ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Business Related Discussion service call

"quote"
Would you pay a car dealer $50 to see what he has on his lot?

You be willing to pay $10 every time you went into Target to see what is on sale?

Aren't you price shopping at these places?

I know these are retail examples, but when it comes to sales, aren't we all in retail in some kind of way.
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The purpose of charging for estimates is to offset the cost of fuel/time driving to them, I doubt even those who charge for them break even on them. 5 free estimates a week will set you back $50 in gas and roughly 10 hours in time if you include time it takes to price stuff out etc.

Thats 10 hours that could have been spent on jobs at your hourly rate.

As for those bidding on million dollar schools etc.. I'm sure that the estimate time is figured in there somewhere.

Bottom line is, wether you charge for estimates up front or figure them in cost of the job, that time/expense has to be added somewhere or you will be out of business sooner or later.

I personally don't charge up front for an estimate, but every market is different and some places you can do it and have no problem. I hide it in my bids, it is a lot easier to hide in huge commercial job than in a $500 residential call


[This message has been edited by Rich R (edited 09-14-2005).]

Quote "Do I detect a little sarcasm? Dave'

Hey Dave it wasn't sarcasm, it was too much coffee. Once the buzz wore off I figured out all the down sides to it, including the fact that I have lived my entire 50 years without being larceneous so far. So I'm back to not charging for pricing jobs.

I don't charge for estimates either, but some people even ask for troubleshooting & a bid. If someone says something like "My lights aren't working, can you give me a free estimate?", I quote a Service Charge & Troubleshoot Charge. I'm not figuring out people's problems for free.

Lately I'm trying to weed out the D. clients from my previous post.

Dave

For what it is worth. E.C> in Mass.

Usually the general service call:

$125.00 service call, includes two men, a stocked truck and the first 15 minutes on site.

Emergency call:

2.0 hour minimum = $250.00. if it goes over the 2.0 hours than 1/2 day rate and if it goes over 1/2 day than full day rate.

I have been on calls to reset a tripped gfci. Five minutes, okay mr./mrs. customer is there anything else you would like done? I have taken out the trash or whatever else for the remaining ten minutes. I don't care what I do. I quoted you a price for 15 team minutes and that is what you'll get.

Jim