I had a new boiler fitted. Do plumbers charge 25% of the cos

[Whitespirit66]

Always makes me laugh when pros on here say about building into price cost of going back under g`tee...Do you not have faith in your products .

So all the boilers, pumps, stats, taps, valves, etc, etc that I fit are made by me in my shed (OK the Glow Worm boilers are) are they??

When you fit a 'product', you may be fitting someone else's manufacturing defect, but its your extra time used to change it under guarantee.


When your car is serviced, they give you an invoice, including labour and parts. Garages don't sell you these parts at cost, so why should plumbers?

 

[gas4you]

Maybe after a guarantee of a part you have bought runs out, you should return this extra charge to the customer (explaining "why" to him for your own protection of course).

Doesn't work like that.

The mark up on the part in any one repair would not cover the cost of replacing that part under warranty.

However, it is a numbers game, so the mark up on every part we fit has to cover the call backs on the few that go wrong.

If we are lucky and don't get many call backs then thats in our favour.

The same as any insurance policy. Your premium won't cover any claims you make, but the insurance company has enough 'in the kitty' to be able to pay up on your claim.

Those that charge at cost probably won't offer a very good after sales service.

You takes your choice.

 

[dextrous]

So you do this akin to insurers? And is this service regulated? And how do I become a "name"?

 

[namsag]

Whitespirit
in regards faulty products and covering it by charging extra on every job i would have to have charged less than a penny a job .
In 9 years .
I have been back to 6 boilers but they only cost me my time as manufacturers fixed them.
As for actual products faulty i have had 1 rad valve extension split and weep . Never had a motorised valve /pump/gasvalve or board etc etc fail . Perhaps its cause i use half decent stuff and not cheap sh#te.

If anyone wants to make X amount on a job be honest about it cant see the point of lying that parts cost x amount extra or its in case i have to come back now that must fill the customer with confidence .

I am just charging you xxx but adding xx for when it breaks down again within the next year mmm now that would certainly leave me assured that job and parts where up to standard

 

[Whitespirit66]

I was really just making the point that the products you fit aren't your products. Your skill and time are the products you are supplying.

Marking up to cover product failures isn't a policy of mine.

It swings and roundabouts. Those that don't mark up their materials probably charge a higher labour rate, and vice versa.

 

[gas4you]

It all depends on whether you work as a self employed chap and just earn yourself a wage, or whether you run everything as a business that has to make a profit after paying yourself a wage from it.

I always tell the customer the price of the part and my labour, before fixing and that everything is PLUS VAT.

No surprises in my pricing.

 

[darkan9el]

I'm glad I read this, I will not feel so bad about asking professionals to come and fix faulty installs. They all plead poverty but now I know I've been charged in advance I will have no quarms. A plumber is going to get a call tomorrow as I was umming and arring over whether to repair the leaky rad myself; which I'm quite capable of doing, or calling him back.

Cheers guys!!

As for buying stuff and adding a bit on, I can't see why anyone has an issue with that, unless the fee is just blatantly excessive. To me all that should be charged is the mileage to and from job to supplier and wear and tear of the vehicle which can be worked out annually and broken down to a hourly cost.

I've just had a job done and the plumber took the tank without asking my permission, I had planned to make a small waterbutt with it for my veg plot and asked for it back, unfortunately for him he had taken it for scrap and been paid out, he laughed and said sorry. He thought that was the end of it until I paid him, for some reason he lost his sense of humour when the bill was light and now he is going to have to come back and fix a leaky rad, sometimes a simple 'may I' goes a long way.

 

[Boilerman2]

Tesco Buy in Baked Beans for 35p a tin they sell em for 65p a tin thats how they make money, if I buy in a part or product for re-sale it will be sold with a mark up that is what makes the world go round

 

[heatingman]

my 2p's worth.
I call and check your boiler, it requires a new fan. I contact my local supplier and ask if in stock & cost. They will give me the price you would pay ie £120.
I inform you the part is available and costs £120, you agree charge I go and get it. You pay me £120 + std diagnostic/repair fee. When I get invoice from supplier after 30+ days I will be charged £105 due to negotiated terms.
or
My supplier says part is £120 but nearest stock is Wembley branch, I will give you option, pay my time to go get it or you go and get it yourself.
If you chose to source the part of the internet from whatever supplier I will still fit it for you but you have to deal with any consequences/costs with premature failure/wrong part sent/dud etc.

No suprise's, no hidden costs, all up-front but I'm running a business to make a profit not just earn a basic wage and definitly not a charity. If you are a registered charity I will deal/price you on a charitable basis as its tax deductable (gifts made to registered charity)

 

[andytheplumber]

20% is for overheads. pens, paper, stuff like that. so whatever your turnover is you make sure you dont spend over 20% or your go bust.

 

[Agile]

Cheers guys!!

As for buying stuff and adding a bit on, I can't see why anyone has an issue with that, unless the fee is just blatantly excessive. To me all that should be charged is the mileage to and from job to supplier and wear and tear of the vehicle which can be worked out annually and broken down to a hourly cost.

I've just had a job done and the plumber took the tank without asking my permission, I had planned to make a small waterbutt with it for my veg plot and asked for it back, unfortunately for him he had taken it for scrap and been paid out, he laughed and said sorry. He thought that was the end of it until I paid him, for some reason he lost his sense of humour when the bill was light and now he is going to have to come back and fix a leaky rad, sometimes a simple 'may I' goes a long way.

You are a difficult customer!

You think that someone should drive for an hour to pick up your parts but you should only pay for the petrol but not anything for the time?

You think all the removed bits should be taken away EXCEPT any that have any scrap value!

Most of us price up jobs taking into account any scrap value. We also say in our terms and conditions that scrap generated is for our benefit.

You seem to want the best of all worlds !

Tony