How does this letter sound?

[AC\DC]

I had a client that canceled a estimate on me because their contractor had their own guy look at it and give an estimate and then they called me back like two weeks later and they wanted an estimate and this poopy, stinky, diaper dookie contractor told me the insurance company thought his guy was too high so they he wanted a third-party estimate. This guy is a known shark. I don’t really wanna work with them and they’re doing nothing more than price check. He already got his guy so I wanna politely tell him to stick it.

 

[AC\DC]

After reviewing the situation, I want to be straightforward.

Based on our discussion, it appears my estimate is being requested primarily as a third-party comparison because the insurance company questioned the original bid. Under those circumstances, my proposal would function as a price verification tool rather than a genuine opportunity to perform the work.

I do not participate in estimates solely for leverage or price-checking purposes, especially when another contractor and electrician are already positioned to complete the project.

Additionally, I only engage in projects where I have a clear and direct contractual relationship regarding scope and payment. The current structure does not provide that.

For those reasons, I will respectfully decline to provide an estimate in this context.

If the insurance company requests a direct and independent electrical estimate from me, I would consider that separately.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

 

[infinity]

After reviewing the situation, I want to be straightforward.

Based on our discussion, it appears my estimate is being requested primarily as a third-party comparison because the insurance company questioned the original bid. Under those circumstances, my proposal would function as a price verification tool rather than a genuine opportunity to perform the work.

I do not participate in estimates solely for leverage or price-checking purposes, especially when another contractor and electrician are already positioned to complete the project.

Additionally, I only engage in projects where I have a clear and direct contractual relationship regarding scope and payment. The current structure does not provide that.

For those reasons, I will respectfully decline to provide an estimate in this context.

If the insurance company requests a direct and independent electrical estimate from me, I would consider that separately.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Sounds good to me. You've outlined your concerns loud and clear. When I hear stories like this I would be tempted to give them an extremely low price so it appears that their new guy is ripping them off. At the end of the day they're not worth your time.

 

[roger]

I agree with Rob and in a back door approach it's price shopping

 

[AC\DC]

Thank you.
She’s gonna yell at me and bash me around town just cause that’s how she is either way I’m screwed

 

[ptonsparky]

Very professional.

I may have been somewhat less.

 

[AC\DC]

Very professional.

I may have been somewhat less.

This is chatgpts doing— I had stronger words

 

[roger]

I know this is not quite the same thing but I always honored the low bid on bid day, there was no more negotiating, it was over and done. If quotes went to the owner they should tell the GC they are entertaining multi prime quotes.

 

[AC\DC]

I never understood honoring the lowest bid. I guess I could see it on set plans, but I only do remodel at Service work and some new houses and some new commercial and around here they don’t have plans. We bid how we see it so I try and give as much information as I can to justify my price so my bid and someone else’s bed could be two different complete things.

Just yesterday about a $5 million project not my end but just total-no electrical whatsoever I spent like three hours talking with what they want

 

[roger]

I never understood honoring the lowest bid. I guess I could see it on set plans, but I only do remodel at Service work and some new houses and some new commercial and around here they don’t have plans. We bid how we see it so I try and give as much information as I can to justify my price so my bid and someone else’s bed could be two different complete things.

Just yesterday about a $5 million project not my end but just total-no electrical whatsoever I spent like three hours talking with what they want

I was in the formal bidding sector but regardless your customer should have told the GC she already had an EC and if she let him know your number that was wrong IMO.

 

[AC\DC]

10 four I was just curious

 

[Eddie702]

I would do the opposite. If I didn't like/trust the contractor I would throw them a high #. You will never hear from him again. Good riddance. I wouldn't waste a letter on him.

 

[Eddie702]

I was in the formal bidding sector but regardless your customer should have told the GC she already had an EC and if she let him know your number that was wrong IMO.

100% agree. Some will peddle you # and not give it a second thought

 

[Eddie702]

@AC/DC_247
I use to do that I gave very detailed quotes. However sometime that will work against you. The more details they have in some cases gives them more things to twist and turn.

The other thing I am against is customers that want you quote broken down into labor, material etc etc. None of their business IMHO

 

[roger]

The other thing I am against is customers that want you quote broken down into labor, material etc etc. None of their business IMHO

Agreed!!!!

 

[Master Nater]

if you choose to say anything at all, choose to say these 3 words. "We're Too Busy."

IMO - anything else, could open you up to legal liability. keep it simple. or nothing at all.

 

[kwired]

Thank you.
She’s gonna yell at me and bash me around town just cause that’s how she is either way I’m screwed

If is a smaller community, everyone probably knows how she is, and you probably are not all that screwed.

 

[ptonsparky]

Ha

if you choose to say anything at all, choose to say these 3 words. "We're Too Busy."

IMO - anything else, could open you up to legal liability. keep it simple. or nothing at all.

That worked with a customer or two I needed to let go.

 

[kwired]

@AC/DC_247
I use to do that I gave very detailed quotes. However sometime that will work against you. The more details they have in some cases gives them more things to twist and turn.

The other thing I am against is customers that want you quote broken down into labor, material etc etc. None of their business IMHO

I get a lot of this as well:

around here they don’t have plans. We bid how we see it so I try and give as much information as I can to justify my price so my bid and someone else’s bed could be two different complete things.

and if they want a price broken down into labor, material, etc. then they better have a pretty solid plan to use as the base to price it on.

Many my projects don't turn into what I initially thought they would be. Some are more involved than I thought at estimating time, others end up with big thoughts at start of project then as they start to run out of funds as the project goes on they start cutting back on what might have been planned.

Over the years I been handed a lot of basic floor layout plans and asked how much to wire this. And nearly every time my reply is what will you have in it for electrical items? What will you have for major appliances? Are you a basics person or do you want all the latest gadgets and such?

Average person has no clue how many possibilities there is for what an electrical contractor may end up being involved with on their project or that they may need to be there doing some things practically at ground breaking sometimes and may also end up being nearly the last worker to leave the site when everything is finished as well.

 

[ptonsparky]

The first, good sized for me, project I bid and drew up a plan for, I didn't get. I must have done well with the drawings though, because they sure used them. Lesson learned.