ayrton, I was thinking more about my example of the supply house and realized it is not quite on point as they do not also charge by the hour.
So how about your automotive service?
You pay a high hourly rate that pays the mechanic and covers the overhead of the operating expenses.
Now he uses some parts and he charges you for them with a substantial mark up.
Would you then look at what you could get these parts for at the local DIY auto parts store and expect the mechanic to drop his price or even more unbelievable would you expect that the mechanic would let you see the prices he is paying for the parts?
Keep in mind I am not a business owner just a worker.
That said IMO your customer has unrealistic expectations and needs some education. Certainly they can find some low baller to come in and sell them the stock at cost.
Do you want to be that person?
We work at a few large facilities that refuse to pay mark up to any subcontractors.
For them we work for 'T' only at a higher than normal rate as they supply the material (they have in house electric supply shops)
We also rent them our large equipment when needed, pullers, threaders etc.
The company I work for makes sure they stay in the drivers seat not the customer.
Which seems to be what ExpressQuote was getting at.
Good luck, don't become a door mat.
Bob
