I Could've Screamed

bmcquin

Well, well, well I guess the client feeding frenzy has hit the Houston area!

The other day I had a client ask/tell me that she wanted my bid broken down by profit/overhead, material and labor!
I politely pointed out that price only becomes an issue in the absence of value............ Well that didn't work so I tried several other attempts at deflecting her insistence at having me deliver the bid as she asked.
I finally point blank told her that it was none of her or any other clients business how much money I make or didn't make on any job!
I did this in as a non threatening manner as possible and left.
I don't think I'll be hearing from her anytime soon............... Thankfully!

loneframer

I wonder if she asks her Gynocologist how much of his bill is going toward his BMW,pleasure boat,timeshare in the Islands.........I can't stand people like that. My first reaction is to offer a labor only contract. Then they are responsible for getting everything to the site and returning it when it's delivered in unsatisfactory condition. I give them a list at least one week before I need the material, if it's not there two days before I need it, I schedule a small job to fill in a couple days.

RayGoerdt

If this continues to be a problem, consider listing ALL your costs, like insurance, transportation, consultation, rent, utilities, tool and equipment upkeep and purchase.......... the list goes on.

Maybe even list a shrink for having to deal with rectal retentive HOs

macatawacab

It's probably not true but the old story goes that George Washington was asked as a young man if he could fix a door that did not close. He did it and charged a dollar. The customer thought the bill was high and asked for a break down of labor vs materials. He knew George only used a few nails and nothing more to fix the door.

George's bill purportedly was;

4 nails = 5 cents
knowing where to put them = 95 cents

Total = 1 dollar

dirt diggler

good for you standing your ground!!!



it is offensive - no different than asking someone what their paycheck is. There is, however, a little sleight of hand "card trick" to dealing with this one that is, if you'd want to work for that person

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easymoney

We offer a detailed proposal that itemizes, each piece of work line by line and has a cost attached to each item, then my company includes Overhead and profit, supervision, clean up fees, insurance cost (for the job) and permit fees, as well as Alternates where requested.

we very rarely have a problem, we'll have occasionally have a client that would opt to remove one or two items from the bid, but we never accept for another contractor to do the items removed, (during the time we're there), and the overhead and profit stay the same, period.

All our contracts are a minimum of 2 pages, and I've seen as much as 12 pages of project details.

No problems here.

greg24k

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RidgeWalker

Her request was code for: I want to know how much of the insurance money your willing to let me keep.

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Mellison

pos

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Nitwit

Sounds like she wanted something for nothing.

Chris Johnson

I've had those before, I will always bid. What I usually do is roughly figure out my material costs and subtract 20% just to make their eyes jump out of their heads. They can't find materials for that price anywhere. Jack up your labor, the bottom line stays the same.

I have had them call me and say my labor is high but that want to buy the materials from me...HAHA, sorry supply and install only. Just a little stress relief for me

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Chris

Nitwit

Sales stratagy!!!

threaderman

I break it down to labor,material and tool rentals,and that's where it stops.A thief always thinks they are being ripped-off.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

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