The underpricing thread.

[Rupe]

Not read all this but if you price jobs against other people then it could be safe to assume that the job goes to the one that underpriced it the most.

 

I ahve often thought that every yellow pages derived job must go to the one who made a mistake with the pricing, so thats a whole market share of work lost to underpricing.

 

All these jobs mentioned in this thread would have gone to someone else if you had all priced it correctly and put in a correct price and in most cases the correct price wont win the job.

[Old Mill Tree Care]

Not read all this but if you price jobs against other people then it could be safe to assume that the job goes to the one that underpriced it the most.

 

I ahve often thought that every yellow pages derived job must go to the one who made a mistake with the pricing, so thats a whole market share of work lost to underpricing.

 

All these jobs mentioned in this thread would have gone to someone else if you had all priced it correctly and put in a correct price and in most cases the correct price wont win the job.

 

Bang on Rupe. Especially the 2nd & 3rd paragraph.

[Djvicke1]

I'm glad theres a thread on this..

 

I've just started doing a few self employed jobs and I'm definately learning pricing the hard way.. Looked at a large oak that had been brought down in the wind, farmer wanted it all ringed up in 8inch pieces to split. When I looked at it all the brash was still on and didn't realise until I cut my way into it how much this disguised the size of the tree! Next time I will be sure to have a good look at it

 

Also It's amazing how branches/brash/green waste seem to double in size once they're on the ground...

 

I always feel under pressure to quote on the spot and totally forget that clear up takes just as long if not longer than the cutting.

 

On a similar note can anyone suggest a good price per hour for doing chainsaw work for farmers, no climbing involved just cutting back mixed field hedges/small trees, and logging up fallen trees etc?

[Mark Bolam]

Good for you or the farmer?

 

 

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[Djvicke1]

Good for you or the farmer?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

 

Hopefully both, I've charged £8 an hour previously including fuel etc and it felt too cheap. He wants me back to fall some large leaning ash trees in autumn and probably will expect the same price, I don't have much experiemce though so might pass it on to a mate who works on utilities with a bit more experience and who knows how to price better

[detritus21]

Hopefully both, I've charged £8 an hour previously including fuel etc and it felt too cheap. He wants me back to fall some large leaning ash trees in autumn and probably will expect the same price, I don't have much experiemce though so might pass it on to a mate who works on utilities with a bit more experience and who knows how to price better

 

That is cheap specially if using own fuel. £10 an hour would be getting closer.

[Steve Bullman]

That is cheap specially if using own fuel. £10 an hour would be getting closer.

 

My cleaner chargers £10 an hour and doesn't even bring a chainsaw.

 

£12 an hour

[eggsarascal]

The country's gone mad.

[daveindales]

Avoid hourly charges if you can. Charge by the day or half day, especially if your dealing with farmers.

[Mortimer Firewood]

Hire a man and saw here it's £15.00 an hour in my eyes that's about righ any less and your not making anything. Usually farm trees involve big saws that drink fuel