When I saw ESI companies starting to advertise in the phone book and newspapers I thought this would be a great thing. They would raise the standards and pricing in the electrical service and repair business. It sure doesn't seem to be the case though.
They seem to be doing all the ESI stuff. Lot's of advertising, wearing booties, nice well stocked trucks, upfront pricing, etc. But they don't seem to be following the ESI model with their pricing. At least not the company I've been losing jobs too.
Below are some jobs that I bid on that I lost to the ESI company. I was hurting for work when I bid these jobs and bid them as low as I possibly could just to get them. I just couldn't believe the ESI company was this low.
I thought ESI was all about learning your true costs of being in business, providing a better lifestyle for you and your employees and raising the standards for serving the customer. I don't see how they could possibly do this at these prices. I wouldn't think you'd need ESI and do all the advertising this company does to bid and get jobs at the lowest price. This makes no sense to me. What do you guys think about the prices on this basement bedroom wiring?
I really find it disappointing that they're pricing these job so low. I really thought they would help bring the pricing up. I'm always hearing how high the pricing is for these ESI companies. I'm sure not seeing it here.
Basement Bedroom Wiring:
1 Single pole toggle switch
5 Duplex receptacles
1 Customer supplied surface mount light fixture
1 TV Jack
1 Phone Jack
1 Smoke Detector
1 AFCI circuit for power to the bedroom.
1 GE TR2020 twin breaker to make room for the AFCI breaker. It's a $65 breaker.
http://www.pacificcoastbreaker.com/catalog/604
Electrical panel 75ft away and located in a finished wall. Circuit would have to be fished in this wall. The rest of the basement is open.
My price $1292.00
Another contractors price $660.00
ESI company's price $559.00
I don't see how they can possibly pay their techs much at a price this low. You've got to make to trips out to do this job. One for the rough-in and one for the trim-out. Plus you've made one trip out to look at it to give a price. That's three trips total.
These are some other jobs they beat me out on with a low price.
After hours friday night emergency service upgrade: (The guy got the bids that friday morning and afternoon)
My price $2,500 (This was my normal hours price so I really thought I would get it.)
ESI Company's price $1,050
Another contractor gave a price of $900 but said he couldn't get to it for a couple of weeks.
My price on this one included replacing the Federal Pacific panel inside the home and running new SER cable to the panel. The ESI company left the Federal Pacific panel but ran new SER cable so that helped make their price lower. But still $1,050 for an after hours emergency service upgrade? I don't get it.
125amp to 200amp Service Upgrade:
My price $1,300
Another contractor's price $1,900
ESI company's price $1,200
I really thought I low balled this one to get the job but still lost it to the ESI company.
These were all jobs I bid lower than I usually do.
They seem to be doing all the ESI stuff. Lot's of advertising, wearing booties, nice well stocked trucks, upfront pricing, etc. But they don't seem to be following the ESI model with their pricing. At least not the company I've been losing jobs too.
Below are some jobs that I bid on that I lost to the ESI company. I was hurting for work when I bid these jobs and bid them as low as I possibly could just to get them. I just couldn't believe the ESI company was this low.
I thought ESI was all about learning your true costs of being in business, providing a better lifestyle for you and your employees and raising the standards for serving the customer. I don't see how they could possibly do this at these prices. I wouldn't think you'd need ESI and do all the advertising this company does to bid and get jobs at the lowest price. This makes no sense to me. What do you guys think about the prices on this basement bedroom wiring?
I really find it disappointing that they're pricing these job so low. I really thought they would help bring the pricing up. I'm always hearing how high the pricing is for these ESI companies. I'm sure not seeing it here.
Basement Bedroom Wiring:
1 Single pole toggle switch
5 Duplex receptacles
1 Customer supplied surface mount light fixture
1 TV Jack
1 Phone Jack
1 Smoke Detector
1 AFCI circuit for power to the bedroom.
1 GE TR2020 twin breaker to make room for the AFCI breaker. It's a $65 breaker.
http://www.pacificcoastbreaker.com/catalog/604
Electrical panel 75ft away and located in a finished wall. Circuit would have to be fished in this wall. The rest of the basement is open.
My price $1292.00
Another contractors price $660.00
ESI company's price $559.00
I don't see how they can possibly pay their techs much at a price this low. You've got to make to trips out to do this job. One for the rough-in and one for the trim-out. Plus you've made one trip out to look at it to give a price. That's three trips total.
These are some other jobs they beat me out on with a low price.
After hours friday night emergency service upgrade: (The guy got the bids that friday morning and afternoon)
My price $2,500 (This was my normal hours price so I really thought I would get it.)
ESI Company's price $1,050
Another contractor gave a price of $900 but said he couldn't get to it for a couple of weeks.
My price on this one included replacing the Federal Pacific panel inside the home and running new SER cable to the panel. The ESI company left the Federal Pacific panel but ran new SER cable so that helped make their price lower. But still $1,050 for an after hours emergency service upgrade? I don't get it.
125amp to 200amp Service Upgrade:
My price $1,300
Another contractor's price $1,900
ESI company's price $1,200
I really thought I low balled this one to get the job but still lost it to the ESI company.
These were all jobs I bid lower than I usually do.
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