advise wanted on a pricing balls up ??

[2020Tiling]

hi ! i stupidly priced a job up last week which i got and have underestimated the price and time of job! price was to tile bathroom half height walls (12mtrs) and 4mtrs floor. floor was chip board, tiles are ceramic (pics to follow!) wen i priced the job i was told he was getting 8 by 6 inch tiles 4 walls , so as i no the lad and had a few tubs of addy in my garage i thought id give him a good price and be in and out in 2 days ! problem is (and i no its my fault as iam crap at pricing) wen i arrived at the job he had got large format tiles so couldn't use my tubbed addy i had in garage! also wen i priced the job i was gonna put ply down that i also have in my garage !plus 6mm trims i had . to cut a long storey short ive basically tiled the lot inc buying hardy backer board ,10mm trims + 4 bags of rapid and grout and 200 30mm hardy screws and a scribe plus scrim out of my measly quote! and have had a nightmare with the walls and my cutters broke etc. the total amount iam getting 4 job less materials is >>>> 70 pound :yikes:. my problem is do i put it down to experience and me being crap at quotes ! or do i confront the customer and tell him i buggered up big time with the price ? job is looking great by the way but has taken a lot longer.

 

[mikethetile]

learn from it mate and dont make the same mistake again, you agreed a price with the client for the work described and unless they changed the spec theres nothing you can do to up the price

 

[merlecollins]

Hi Terry,

I know it's easier said than done in situations like this, but surely you can have a word in his shell like and put the case over that he told you they would be 8x6's and the fact that he has increased the size has caused all sorts of cost implications??

 

[DHTiling]

Moved to pricing forum

 

[White Room]

Down to experiance, I would have used powdered anyway.

Was that mates rates:yikes:

 

[united]

Tough one mate, think you might just have to put it down to experience really

maybe you should have said something when you got there and the Tiles were not what you quoted for

 

[peckers]

I would think that you could approach him for addy and trims and perhaps a little bit more for labour as the tiles he supplied werent the ones you had quoted to fix(however i would have mentioned this before you had started) As for the hardi you should have realized that should have been needed at the time off the quote stage. and this bit i would swallow if it was me.( why did you change from ply to hardi)
You know the lad as you say so you should be able to approach him and hopefully you can both come out of this resonably happy.

 

[Sean Page]

Probably not what you want to hear, but I'd swallow it and put it down to experience.

If you go back to the customer and ask for more money it'll more than likely come across like a rogue trader type thing.

Sorry to hear about your bad day though

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

these sort of mistakes can be costly terry, i know from experience but best to take it on the chin and learn from it. worst thing ever is people saying he quoted me this price and then wanted more. explain to the lad that he has got a good price and if he passes your number onto others not to mention how much he paid as this was a one off.

 

[Colour Republic]

Negotiate on price as soon as the spec changes, if you start the job without sorting it out you have to swallow it I’m afraid

Make sure you put tile sizes agreed on your quote or if they haven't been chosen then state 'price subject to change dependant on tiles'

 

[Colour Republic]

explain to the lad that he has got a good price and if he passes your number onto others not to mention how much he paid as this was a one off.

So true! You'll end up doing all your jobs for peanuts if that happens

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

if he is a mate then explain but you should really take a hit!!

 

[kilty55]

sorry but i dont pay for customers materials. maybe next time if the job spec changes i would make sure the customer agrees the new price before you start absolutely no way on earth id be taking a hit on tiling an entire bathroom and earning 70 quid..have a word with him terry is my advice

 

[2020Tiling]

yep its been a tough one ! moved from ply to hardy as i want to do things the correct way from now on so will never be using 6mm ply again as theirs to much that can go wrong! i hate confrontation and i no wot you mean by saying i want another 250 pound !! thats the sort of stuff you hear on cowboy builders :lol: .. ! ive told the lad it would be done in 2 days! but so far ive been there from 5 till 7 every night this week so far inc 9 till 5 sat and sun ! think im gonna have to bite the bullet on this one as i dont want a reputation for being a cowboy. its just a shame as i now no it was a nice little earner :mad2:

 

[2020Tiling]

yip its been a bad one ! i didn't put ply down because id previously told him about hardy etc and the pitt falls of ply etc so ( didn't want to look like a cowboy ) ! think i have no choice but to just get the job finished and learn from it ! as i hate confrontation and hate people that change there minds about a quote half way through the job as its unprofessional ! that sort of stuff is how cowboy builders is made ! :smilewinkgrin: he did say he wants his hall way tiled tho !! but i will be telling him it will be a lot more than 70 quid !!:lol: :8: