Blown-out By Lowes Bid!

threaderman

Had a new cust.call and ask about pricing to have the whole house cabled and install 3 new toilets and figured this was a great job to do flat rate as I know all time involved.Drove to the home,31 miles one way,She shows me the lay-out and says how much?There is a out-side clean-out so I could catch the bldg. sewer to the main from there and go back in and hit both bathroom trunk-lines that are on the same run.The third bath-room is at the other end of the house so before I set the toilet I would run a cable through that trunk line into the bldg. drain going out,and that covers all drains over 3".I start by saying your looking at 8-10 hrs. work.Setting 3 toilets [2-piece],cabling all trunk lines,and she wanted me to pick up the toilets from Lowes that she purchased.When I said it was 8 hrs at least she crapped [with-out a price yet],and said how long for just the toilets.6 hrs. my book picking-up and installing ,paperwork,etc. so I say $660.00.That's when she told me Lowes will install for $50.00 each.I don't know how the contractors stay in business,and the contractor has the liability too ,doesn't he.Anyways I frickin stated my arguements about running a quality shop and all the rest.I was firm, get what you pay for and know legit. contractor could work for that price.The client is Syrian by the way.We finally settled on $215.00 cash to just cable the lines after someone else pulls the toilet I need off.I've got a tues. appoint. for that.Can't compete with that Lowes price even at my normal hourly.

__________________
Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

silvertree

I don't believe they will do it for $50. I believe you that you were told this, but don't believe the $50 a toilet install price from Lowes.

__________________
Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

Putty Truck

She lied.

Call Lowes and find out how much they charge.

My bet will be 125.00, labor only.

threaderman

That's good to know.I won't be putting them in,that's for sure.

__________________
Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

Double-A

There is an old game show that used to be on TV called "Name that Tune". Players would bet on how few notes they could listen to and name the tune. When someone said they could name it in fewer notes than you thought you could, you'd say, "Name that tune."

She's just playing a form of this game. If she thinks someone can honestly deliver and install 3 toilets for $50.00 each, while maintaining a warranty program, liability insurance, and the 10,000 other overhead items a legitimate business has to contend with, I only have three words for her, "Name that tune".

I hope she likes the song.

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

Tin Cup

Sounds like you got "punked". after she got you to install for $50 each she prolly would've wanted to re-negotiate again.

I can't wait to hear what Dirk has to say.

Tin Cup

rex

its alright dude i would of fell for it and then thought twice about and knew she was lying....last time i was at home depot the sign i saw for toilets installed was 125 labor only......

threaderman

I wouldn't say I fell for it,I didn't do the work,I just said they could have or anyone for that matter and that my price was firm.I do know this for a fact .There was a plumber from one of these forums who subbed for HD and they would get $100. to deliver and swap out dishwashers.I would never touch that,but someone does it.That's why the $50. per toilet didn't seem that too far fetched.I'm pretty sure the guy wasn't lying.He said he tried to sub for them and did a lot of installs but who can live on $100. a pop.

__________________
Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

dougchips

Pick up your phone and call them, they will give you a price over the phone. You will be on hold for a hour so post back your results sometime after 9pm.

__________________
To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.

buildenterprise

Just called my local Lowe's, labor only for toilet install is $199.
My Home Depot is $.....still on hold.

__________________

stp57

Hey Threaderman,
Sounds like one of my infamous customers moved from the Houston area to Oklahoma, or there is a college course somewhere on how to be a lying jerk. There are a lot of graduates from that school. Sheesh!
I would love to see what you customer really paid & who ended up doing the toilets, if it was even Lowe's at all.
Steve

GregS

Did she mean Lowes? Or they guy she found standing in front of Lowes?

Chris Johnson

__________________
Chris

threaderman

You know,I don't really care to haggle much on certain repairs or installations.Whether she lied or not means very little to me except it tells me she wants the lowest price period regardless of quality.Not really my type of customer but since it tied me up for 2 hours [including driving] I wanted to sell something.At least I got the drain work which she will have to pay me for before I do the work or I will not do it.I guess the middle east folks like to haggle like some of the Asians.

