Different levels of contract work - just venting

[goldstar]

I suppose one could say that there are different levels of contractual work that can be done, like high level work and big $$, mid range with fewer $$ and at the bottom where $$ are small but where I'm sure there's a ton of work. Those contractors working at the elite top level may get fewer jobs but are rewarded handsomely for the work they do. Those in the middle level also get their fair share of work but are paid somewhat less. Now, those at the bottom level get paid a lot less but are extremely busy because their prices seem attractive enough for those customers shopping for price alone.

Why am I ranting about this ? Because I'm currently doing some work with a good friend (an EC) who is a prince of a man, has a warm heart, means well and is an all out nice guy. The problem is he is bent on doing work for (in many cases) 50% less than anyone else. He continually criticizes me for trying to always do right things (like being Code compliant), not working fast enough, not working smart enough. He'll tell me the reason I'm not getting jobs is because my prices are too high. Meanwhile he will do things like pull 10 wires in a conduit, all the same color because that's what he had in the shop and wants to get rid of it. If we need 400' of 3/4" EMT on the job he'll bring what he had left in his shop and then ask me if I have any on my truck when we're short. He uses old JB's with KO's missing that he removed from a job that he gutted. If he runs out of set screw fittings and couplings he'll use compression fittings on the same job because that's what he had left in the shop. Rather than measure and bend a conduit to the right spot he'd rather over figure the length and then cut it with a saws-all to fit. We once did an job that called for AC cable. He brought in used gem boxes and MC cable pieces that he got from a scrap yard. The list goes on.

I love this guy like a brother but the fact is he's a scrounge and a bottom feeder. Oddly enough he's made a lot of $$ in his life time but worked his butt of for it. I'm hoping I can finish out this project with him and be done with his snide remarks. I choose to work at a higher level rather than be a bottom feeder. I probably won't be a millionaire in the near future but I'm thankful for what I've accomplished so far in my life.

Any of you know anyone like this guy :?:?:?

 

[petersonra]

I guess I do not see anything seriously wrong with buying materiel from a scrap yard and using it, as long as the end user is Ok with used parts. After all, the whole rest of the electrical system is used once it is installed.

As far as I am concerned, the important thing is a safe and code compliant finished product that is functional.

Some of the things you claim he is doing do not appear to be code compliant and that would bother me, but where he acquired perfectly acceptable material is not one of the things I would worry all that much about.

he has found a niche that works for him. If you don't like working that niche, go find some niche you prefer.

We have a fortune 50 customer that buys LOTS of used parts (especially PLC parts) on eBay and other sources. It is cost effective and while once in a blue moon the part does not work, getting parts for 5 or 10 cents on the dollar is not a bad deal even if 1 in a 100 is bad.

 

[Fulthrotl]

I love this guy like a brother but the fact is he's a scrounge and a bottom feeder. Oddly enough he's made a lot of $$ in his life time but worked his butt of for it. I'm hoping I can finish out this project with him and be done with his snide remarks. I choose to work at a higher level rather than be a bottom feeder. I probably won't be a millionaire in the near future but I'm thankful for what I've accomplished so far in my life.

Any of you know anyone like this guy :?:?:?

what part do you love about this?
his criticism of you, or recycling stuff?
or him asking you to give him your material so he doesn't have to buy any?
i always like that, when i have it done to me.

sounds like you like the guy socially, but can't stand to work with him.

i *had* a really close friend, that was a painting contractor. known him
for about 20 years. we worked together on a lot of stuff. he'd call me
when his clients needed electrical work done. i'd refer him. we were
close enough friends, he had keys to my house.

suffice it to say, one thing led to another, and the level of dysfunction in
his personal and professional life led to a parting of the ways. finally we
parted ways, with a fair amount of bitterness.

we've not spoken in four years. my choice. can't stand the asshole.

if you want to remain where you like the guy, i'd strongly suggest not
working with him.

 

[PetrosA]

Call it comfort zone, call it niche, whatever. You need to define yours and stick to it. I usually install medium to good grade materials and sometimes wander into the high-end material zone. Low end materials to keep job price down is out of my comfort zone and I avoid taking jobs like that knowing that I'll spend hours just on trying to source materials that fit the (already) low budget. I don't even get into knowingly doing non-compliant installations. That's a threat to my continued well being and is completely non-negotiable.

 

[goldstar]

what part do you love about this?
his criticism of you, or recycling stuff?
or him asking you to give him your material so he doesn't have to buy any?
i always like that, when i have it done to me.

sounds like you like the guy socially, but can't stand to work with him.

That's about right but in all fairness I don't mind working with him as much as I mind him bringing 20 rusted or corroded JB's with KO's missing on the job and using them. We're working in a gym, 25-30' up and no EI is ever going to see them. I guess (morally speaking) I have a problem with that and wouldn't do it on any of my jobs.

i *had* a really close friend, that was a painting contractor. known him
for about 20 years. we worked together on a lot of stuff. he'd call me
when his clients needed electrical work done. i'd refer him. we were
close enough friends, he had keys to my house.

suffice it to say, one thing led to another, and the level of dysfunction in
his personal and professional life led to a parting of the ways. finally we
parted ways, with a fair amount of bitterness.

we've not spoken in four years. my choice. can't stand the asshole.

if you want to remain where you like the guy, i'd strongly suggest not
working with him.

I don't want it to get to that point. I'm sure I'll end up taking your advice.

BTW, I have you beat. I haven't spoken to someone (also my choice) who was the best man in my wedding for over 22 years now. A real control freak, to the point that he'd order dinner for you when we went out with our wives.