contract work for the big package stores

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wildman

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I wonder if any of you do contract work for stores such as Lowes/Home depot....they are always advertising expert installation available....I noticed today in the newspaper....Lowes has a circular that states...*expert installation on the following items only $69.00....ceiling fan, air conditioner, storm door, garage door opener.....does not give any details...guess you will find that out when you enter the store.....so, what about a ceiling fan....$69.00....labor only I guess!....Maybe if I was replacing an old one with a new one....cutting it kind of close....Maybe if they gave me 40 or 50 fans a week to do....Materials would have to be extra?? Example...I would like you to install this fan in my family room....just remove that old two bulb fixture and screw the fan to the ceiling....$69 is all I am gonna pay! Wonder what your thoughts are....wildman
 
I don't know how they can advertise that. What if someone buys a fan and wants it installed where there is no cieling fixture at all? or the proper box is not there. This kind of advertising ticks me off.
 
Its the old bait switch.
Once the service man gets inside the upsell & the extras start to add up. add for listed support, fan speed controls dimmers. Don't for get to go the breaker panel & turn off the breaker & then tell them the panel is out of code & need updating.
$69 is only the beginning
 
Sometimes this could be true...

Sometimes this could be true...

I used to work at one of the big stores. Not in electrical but another department. There were times it did cost the advertised price, other times it didn't probably 50/50. I would think the $69 would be drive out 1x Remove lite/fan properly wired and supported and install new fan. If they need to wire, rewire, re-enforce, dispose of etc this is where you get into the extra charges.
 
77401 has pretty much got it.

They offer a "basic" install of whatever the item is. If it isn't an idiot proofed install, it's extra.
 
I was told that this is the basic price which only includes taking down a light fixture and hanging the fan. That price assumes you have the proper box support and anything else. If you don't have it then the EC charges you TM on the rest.
 
I recently had a satelite antenna installed for internet access. The price of the system included "basic insatllation". When the installers arrived, I was told that "basic installation" included screwing the dish to the roof through the shingles. I asked for them to mount it on a pole on the ground instead. Of course that cost extra. They charged $75 for entering the crawl space. $75 for entering the attic. Cable over a certain length was extra. Fishing the cable in the wall was extra. The did allow me to do some of the work myself (attic installation and fishing the cable). Free installation can become very expensive, very quickly!
 
Cable over a certain length was extra. Fishing the cable in the wall was extra. The did allow me to do some of the work myself (attic installation and fishing the cable). Free installation can become very expensive, very quickly
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But did they pull a permit? In MI you need a permit to install telecommunication cable. How else do people know it is code compliant?:rolleyes:
 
We have had and still have problems with work contracted from these stores not being permitted, especially "professional generator installations". Pulling a meter in Florida without FPL or Co-op approval is a crime - so is closing it back up before it is inspected.
 
When I first started contracting, I asked a guy at Home Depot desk about me getting on their "authorizes contractor" list for ceiling fans, light fixtures, etc.

He said, "Oh, we do all those ourselves" :eek:

"Are you licensed"? I asked.

"You don't need a license, if you don't get caught"
 
bphgravity said:
We have had and still have problems with work contracted from these stores not being permitted, especially "professional generator installations". Pulling a meter in Florida without FPL or Co-op approval is a crime - so is closing it back up before it is inspected.
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What is the punishment for this crime and how often is anybody punished?

IMHO if we as electricians reported unlicensed people and work being done without a permit to the local AHJs we would usually find that nothing was done about it. In most cases to do very much about it we would have to increase the staffing for local AHJs.

edited spelling.
 
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We ususally just threaten to suspend their license and prohibit the contractor from working in the city. They seem to shape up after that. ;)

But seriously, you are correct. The POCO's here are the "big bad wolf" - they huff and puff but nothing ever happens...
 
Ten years ago I looked into doing the electrical service work for Home Despot. At the time you needed 1 million $ of auto insurance and 2 million of liability workers comp proof of license etc. Couldn't tell the customer who you really worked for, no uniforms, and no signs on the trucks. Worked at a discounted labor hour and time scheduled by them. Its seemed all right except it seemed like you would be working for that customer that says " Ill supply all the material and will only pay for labor to install this and this." Sound familiar?
 
dlhoule said:
What is the punishment for this crime and how often is anybody punished?

IMHO if we as electricians reported unlicensed people and work being done without a permit to the local AHJs we would usually find that nothing was done about it. In most cases to do very much about it we would have to increase the staffing for local AHJs.

edited spelling.
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NJ takes unlicensed people doing electrical work seriously (it's a money maker for the State !)

You can read all about it here:
[NJ State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
Minutes Page]

Here are a few from May's meeting:
Check in the amount of $500.00 received from XXXXXX, Unlicensed, as the third installment of a civil penalty in the amount of $6,000.00 for violation of N.J.S.A. 45:5A-9. Payments started January 26, 2006 and the balance due is $4,000.00.

Check in the amount of $100.00 received from XXXXXX, Unlicensed, as the fifth installment of a civil penalty in the amount of $2,500.00 for violation of N.J.S.A. 45:5A-9 and N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 et seq. Payments started November 29, 2005 and the balance due is $1,900.00.

(Names removed intentionally)

Every month the State generates several thousand dollars from fines.
 
Went to one of the big box's stores today and noticed an install sign for a jucuzzi tub and it look's as if Mr. Electric has that account locked up.
 
Quote: "Went to one of the big box's stores today and noticed an install sign for a jucuzzi tub and it look's as if Mr. Electric has that account locked up."

Might be a good reason for not supporting that store, buy your supplies from a local vendor, let MR. Electric, buy his good there.
 
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