After a 15% increase in copper prices last week, We were infomed by our suplier today that the major wire companies are calling for another 10-15% increase TOMORROW.

Any qoutes given tomorrow are good for 1 HOUR only. After that, the price must be requoted.

How do you guys quote jobs with all of these price increases? Is there a short time limit for your quotes?

We were joking around about it today by saying that we are going to have to start bidding jobs as "Wire not included" or Wire by others".

But seriously, someone could loose thier butt on a big job.

Brian

Depending on what size wire you're up against, it might pay to buy in bulk at a negotiated price now, weather or not you get the job. If you don't, price the next job that can afford it at those prices, You'll use it at some point anyway....

I have a clause on the bottom of my estimate that states "because of a volatile metals market, we reserve the right to bill for materials at the prices in effect at the time of delivery".

So far, the majority of my customers understand we can't absorb the continual price hikes for materials.

Scrap wire prices are unreal, wire with the insulation still on is unbelievably high.1$ a pound

In our area, as of Monday, #1 bare copper is over $2 per pound. Today, quite a few people from other trades are asking for any scrap we have. They are taking 6" pieces of #12 THHN stranded. Anything they can get.

Wow! The increases hit hard here today. Last Thursday (Apr 20) a 150 meter roll of 14/2 loomex (romex) was $91.01. This morning I bought a few rolls for $99.40 each. At 3:00pm this afternoon I got two more.....for $109.20 each. They're predicting more increases tomorrow.

How does a "meter roll" translate into feet?

Is 150 meters the same as say, 250'?

It is a good thing distributors don't work like the gas stations!!!

When the price of oil goes up, the price at the pump almost immediately goes up, even though the cost on the gas in the tanks underground did not change.


BTW.. not only is the price going through the roof... there is a shortage

I cleaned out my local Home Depot today because they were selling their wire for less than I could order it from the manufacturer

[This message has been edited by distributor x (edited 04-25-2006).]

one meter equals approx. 3.28 feet, so 150 meters would be about 492 feet.

66, I don't have any big commercial jobs looming, and for once I am thankful. We have been covered up in resi for the last several months.

I have had to increase my drop price twice in the last two months by about 15%. But now I will add a copper surcharge to all new rough-ins. I bought 30K ft of 12/2 last week at $216 per thousand, today it would have cost $296 in my area.

This weeks roughs will be billed at drop price plus $30 per role of 12/2 and I will apply charges to all copper wire. Even the CAT5. Been considering a $25 per invoice fee for fuel too.