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

 

[mikethetile]

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

that was my first thought when i read this post

but i think deanos got something

im a multitrade so it would mean quite a comprehensive price matrix with everything on a m2 price

also a box of catologues and price lists in the van for reference

if you can give them an estimate on the spot and they are happy then a few follow up calls to confirm some materials prices wouldnt be a problem

theres nothing wrong with striking a deal while the irons hot and before some silver tongued devil gets in there

ive a feeling the doleys give a price off the top of their heads and say they can start monday, they aint worried as its only beer money not their living

on rated tradesemen i was riging on the day and being told they had someone sorted

now i know why

things have changed and its those that go with changes that will survive

im going to try it and see how i get on

 

[White Room]

On the odd occasion I have given a price there and then, the trouble is there to many variants to a job at times.

I will phone or give a written estimate and then it's down to them but alot of jobs I do are etheir word of mouth or thru other tradesmen, plumbers are good source for me.

 

[merlecollins]

I always give a written quote which I work out pretty much as soon as I get back from the measure - generally emailed to the customer the same day - it's far better to have given it to them in writing, no argying then:lol:

 

[Aston]

i dont personally chase up quotes, maybe i should?...i think if you've explained what you are going to do well enough and demonstrated your professionalism and experience then thats as far as you can go without looking pushy or desperate.

if the customer is going on cost then fair enough, you cant win them all. you have to have a level of quality that your not prepared to drop because that effects your reputation.if i have given a fair price and prepared a broken down typed estimate and explained the benefits of your company, then thats all i can do.

i never knock money off because it reminds me of the kind of tricks double glazing and car salesman do..if you can afford to knock money off, then you have been overcharging from the begining imho and the client will see through that in these times.

i also find that when your not desperate, you get the jobs, weird isnt it?? if somebody wants you, they'll call you, if they havent, its for a reason. the cost, or your overall impression...i know a lot of sales companies ensure their salespeople follow up calls but if you like it you buy it, you dont need reminding imo.

 

[Colour Republic]

I always follow up quotes (unless I didn't want it) If they haven't got back to me within a week then i ring them up and ask them their thoughts, absolutly no presure but I explain that i've got a number of quotes out there and should I keep them in the 'maybe pile' or have they instructed somebody else already.

It gives you an insight into your business and customers. Some will say they have gone with somebody else so you ask them why, was it price? did they feel more comfortable with another firm, was the price not detailed enough? Thank them very much for any feedback and wish them luck. Others will tell you they haven't made a choice yet, at this point you can see if you're in the running, if you are then offer to match the price on a 'like for like' basis only as you can't possibly match a quote that says 'I'll do it for x amount love". I've even had customers that have lost the quote and couldn't remember who the hell they had called and by ringing up you jog their memory that it was you they wanted to speak to.

If you don't chase them up you run the outside risk that all will call you and want it done at the same time so you may lose a few, if you ring them as you go along you get to manage your diary not the customers doing it for you.

And one week is not nearly enough time to write someone off, in fact most of my prices are accepted after a two week period. Although I have a good idea why that is.

 

[RockCeramics]

When i first started out on my own, every invite i got to quote for a job i would send them my quote with the confidence that i,d get the job. After a while 1-2 weeks after i,d give them a call and the main answer i,d get was "we havent had any news from there client yet but we,ll let you know when."
In some cases some companies will get a quote then pass it to there own contacts and saving them the time to price it themselves and save them money at the sametime.
So when i do price a job i,ll quote them a job and charge them my expenses, if and when i get approval i deduct the expenses at the end of a job.( i usually do this if travel to job is a fair distance.)
Saying that i priced 1 job back in July didnt bother about it ,got a call last week asking if price was same , revalued it with 15% increase due to vat and product costing looks like i,m starting this job next month.
So i would chase up contacts but Dont hassle, ask if when you need the quote in and how long you expect to get a reply . most companies wont both in contacting you only if you get the job.
bonus if you get the job.
Saying that i p

 

[mikethetile]

I always follow up quotes (unless I didn't want it) If they haven't got back to me within a week then i ring them up and ask them their thoughts, absolutly no presure but I explain that i've got a number of quotes out there and should I keep them in the 'maybe pile' or have they instructed somebody else already.

It gives you an insight into your business and customers. Some will say they have gone with somebody else so you ask them why, was it price? did they feel more comfortable with another firm, was the price not detailed enough? Thank them very much for any feedback and wish them luck. Others will tell you they haven't made a choice yet, at this point you can see if you're in the running, if you are then offer to match the price on a 'like for like' basis only as you can't possibly match a quote that says 'I'll do it for x amount love". I've even had customers that have lost the quote and couldn't remember who the hell they had called and by ringing up you jog their memory that it was you they wanted to speak to.

If you don't chase them up you run the outside risk that all will call you and want it done at the same time so you may lose a few, if you ring them as you go along you get to manage your diary not the customers doing it for you.

And one week is not nearly enough time to write someone off, in fact most of my prices are accepted after a two week period. Although I have a good idea why that is.

i think colour republic has the key to a sucessful business and its good of Rob to share these insights with us
other successful businesses have said much the same

over recent years ive been arrogant and more than a little c ocky

theres my price love ,take it or leave it

communication is the key


by phoning your building a rapport and making them feel valued

you care about their custom which will reflect in the job

your looking professional in the way you run your business

you have an outstanding quote and you will either book it in or put it to bed,,,,,,,,,,,,no loose ends

thats how you will approach their job

tidy and eveything dealt with.........no loose ends

ive had feedback and im putting it into action

unambigous quotes,,,,,,,,were not sure what that included, the other guy said this are you going to do the same etc

its taking a lot longer to type up a quote now but its all spelt out for them and broken down

talk to them and they will talk to you