Greedy builders.

[enduro]

I do quite a lot of work for a builder, and the way it works is he gets me to liaise with the customer about there tiling, the customer always supplies tiles and i supply addy and grout etc and i bill the builder when i finish. The last job i did came too £2100.00 anyway i bumped into the customer today and she said she was a bit surprised about my bill...OHH i said she said £5,000 seemed a lot.....well my jaw nearly hit the floor, what could i say this builder gives me loads of work so i couldn't say anything it just made me mad :furious3: made me look greedy. I'm happy what he pays me and i cant believe these builders charge us out at so much, bearing in mind this builder did nothing.

 

[faithhealer]

Good job we don't swear on this forum. Make a living not a killing was my motto but that builder will be retiring a lot earlier than the rest of us .

 

[enduro]

Good job we don't swear on this forum. Make a living not a killing was my motto but that builder will be retiring a lot earlier than the rest of us .

He drives a brand new range rover sport, lives in a huge house, employes 30 full time guys and has loads of work...How do they do it, given me a months work in jan tiling a huge oast house they are refurbing so cant complain.

 

[faithhealer]

Works work at the end of the day. long may it continue for you Enduro

 

[BDS]

Yeah but the problem is mate that customer thinks your too expensive (cos he doesn`t know the truth) and when he tells anybody who listens which he will the end result isn`t good for you,but if your still getting work from the builder thats ok but be a bit peed of not the fact about the money but the reputation

 

[enduro]

Yeah but the problem is mate that customer thinks your too expensive (cos he doesn`t know the truth) and when he tells anybody who listens which he will the end result isn`t good for you,but if your still getting work from the builder thats ok but be a bit peed of not the fact about the money but the reputation

Well they probably have an idea as i tiled similar area for there friends and that was direct for them not through a builder.

 

[BDS]

Rock and a hard place springs to mind mate,cant tell them the truth cos it could affect work from builder,dont tell customers and they think your expensive:huh2: rather you than me.

 

[FreeD]

Wouldn't say it was gready m8 just business...just need to get ure self a step up the ladder. Most builders whack on 30 - 50% or more. And how does he do it? Prob pays the architects nice bonuses! 😉

 

[enduro]

Wouldn't say it was gready m8 just business...just need to get ure self a step up the ladder. Most builders whack on 30 - 50% or more. And how does he do it? Prob pays the architects nice bonuses! 😉

No its greedy thats 140% he added on, i have had my own buisness for 25 years and never ever added that amount on any trade.

 

[Fekin]

I would have said that £5000 wasn't my price to the builder, it's the builders price to you.

 

[FreeD]

So Enduro u say u laise with the customer...and then bill the builder...ok so where does the price get changed do you go to the builder and work on a fixed price of 2100 before commencing work? and he then charges the job out at 5000?

 

[enduro]

So Enduro u say u laise with the customer...and then bill the builder...ok so where does the price get changed do you go to the builder and work on a fixed price of 2100 before commencing work? and he then charges the job out at 5000?

Yes i give the builder a price and he agrees it, never speak to customer about price as im dealing with builder, i dont mind people making money but does seem a bit steep to me, he had put a large extension on this property so it wasnt just a tiling job,

 

[CJ]

Just make sure that the customer knows that the bill is from the BUILDER and not you. Tell them thats between them And him:yes:

 

[FreeD]

Agree with the above...and next time u work for him...do the quote and whack on 50%. 😉

 

[MICK the Tiler]

I'm not really sure what the issue is here??? Why would she whinge to you??? Maybe the builder is doing a bit of a sly talk on your good name to the clients??? Such as "GEE my tilers expensive nowdays" something like that.

If I told you that down here all tiles that come into the Country from china are landed for $5/m2 and sold for $40/m2 is that GREEDY?

You need him, he needs you, It's a symbiotic relationship. To worry about his moral ethic and the way he does buisness is not really your concern.

