sick of greedy plumbers & electricians

Sometimes the customer is nice at the start, but is a pain after the tradie starts work, and a lot of times the tradie will quote a high price if:
a) he is really busy and doesn't want the job, but will do it for a premium price
b) he thinks the customer is a bunny and he can get away with an over-quote
c) all of the above.

I'm not talking about the price they charge; it's up to the customer to accept it or reject it. I do realise this thread is more on the price issue, but my post was about the thread a few weeks ago.

I'm talking about the reaction by the tradie to the difficult customer, whereby they take on the attitude; "this guy's a pain, so I'm not gunna do a decent job; that'll show him".

This attitude is wrong, but according to many who have commented on this issue, it seems to be all too common. Cowboy tradies with unprofessional work practices and ethics.

You have no control over the customer's behavior, and it has no bearing on how well you do your job (at least; it shouldn't). The tradie should be able to do his job professionally and to a high standard, no matter how much of a pr**ck the customer is.

I have had the 'chip on the shoulder' treatment from both sides of the trades – private and the Big Company employed sub-contractor. It makes no difference, sadly.

As a footnote, I have had good treatment from tradies and woeful treatment. I always expect good treatment and scratch my head at the bad; why are they being so self-destructive; don't they know they will never earn another dollar off me or my friends??

Contrarily; I have had to deal with self employed people in the computer repair service industry a few times in recent years, and have never had nothing else but exemplary service and treatment. The tradies should take a leaf out of their book.

Car repair shops; now there's an industry!

the worst industry Ive had trouble with is removalists.

they think they can hold you to ransom because they have everything you own in their truck.

Mover #1:
– move from Syd to Bris. Mover took our stuff to Melb, “broke down” in Coffs harbour for 10 days, we moved into house but had no furniture, no bed, no CV’s for job interviews, no makeup for the mrs. Got our stuff after 2 weeks, most damaged from poor packing and 3000km travel. Mover demanded payment in full before he unpacked the truck, and the price suddenly went up 10% for “gst” even though he told us the amount included it when quoting.
Mover left some stuff on the truck and sent it by courier (bill customer) 2 weeks after that, everything was smashed. So we overpaid twice to have our stuff damaged and delivered late.

Mover #2:
– quoted $80/hr and estimated 3 hrs. expecting a bill of $240. Mover went to wrong address wasting 1/2 hr. They did a good job but bill came in @ $450. Mover said they add 1hr travel time at each end. I was angry cos this was never disclosed on the phone, and he included the 1/2 hr when he went to wrong house. Eventually settled on $300

Mover #3:
– quoted $95/hr plus travel time to the job but not from it. Mover left old house 10 mins before me, I got to new house & they werent there. 40 mins later they turn up. said they stopped for a drink. They did a good job but charged me for the 50 mins they didnt actually work. Thats about $80. Refused to issue a tax receipt. Their boss promised me a refund and a tax receipt, neither ever eventuated.

Mover #4:
– quoted $70/hr for local move (he lived one street away and we were moving about 1500m) and I assumed this meant no travel time. He estimated 5 hrs and therefore based on 5 hrs the bill would be $350. Actual move took 3 hrs. he demanded $350. I argued that the ad in the paper says $70/hr and the bill should be $210. he says he charges 1 hr travel time. I argue he never said that on phone and he lives 1 street away. He gets within 5 mm of my face and screams that he quoted $350 and I better pay it or things are gonna get broken. I threaten to call police and that has no effect. I stand my ground and tell him his intimidation tactics dont scare me. after 20 mins a crowd is forming and the mrs is getting scared so I give him the money making sure everyone hears me call him a ripoff merchant and a cowboy. he refuses to issue an invoice or receipt. Will wait till he files BAS for this quarter than call the ATO.

seems you need a written quote from a reputable company or else you get ripped off.

Like your style crashy……great idea. I would have suggested contacting the National security hotline with some sort of bogus accusation regarding 'something not quite right with their removal activities', but that is a bit too vindictive…and probably should'nt even joke about that should I?   

Have you considered not moving anymore before someone gets hurt?  Cheers!

I didn't want to post anything but….

How about  giving tradesman a little bit of respect yes its not brain surgery. Its more important as Markkay just said. We are licenced for a reason.

