

Thanks.....I'll check it out....

not to worry. at the next trustee meeting when they announce your price, a churcvh member or "member's brother" will do it for free and save them yoru fee. :D

Oh well, its a business contact that always breeds more contacts IF you present yourself well and price it fairly. Reguardless of the outcome of the quote

[MarkyMarkNC]

not to worry. at the next trustee meeting when they announce your price, a churcvh member or "member's brother" will do it for free and save them yoru fee. :D

I took over a job wiring a small church one time. One of the members was an "electrician" and got a bunch of the other members to help him sling romex through the entire place of assembly.

I don't know what it is about a church, but doing work for them always seems to be a money losing proposition. Usually there are about 8 deacons or associate pastors who think they are in charge of the proceedings, and all have different ideas on what needs to be done.

[cal1947]

Thanks.....I'll check it out....



Oh well, its a business contact that always breeds more contacts IF you present yourself well and price it fairly. Reguardless of the outcome of the quote

ask them what happened to the electrical contractor they used to use

[wawireguy]

If nothing prevents you from selling materials why not.. Sell them to them at a decent markup. Keep it seperate from your receptacle installs. I wouldn't give them any special deal though. This is business.

[Mule]

ask them what happened to the electrical contractor they used to use

Yes, that is always a thought of mine when I am called as Im a relatively new contractor in town.....but in this case the "new trustee" is the new part of this equation, and perhaps he is not acustom to using anyone.....

[Rewire]

I have worked for several churches and have always had a good expierience. All have led to more contacts.I have been on our churches building committee and I know how they work from the inside .

[Mule]

I have worked for several churches and have always had a good expierience. All have led to more contacts.I have been on our churches building committee and I know how they work from the inside .

Simply amazing !! the difference in opinions....I agree......my experiences are that church's are a bit cumbersom and slow up front in the approval stage of the quotes, but once that's done....its easy sailing after that...the only other thing is that the abundance of volunters sometimes makes a alot of existing non-complient work that you have to deal with, but I've had a few good jobs, cleaning up those messes..

[ohm]

Simply amazing !! the difference in opinions....I agree......my experiences are that church's are a bit cumbersom and slow up front in the approval stage of the quotes, but once that's done....its easy sailing after that...the only other thing is that the abundance of volunters sometimes makes a alot of existing non-complient work that you have to deal with, but I've had a few good jobs, cleaning up those messes..

Mule, I've done a lot of churches and much of what I've read here is true. But, I've also had them chase me down the street to pay an invoice two days old. I've had to stand up six times at a dedication ceremony while they proclaimed I saved them $50K. One job got me another without a bid wiring a new union hall (electrical) which was quite a feat, since I'm not union.
If you do a good job a 500 member church will bring in enough work to keep you very busy, for years to come.

A word of caution; If you get the job, ask that only one person be authorized to interface with you, because you will have hundreds of people talking to you and trying to make changes. Treat them ALL with respect since they are the source of funds.

[quogueelectric]

Are the missing terminals air terminals or ground rods?? Air terminals are extremely dangerous pointed and sharp I would think of liability with you providing something to get skewered on. I saw an amature miss a ground rod with a sledge and got his fingers in between the ground rod and the sledge handle in a full swing. He needed lots of rods pins and multiple surgerys to put him back together over the course of a year. Lots of liability there too. If you purchase it I think you should install it.

[benaround]

I say if the church wants parts, sell them the parts. There is no more liability on you than

there is on the supply house that sold them to you, or the place where they were made.

IMO, Churchs are a good customer to have, in a down economy the church still has many,

many people who contribute to it each week. As small towns grow the old churchs get too

small to handle the growth, and guess who they will ask for a quote on the new building.

[ohm]

Are the missing terminals air terminals or ground rods?? Air terminals are extremely dangerous pointed and sharp I would think of liability with you providing something to get skewered on. I saw an amature miss a ground rod with a sledge and got his fingers in between the ground rod and the sledge handle in a full swing. He needed lots of rods pins and multiple surgerys to put him back together over the course of a year. Lots of liability there too. If you purchase it I think you should install it.

Actually from all I've read rounded air terminals are just as effective as sharp ones.

In any case, I would just give them the name of a suplier and back away from that part of things, since I'm not licensed or insured, for it.

[active1]

If nothing prevents you from selling materials why not.. Sell them to them at a decent markup. Keep it seperate from your receptacle installs. I wouldn't give them any special deal though. This is business.

Depending on your location it's a different ball game selling material oposed to installing it for taxes. States are different. Changing the status is not worth it for a few items.