If you feel that your reputaion and good name has been put at risk then you need to have a chat to the builder about this, even if it means ceasing work for him. You have to be strong enough to take this action.

But in the present climate it may be best to take it on the chin.

 

[Rob Z]

Enduro,

It's all just business, and he is getting whatever he can get away with. It sounds like you are doing well and maybe this is a sign that you should break away from working for builders and go out on your own, so to speak, completely working directly for the public. You will have to retool your business and do things differently on customer service/estimating/salsemanship end of things, but if you pull it off I bet you will double your income for the year.

You wil also increase your headaches. :mad2:

Good luck!

 

[enduro]

Enduro,

It's all just business, and he is getting whatever he can get away with. It sounds like you are doing well and maybe this is a sign that you should break away from working for builders and go out on your own, so to speak, completely working directly for the public. You will have to retool your business and do things differently on customer service/estimating/salsemanship end of things, but if you pull it off I bet you will double your income for the year.

You wil also increase your headaches. :mad2:

Good luck!

80% of my work is private work the rest is for a couple of builders and im doing alright but this type of mark up on top of a tradesman i find a bit much, perhaps im to honest..:lol:

 

[Rob Z]

I hear ya about the mark-up seeming excessive, but apparently it is what this guy has learned that the market will bear. I'm just saying that you should get a slice of it. :yes:

The job that we are on right now....the customer called a plumber to come over and service the sink in the basement. He replaced the two angle stop valves under the sink. He charged a $50 service call (keep in mind that this company works only in the area and their radius of operation is only ~5 miles or so and travel isn't an issue), THEN charged $340 to replace two valves. They have a price book that they work out of and that is what they are able to get. He worked at most one hour, and of course it's ballsy to me to charge a service call fee AND THEN charge that kind of money to do the work. The valves and the supplies cost less than $20.

 

[graham31]

Agree with the above...and next time u work for him...do the quote and whack on 50%. 😉

I usually work off the ethic"as long as i'm earning what i need to earn to have a good life and support my family i'm happy.I don't care what others earn"
So as long as you were happy way the quote and what you got paid then theirs no big problem,as long as he's no dissing your reputation

Like FreeD say now you know the builder is on a good mark up just add that bit extra on on each quote.

But maybe his price has got something to do way the other work he did on the house like the for mentioned extension

 

[White Room]

Remember it's the builders customers not yours, Like Mick the tiler said he knows his market. So be happy with your lot there are many guys out there that would rip your arm off for that kind of work at the moment

 

[Fekin]

I don't see any problem in the builder making such a mark up really other than the client possibly thinking you're a very expensive tiler and may not recommend you to others.
Normally I'd say never to bother about it and say nothing unless the client actually comes to you saying they thought the price from the builder was excessive, then simply explain that it is the price the builder is charging and not what you charged for doing it.

 

[Daz]

I'm kinda torn with this thread....

On the one hand, I say that as long as you are happy with what you charged, then what does it matter what the builder charged. Taking on board that the customer thinks you are expensive and will be unlikely to recommend you.

On the other hand, a builder that takes the micky can also cost you work. I, recently, was asked to quote a customer to do her kitchen floor. I quoted 3 days money for 2 days work as I was stacked for the next 6 weeks and she gave me the job because I was half the price that the builder was charging - It meant that the tiler that had been asked to do the bathroom was chucked off the job and I get all her tiling now.

I think it's already been mentioned, but it's just business. Know the market, know your prospective clients budget and know your products, then target the type of business that you want.

 

[BDS]

i understand each and everyones veiw on this but is this not what the problem is
client possibly thinking you're a very expensive tiler and may not recommend you to others.,,,,,,i dont about you guys but i want my customers to tell everyone and there dog that i`m a good tiler with good rates,and if one of my customers came up to me in the street or where ever and said your a bit expensive i`d do something about it cos if they are comenting to you what do you think there saying to family/close friends weather your doing directly for them or subbying for builder etc etc etc it cant be good in the long run but thats only my oppinion.

