don't you just hate when that happens:smile:
I'm glad to see a moderator does it also.
rock bottom---NO WORK--
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don't you just hate when that happens:smile:
I'm glad to see a moderator does it also.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Question: Is this a real world example, or something you made up to make a point?
If it's a real world occurrence, how did you obtain these numbers?
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
I enjoy working in Atlanta, I work for a great company and the owner is an incredible buisness man, I just don't want to live in Atlanta. As for voting, I am registered, but the county is overwhemingly yellow dog Democrats, but is slowly changing, I think a lot of them are having buyers remorse over the last election.
Fulthrotl
~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
- Occupation
- E
it's hard to say.... i stopped by the neighborhood where i grew up, and it's
a bit lower income stuff, but still serviceable.... driving thru, i counted a
bunch of houses sitting vacant... maybe as much as 10%. this is a middle
class neighborhood, and are starter homes for a lot of people... (the
one's who shouldn't have qualified for a home loan in the first place). so there
are lots of homes available for the people who need housing, who can
manage to get a loan.
we just refi'd our mortgage, at 4.75% without points, 30 year fixed. getting
that loan thru the home morgage quagmire took 11 weeks. it's just about
impossible for a couple reasons... banks are gunshy, and there isn't anyone
to process the paperwork.... the real estate industry went upside down
a year and a half ago, and all the morgage industry people got laid off.
there's nobody left to process the loans, and banks are unwilling to hire
anyone, not knowing what to expect from week to week.
things around here are still pretty much in free fall. i suspect it will be that
way for a while yet.
George, in formal bid openings (assuming this is the case) all the numbers are announced as the bids are opened.
BTW, these numbers are just small change orders on one of my jobs and the headaches are in fact comparable.
Roger
hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
About 12 years ago (when I was 1st starting) I asked an EC I met (him, son and 2 more) what was the secret of staying in business (he had been doing it 30 years). His answer:
"Never take a job you can't afford to not be paid for."
Interesting concept.
"Never take a job you can't afford to not be paid for."
Interesting concept.
tonyou812
Senior Member
- Location
- North New Jersey
I vote this the most Igonnorant statement for this thread. Boy am I glad I dont work in Mass close to this guy.
You know the funny thing about my business is I have become really good friends with a local plumber and he has truely become an inspiration and mentor to me. When I complain of not getting a job in the past he always tells me "TONY your price is your price, period. If they person doesn't like it rip that page out and move on to the next project". And he is 100 percent right. Hes been in business for 24 years and weathered all the recessions. And I have yet to hear him complain of not having work. My favorite comment of his was "If you want to take work just to work you might as well get your 25-35 dollar an hour job back from your old boss"
I just turned down two jobs because the GC on one job wanted me to do a small Kitchen and service upgrade for 3200 dollars. I said no way dude. I might as well stay home and have my wife throw pickles at me for fun. And I turned down another high hat job cause the person wanted me to install 8 cans in a plaster ceiling for 100 bucks a can. Sorry charlie at that price I might as well use new construction cans and bash the holes open with a sledge hammer. (note- I didnt actually say that to the HO) My price for high hats in a plaster ceiling stands at 200 a can. And that's me doing it nicey nice, clean, very minimal damage to the ceiling and walls.
I am a professional electrician. It has taken me years to acquire my skills and tools and I do not sell them for cheap. Nor do I wait to get busy in order to raise my prices.
And if I am busy ( which I am right now, totally booked till the end of April with more coming in through referrals and phone books.) I dont quote an inflated price to see if they go for it, I tell them straight up, that I am currently booked till such and such time and if you really cant wait for me I can refer you to an equally good Electrician who can help you with your project. (also great advice from the plumber) And people honestly really respond well to that kind of honesty. Sure some take the other EC's number but others will wait for me.
You really think you are doing well by doing work for cheap and keeping busy, but it never ceases to amaze me how you dont see yourself like a little hamster running around and around in your little cage .
How does it feel when you bust your butt for a 1500 dollar service change? Yea sure we all have to play a little number game but yours is plain silly. To go from 2000 to 1500 is suicide IMO. At that much of a price difference something is going to suffer, whether its quality or your sanity. Exactly how did you come up with that reduction? Did you do some math or did you let other people dictate how to run your business? If I were a betting man I would say you chose the latter. And it just goes to show you that even the best EC can make the worst business man. Since the first of the year Ive done 5 service changes 2550, 2400(slightly discounted for a repeat customer), 2100 (For a friend) 2550, and 2000 (150 amp upgrade), and Ive not gotten about 2.
If I had to bust my butt for 1500 bucks when I normally charge 2500 I would be a angry chap too.
