Pricing Too High???

[Mark Bolam]

Good call Rick K.

 

TBH, I've worked for far too little in the past, thinking I was making decent money. After a while you realise what the real costs are of running a legitimate business.

 

I was asked recently if £400 was my 'best price' (by email). I was in a bad mood, and replied that my 'best price' was £600.

 

The lady took it the right way, I think!

[Mesterh]

If we all stuck to sensible prices instead of undercutting each other we"as an industry" could command fair rates and and we'd all make a decent living as we used to. Too many MUGS prepared to work for peanuts messing up for all of us

I don't see plumbers and sparkys dropping there rates. They work on the theory that if it needs doing the customer will have to pay.

 

The thing is though with tree work its not very often that it "needs" doing.

 

The out of control hedge can stay that way for another 5 years and that big tree can just keep getting bigger as it has for the last 20 years ive been living here.

 

The leaking pipe needs fixing now, the heating needs sorting now, I need electricity now etc etc.

 

Plus its never worth thinking we should all up our rates(albeit some mass price fixing ) because there will always be plenty of others that can do it cheaper. Dont think the cheap guys will go out of business soon and all will be fine, they wont, plus there are always others that join the party.

 

The only answer I can come up with is to get the clients that want the work at the price you charge.

 

Once thats been cracked its plain sailing.

[arbogrunt]

Lots of good points here. Its hard enough in any trade at the moment. I'm setting up for the second time after 10 years of freelancing and its MUCH harder to get going than last time. I put this down primarily to the long, drawn out recession and the fact that there are a lot more people doing treework now.

Some of them around here do a great job for a sensible price, some do a great job for peanuts....and some are just chancers who lop and top and do massive amounts of cheap, fast work to a very low standard to make up their money.

I've got to the stage where I'd rather have a day off and earn nothing than rush a job and work till seven a night trying to compete with this lot...and I'm happier for it!

I'll do it my way and stay in 'survival mode' till the economy picks up....its not the first time I've bitten the bullet, but this time I'm way more chilled out about it!

[likeitorlumpit]

Good call Rick K.

 

TBH, I've worked for far too little in the past, thinking I was making decent money. After a while you realise what the real costs are of running a legitimate business.

 

I was asked recently if £400 was my 'best price' (by email). I was in a bad mood, and replied that my 'best price' was £600.

The lady took it the right way, I think!

 

Like that:biggrin:

[skyhuck]

Lots of good points here. Its hard enough in any trade at the moment. I'm setting up for the second time after 10 years of freelancing and its MUCH harder to get going than last time. I put this down primarily to the long, drawn out recession and the fact that there are a lot more people doing treework now.

Some of them around here do a great job for a sensible price, some do a great job for peanuts....and some are just chancers who lop and top and do massive amounts of cheap, fast work to a very low standard to make up their money.

I've got to the stage where I'd rather have a day off and earn nothing than rush a job and work till seven a night trying to compete with this lot...and I'm happier for it!

I'll do it my way and stay in 'survival mode' till the economy picks up....its not the first time I've bitten the bullet, but this time I'm way more chilled out about it!

 

What if it doesn't??????

[felixthelogchopper]

What if it doesn't??????

 

Then we're all dooomed!