jmellc
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
- Occupation
- Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
I just had a gem of a customer today. They bought 2 new light fixtures to replace out by the front door and i told them $50 each because they looked easy and quick to swap and they hired me for other work. I get there today and they said oh we decided we aren't going to do the lights but they bought them and were sitting next to where i was working.
I look out in the living room and they bought a 65" LED flat screen, currently having tile done all over, just had brand new hardwood floors put in, replaced all the stucco on the front of the house and can drop $100 for me to install the lights?:lol:
People don't want to pay for electric work because it's mostly hidden and nobody thinks about it. People will fork over the bucks for luxuries without question.
Oh the whole time I'm working they are in and out Black Friday shopping.
I have seen many similar situations. The guy with horses, yard vehicles & late model luxury cars telling me to price up jobs separately in case he couldn't afford them all. All relatively small projects too, about $1,200 if done all together, $200 to $600 separately.
I had not thought of the angle of the wiring being unseen. You may have a point. I think a lot is that they can get a jackleg so much cheaper & as long as the light comes on, they are happy. They do not understand the time bombs some jacklegs leave in the walls & crawl spaces. My other thought is that they value work far less than "things". Good work is good but does not give them anything to show off like new things, bigger things, better things. They do not get one up on the Jones' and that is what truly matters. Can't let Mr. Jones creep ahead.