Message for SUSIEJB

[LooPrEvil]

Susie re British Gas: The price I gave you yesterday was for a one off fix - it was a cost £185 and you did not have to tie into a 12 month maintenance agreement. The alternative, which is the one I took out cost £99 to fix the boiler, and you had to tie into the 12 month maintenance agreement at £20 / month - this is the option I took. And they did a great job.

The local boys quoted over £400 for a one off fix (but that would not have covered a 2nd part that was found to be faulty, whereas BGs £99 all in, covered ALL parts, - so your father in laws bill may have been reasonable based on the local boys quotes (I beleive the parts cost in the region of £200 for my fix).

Apologies for the error I made - I actually got even better value than I told you!

 

[joe-90]

I can't think of any other large organisation that can beat the local traders. I guess they must all be bent eh?

Ford main dealer cheaper than the garage down the road? HAHAHAHAH

 

[transam]

I can't think of any other large organisation that can beat the local traders. I guess they must all be bent eh?

Ford main dealer cheaper than the garage down the road? HAHAHAHAH

Not nessarily acurate

 

[ollski]

Not nessarily acurate

That's an ironic sentence to spell that badly

 

[Agile]

Loopre, what you cannot be sure of is what the boiler problem really was!

If I was local to you and you called and asked me to quoter to repair an unidentified problem then I would have to tell you that I cannot quote like that. If I did then I would have to quote about £400 to cover all eventualities But I have never charged anything like that.

I would tell you that we have to come and diagnose the fault for which we make a charge and only then could we tell you the cost to repair based on what parts were needed.

If no expensive parts are required then I can undercut any BG prices. But not if parts costing more than £106 are required. But I come the same day!

In most cases, only cheaper parts or no parts are needed and in 9 out of 10 cases I charge less than BG.

If its cheaper for the customer then I suggest they consider using BG. Many prefer me to come though because they know that I will come the same day and correctly identify the fault.

 

[transam]

Not nessarily acurate

That's an ironic sentence to spell that badly

true

 

[joe-90]

tony, after reading this forum for a few years it seems to me that you are the only one that knows what he is talking about - most of them just take a wild guess that is usually wrong.

 

[ollski]

tony, after reading this forum for a few years it seems to me that you are the only one that knows what he is talking about - most of them just take a wild guess that is usually wrong.

I agree, if only we could boost Tony's self confidence and try to help him promote himself.

 

[Biggles..]

tony, after reading this forum for a few years it seems to me that you are the only one that knows what he is talking about - most of them just take a wild guess that is usually wrong.

Tony is one of a few that still persist in replying to nearly every post,even some of the more knowledgeable regulars(namsag,d halisham,etc) don't seem to bother that much anymore.
Maybe it's down to tossers and trolls that people have stayed away.

 

[LooPrEvil]

I can't think of any other large organisation that can beat the local traders. I guess they must all be bent eh?

Ford main dealer cheaper than the garage down the road? HAHAHAHAH

I am not trying to knock the local lads what-so-ever but BG did offer some very good deals this winter, that the locals could never match. I obviously went for what gave me best value.

BG probably see as getting a monthly income for a boiler they have just repaired (and serviced) so the chance of further call outs is minimal. They will also hope the annual agreement is automatically renewed!!

 

[LooPrEvil]

Loopre, what you cannot be sure of is what the boiler problem really was!

If I was local to you and you called and asked me to quoter to repair an unidentified problem then I would have to tell you that I cannot quote like that. If I did then I would have to quote about £400 to cover all eventualities But I have never charged anything like that.

I would tell you that we have to come and diagnose the fault for which we make a charge and only then could we tell you the cost to repair based on what parts were needed.

If no expensive parts are required then I can undercut any BG prices. But not if parts costing more than £106 are required. But I come the same day!

In most cases, only cheaper parts or no parts are needed and in 9 out of 10 cases I charge less than BG.

If its cheaper for the customer then I suggest they consider using BG. Many prefer me to come though because they know that I will come the same day and correctly identify the fault.

Tony please see my last response - I AM NOT KNOCKING YOU LADS - and apologise if seems that way.

Both the local asked about the symtoms and gave a verbal quote over the phone, they both diagnosed correctly, but as you correctly say something else (a diaphram?) was also required - I take your point the sole trader needs to make profit and not subsidise me.

All credit to BG they came out the same day (arrived at 5pm having been called out at 1pm).

 

[ChrisR]

I occasionally refer customers to BG, but only if the repair iinvolves very expensive parts which BG cover in their fixed price scheme(s). Usually they're much more expensive than me or any local guy though.
Recently BG have changed their policies and charges though, maybe they got wise to engineers like me taking advantage of them.

 

[expertgasman]

tony, after reading this forum for a few years it seems to me that you are the only one that knows what he is talking about -

Tony, don't get too chuffed about this endorsement. It is from speccy four eyes, after all.

 

[joe-90]

He'll thank me when he gets home.

 

[LooPrEvil]

I occasionally refer customers to BG, but only if the repair iinvolves very expensive parts which BG cover in their fixed price scheme(s). Usually they're much more expensive than me or any local guy though.
Recently BG have changed their policies and charges though, maybe they got wise to engineers like me taking advantage of them.

I think that is thoroughly decent of you Chris to advise the customer to use BG if they are more competitive than you. It further backs up what I was saying yesterday about you professional being honest.

Well done to you.