Your house has an electrical fire – your child (or tenant) electrocutes themselves 
Your main sewer line has back-fall and wasn't laid correctly so it breaks and all your sewerage is in your front lawn.
Your roof leaks

All because we wanted to pay a little less so the tradesman had to cut corners. Wouldn't you want it done correctly

People don't understand what the four years involves
– In total 1 yrs study at trade school
– 3years on the job training at below minimum wage which is where you put your schooling into practice and learn from other tradesmen
 
I'm sorry but trying to cram that into 1 year would just be negligent, 

Finally

Create a relation ship with your tradesmen, they are people, pay them on time show them respect and they will look after you.( maybe a beer or 2 wouldn't hurt either ) And they can become a very important member of your investing team

Thanks

Nicko

Plumbing apprenticeships are now 4 years with regular training throughout PLUS another 2 year business training from this year.

I used to know Plumbers who took advantage of people, but they are a dying breed. Plumbers and their clients are people who need to show each other respect. Bad plumbers do not have many plumbers as friends.

Sometimes the most expensive plumber is not your best bet. On the other hand when a property owner leaves all plumbing until it is broken then they will usually have to consider replacing the complete fixture.

Regular property maintenance will keep your plumbing problems on a small scale, last minute or no maintenance at all will make your plumbing problems major and expensive.

It is up to the property owner to learn how to deal with plumbers. Plumbers are people with skills in demand.

I know plumbers who work to their own value and also allow themselves room to charge people what they can afford. This comes from a willingness to build partnerships.

I wonder if the above WHINGER gives anyone a great experience in any part of his life.

Hi,

I thought that I would bring some prospective to the mix… I happen to be a tradie as well as an investor.

If being a tradie is that easy and doesn't need a full apprenticeship, how come you didn't go and change the sistern yourself ??

I agree fully with duckster. The university push has created a huge shortage in trades. My dad is a tiler… booked 4 months

ahead, I am a bathroom renovator / plumber booked up 3 months ahead.

If you want the prompt service of a professional tradesman, be prepared to pay the cost, or learn to do a few things yourself, and

fix it. I don't mean to sound harsh and understand what you mean about the handyman side of things, but if you push, supply

and demand will win and handy men will end up with the same high rates. (Its already happening).

Luke

The university push has created a huge shortage in trades. My dad is a tiler… booked 4 months ahead, I am a bathroom renovator / plumber booked up 3 months ahead. If you want the prompt service of a professional tradesman, be prepared to pay the cost, or learn to do a few things yourself, and fix it.

I agree you should be able to do it yourself. Legally, you can't change a tap washer in this country unless you're a licensed plumber. If I need a small amount of work done, I *have* to call a plumber/electrician – to do something simple like change a washer or install a new GPO. And because it's a small job, most trades overquote because of the size of the job.

I think the law should be changed to allow small plumbing & electrical work to be carried out by the owner on their own house.  This could be defined as simply replacing existing plumbing or electrical work. You can 'do it yourself' in almost any other country in the world.. In the UK they have wiring diagrams included with all electrical sockets sold. I've changed my fair share of sockets while living overseas, but suddenly when I set foot in Australia I have to call an electrician to do that because it's too dangerous.

And if the UK is anything to go by, allowing people to do it yourself won't affect the tradie's workload.. the professional still gets to do the big jobs which he prefers and the home hadyman doesn't have to pay $250 to get a new GPO installed (yes, that's what I paid).

I am a Tradesman and a Uni Graduate with a milion other training courses to boot with good investor experience and bad investor experiences.

Is England a different voltage to Australia for Electiricity?

Tradesman also do higher volumes of work so if you want to spend all day working or getting a tradie to do a quick and better job then you need to look at your own value.

Is one hours work from a tradesman worth 3 hours of your time on this planet.

The skill level and time effectiveness far outway the benefits of your valuable personal time.

It is all relative.

One of most common comments from my clients is: 'That was quick; it is amazing to see the same work done better and quicker then I can do it'.

I wonder what other professions get the same demand jealousy?

Finally for Plumbing. I have travelled and visited some beautiful 3rd world countries and all they really need is a couple of public policy  things to be like us.
1 – Good electricity.
2 – Garbage collection and waste management
3-  Sanitary systems
4 – Water control and service systems

So the people who are taking Electricians, Plumbers, Waste Managers and other important parts of a civilised community need to breathe and open their eyes as to the importance of systems.

You have an investor system so how is a system of protected trades designed for public health any different?
 
Thank you.

I think all this whinging about tradies is pretty pointless.  Couldn't we all just bag every profession! 

I saw a solicitor that was charging me $350/hour.  After my first appointment with him I received a letter that was a summary about what we had discussed.  There were heaps of mistakes in the letter and it also didn't even make sense.

I was prescribed some medication by a specialist doctor who was probably charging about $400 an hour.  I was assured it was safe to use.  After six months I receive a letter saying to stop taking the medication immediately as it may cause liver damage.

Give tradies a break, they're just doing their job.  They tend to have a different culture where favours are sometimes paid with beers….who cares.