__________________
Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

nick114920

middle eastern is the worst... asian is second worst

smellslike$tome

Glad to see you are thinking more about moving to flat rate. If you are up for it here is a little constructive criticism, really it is only meant to help. First mistake was not charging a service fee to go out and look. I am assuming that you did not do this since there was no mention of it. I know, you are thinking that if you start doing that, that you will never work again but trust me you will. You will also become more productive because when you tell Mrs. $50 per toilet that it will cost $XX to come out and look to see what will be necessary and then you will give her an up front price to complete the work, she will hang up the phone leaving you more time to serve paying customers. Price shoppers, deal seekers, and liars WILL NOT PAY YOU TO COME OUT! That is one of the biggest reasons you should be charging a service fee so that you weed those people out immediately. You do not want to have anything to do with those type of customers. It's true that you may miss other business just because people don't think they should have to pay for you to come out but are otherwise reasonable people but in the long run I am convinced that charging a service fee (or whatever you want to call it) will INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY WHICH MEANS MORE PROFIT! The other thing I noticed is that you started almost immediately talking about time with the customer. NEVER do this! As soon as you do this you are no longer working in the flat rate world because the ho will immediately and incorrectly determine that you are making $*** per hour, almost all of which in their mind is going into your pocket. Also unless you business is just pathetically slow at the time, and probably not even then, never negotiate price! It costs what it costs. If you negotiate something today that customer will always remember and expect it in the future.

On another note, regarding blowes, I would love to find a way to expose them although I'm sure they have layers of experience. This is my personal experience, in August I received a call from a guy in Atlanta (I'm in Birmingham) wanting to hire me as a Master to conduct "periodic inspections" of HIS installers gas work. He assured me that he would only be installing gas appliances for blowes and would not be installing any water heaters (yeah right). He simply wanted me to go by a couple of times a month and check on some work that His installers were doing. So if you haven't figured this out by now he is not even in the trade at all and none of his "installers" are either most likely. He simply wanted to buy my license to work under. I of course gave him the proper response and that was that. I'm sure however that he found some "Billy Bob" willing to do it and even if he didn't there are plenty more out there willing to do the same thing as him. That's why blowes and the others can do installs so cheap. Obviously not $50 but someone else mentioned $125 toilet installs I think. I charge $199 to reseal and reset an existing leaking toilet there is no way I'm installing a new toilet for $125.

__________________
Looking For A Birmingham Plumber The Best Plumbing in Alabama

threaderman

I think what you said makes a lot of sense money,and it was done in a tactful way and I assure you I not only understand your point but agree with it more with each passing day.I am tired of the free estimates and can see that the serious cust. will pay the intial consultation fee.I was reluctant to restructure but see many benefits with the flat-rate system,consequenty any advice you give will be taken seriously.Thanks again.

__________________
Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

threaderman

What do you do for evening or week-end calls.Are the charges the same

__________________
Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

silvertree

It's not only plumbers, a customer I signed for a kitchen asked if I would hook up her new dishwasher, she said the appliance store wanted $65 to hook up to existing. Years ago I would have said OK. I told her no I wasn't licensed to do that. I ended up giving her my plumbing subs phone # and he did the install. I don't know what he charged her, but it was more than $65. I will do everything I can to keep the trades separate on my jobs, it costs what it costs. Can I do a plumbing install? That's not the point, I got my area of expertise and you have yours and together we build America. I never thought I would get so riled about this kind of thing, but I got a Blue Collar chip on my shoulder that I dare anyone to knock off.

__________________
Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

jtterbrock

everone wants to discrecit Lowes/Home De. We have built custom homes for many years, but its all come to a stop here! This is when you weed out the back of truck guy, when i went into business I never thought I would do thier work,it's called survival. They pay within 2 days! Bottom line with my CO. it's my name on the finished product and the residual work is $$$$$$