[carpenter uk]

I dont know how well this will translate over the water but I was reading a uk forum a thread about door hanging prices.

As usual the prices varied wildly but one of the higher priced lads defended his rates wit the following analogy;

"If you buy a pint of Fosters in a dirty glass in a Wetherspoons with a tramp next to you wetting himself you might pay £1.29 on a good day, buy a pint of Fosters watching the sun set in Cornwall and you might pay £3.00+. Both the same drink but I would happily pay the extra for the more enjoyable experience, some however would baulk at the extra cost and spend their afternoons standing in tramps p*ss."

Made me laugh and so very true!

 

[ranteso]

You actually bring up a good point about prices and peoples perceived value of a product.

It doesn't matter if you're selling a door or an ice cream cone.

Selling is a mind game. Think about it, people will spend 5 bucks on an ice cream cone one day, and the next clip out a coupon, go to the grocery store and get three quarts for the same price of the cone.

 

[Inner10]

I use to say you pay more for a coke if it's cold in a glass with ice.

 

[Exlud]

It's like the line I heard about bicycle components, they can be cheap, light, or strong. Pick two.

 

[480sparky]

I always say, "Hire the cheap guy, then call me when he fails you."

 

[Sabagley]

 

[480sparky]

It's like the line I heard about bicycle components, they can be cheap, light, or strong. Pick two.

Adjust that for the building trades:

Good, cheap, fast............ pick two.

 

[totes]

Adjust that for the building trades:

Good, cheap, fast............ pick two.

"we may be slow, but at least we're expensive."

 

[flashheatingand]

It's funny the way some folks justify their higher prices. Sometimes, the reason is completely legit, but, more times than not, it's a lot of hot air.

 

[CarpenterSFO]

"Because I can."

 

[thom]

"Because I can."

The market determines "fair price." If the customer and the contractor are both willing at a specific price, the price and the agreement are fair.

It really doesn't matter what that 1969 Oldsmobile cost you. If someone is willing to buy it for $24K and you are willing to sell it for that, then it's worth $24K. If the best you can get is $250 and you are willing to sell it for that, it's worth $250.

Charge what you can because by definition, that's what you're worth.

 

[carpenter uk]

It's also an age thing,
when you are younger you tend to think "If i do this, this way and that, that way I could get it done in a day, as you get older and more cynical, after loosing money on hundreds of those 1 day jobs you finally realise it takes 2 days but you allow 3 to cover for the quieter days.
That is exactly what the price should be but you are getting compared to the youngsters that think they can do it in a day.

 

[Mr Latone]

It's also an age thing,
when you are younger you tend to think "If i do this, this way and that, that way I could get it done in a day, as you get older and more cynical, after loosing money on hundreds of those 1 day jobs you finally realise it takes 2 days but you allow 3 to cover for the quieter days.
That is exactly what the price should be but you are getting compared to the youngsters that think they can do it in a day.

Ya, vit yer best german accent......

"Ve get too soon oldt, undt too late shmart"

 

[Stephen H]

You actually bring up a good point about prices and peoples perceived value of a product.

It doesn't matter if you're selling a door or an ice cream cone.

Selling is a mind game. Think about it, people will spend 5 bucks on an ice cream cone one day, and the next clip out a coupon, go to the grocery store and get three quarts for the same price of the cone.

The line about perceived value is really important.
It reminds me about the current discussion on this forum about subcontractors and their behavior,their tattoos,their piercings, their language etc.

If I sell job xyz to mr. homeowner, part of the price involves "perceived value"- I am simply not going to be involved with subs or employees that negatively impact that perceived value.
Stephen

 

[Stephen H]

Ya, vit yer best german accent......

"Ve get too soon oldt, undt too late shmart"

ain't that the TRUTH! ???

My father in law used to say "youth--it's wasted on the young"
stephen

 

[brunothedog]

value is value,
To me "perceived value", is like putting lipstick on a pig,
its still a pig.
The only reason IMO that people charge more for the same thing is, They wanna make more money, Thats it.
I think I am damn good at what I do and I can stand up to anyone that charges double, or triple.
Because they have an Ipod/phone and clean cloths and a new truck every year, does not make your perceived value more than anyone elses.
The Lipstick on a pig thing.
An honest days wages for an honest job seems to not apply anymore.
rake in as much as you can and bad mouth anyone thats does an honest wage tells me alot about the company.
Its strange that in one thread everybody deserves the most bang for the buck, and when it comes to tools, you look for the cheapest place you can and that makes ya feel good, who cares what they pay the employees.

When its their money, the only right choice is the highest, when its YOUR money,
anywhere you can save a buck.

 

[tyb525]

value is value,
To me "perceived value", is like putting lipstick on a pig,
its still a pig.
The only reason IMO that people charge more for the same thing is, They wanna make more money, Thats it.
I think I am damn good at what I do and I can stand up to anyone that charges double, or triple.
Because they have an Ipod/phone and clean cloths and a new truck every year, does not make your perceived value more than anyone elses.
The Lipstick on a pig thing.
An honest days wages for an honest job seems to not apply anymore.
rake in as much as you can and bad mouth anyone thats does an honest wage tells me alot about the company.
Its strange that in one thread everybody deserves the most bang for the buck, and when it comes to tools, you look for the cheapest place you can and that makes ya feel good, who cares what they pay the employees.

When its their money, the only right choice is the highest, when its YOUR money,
anywhere you can save a buck.

Do you have a family to feed Bruno?

 

[brunothedog]

2 wifes, 4 kids

 

[tyb525]

Just wondering man. The reason I ask is cause some guys try to make as much as they can for their family. But I know some are just plain greedy.

 

[carpenter uk]

I dis-agree about contractors in general being greedy
An honest days pay for an honest days work applies if you are an employee, but if you are self employed you have got to charge as much as you can without loosing the job. There are plenty of lean times to account for, jobs that go bad, equipment that fails, many hours spent every week at home doing the paper work, the constant dealing with al the calls and emails. you have got to be paid for this from somewhere

Yes you can work out your hourly rate based on previous years but that is still only a guess - who knows what is going to happen this year?

I believe charge as much as you can and do the best job you can as fast as you can