another grrr customer

[david campbell]

went and priced a job for a guy last week that got my number from his cousin who i tiled his hallway last year,quite an akward job at that,he was planning to use rather large tiles on a splashback to match the floor he wanted done and it would have to be split with a listello because of the amount of sockets,cooker switches etc,and had me looking all over for pebble coloured glitter grout that he was desperate to use,to cut a long story short i gave him a really good price so he phoned the next night and asked if i would cut my price by £50,as it would guarentee me a job on returning from holiday i agreed due to the fact i was getting the 25m2 of ply for nothing(useful friend i have),was supposed to go and see him last night to go over a few things but he cancelled and said he would call today,true to his word he phoned but to ask me to cut my price by £200 and he would give me the job as someone else had qouted him £200 lower than me,this would therefore mean i was working a whole week for £50 a shift(no way,not happening)so that means there is a tiler working out there for maybe £40/50 a shift!

i was wandering if there was anyone else who would lower there prices to what i see as a rediculous wage considering the time and effort you go to for some customers,the fact that you spend petrol pricing these jobs,hours looking for certain items,wear and tear on your tools etc

 

[grumpygrouter]

You are right to walk away David. There is no point in just taking jobs and losing money on them. May as well stay at home and drop you notes down the nearest drain...same effect but less effort!

 

[peckers]

if i had done all the leg work and bent over backwards to help my customer, and then he asked me to drop the price to a rediculous amount i would say NO! or words to that affect.. well done you to sticking to your guns, I wont work for nothing,
I wonder what the job will look like if hes only paying £ 50 a shift :yikes: probably

 

[CJ]

I can't help but wonder if these people are just trying it on, knowing the so called state of the building trade. Then when the tiler (like you) don't go for it........they panic. He may or may not call you back.........but wotever, theses people get right up my nose :mad2::mad2:

Can't help but hope whoever DOES do the job..........they make a pigs ear of it :yikes:

 

[enduro]

My price is my price, i will never let the customer dictate to me how much they want to pay me, i tell them how much they should pay me. Had one last year £250.00 for a splash back, customer had seen my work at a friends house and liked my work... I phoned him and told him it was £250.00 and he said if i could do it for £230.00 the job was mine as he had another price from a tiler...Have you seen the other tilers work i asked, No he replied!!! OK i said let him do it i said, a few days later he phoned and said he had decided to use me...Sorry im to busy now i told him. I pride myself on doing a good job, using the best methods and materials, and im not working for peanuts, i think my prices reflect my standard of work, i aim for £200 per day and if people want to haggle over £20 im not interested.

 

[david campbell]

cheers guys for the replies, i'm glad you all thought i done the right thing

people think because theres a recession on and the building game is suffering that they can treat you like a total idiot and you'll do anything to get the work or take any offer they think they can give you!

 

[sstilingservice]

I had this befor xmas done a quote for a chap and he kept pushing for me to lower the price. So I knocked off a few quid then he started telling me to drop my price by £300 and the job was mine. So I very politely said ,I'm very sorry but cannot do his job for his expected price wished him luck with whoever does his job and hung up the phone.

 

[hillhead]

Good to see you sticking to your guns lads,i had a man a few weeks back,i tiled his bathroom.Lovely porcelain,no price agreed,i worked for them before.I finished on the sat,he asked how much? i told him and he looked:yikes:,i said "i'll measure it in front of you" thats my rate,And hasn't changed in 3 years.I have to go back next month and tile his kitchen floor and walls.

 

[Rad2474]

It will be interesting to see if the customer decides to use you,just cos he said he has a qutoe for £200 less dosen't mean he has, might just be pulling a fast one. If not well done for standing your ground.

 

[david campbell]

seriously thinking about adding £200 to the price if he phones back or the other tiler makes a complete geoff hunt of it!

 

[brian c]

Aye that will teach him m8.

 

[White Room]

I would'nt have walked, I would have run. Where are they coming from these guys, £50 a day. :incazzato:

 

[david campbell]

I would'nt have walked, I would have run. Where are they coming from these guys, £50 a day. :incazzato:

total madness! the thing is guys will do! i would rather stand in a factory and earn that kind of money doing a dead end job rather than leave a customer with something that will look great for years and every time they see it know they got it done for peanuts:yikes:

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

not totally relevant but having come back from holiday to find that a couple of jobs i had booked in have cancelled due to other tilers quoting cheaper. i asked by how much and was told by half. the customer very kindly told me the name of the tiler that they have employed. i rang him this morning to enquire about tiling my bathroom (it does actually need doing) walls stand at 32 sqm still have tiles on 6 x 6, floor is 9 sqm on very old and squeaky floorboards. told him that i was planning on buying trav 600 x300 for walls and floor left him to measure and went and made a brew for us both.
after some calculations his qoute came to £550.00.
asked about the walls being tiled already, no problem he said we can tile straight over them as they are nice and flat and will give a good surface to tile on.:yikes:
asked about the movement in the floor and told him i was worried about the grout cracking and coming out. yes he said it will unless we overboard it with 9mm ply.
no mention of sealing the trav etc.
asked if there was any movement on the price as i was hoping to pay between 450-500.
ok youve twisted my arm £500.00 is the best i can do.
thats £11.90 sqm for trav walls and floors.

no wonder i'm sat at home.
chris

 

[White Room]

:yikes::yikes::yikes: