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#159170 11/14/06 03:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53
D
Member
just got my copy anybody else use it and any tips?

Latest Estimating Cost Guides & Software:
#159171 11/14/06 04:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,429
L
LK Offline
Member
Do a search, and check out some of the past postings, there were quite a few discussions on flat rate.

#159172 11/15/06 11:28 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 30
R
REW Offline
Member
So what do you think of the price? Are they resonable? I've heard (well read) about $5k service changes, is that really the case? If it is, what does it include? 200 amp changes here (outside of baltimore) go for about $2100.

Can this book be purchased w/o joining ESI?

Rich


Rich
#159173 11/15/06 06:57 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 39
B
Member
$5000 includes everything a $2100 200 amp service change does plus neat, clean, and fully stocked vans. Neat well trained and uniformed employees, phones answered 24 hours a day, and an ironclad guarantee.
Who charges $2100 for a 200 amp service change outside of Baltimore? You or everone else? If it's you why don't you try charging $4800 for a 200 amp service? Don't do what everyone else does, do it better.
People shop at Wal Mart all the time but sometimes those same people will shop at Sachs 5th Ave.

#159174 11/15/06 08:45 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 30
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REW Offline
Member
Bigventure,

Could you justify a $5000 service change for me. Let's say a 200 amp overhead service in cable. The average overhead will have about 30' of of 4/0 Al. Now I know what it costs in material, and I know how long it takes, so could you please explain how you think it is reasonable to charge $5000 for the amount of work that this upgrade entails. Why don't you break out the costs of material including panel, breakers, SE cable, hours of labor, $ per hour of labor. I think you will find that $5000 is i little too much.

Other areas of the country have different requirements from the POCO. Some require meter/main which require more material plus more time in termination. That is not required here. We don't even terminate (or change for that matter) the meter socket. That is done by the POCO.

By the way, do you get $4800 for each 200 amp service you do?


Rich
#159175 11/16/06 12:03 AM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 706
T
Member
Some companies run at a loss, some at a small profit & some at a large profit. When you have your own business you get to make those big decisions. He doesn't have to justify anything to you.

Dave

#159176 11/16/06 07:28 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 39
B
Member
Thanks for the cover Dave.
WOW! The last time I was asked to justify something, I was talking to my WIFE.
Please refer back to my last post. Re read the line that states " Don't do what everyone else does, do it better.
This is not about price but about business. You can work in the trench's or you can stand on the top of the trench and watch the people in the trench work for you.
Yes, if they are standard we get $4765 for every 200 amp service.

#159177 11/16/06 08:32 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 30
R
REW Offline
Member
Congratulations on your pricing. Perhaps justify was the wrong word, how about enlighten.
I'm not trying to offend, but do you think that there is a limit to your value? Unless it is significantly different there in Mass. I estimate that you would be charging about $514/hr after material. Does that sound about right? (8 hours work including setup, cleanup, collection; $650 material/permit)

If your service changes take 2 men 8 hours, now that would be a different story.

Without giving the exact number, what range in $/hr is your pricing based on?

Thanks,

Rich


Rich
#159178 11/16/06 09:17 AM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 706
T
Member
George Carlon has a routine about driving....

Anyone who drives slower than you is an idiot and anyone who drives faster than you is a maniac.

As electrical contractors we are sometimes the same way when viewing other ECs prices. I worked at a loss last year and at a profit this year. Guess which one I want to repeat. My wife & I share the expense for health insurance coverage and I have an in-home office. I can't see how anyone could have a business at a lower cost than me, but I know I'm not the cheapest EC around.

Profit will let you achieve your financial goals.

Dave

#159179 11/16/06 11:30 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 717
M
Member
Go over to the nearest new car lot. Take a look at the prices charged for vehicles that used to hover around $3,500 when I was a teenager. Justify that. Then go for a drive in one to the best neighborhood in your city. Check out the prices asked for purchasing one of those pricey homes. In the millions. Justify that. Get your wife pregnant. The doctor who delivers the baby will spend a grand total of about 5 actual minutes average in the delivery room, nurses do all the real work, he gets about $5,000 for it. Justify that. Drive over to a Tom Cruise movie. He gets about $20 million to star in it. Justify that. Why should electrical contractors have to feel that they need to provide work to the public at the lowest possible cost in order to "justify" themselves?

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