rock bottom---NO WORK--

[electricmanscott]

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.

That is pretty damn funny, I'll give you that much.

 

[tonyou812]

That is pretty damn funny, I'll give you that much.

I got it man, Why dont you hire me as a sales man for your company. Ill go door to door and I can guarantee a 25 percent increase in your sales in a 3 month period. All that I require from you is to be my friend in here. But I will need a place to shack up for a while, you know my old lady got laid off and everything so .........i dont have any cash..............

 

[tonyou812]

Seriously dude, Why do you think I go out and try to drum up sales like a two bit Pimp or a Morracan rug salesman? .....My old lady is having a kid and there is no time to sit on my arse I got a future X wife and child support to think about......:-?........

 

[iwire]

Dude the kids are a help, I have mine making sneakers in a sweatshop and I take all their money.

 

[tonyou812]

Dude the kids are a help, I have mine making sneakers in a sweatshop and I take all their money.

LOL nice one , Its too bad were having a girl, if it was a boy I would send him into the crawl spaces and pits with a rope around him, a miners hat, and some wire. Who says four year olds cant earn their keep....

 

[hardworkingstiff]

there is no time to sit on my arse I got a future X wife and child support to think about......:-?........

LMFAO!!!

That's funny, I don't care who you are. Good 1 Tony.

On a serious side, Tony, what you say is great if you can do it. There are some locations that just won't support what you are saying. I understand and agree with Scott's approach. I'm sure as soon as Scott sees an opening, he will have higher prices. Scott has never presented himself as anything other than an astute person. I believe he knows what he's doing and you are being a bit out of line with him bording on rude.

 

[petersonra]

A friend of my wife's SIL got let go a few days ago. He always described himself as this other guy's partner so I was kind of surprised to find the other guy let him go. I guess "partner" was a bit of a stretch.

They were a very busy 2 person EC shop for a couple years, then nothing.

 

[76nemo]

Tony, especially in a topic of hard times and recession, you really are coming off like an *ss. We're not all as fortunate as you are and live in the same region. Scott's point is very valid. If I was out of work and I had the chance to A: Do 8-10 of work by myself for a $1500 service change or B: Stay home and drink $15 worth of beer, guess what would be in my hands? It damn sure wouldn't be a beer

Other thing that struck me kind of funny with a couple of the other posts is people suggesting career transitions. I don't work in this trade because that's what I studied and learned and have never done anything else in my life. I am in the trade because of passion. It's all I ever wanted to do. Now if I have to drive a forklift for a couple of months or so, no problem at all, but walk away from this trade, no thanks. That's another reason I like maintenance/service. It's always different, and can be challenging. I honestly look forward to waking up and going out to work everyday. If I could work at Wal-Mart for $100 an hour or do service work at $80, you wouldn't see me with a blue vest on

 

[tonyou812]

LMFAO!!!

That's funny, I don't care who you are. Good 1 Tony.

On a serious side, Tony, what you say is great if you can do it. There are some locations that just won't support what you are saying. I understand and agree with Scott's approach. I'm sure as soon as Scott sees an opening, he will have higher prices. Scott has never presented himself as anything other than an astute person. I believe he knows what he's doing and you are being a bit out of line with him bording on rude.

I know but the 4 Guiness didnt help the matter....... But maybe the next time he decides to do a service for 25 percent less maybe hell think about it first........but I would venture to guess not...

 

[iwire]

I know but the 4 Guiness didnt help the matter....... But maybe the next time he decides to do a service for 25 percent less maybe hell think about it first........but I would venture to guess not...

So how many did you have this morning?

I ask because I see no difference in tone.

 

[tonyou812]

So how many did you have this morning?

I ask because I see no difference in tone.

Got it, im done.

 

[bradleyelectric]

Do 8-10 of work by myself for a $1500 service change or B: Stay home and drink $15 worth of beer, guess what would be in my hands? It damn sure wouldn't be a beer

Just curious. If you didn't have a service change to do would you not be able to work on marketing? Would it have to be service change or beer?

 

[CopperTone]

Things are so bad in massachusetts I would do the service change for $1500 as long as it was an easy one. I wouldn't price it out at $1500 - probably 1750-1800 but if they came back and said I can have the job for 1500 I'd probably do it.
I am a firm believer in holding your ground with pricing but there are so many electricians doing side work for a full time job right now it is almost impossible to compete.
We only worked 2 days last week and this upcoming week we have only 2 days of work booked - my phone didnt ring at all last week for any work.

 

[bradleyelectric]

my phone didnt ring at all last week for any work.

Just curious, what did you do to get the phone to ring? What are you going to do this week to make it ring?

