Plumbers and Electricians
- Thread starter Weekly
- Start date
Lots of unsupported value judgements in that 'question'; any facts or examples to support it? And what do you mean by "fair" here? As in refereeing—calling it like they see it? Or as in pricing—pricing it like it costs? Or pricing like customers want—real low?
My own experience suggests that those trades, like any other, have their share of fast-buck artists, incompetents, and gougers as well as many honest hard workers who try to give value for money.
My own experience suggests that those trades, like any other, have their share of fast-buck artists, incompetents, and gougers as well as many honest hard workers who try to give value for money.
Like any self-employed person, your plumber was on your job the moment she headed out for your place; just ask when you call her next and she'll tell you, and that likely there's a minimum charge—just like any professional. And if she didn't make round trip to the supply depot for your valve, how do you think she gets paid for schlepping that inventory around?Meister said:
What do you think "fair" would be? And why didn't you do it yourself?
Next time I will. He is in town, ie. it took him 5 minutes to drive over, 2 minutes to walk in, 10 minutes to do the job, 3 minutes to pay and walk out, 5 minutes to drive back.Weekly said:
It's all supply and demand, nobody wants to be a plumber anymore. I wonder if the reason they charge extra is because they "do" the plumber in your home. No, I gotta get that thought out of my mind.
Not quite: the electrician and the plumber who come to your house are likely not unionized, unless you called a large company. Both trades have to meet legal standards to get licences—that's what makes them regulated. Likewise their work has to be inspected to be legal—ask your insurance company if they'll pay for water damage from amateur plumbing. If your plumber does gas work, she's inspected by the same agency as the electrician; the TSSA.red said:
Being as how I do light plumbing and simple electrical work as part of my services, I also build custom furniture, trim work, cabinetry, flooring etc. My rate is the same no matter what I do.
I think the overall thought that electricians and plumbers are "fair" as opposed other services is really misleading. What other services are you talking about?
If you are referring to any other type of carpentry remember this: The amount of tools and equipment required to do any type of woodwork can run into the thousands. Not only the purchase of the equipment but the maintenance of said equipment is also quite high. Have you ever had a circular saw blade resharpened? An 80 tooth laminate blade can run as high as $200.00 to purchase and $60.00 to resharpen and a dull blade is worthless.
Not to discount plumbers and electricians but in my experience, unless you are re-wiring an entire house, most common electrical tools can fit into a pouch hanging on your hip. For the majority of jobs, I only need a pair of linesman pliers, needle nose pliers, multitip screwdriver, a circuit tester and electrical tape.
Just a word of caution: Material costs are going through the roof these days. If you're thinking of doing any home renos and paying someone to do them, material costs will account the lion's share of expenses. Whenever I encounter someone who is aghast at the prices I simply say: Ok then, I will bill you for time only, you buy the materials. They then realize just how expensive materials are. More often than not they don't buy enough, or buy the wrong stuff and end up paying me to go get more and correct their errors.
Added:
I just want to point out to everyone that while I do simple, relatively easy electrical work (replacing fixtures, changing switches, installing lights/fans etc) anything more extensive than that should be done by a licenced professional. This includes: adding new circuits, changing or adding circuit breakers in the box, changing or adding outlets.....
I think the overall thought that electricians and plumbers are "fair" as opposed other services is really misleading. What other services are you talking about?
If you are referring to any other type of carpentry remember this: The amount of tools and equipment required to do any type of woodwork can run into the thousands. Not only the purchase of the equipment but the maintenance of said equipment is also quite high. Have you ever had a circular saw blade resharpened? An 80 tooth laminate blade can run as high as $200.00 to purchase and $60.00 to resharpen and a dull blade is worthless.
Not to discount plumbers and electricians but in my experience, unless you are re-wiring an entire house, most common electrical tools can fit into a pouch hanging on your hip. For the majority of jobs, I only need a pair of linesman pliers, needle nose pliers, multitip screwdriver, a circuit tester and electrical tape.
Just a word of caution: Material costs are going through the roof these days. If you're thinking of doing any home renos and paying someone to do them, material costs will account the lion's share of expenses. Whenever I encounter someone who is aghast at the prices I simply say: Ok then, I will bill you for time only, you buy the materials. They then realize just how expensive materials are. More often than not they don't buy enough, or buy the wrong stuff and end up paying me to go get more and correct their errors.
Added:
I just want to point out to everyone that while I do simple, relatively easy electrical work (replacing fixtures, changing switches, installing lights/fans etc) anything more extensive than that should be done by a licenced professional. This includes: adding new circuits, changing or adding circuit breakers in the box, changing or adding outlets.....
It took him 5 minutes to talk to you on the phone, maybe. where can you drive in the city in 5 minutes? Takes you that long just to walk to your car, never mind find a parking space, get into it and walk to the address. Anyone who time-budgets less than 20 minutes for a quick one way trip is kidding themselves. I'd love to hear your plumber's version of those times.Meister said:
But even by your speedy estimates he spent 25 minutes right on your job. Now factor in his overhead, like any business: gas for the truck (which had to be bought and won't last forever), inventory, tools, phone costs, advertising, office rent, accounting, allowance for uncollectables, no shows and unbooked time. In retail I believe no one blinks at doubling, sometimes tripling the wholesale price to cover that stuff. And then they add profit margins don't they? What she sells, and marks up, is her labour (which a company will pay her around $40 an hour for, benefits TBA. That'd be the wholesale rate for bulk buyers, then you'll pay the company's markup on the piecework).
Bottom line: she spent 4-5 years learning a very complex trade that is often way dirtier and more disgusting than most of us would do even if we had the tools, parts and knowhow. Plumbers charge—like everyone else in this wondrous free market—what you and I are willing to pay, so we don't have to do it. You gotta pay for that, so I'd say you haven't made a case for "unfair". It's what you and I buy into when we decided not to get our hands dirty.
And likely has to pay more to get his stock shipped in than mine, whose storefront is just down the street from the supply depot. But if I got a five minute response time from my guy, I'd happily pay a premium. What I do though is tell him it isn't an emergency, and can wait until it's convenient for him so I can save a few bucks. Sometimes I think it works.Meister said:
I installed one for all my neighbours and then got the contract to replace all the piping for Labatt Breweries. Now I get a lifetime supply of free beer because I ran a hidden underground pipeline to my house.Weekly said:
btw, what's a Kibo ?