I have another EC buddy that's been in business for 2 years longer that me and he has a crappy, messy van, no marketing skills, zero people skills and is starting to piss me off because he keeps calling me and asking if I'm busy and if I need help.
Electricscottsman I really dont care what you do, how you run your buiss......I mean self employment, or what you say in this forum, but to be honest with you ill be surprised if you dont wind up burning your self out in a few years or give your self a coranary. Who ever said a one man band has to spend everyminute humping wire? You are totally thinking like a hourly worker.
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tonyou812
Senior Member
- Location
- North New Jersey
I know hot dog vendors that run their buisiness with more sense than that.
What's wrong with $1599.99?
One way to sell a service upgrade for more than the competitors is to offer a better warranty.
If they're offering a 1 year warranty offer something like a 5 year, 10 year or lifetime warranty.
I lost a service upgrade to another contractor that was about $50 higher than my price but he offered a longer warranty.
I have since increased my warranty for service upgrades.
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electricmanscott
Senior Member
- Location
- Boston, MA
Like I said, you seem to have it all figured out for a guy ONE year in business.
Get 5 in then I might think about listening to you. Get 15 in and I will at least hear what you have to say. Until then get over yourself.
The fact that you can't see that taking a service for 1500.00 is better than staying home and getting ZERO shows you have no idea what you are talking about. NONE. Or as pointed out maybe you have your wife to foot the bills. If thats the case good for you, not everyone has that luxury.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Tony you are really talking out your rear, you have no clue at all about who Scott is or what he is about.
dwellselectric
Inactive, Email Never Verified
- Location
- Cape Cod, Massachusetts
My boss closed down on my birthday! He told us to go signup he has no more work......
tonyou812
Senior Member
- Location
- North New Jersey
Like I said, you seem to have it all figured out for a guy ONE year in business.
Get 5 in then I might think about listening to you. Get 15 in and I will at least hear what you have to say. Until then get over yourself.
The fact that you can't see that taking a service for 1500.00 is better than staying home and getting ZERO shows you have no idea what you are talking about. NONE. Or as pointed out maybe you have your wife to foot the bills. If thats the case good for you, not everyone has that luxury.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I would love nothing more than to learn from a tycoon like yourself. HEY MR POTATOE HEAD, all i know is that its a crappy market and I'm not selling my services like a cheap hooker. And guess what? I'm still making money . Your the knuckle head that lets other people tell him what to charge and then tell the whole forum your proud of it. Why dont you stop sticking your foot in your mouth and ill start "getting over myself"
Why dont you just hang a sign on your truck "SHOW ME ANY ESTIMATE FROM A COMPETITOR AND ILL BEAT IT" Your the kind that brings our industry to the bargain basement because your not having work thrown at your lap.
And I'm not sure how my wife got into this whole conversation but were I come from husbands and wives help each other succeed in life. Or maybe I should ask my wife for money she didnt make for the 6 months she didnt work due to an injury. Like....what the F are you talking about.
I know guys that have been in buisness for 15- 20 years that still charge 1800 for a service change. Or is that what I will do when ive been in buisness for 20 years?
Your problem is that it kills you to see someone so upbeat and not cry the sky is falling. I stay positive no matter what. I refuse to let my self fall into a meloncholic state like you seem to have.
Honestly dude a motivational speaker might not be a bad idea for you.
tonyou812
Senior Member
- Location
- North New Jersey
sure i do hes the 1500 dollar guy right. I see all You Mass guys all stick together.
- Location
- Massachusetts
It might be that I have been reading Scott's post six times longer then you have been in business. You have him pegged as the 'raggedy van guy' and that is not him by a long shot.
It might be that I see what is happening here in MA and it ain't good.
The fact is all the large ECs have cut 100s of jobs, those guys are out on the street side jobbing to make ends meet. So now with less customers willing to spend money there are also more guys looking to do the work.
tonyou812
Senior Member
- Location
- North New Jersey
Isnt it possible that your market is oversaturated with ECs if that is the case. Here in NJ it is starting to pick up again like it does most springs. Sure raggedy van guy is a bit much but he is always so negative in his post anyway.
dezwitinc
Senior Member
- Location
- Delray Beach, FL
Real world.
The job was a new park located in Boynton Beach.
One of the local GCs sends out bid recaps once the bid goes in.
tonyou812
Senior Member
- Location
- North New Jersey
It might also be a posibility that the era of the medium sized EC is no longer a "good thing" (for the lack of a better word).
- Location
- Massachusetts
Yes, exactly, right now we are without a doubt oversaturated and some will have to die.
I said this on 12/2/08
I
electricmanscott
Senior Member
- Location
- Boston, MA
Impossible. All he has to do is charge more.
Seriously, that stinks. Happy brithday anyway,
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