nEighter

Mike.. it IS a bit more complicated than that though. You ALMOST cannot compare 2 companies right next to each other due to knowledge and craftsmanship. we are all not boxes of the same cereal, or Ford Trucks. THAT is the hardest part, showing to the potential customer how your service is going to be better than the other guys. Why your price is what it is compared to the other guys, and all that. Hell there are guys here who are painting midsized houses for 2 grand and saying they are going to give them a 5yr warranty and use premium paint!?!?!! How the hell is that even possible? AND how can a person compete against their "guarantee" when we all know they will burn out mid december?

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Atlas Coatings & Const.
Olathe Interior / Exterior Painting
Overland Park / Interior Exterior Painting
Leawood Interior / Exterior Painting

john elliott

Thank you for your explanation of what shopping around means to you. I'm going to stick with mine though, which means- before making a major purchase check out the alternatives products and suppliers, and yes, of course price comes into it, otherwise we would all be driving Bentleys.

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Ed the Roofer said "John too, in his crass and blunt demeanor.............."

Mike Finley

Ahh... and there lies the crux of the issue and the answer to most contractors problems. Crack it and you're well on your way to choosing who you want to work for.

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bathroom remodeling - Denver, Lakewood, Littleton, Arvada, Westminster, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Englewood Colorado.

Control your own destiny or someone else will!

custrel

You seem to think that people have an endless supply of funds to spend on projects. They don't. That's why they budget for them and try to find a contractor (or any product or service) that has enough of the qualities you list for what they can afford. To do that, they have to compare prices.

Do you go to the most reknown dentist in your area? The most reknown doctor? Do you drive the highest rated vehicle for trustworthiness, reliability, etc.? Do you only buy the best, highest rated tools, gas, food, wine, etc? When you vacation do you stay at the highest rated resorts and hotels?

Why not? Because you are a 'cheap ass?' No, it's because you have a BUDGET!

That's why some people drive Cadillacs and some drive Honda Accords. Because they have a BUDGET.

I may want the master craftsman in my area to build my new staircase b/c of his great reputation and quality of work, but I sure as hell won't know if his cost will fit within my budget unless I ask him for an estimate, will I? And if his price is outside my budget, then as much as I like his work, I'll get someone else to do the stairs because I need some freaking stairs that I can actually afford.

That doesn't make me a 'cheap ass price shopper,' (your words) it makes me a responsible person living within my (say it with me now)... BUDGET!

When people choose to spend money on one thing, they sacrafice the ability to spend it on another. It's irrational to belittle someone for wanting to save money on one thing, like a staircase, so they can also afford another thing, like food, or clothing, or fixing the car.

And, quite frankly, it is hypocritical for someone to criticize someone else for looking for the best price for a product or service when they do it themselves.

Or are you going to tell me that every time you buy a vehicle you pay exactly what the car is listed at in the best dealership in town without comparing prices at other dealerships?

Are you going to tell me that when you purchased your home you didn't compare prices of similar homes, but instead just charged up to the finest home you could find and paid full list price?

Do you really expect anyone to believe you've never tried to negotiate a price on anything, ever?

So if you negotiate prices for certain things, I don't comprehend why you seem to get so pissed at anyone else who wants to negotiate as well.

You need to mellow and accept the possibility that maybe when someone balks at your inital price, there is another reason besides that person being a 'cheap ass.' Maybe they'd like to afford you, but they can't - for reasons you have no way of knowing.

Or maybe they just don't think your quality, reputation, customer satisfaction, etc. is worth the price you are asking.

custrel

Semantics.

Mike Finley

That clearly defines your problem since the beginning right there.

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bathroom remodeling - Denver, Lakewood, Littleton, Arvada, Westminster, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Englewood Colorado.

Control your own destiny or someone else will!

john elliott

But he doesn't have a problem.

He, I and probably most other posters here all work in a world where people have to consider the cost of any purchases they might wish or need to make. You, apparently, do not. It must be great having customers beat a path to your door, who never have to ask about your prices or compare then with those offered by other contractors, but most of us are not in that happy situation.

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Ed the Roofer said "John too, in his crass and blunt demeanor.............."

Mike Finley

Your customers are only the ones you sign contracts with. If you only want customer XYZs you will find them and all of your customers will be customer XYZs. If you want customers PDQs you will find them and all your customers will be customer PDQs.

The idea that a business is just a piece of paper blowing willy nilly in whatever direction the wind blows with no control over its direction is only the perception of a business owner who believes his business is just a piece of paper blowing willy nilly in whatever direction the wind blows.

It's guaranteed that whatever you believe you will achieve.

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bathroom remodeling - Denver, Lakewood, Littleton, Arvada, Westminster, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Englewood Colorado.

Control your own destiny or someone else will!

john elliott

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Ed the Roofer said "John too, in his crass and blunt demeanor.............."