Undercut ...aaaaargh!

[connelltiling]

Don't worry moderator - no pricing on this post

Quoted for a job today - 16sq m floor (kitchen into hallway and small utility) onto concrete (v. uneven) took time to explain the ins and outs and all of the measures I would take to ensure a perfect finish.

Customers happy to book the job for three weeks time.

Two hours later- they called to say that "another tiler" had quoted less than half of what my rate was - by my reckoning, this guy is working for less than minimum wage - so frustrating - 'cos I know that they will get what they pay for...

Quoted another job today (en-suite) and the existing job is a joke (wish I had taken a picture) one wall corner went from 2mm to about 30mm at the top - with a thick bodge of grout filling in...oooh nasty

 

[Dan]

Let him have it. Those jobs will come right back around way sooner than they should be coming around. It'll fail somewhere down the line if any single corner is cut.

Stick to your guns.

The only thing I can suggest for the future, is when you give a price, really give them lots of reasons as to why it's that price. i.e. Tanking will need to be usedto prevent water damage, cost of X, aqua boards need to be used to prevent water damage at a cost of X, primer needs to be used and not PVA, cost of X.

And so on. Even if you post quotes out I'd call the customer when you think they've received it and go over it with them.

And mention that you've recently had a job you quoted for and they didn't follow the advice, and now you're going back to fix it via an insurance claim. Though don't be too pushy.

You still won't win them all, but there's always room for improvement when it comes to quoting and how times change so quickly just recently.

 

[connelltiling]

Cheers Dan.

 

[aph257]

good advise Dan. i had something similar where the company doing the refit of bathroom did the "tiling" aswell coz their price was £100 under mine. she said it would be easier to deal with one person.

 

[Stewart]

Don't worry about it. That's good advice from Dan, all you can do is give them the information. Its up to them to act on it.

 

[White Room]

You can do the best you can for pricing, it's down to the customer to make a choice.

 

[Fred]

Don't worry about it mate, you put your price in. They will learn!!!