Free Estimate Questions

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Ohmy

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta, GA
aline said:
I take it you only put down one-minute on your time card for this service call and was only paid for one-minute?

Simply walking in and pushing the reset button and walking out is poor service in my opinion.
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I agree with that. Our rule around here is replace the GFI bare min. Plus, a quote for new circuit, bubble covers, etc. where applicable.
 
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Ohmy

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta, GA
emahler said:
Talk about an absolute untruth.


If I quote a $50 trip charge (or no trip charge if we are slow) to come out and look at the problem. Then once we, as trained professionals, see the symtoms, and have a place to really start trobleshooting, quote them a $250 troubleshoot fee (and waive the trip charge)....how is this bait and switch?

An honest contractor would advise the customer of the process all along the way. So there would be no surprises, and the customer would be in control of their money.

Vs an hourly rate that they have no control over once the job begins. Suddenly they are in for 2-3 hours, and no solution. Do you pay the guy for 3 hours, and call someone else? Or let him continue and hope he finishes soon.
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soo....I should be quoting our trip charge? That would make it easier to schedule but would probably be harder on the guys to convert that trip charge into a troubleshooting fee. Plus, it does seem alittle scammy. Of course, I don't want to fix stuff for a trip charge anymore than I want to fix things for free.
 
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aline

Senior Member
Location
Utah
Ohmy said:
I agree with that. Our rule around here is replace the GFI bare min. Plus, a quote for new circuit, bubble covers, etc. where applicable.
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At the very least the device should be pulled out and the wiring inspected.

GFCI1.jpg


GFCI2.jpg
 
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emahler

Senior Member
Ohmy said:
soo....I should be quoting our trip charge? That would make it easier to schedule but would probably be harder on the guys to convert that trip charge into a troubleshooting fee. Plus, it does seem alittle scammy. Of course, I don't want to fix stuff for a trip charge anymore than I want to fix things for free.
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do whatever makes you happy...and whatever works in your system...but if you're techs are capable of selling, you and them will make more money on a flat rate than a T&M...
 
mivey

mivey

Senior Member
FWIW, here is the way I see it: If you get called out, and you only have to tighten a bulb, flip a switch, reset a GFI, etc, provide some service to complete what you would consider minimum time. Take out the GFI and check it, check the panel, replace a sticky switch, replace a loose bathroom receptacle, or up-sell a service/install that will get rid of something that has been bugging the customer.

If the customer touches your heart because she reminds you of Grandma and you just flip the switch, talk a little bit and leave with just a thank you in hand: nothing wrong with that either.
 
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emahler

Senior Member
mivey said:
FWIW, here is the way I see it: If you get called out, and you only have to tighten a bulb, flip a switch, reset a GFI, etc, provide some service to complete what you would consider minimum time. Take out the GFI and check it, check the panel, replace a sticky switch, replace a loose bathroom receptacle, or up-sell a service/install that will get rid of something that has been bugging the customer.

If the customer touches your heart because she reminds you of Grandma and you just flip the switch, talk a little bit and leave with just a thank you in hand: nothing wrong with that either.
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it depends...if you are an owner/operator it's easier to do than if you are paying an employee for the time...
 
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j4str

Member
i agree on charging for breaker trips/gfci's. Most people are happy that it was a cheap fix. They called me not the other way around


if you are a 1 man shop, where your not paying your labor, i can see not charging. it didnt cost you anything, so call it advertising.
 
bradleyelectric

bradleyelectric

Senior Member
Location
forest hill, md
j4str said:
i agree on charging for breaker trips/gfci's. Most people are happy that it was a cheap fix. They called me not the other way around


if you are a 1 man shop, where your not paying your labor, i can see not charging. it didnt cost you anything, so call it advertising.
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I've GOT to find out about how to be able to have 1 of these companies that don't cost anything!! It seems to me that I keep getting bills for all kinds of things.
 
