After hours?

Ditto. Tell them what you just said!!

I've heard this a few times. I just say that if I need to work nights and weekends it certainly isn't cheaper! Just like every other job in the country.

I was just giving the old man lecture on this to another guy a couple of days ago.

You have just as much right to your evenings and weekends as your customers do to theirs. That's not a right you should be meekly asking for; it's yours by default unless you choose to give it away. I don't.

I wonder if the people who expect things like this are willing to go in on their days off or after their normal hours for reduced pay? I'm guessing not.

I hear it occasionally, too....as if they are doing you a favor, yet one that will save them $$ (therefore, not a favor). Another version is "no rush, you can just come whenever you like and here's the key". It used to put me off, but I decided it wasn't worth it. Some folks are just like that and really want to feel like they are getting a fair/good deal. I translate that to "good value" and say something to affirm that, since I'm doing that anyway....and that I try not to schedule extra work for nights and weekends since I'm so busy... Usually that's enough.

Another version is "I want something nice, long-lasting, but not too expensive." "Of course!"

There's a reason why OT gets paid at time and a half or double time.

It's funny how you can pick out the customers that considers themselves gifted when it comes to making a deal. Rather it be with a car salesman or a contractor. They really think they have an act for the stuff. You gotta love it when they say "is there anyway we can get that price down"? I always tell them sure by dropping some of the scope. You can tell by the look on their face that they meant dropping the price without dropping any work.

Californiadecks said:

It's funny how you can pick out the customers that considers themselves gifted when it comes to making a deal. Rather it be with a car salesman or a contractor. They really think they have an act for the stuff. You gotta love it when they say "is there anyway we can get that price down"? I always tell them sure by dropping some of the scope. You can tell by the look on their face that they meant dropping the price without dropping any work.

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Yeah. Like we just arbitrarily tossed some numbers together to give to them in the anticipation that we would lower the price if asked I think I may try that the next time I'm out for dinner. "Can we do any better on that steak?"

EricBrancard said:

Yeah. Like we just arbitrarily tossed some numbers together to give to them in the anticipation that we would lower the price if asked I think I may try that the next time I'm out for dinner. "Can we do any better on that steak?"

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:laughing:

It's perception more than anything. Tell them if you can get "an even better deal" on some of the materials, you'll pass that along, too. "But you've got some good numbers already for what we're talking about."

Californiadecks said:

It's funny how you can pick out the customers that considers themselves gifted when it comes to making a deal. Rather it be with a car salesman or a contractor. They really think they have an act for the stuff. You gotta love it when they say "is there anyway we can get that price down"? I always tell them sure by dropping some of the scope. You can tell by the look on their face that they meant dropping the price without dropping any work.

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There is a certain Detroit suburb that I used to do a lot of work in that has a large population of a certain culture in it. Every single last one of them would almost automatically ask that question, or, almost as commonly, "Is that your best price?"

It's just part of their culture, I don't take it personally. But the answer is always "Yes, of course, why would I be overcharging you for this work?"

onmywayup said:

There is a certain Detroit suburb that I used to do a lot of work in that has a large population of a certain culture in it. Every single last one of them would almost automatically ask that question, or, almost as commonly, "Is that your best price?"

It's just part of their culture, I don't take it personally. But the answer is always "Yes, of course, why would I be overcharging you for this work?"

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I usually tell them MY best price would be a couple of thousand more, but I won't charge them that.:laughing:

double post

mako1 said:

I seem to get a lot of this.Usually on smaller jobs.Customer says"We're really in no hurry so if it would be cheaper for us you can do our job after hours or weekends". What the hell are after hours for a contractor.
I'm getting older(57) and try to bid my jobs at 8 hour days and keep on schedule but we all know how that goes.Sometimes 10-12 or weekends.When I'm done for the day on one job that's my time.
Cheaper on after hours?Call a plumber and ask him :clap:

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People have a warped sense of reality.

onmywayup said:

There is a certain Detroit suburb that I used to do a lot of work in that has a large population of a certain culture in it. Every single last one of them would almost automatically ask that question, or, almost as commonly, "Is that your best price?"

It's just part of their culture, I don't take it personally. But the answer is always "Yes, of course, why would I be overcharging you for this work?"

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Does it rhyme with Bloomfield Hills?

Just had a potential with 2200 sq ft wrap around and 3 sets of stairs actually try to tell me the price should be around 30-40k... I said yup, if you want pt but I don't do that. She asked if I could do better on the Ipe price and I told her sure she just has to be willing to build in Brazil not Sarasota.

Nights and weekends cost them more, not less.

I'm surprised how many ask this as well. They usually start off with "do you do side work? (Insert wink wink from the HO)

Many HO's think that even the smaller contractors send guys who will do stuff cheap, and for cash on the weekends and after hours.

The scary part is that they wouldn't ask if it wasn't so true and they can normally find somebody to do it without too difficult a search.

Deckhead said:

Nights and weekends cost them more, not less.

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Yep. I had to repair a top in a Tampa restaurant which closed and opened at 9. It isn't the first and I doubt it'll be the last.

EricBrancard said:

Does it rhyme with Bloomfield Hills?

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Lol. Canton. That place is like a mini New Delhi.