Ethics question

[Svend]

I've got a guy painting the exterior of my house, he quoted me an absurdly low figure. He's just a young guy in his early twenties, either he didn't realize the time it would take or he just really needed the work, I would have paid double his asking price like his competitor quoted.
He's doing a nice job, but now he's been making suggestions that he needs to charge more. Should I hold firm to teach him to give a better quote in the future or cut him some slack and pay him a few hundred more?

 

[Esco!]

Teach him a lesson but split the difference.
Meet him halfway

 

[knight66]

Unless it is actually brought up i would pay what the original quote was.
An when if it is brought up then compromise on the new price if you think teh job was worth more.
You can learn more from making mistakes than not making them.

 

[WhaWhaWha]

Never give a sucker an even break.

 

[a 1 player]

I agree with Esco, meet him halfway. I would also have a chat with him to let him know that he undercharged, and that he should do some research before he decides on a figure. Or alternately, you could wave a few hundred dollars in front of him and tell him, "With the amount I saved by hiring you, I can now see a couple of beautiful prostitutes". Decisions, decisions.

 

[tboy]

While I agree with the "teach him a lesson" attitude being a tradesperson myself we live on what we earn. If he made a mistake by quoting you low, he already knows he effed up.

Whether or not you split the difference with him is purely based on what type of a person you are: if you're reasonably decent, then pay him what you think the job is worth. If you are a hard nosed sob (and I've run into a LOT of them in my time) who lives life by the pure letter of the law, then pay him nothing extra.

My motto is: treat people how you'd like to be treated. Sooner or later everything comes back at ya.

 

[Svend]

I'm still thinking about it

The karma argument doesn't work on me at all, just makes my eyes roll.
I'm inclined to give him a bit extra, then I start weighing how many hours I could spend with Janda...

 

[papasmerf]

You could easily pay only what was quoted and should. HOWEVER give him a "TIP" of 30 to 50% of that price. He will be happy to do more work for you and follow up on people you send his way. You still come out ahead and might even feel good about it.

 

[Esco!]

Do you want him to "stretch" the paint by peeing in it?

He is a "young guy", so remember what it was like when you were starting out.

Discuss it with him, ask him how he figured out the cost, make sure that the material costs at the very least are met.

Its one thing to "teach a lesson" to a large corporation that can take a hit once in a while. Its another when it means the guy's kids will be getting only Kraft Dinner for the next month.

Winston, at the same time the kid needs the very strong lesson of keeping your word.
When you come back on that you will amount to nothing in life, trust me.
Even if you have to take a hit you have to stand by what you said.

Conversely, you look like a cheap idiot if you take advantage of a kid like that and make him paint your house for virtually nothing.
So meet the amateur halfway and chalk it up to experience.

 

[feminista]

split the difference between his quote and his nearest competitors. It still hurts enuf to teach both of you a lesson.

 

[George OTJ]

I've got a guy painting the exterior of my house, he quoted me an absurdly low figure. He's just a young guy in his early twenties, either he didn't realize the time it would take or he just really needed the work, I would have paid double his asking price like his competitor quoted.
He's doing a nice job, but now he's been making suggestions that he needs to charge more. Should I hold firm to teach him to give a better quote in the future or cut him some slack and pay him a few hundred more?

I think it depends on his attitude now that he's making "suggestions".

The "ethical" thing to do in my opinion is to "pay a fair price" for the work done.

If he becomes a jerk about it and the work suffers, pay what was quoted.

If you continues to do a good job (i.e. honors the commitment he made) then feel free to treat the quote as an estimate and pay him what you both agree the job's worth.

My experience is that when a you find a good contractor, treat him fairly and they will treat you fairly.

Svend, if you own a house, then you know from time to time your going to need trades people. If this young guy is good and treats your fairly, he could be a soucre for finding like-minded young trades people whose willing to give a discount for experience.

 

[Damondean]

Pay him!

I had the same thing happen to me . . the painter was experienced but he under-estimated the time it would take him because of all the nooks and cranies...he asked for more and I paid it. It was strill a good price.

It is not nice to take advantage just because the guy under-estimated.

 

[JoyfulC]

Depends on the quality of the job he's done to date.

It's not uncommon for budding entrepreneurs to under-quote their work. But too, did you go with the lowest bid? It's also not uncommon for people unaccustomed to hiring contractors to go with the lowest bidder.

If this is just a case of your inexperience clashing against his, then renegotiate -- and this time, both of you should do your homework to know what a fair deal is. As a consumer, you're not going to get your best deal on price -- but on quality. As a contractor, he's not going to get his best deal on price -- but on reputation. That's what the both of you need to focus on.

(Just like with escorts and customers, eh!)

..c..

 

[tboy]

It is nice to see so many people have the attitude to give trades a fair shake. The thing I hate myself is when you quote or estimate on a job and you advise the customer of any additional charges they act like the "estimate" was the final price as written by god on the tablets last used for the 10 commandments.

1 : the act of appraising or valuing : CALCULATION
2 : an opinion or judgment of the nature, character, or quality of a person or thing <had a high estimate of his abilities>
3 a : a rough or approximate calculation b : a numerical value obtained from a statistical sample and assigned to a population parameter
4 : a statement of the cost of work to be done

It seems that definition 3 and 4 contradict each other, that is why a written estimate is needed with the clause: any additions, changes, fluctuations in material costs etc are not included and the price of which will be over and above the stated price.

 

[George OTJ]

The thing I hate myself is when you quote or estimate on a job and you advise the customer of any additional charges they act like the "estimate" was the final price as written by god on the tablets last used for the 10 commandments.

A quote and an estimate are not the same thing, atleast to my mind. A lawyer could advice better.

A "Quote" to me is a fixed-price contract that is binding on both parties - unless changes are made and agreed to by both parties.

An "Estimate" is an approximation - the final price should be within 10% of this figure - unless changes are made and agreed to by both parties.

In my experience, when I've been asked for an estimate, I would tell them what I think the job will take. When I've been asked for a Quote, I would tell them what I think the job will take PLUS 10-25% depending on how well they've defined their requirements and the likelyhood of surprises. It's like an insurance fee to ensure then won't have to pay more then they agreed to.


If the job is too poorly defined or with too many unknowns, I estimate a range of time and tell them they will be billed for "Time & Materials".

 

[George OTJ]

If this is just a case of your inexperience clashing against his, then renegotiate -- and this time, both of you should do your homework to know what a fair deal is.

I take the lasy way. When I need work done I'm not familiar with I try to get 4 estimates. I throw out the highest and the lowest then decide between the remaining two.

 

[zydeco]

Personally, I don't see this as being a question of ethics at all. Just a business deal, upon which you are perfectly entitled to rely. However, if he's a nice kid and is doing a good job, no harm in throwing him a few extra bucks.

 

[luv4lust]

I've got a guy painting the exterior of my house, he quoted me an absurdly low figure. He's just a young guy in his early twenties, either he didn't realize the time it would take or he just really needed the work, I would have paid double his asking price like his competitor quoted.
He's doing a nice job, but now he's been making suggestions that he needs to charge more. Should I hold firm to teach him to give a better quote in the future or cut him some slack and pay him a few hundred more?

lol i'll do it for free as long as you sit naked out side and watch me lol

 

[Svend]

I like that offer.
The other guy is shitcanned as of now!

 

[luv4lust]

I like that offer.
The other guy is shitcanned as of now!

got to love an easy guy lol can i cook you breakfast in the morning too please