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emahler

Senior Member
bradleyelectric said:
I've GOT to find out about how to be able to have 1 of these companies that don't cost anything!! It seems to me that I keep getting bills for all kinds of things.
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just send me $999.00 and a SASE, and I'll send you all the information you need to start one of those companies....hurry up, I can't do this all day:D
 
Rewire

Rewire

Senior Member
Location
Lake of the Ozarks
j4str said:
i agree on charging for breaker trips/gfci's. Most people are happy that it was a cheap fix. They called me not the other way around


if you are a 1 man shop, where your not paying your labor, i can see not charging. it didnt cost you anything, so call it advertising.
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The more I follow this forum the more I realize that their are alot of people trying to be in business who haven't got a clue as how to do that
 
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ohm

Senior Member
Location
Birmingham, AL
Rewire said:
The more I follow this forum the more I realize that their are alot of people trying to be in business who haven't got a clue as how to do that
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Every quote I read had a valid argument. They were written by individuals and each situation is unique.

If all we were doing was flipping hamburgers life would be easy.

I guess around the 15th of April if you made what you wanted for the year and you feel good about it, thats all that matters.
 
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Ohmy

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta, GA
bradleyelectric said:
And there are those that would say a company that charges $99 up front and $18/ lead is doing you a terrible disservice.
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I think you think we use a lead service, which we don't (not that I have any opinion on those)

It doesn't matter where your lead comes from, it cost money. Even referals take advertizing, brand awareness, printing and design services, OH, etc.

If I could get free leads, I wouldn't be on here trying to figure out how to close more of them.
 
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Ohmy

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta, GA
emahler said:
do whatever makes you happy...and whatever works in your system...but if you're techs are capable of selling, you and them will make more money on a flat rate than a T&M...
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Honestly, I would be happy if I could give a flat rate for troubleshooting over the phone.

But between companies quoting $49 to come out and "look things over" and single operators saying "how about I swing by this evening for free" its becoming increasing harder.
 
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ishium 80439

Senior Member
Location
Denver foothills via the Horn of Africa
I understand this is a tough subject to one right way to do things. I will do "free" estimates for jobs that involve over a day of labor such as basement finishes, additions, multiple lights in different areas of the house, larger construction etc. The price for my time to look at the job and to bid it get worked into the cost of the project.

For things like a tripped GFI I try to walk the HO through places to look for a GFI over the phone. I know some look at this as a wasted opportunity (someone calls and you don't jump on the chance to get into their house). I look at it a bit differently. If I'm there for 2 minutes the amount I have to charge to make that call worthwhile is going to make the HO unhappy because they only understand the time you are in front of them. "$100 for 2 minutes? That's $3000/hr!!!" However if I can solve their problem and explain to them that I am trying to save them some money than I feel that is goodwill generated and a future sale. It doesn't work all of the time but I have had people say things like "Thanks for the help on that bathroom receptacle. There was this other project I was looking at...."

There is one client in particular that I have that thought he needed a new panel in a rental he owns. I told him that I didn't think it was necessary because of X,Y and Z. He is now a commercial realtor how has turned me on to thousands of dollars worth of work and he told me it was because I didn't sell him something he didn't need when he didn't know any better. So I could have made a $700 sale then and had that been the end of the road but instead I passed on that $700 and it has turned into a long term relationship with him acting as a salesman for me.

When people have a troubleshooting call that goes beyond resetting a breaker I ask them questions, tell them what my rates are and let them make a decision. I won't make a trip to give an estimate for a TS call. I generally tell the HO that I think it will take X amount of time and if looks like we are going to go signifcantly beyond that I will let them know as we go. Seems to work OK for me.
 
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aline

Senior Member
Location
Utah
ishium 80439 said:
If I'm there for 2 minutes the amount I have to charge to make that call worthwhile is going to make the HO unhappy because they only understand the time you are in front of them. "$100 for 2 minutes? That's $3000/hr!!!"
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Why would you only spend 2 minutes in the customers home?

There are many valuable things you can do for the customer while you're there.

Remove panel covers and check for loose connections and signs of overheating.
I find a lot of loose connections even on new homes. You could be saving your customer from an expensive repair down the road.

Check the whole house for missing or broken cover plates.

Check the smoke detectors & CO detectors.

Check for proper grounding of the phone & TV systems.

Test GFCI receptacles and breakers.

Ask if they would like any dimmers installed at a reduced rate while you're there.

I have yet to go on a service call and only spend 2-minutes at the customer's home.
It takes me 2-minutes to get my tools, walk to the customer's door and wait for them to answer the door. Do you really only show 2-minutes for your time on your time card?

If you're truly only spending 2-minutes in the customer's home than you're providing poor service in my opinion and probably shouldn't get paid. :)

It works both ways. You have to make the call worthwhile for the customer as well as for You.
 
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