 

[graham31]

i understand each and everyones veiw on this but is this not what the problem is
client possibly thinking you're a very expensive tiler and may not recommend you to others.,,,,,,i dont about you guys but i want my customers to tell everyone and there dog that i`m a good tiler with good rates,and if one of my customers came up to me in the street or where ever and said your a bit expensive i`d do something about it cos if they are comenting to you what do you think there saying to family/close friends weather your doing directly for them or subbying for builder etc etc etc it cant be good in the long run but thats only my oppinion.

I would agree and if it's your reputation we're talking about as a expensive/dear tiler and that going to affect your future earning power then i think you have to speak up.Like others have said tell the customer the price the builder charges is not your price and has nothing to do way you.

You get paid off the builder and you don't know what he has charged

 

[doug boardley]

used to do a lot of work for a bathroom/kitchen outfit, three years ago,just after christmas, phone wasn't ringing so I called them up to see if owt was coming in for me.They'd see what they could do. A couple of days later was down at my local stockist picking up some addy next door to them when owner came out "we can fill your diary for you Doug, but you're a bit dear" This is after I'd done about 50 jobs with 100% glowing feedback.Well we'd just had a baby 3 months previous and wife was pregnant again so I agreed to drop my price from 28 to 21. Did a few jobs at this price when a job sheet came through the post, I nearly dropped through the floor, they'd sent me the customers copy, tiling charged at £55 m2. Needless to say I was a bit miffed at this and luckily phone had started to go berserk again so I dropped them,(without burning any bridges) The thing is that they also owned the tile suppliers so they were getting tiles at less than trade price and banging them out at full retail price to customer plus all the other sundries.Consequently they've lost a damn good tiler for the sake of trying to squeeze a bit more profit. I'm not saying that they're not entitled to make a good profit but surely they should also try and look after the people who look after them. imo:ninja:

 

[enduro]

This customer in question phoed me yesterday and they have decided they want a stone floor laid about 30sqm, and asked if i could do it direct for them. I explained i had to ask the builder in question if this was ok. I gave him a call and he said his contract had finished with them and i could go direct to them....So hopefuly they will realise when i price it for them how much he had charged.

 

[davy_G]

Mind you Endure, stone floors arnt cheep to lay, so you have a fair bit of leeway to get yourself a good but fair price in there.
Good luck.:hurray:

 

[White Room]

This customer in question phoed me yesterday and they have decided they want a stone floor laid about 30sqm, and asked if i could do it direct for them. I explained i had to ask the builder in question if this was ok. I gave him a call and he said his contract had finished with them and i could go direct to them....So hopefuly they will realise when i price it for them how much he had charged. [/quote

Have known a few guys who have done that and the builder has hit the roof and wants his percentage. Your lucky that he has said his contract has finished but some won't allow this to happen

 

[enduro]

This customer in question phoed me yesterday and they have decided they want a stone floor laid about 30sqm, and asked if i could do it direct for them. I explained i had to ask the builder in question if this was ok. I gave him a call and he said his contract had finished with them and i could go direct to them....So hopefuly they will realise when i price it for them how much he had charged. [/quote

Have known a few guys who have done that and the builder has hit the roof and wants his percentage. Your lucky that he has said his contract has finished but some won't allow this to happen

A couple of other builders i work for wouldn't but i always mention to the customer that i have to ask builder first and if it has to go through him this is the only way i will do it. Wouldnt want it to be done to me.

 

[LM Ceramics]

I would have said that £5000 wasn't my price to the builder, it's the builders price to you.

theres some things you cant say i do alot of work for builders and bathroom fitters i tend not to get involved with there pricing remember its the builder whos paying the wage and the offer of future work

 

[LM Ceramics]

A couple of other builders i work for wouldn't but i always mention to the customer that i have to ask builder first and if it has to go through him this is the only way i will do it. Wouldnt want it to be done to me.

best thing enduro always ask first i do it i know really if the customer wants it doing then it should go for you but most builders would get offended if they werent consulted first