chasing up quotes

[mikethetile]

do you peeps phone people you have quoted to find out what they think of your quote

if so how long do you leave it

i have spent the last two weeks quoting and havent got a single job

normally i dont worry as i have work anyway

if they dont get back to me i dont bother chasing them

i phoned rated tradesman today to cancel my membership and had quite a long chat with them

i have no ratings as i havent won a single job

without ratings i wont get the jobs

it costs £46 a quarter for membership and £20 a lead

they advised me to price really low and do a superb job to get ratings

i told him

a you cant do a superb job and make money if you underprice

b if i price low i cant afford to pay them £20 a lead

c if it costs me money to go to work i will be out of business , off the site and will lose the ratings anyway

d i can sit at home and not make money i dont have to go to work and lose money

they eventually agreed to cancel my membership

the leads im getting now are from leafleting and personal reccomendations

im often the only one pricing

but none are converting to work

so hence the question

do you chase up your quotes

 

[doug boardley]

sometimes I do Mike, I'll leave it a week or so and then phone under the premise that I don't want to let them down if they liked the quote, but say that my diary is filling up and I'd like to accomodate them if possible. That way you usually get a yea or a nay

 

[mikethetile]

thanks doug

i was wondering what to say

im in a black hole at the moment, i know it isnt anything i have caused

things will pick up as the year goes on

people havent got the money this month but are thinking of having the work done

im just finding it frustrating

 

[Terry Cottar]

do you peeps phone people you have quoted to find out what they think of your quote

if so how long do you leave it

i have spent the last two weeks quoting and havent got a single job

normally i dont worry as i have work anyway

if they dont get back to me i dont bother chasing them

i phoned rated tradesman today to cancel my membership and had quite a long chat with them

i have no ratings as i havent won a single job

without ratings i wont get the jobs

it costs £46 a quarter for membership and £20 a lead

they advised me to price really low and do a superb job to get ratings

i told him

a you cant do a superb job and make money if you underprice

b if i price low i cant afford to pay them £20 a lead

c if it costs me money to go to work i will be out of business , off the site and will lose the ratings anyway

d i can sit at home and not make money i dont have to go to work and lose money

they eventually agreed to cancel my membership

the leads im getting now are from leafleting and personal reccomendations

im often the only one pricing

but none are converting to work

so hence the question

do you chase up your quotes

I personally never chase a quote! Once I have sent the quote I forget it as everything they need to know has been discussed and is on the quote. I also add a further caveat that reads "If you are unsure or wiish to discuss any aspect of this quote please do not hesitate to contact me"

My belief is you win some and you lose some. So I don't chase

tel

 

[mikethetile]

i have to admit terry that that has been my view

if they want you to do it they will call you

but i am going to do as doug says

the worst thing that can happen is a flat no

they may just have had a cheaper quote and theres room for discussion on that

can they do the job at that price

are they insured

do they have referances..............would you like me to arange for you to see my work and talk to my customers

and so on

 

[united]

Its a hard one because there is a fine line between looking desperate or not. Why don't you put on your quote that you will call them after 7 days if they have made no contact, that way the customer expects the call and you get a chance to overcome any objections.

When someone contacts you for a quote do you ask them when they are looking to have the work done? some people just ring around for quotes months before they are going to get the work done.

For example If a customer tells you they are looking for a quote and you ask 'when are you looking to get the work done' then they say 'in about 3 months' you should take down their details, politely explain your quotes are only valid for 30 days but you will make sure you contact them closer to the time and you will be happy to give them a quote.

I hope that makes sense?

 

[mikethetile]

that makes a lot of sense mark

 

[Terry Cottar]

i have to admit terry that that has been my view

if they want you to do it they will call you

but i am going to do as doug says

the worst thing that can happen is a flat no

they may just have had a cheaper quote and theres room for discussion on that

can they do the job at that price

are they insured

do they have referances..............would you like me to arange for you to see my work and talk to my customers

and so on

Do you want me to look at a recent example quote you have done to see if I can see any obvious problems! I don't mean pricing either

tel

 

[doug boardley]

.... like your phone number is there:lol::lol:

 

[mikethetile]

thanks doug

dont laugh ive done it

my missus complained that my invoices didnt match my letterheads so she redesigned them to match

they looked good so i didnt look to close at them

i got a phone call later that week

i got your invoice and was going to send a cheque but your address isnt on your invoice

after some of the advice im getting im going to redesign my letterheads accordingly

 

[merlecollins]

Try and get an idea of a date they would like the job done and when you send the quote in put a line on the t+C's that reads something like you will hold the required date for them for 7 days from the date of your quotation. If they are serious about wanting it done they should get back to you soon enough rather than losing their slot in your diary

 

[mikethetile]

thanks merle

ill do that

theres a light dawning here and a redesign is a job for tomorrow

it pays to be proffessional

and every little bit of proffessionalism takes you one step further from the doleys and chancers

 

[The D]

If I walk away from doing a quote and I have not confirmed a start date with them I take that as a no. I do all the working out in front of them. Every thing is discussed (adhesive grout trims tanking self leveller under floor heating and so on ) and then it is itemized in the quote. The question of my availability normally comes after the price has been established and then I consult my diary (witch is never empty even if I have no work at all) we then discus the date they wish the work to be started and I do my best to fit the job in even if it means juggling some of the other jobs around. 9 times out of 10 By the time I leave, the job is booked in and the tilers that quoted before me but said they will send the quote or call them later have missed out and the tilers that quote after me have no chance as it is all don and dusted by then. But I never chase the quote as that can look desperate and if you are desperate how can you justify the price you are asking.

 

[mikethetile]

thanks deano

i will have to try and do that

that will mean a price list with all the things i do

but it would mean you could discuss money straight off and if its too rich for them adjust the job to fit their budget

 

[Terry Cottar]

If I walk away from doing a quote and I have not confirmed a start date with them I take that as a no. I do all the working out in front of them. Every thing is discussed (adhesive grout trims tanking self leveller under floor heating and so on ) and then it is itemized in the quote. The question of my availability normally comes after the price has been established and then I consult my diary (witch is never empty even if I have no work at all) we then discus the date they wish the work to be started and I do my best to fit the job in even if it means juggling some of the other jobs around. 9 times out of 10 By the time I leave, the job is booked in and the tilers that quoted before me but said they will send the quote or call them later have missed out and the tilers that quote after me have no chance as it is all don and dusted by then. But I never chase the quote as that can look desperate and if you are desperate how can you justify the price you are asking.

Crikey you must be a walking computer! How do you remember all the prices of all the different adhesives, grouts, trims, decoupling membrane, silicones etc etc?

tel