cheap tilers or (so called)

[Andy Tiler]

Evening all this is my first moan on here so here goes.went to price a job yesterday. kitchen splashback 3.5mtrs wall 200/100slate needs windowcill building up with plasterboard 7 sockets. floor 5mtrs granite 600/300 10mm
i estimated 3 days +mats. another tiler!! from stalybridge near me has gone in at £25 mtr for (natural stone)ffs wats goin on £225:yikes: things must b gettin bad for some. these people are working for nothing and are doing themselves no favours the customer phoned me back and told me!!! he was just toooo cheap.how can u expect to do a pro job for this price:mad2::beatdeadhorse5:any feedback welcome:8:

 

[Gazzer]

What you think the chance would be of you going around after the job is done and having a look? Would be interesting to find out what corners had been cut?

 

[hillhead]

Nice call there then,good on ya

 

[Spud]

Andy i have found that doing the high work you dont have to drop your prices ,it sounds as if this other tiler shot himself in the foot as your customer lost faith in him for being so cheap, if you print off you quotes and either e-mail or post them to your customers then once they have seen how the prices are broken down they then realise how much it should be and the loonies going in cheap and having to cut corners are soon found out

 

[White Room]

You could allways send them to topps for a material estimate:yikes:

 

[david campbell]

i've dropped my prices slightly to ensure i'm still pulling in work due to several lost jobs due to my prices,but i refuse to work for any less than the amount i still feel capable of leaving the job to high standard! i can understand some people will need to work for less to make sure they keep up payments on mortgages,vans etc. but i refuse to be drawn into a downward bidding war as it'll set a standard for a massive price cut in a day that workers are willing to strike if there wage rise demands are not met!

 

[mikethetile]

this is interesting andy

i too have cut my rate to keep work coming in and its not working

i started with a cost cutting excercise and gave myself a small wagecut,

the work was coming in and then i started to get

i want the job done can you come and do it in june ,or similar timescales

also as the month went on itwas getting harder to get paid and then suddenly at the end of the month the money came in

i usually take this nonsense in my stride as theres money in the bank anyway which keeps me afloat whilst other people sort their lives out

the problem with cutting your rate is that you have to be able to put the hours in to make it pay and theres not enough money to keep your cashflow smooth

my rates are going back up again from today

i cant afford to sit at home and i cant afford to work for nothing

i have to be able to pay my fixed costs wether im able to work that day or not and then keep myself

so ive tried it...................it doesnt work

dont drop your price

 

[Thespanishtiler]

Now then Andy

Having met you the other week i feel we are on the same wave length and imo if all the pro tilers out there stick to our guns and continue to offer out excelent service and standards of workmanship at a fair price then we will survive this downturn.

people will always pay a fair price for a good job done, however it is also a good time to take a look at our costs etc and make ourselves a bit leener and meener !

cheap work tends to come back to bite the customer and we as pro tilers will pick up the batton where the chancers left off

stick to your guns

Spanish

 

[hillhead]

The prices are lower here in Northern Ireland anyway so a drop here would be like slitting your own throat,i'm holding firm at the minute and can see the work slowing but i still have about 2 months so still looking ok,not rich yet though,lol.

 

[mikethetile]

Now then Andy

Having met you the other week i feel we are on the same wave length and imo if all the pro tilers out there stick to our guns and continue to offer out excelent service and standards of workmanship at a fair price then we will survive this downturn.

people will always pay a fair price for a good job done, however it is also a good time to take a look at our costs etc and make ourselves a bit leener and meener !

cheap work tends to come back to bite the customer and we as pro tilers will pick up the batton where the chancers left off

stick to your guns

i hope your right spanish as things around my way are getting sillier by the day

there were two lads today building a dog pen in the garden next door to where i was working

unfortunatly i could hear everything that went all day and couldnt believe what i heard

they had cleared the garden of rubbish and built this pen in exchange for half a van of mixed scrap...................no doubt claiming benifets too

where will it all end