Jacks of all trades

[wivers]

I've done 5 estimates this week.

I've lost 2 to builders turning their hand to tiling and 1 to a plumber who tells the customer that he's also a quality tiler.

Is it just me or is anyone else finding their trade being killed by jack of all trades?? :mad2:

 

[Fred]

Lost 2 jobs today to so called jack of all trades and at silly prices............

 

[simonb43]

Havn't got any jobs to lose, but everyone is struggling for work and all trades will try to take extra work

 

[Deleted member 9966]

I've done 5 estimates this week.

I've lost 2 to builders turning their hand to tiling and 1 to a plumber who tells the customer that he's also a quality tiler.

Is it just me or is anyone else finding their trade being killed by jack of all trades?? :mad2:

wivs, leave your business card with the customers and wait for them to call you when they realise the "professionals" they've asked to do the job actually don't do a professional job..

keep at it mate :8:

 

[Colour Republic]

I prefer to call myself a multi-trader if you don't mind rrr:...but you wouldn't lose any work to me as I’m bl**dy expensive!:lol:

You guys don't know how easy you've had it!!! As I’ve stated on before (you must be sick of it by now) I started as a decorator at 15.

I was sick of plasterers, sparks, chippies, plumbers, glaziers, tilers, leaving stuff and saying "ahh, don't worry the decorators will get over that" so over many years I learnt every single trade all to a professional standard (Note: I’m not NIC or Corgi reg...yet), so now my main business is complete internal refurbishments and still I do almost everything myself as I can count on one hand the guys who I trust to work on my jobs and I know won't cut any corners if I turn my back.

So whilst there are plenty of trades turning their hand to other trades in times like this, some of us have been doing it for years and really are pro's at everyone of them. So I personally don't feel guilty about taking jobs on that I know I’m good at. That said I wouldn't actively go out and quote for a job that I can do but don't consider myself a pro or semi-pro or don't have the tools for... Roofing for instance

 

[doug boardley]

I prefer to call myself a multi-trader if you don't mind rrr:...but you wouldn't lose any work to me as I’m bl**dy expensive!:lol:

You guys don't know how easy you've had it!!! As I’ve stated on before (you must be sick of it by now) I started as a decorator at 15.

I was sick of plasterers, sparks, chippies, plumbers, glaziers, tilers, leaving stuff and saying "ahh, don't worry the decorators will get over that" so over many years I learnt every single trade all to a professional standard (Note: I’m not NIC or Corgi reg...yet), so now my main business is complete internal refurbishments and still I do almost everything myself as I can count on one hand the guys who I trust to work on my jobs and I know won't cut any corners if I turn my back.

So whilst there are plenty of trades turning their hand to other trades in times like this, some of us have been doing it for years and really are pro's at everyone of them. So I personally don't feel guilty about taking jobs on that I know I’m good at. That said I wouldn't actively go out and quote for a job that I can do but don't consider myself a pro or semi-pro or don't have the tools for... Roofing for instance

slate roofing, an absolute doddle!!!

 

[Colour Republic]

slate roofing, an absolute doddle!!!

what i mean is I don't go out looking for roofing jobs and i'm not talking about laying a few tiles i'm talking about building the damn things from the ground up.. I've done it before but i was working for someone else at the time so don't pretend to be a roofer

 

[enduro]

Same as me really, i had a commercial landscaping and tree surgery buisness back in the 80's doing buisness parks, supermarket car parks etc then the recession came and work stopped over night i had 15 people working for me and it was a bloody nightmare when these guys are relying on you every week for wages etc and your not getting paid....So now i only work on my own but bring in guys to help me as and when needed. I have been tiling for a couple of years now but still do a bit of landscaping and tree work if it comes my way...Looked at a tree stump to remove yesterday as i have a machine to grind them out, the guy is having an extension built, got talking about building, tiling etc and told him i tile, showed him my folder with photos of completed jobs and he wants a price for a 40sqm stone floor....If people call me a jack of all trades do i care...NO!

 

[wivers]

No but i bet the plumber that poached the job i had would, if i told the customer i could replace their bath and toilet for them at a better price then he gave.

 

[Daz]

I'm supposed to be tiling my customers kitchen floor this week. He asked me to plaster his shower room today - lol! I can't plaster to save my life!!! It took all day and looked fine when I put a level on it and I charged him a day rate, but I'm sure it would have been better and cheaper for him to pay a plasterer. I also advised him that I will have to tank it before tiling, too :lol::lol:.

 

[doug boardley]

what i mean is I don't go out looking for roofing jobs and i'm not talking about laying a few tiles i'm talking about building the damn things from the ground up.. I've done it before but i was working for someone else at the time so don't pretend to be a roofer

it's a good summer job tho', provided of course that we get a summer!!

 

[Colour Republic]

No but i bet the plumber that poached the job i had would, if i told the customer i could replace their bath and toilet for them at a better price then he gave.

I do feel for you mate but would it have made a difference if a pro tiler had undercut you?

I haven't dropped my prices yet as most people are willing to pay extra for a better service, even in this market

 

[mikethetile]

some of us have spent many years of our life at college learning various trades, if we had put the same time into a profession rather than a trade we would be paid considerably more

please dont insult us by calling us jack of all trades when we are genuine qualified multi trades

you are generally being undercut by unqualified building operatives who untill recently were working on site and when site work picks up they will return to it leaving the domestic market to those that understand it

 

[wivers]

I do feel for you mate but would it have made a difference if a pro tiler had undercut you?

I haven't dropped my prices yet as most people are willing to pay extra for a better service, even in this market

IMO yes it would m8, i wouldn't have felt as bitter about that at all ...at least that way i'm ony competing with people in my own trade and stand around a 3/1 of getting the job.. going up against 2 tilers a plumber and a builder who are a offering good prices is cutting the odds a bit too much.

Maybe its just me having a bit of a turd week.

 

[Colour Republic]

IMO yes it would m8, i wouldn't have felt as bitter about that at all ...at least that way i'm ony competing with people in my own trade and stand around a 3/1 of getting the job.. going up against 2 tilers a plumber and a builder who are a offering good prices is cutting the odds a bit too much.

Maybe its just me having a bit of a turd week.

I'm not about to teach you to suck eggs as i'm sure you've been tiling for years but i've always sold myself to the customer, made sure that I know what i'm talking about and given free advice so when some 2bob firm comes to quote after me I know the customer is already educated and will go with me. I win 90% of the jobs I quote for. If they are just after the cheapest quote... well then I didn't want the work from them anyway as they wouldn't appreciate the finish

Hope things pick up for you mate