What do you wear when pricing up?

[Dan]

I would consider the pricing up period to be in most cases, the first point of face-to-face contact so in most cases I would say the 'first impressions' count so in my own opinion I'd say I'd only want those to work for me who made the effort to, at the very least changed their shoes to a cleaner pair if not changed fully in to clean presentable clothes.

I wouldn't say a clip board and a new set of pens in the top pocket of a freshly iron tux is needed though

Anybody have thoughts or stories on this subject?

 

[Smiths]

I would consider the pricing up period to be in most cases, the first point of face-to-face contact so in most cases I would say the 'first impressions' count so in my own opinion I'd say I'd only want those to work for me who made the effort to, at the very least changed their shoes to a cleaner pair if not changed fully in to clean presentable clothes.

I wouldn't say a clip board and a new set of pens in the top pocket of a freshly iron tux is needed though

Anybody have thoughts or stories on this subject?

I agree with that if it's a quote given after work hours, but I think that some customers like to see that you have actually came from a job and not straight from your home.

View attachment 60970

 

[Dan]

Good point actually, but I dread to see the day some guy makes my carpet messy grrrrrr.

 

[L & R CERAMICS]

it doesnt take much to make an impression,you can have your name stitched on to your work colours i.e polo shirts for about £9 notes per shirt maybe get everything colour co-ordinated

 

[Dan]

Would you wear different gear for pricing up to the gear you work in etc?

 

[L & R CERAMICS]

Would you wear different gear for pricing up to the gear you work in etc?

all of my work wear is co-ordinated and i find customers love it,you cant sit down and have a brew if you are covered in *****,we do our estimates on an evening anyway,i can sneak of to the battle cruizer{boozer} for a quick pint aswell ,hope the missus dont read this

 

[DevonR]

Very good topic this, I'd be interested to hear other peoples takes on this subject too.
We covered this kind of thing on the North East Training course and all pretty much agreed that there are certain things you can do to raise a customers appreciation of you and heighten the chance you have of securing the job in hand. Things like using those plastic over shoes like you get in new show homes when you go to see them. As L&R has said have some personalised work wear on to show your a real professional and not some pikey. Take off shoes at the door (should over shoes not be available). Wear cover/over alls during the day to keep your clothes clean so you can go straight to a quoatation from a job if need be.
I've just got my stationery back from the printers too (helps being a graphic designer by trade) which I think will go a long way to drive home the image of professionalism. Everything bears the company logo and is branded throughout. Just looks a lot better when a quote is sent out on letter headed paper than on a scrap or envelope back or similar. Quotes will also be sent out with a matching business card and comp slip to finish of the image.
Come on then let's have some more ideas.

 

[tjsmiler]

I do it in the nude

 

[L & R CERAMICS]

its not crap admin ,its not your fault nobody else can pucker up and have a go ,i mean its not that hard to do what youve suggested wink wink i think nobody on here could do anything of that calibre of work manship

 

[h0ndatyp3r]

Getting back onto the thread, i remember reading about a survey that was done a couple of years ago. People were asked outside a trade/public exhibition, why they didn't buy on the day. Eighty One percent said the salesmans breath or hygiene was stinking.

Although there has been a few good ideas, i.e corporate logo on your clothing, shoe covers etc, a quick spray of the deodorant, brush of the teeth and hair (if you have any) would go a long way.

A kitchen company didn't get our business for the above reasons, plus they were too f***ing dear!!!

Colin

 

[Concept PHT]

And rocking up in your 'p' reg ford mondeo estate (complete with tools stacked in the back still), and having to borrow the customers pen doesn't help either.....

 

[Ian]

If I go in the way home, just what I've been wearing for work. If I go out to specifically see someone, I wear smart jeans and I have an embroidered t shirt that's never been worn for work so it's not caked in adhesive and silicone

 

[Dan]

That's how I'd go. Get a polo shirt done smart and keep it smart.

 

[widler]

Depends when I go like bri .
On way home in my clay suit or at night in my jeans and t shirt.
I always go in my van now though, I once turned up on a Sunday to look at a job in the car, can't remember but I think it was a BMW X3,it was brand new anyhow, walked into price it , nice house in posh area, 1st thing he said was
" since when have plasterers been earning enough to have a car like that"
Did his head in it was newer than his merc , never got the job, even if I did I wouldn't have done it, can't stand snobs .

 

[Qwerty]

If I go in the way home, just what I've been wearing for work. If I go out to specifically see someone, I wear smart jeans and I have an embroidered t shirt that's never been worn for work so it's not caked in adhesive and silicone

Ditto. Nice & professional with a clean van too

 

[Old Mod]

Very rarely quote on my way home, not always ready for it mentally, likely to be a bit stressed at the best of times. Especially if I've used public transport
I also have a 'thing' for NOT looking like a tiler. All too often u see guys caked in adhesive all up and down themselves, I'm sorry but that's just not me! I try not only to work clean but STAY clean too! Haha sorry if I'm offending anyone, but it's just the way I am! I struggle to see the need to get filthy dirty. I am talking generally by the way of course there are days when it's unavoidable, I realise that, normally when I step backwards into a bucket of sticky! Haha
Always dress smart for quotes and I'm already wearing overshoes before they open the door, that always goes down well.

 

[Andy Allen]

Do most quotes on the way home covered in whatever I've been doing......they can choose a grout colour off my t-shirt.....lol

I think most customers like to see your an honest hard working tradesman.....and your reputation and what you say during the quote should win the job not what your waering...
Just my take on it...

 

[Italy]

oh my god what I have to read !!!! hahaha
when I go to the bank to ask for money, go much dirt and dust. by customers slightly sporco.ahahahh crazy

 

[Brian the Tile]

Nice to look decent enough but i think its more important for them to think that you know what you are talking about, a nice clean van doesnt cut it for me,tidy is ok

 

[Ian]

I turned up to start a job once and the homeowner said that he knew my work would be neat and tidy, I asked what made him say that and he relplied, because your van is spotless and your tools are clean. Only happened once but, it proves that 1st impressions are important.

 

[Italy]

I turned up to start a job once and the homeowner said that he knew my work would be neat and tidy, I asked what made him say that and he relplied, because your van is spotless and your tools are clean. Only happened once but, it proves that 1st impressions are important.

yes @Bri .
It happened to me,your tools are clean ,I also vacuum cleaner in the van

 

[Ian]

yes @Bri .
It happened to me,your tools are clean ,I also vacuum cleaner in the van

1st two things out of the van..... Dust sheets and the Hoover.

 

[Italy]

like........but not understand. sorry ;(

 

[Italy]

1st two things out of the van..... Dust sheets and the Hoover.

understand , dust sheets ok , hoover yessss ,clean up building site and connect grinder is good for home

 

[Brian the Tile]

Had a chap to put me some shelves up in the cuboard in the bathroom ,nice fella nice clean van and all that,had to put some boarding up at the bath end if you will inside the cuboard before battons for shelves ,had all the stuff here all he had to do was the job,then he tells me ive got a small leak on the pipes and he gad to go get a compression joint or something ,had a look ,he,d put the board up and drilled through pipe ,i have a clean van but i also kmow my job thats what im meaning, its not everything