 

[Rewire]

Just curious, what did you do to get the phone to ring? What are you going to do this week to make it ring?

The phone works both ways, when customers are not calling me I start calling them.

 

[CopperTone]

Just curious, what did you do to get the phone to ring? What are you going to do this week to make it ring?

last week I put in a bid for a 150k job and the low bidder was 77k
went to look at a 75k job and there were 27 EC's there.
we have advertising out there(internet, local phone book ad) I talk to my GC's - they don't have work either. I talk to plumbers too - no work. Nobody where I live has work.

I have not stepped up my advertising because right now I think it would be a waste of money. I sure would welcome a suggestion for stepping up my efforts while I sit at my desk tomorrow wondering if the phone will ring.

I have the guy from angies list .com practically begging me to advertise with them - $140/month with a 1 yr commitment. I think I'l pass right now.

 

[aline]

If you really don't like calling customers to make a sales pitch you can handle it a little differently.

Start calling all your customers from the past but instead of trying to sell them something just check up on them and ask them if they've had any problems with any of the work you have performed for them. Ask if there is anything you can assist them with at the moment.
Let them know if there's anything they need at all to please give you a call and let you know.

Sometimes they'll say; Oh yeah I've been meaning to have you guys come out and do some work I just never seem to get around to calling you.

It's kind of like going to the dentist. If they left it up to me I wouldn't make it in as often as I should. First they schedule my next appointment while I'm there. Second when it's almost time for my appointment they call and remind me of it.

People will procrastinate and put things off. Sometimes all they need is a little nudge, such as a phone call from you to remind them to get er done.

If your customers don't hear from you once in awhile they may forget who you are.
A simple call to remind your customers of who you are and that you're there for them could really help. At least it's better than sitting around drinking beer hoping the phone will ring.

Also you might try mailing newsletters to all your customers and I don't mean sales flyers pushing to sell something. It should be an informative and fun to read newsletter that you can insert a flyer into if you want to offer a discount or sale on something.

 

[tonyou812]

If you really don't like calling customers to make a sales pitch you can handle it a little differently.

Start calling all your customers from the past but instead of trying to sell them something just check up on them and ask them if they've had any problems with any of the work you have performed for them. Ask if there is anything you can assist them with at the moment.
Let them know if there's anything they need at all to please give you a call and let you know.

Sometimes they'll say; Oh yeah I've been meaning to have you guys come out and do some work I just never seem to get around to calling you.

It's kind of like going to the dentist. If they left it up to me I wouldn't make it in as often as I should. First they schedule my next appointment while I'm there. Second when it's almost time for my appointment they call and remind me of it.

People will procrastinate and put things off. Sometimes all they need is a little nudge, such as a phone call from you to remind them to get er done.

If your customers don't hear from you once in awhile they may forget who you are.
A simple call to remind your customers of who you are and that you're there for them could really help. At least it's better than sitting around drinking beer hoping the phone will ring.

Also you might try mailing newsletters to all your customers and I don't mean sales flyers pushing to sell something. It should be an informative and fun to read newsletter that you can insert a flyer into if you want to offer a discount or sale on something.

That is a fantastic Idea. And who says you cant send out one of your lower ranking minions (lesser paid men)to send out flyers and or door hangers.

 

[bradleyelectric]

last week I put in a bid for a 150k job and the low bidder was 77k
went to look at a 75k job and there were 27 EC's there.
we have advertising out there(internet, local phone book ad) I talk to my GC's - they don't have work either. I talk to plumbers too - no work. Nobody where I live has work.

I have not stepped up my advertising because right now I think it would be a waste of money. I sure would welcome a suggestion for stepping up my efforts while I sit at my desk tomorrow wondering if the phone will ring.

Who is working in your area? Do you have contacts for any building owners or managers? Are there any businesses in your area that are growing? Do you ever go to the supply house? Do you have a good repore with the counter guys? Who is buying material? What type work are they doing? Phonebook ads wont mean a thing if your looking for work from GC's. Not much other than contact would. If there is no money in that right now it might be a good time to look elsewhere.

 

[electricmanscott]

Things are so bad in massachusetts I would do the service change for $1500 as long as it was an easy one. I wouldn't price it out at $1500 - probably 1750-1800 but if they came back and said I can have the job for 1500 I'd probably do it.
I am a firm believer in holding your ground with pricing but there are so many electricians doing side work for a full time job right now it is almost impossible to compete.
We only worked 2 days last week and this upcoming week we have only 2 days of work booked - my phone didnt ring at all last week for any work.

Raise your prices! Hold your ground!

To the rest of you this is the way it is here for everyone right now. This is not a joke this is for real.