Massively undercut on job! But why?

[Billy]

Looking at the price points it could quite easily be someone more experienced and better kitted out for you doing it in a morning for cash maybe? As £320 for a 2 man team for a day is very cheap, so working on a more realistic £500/ day for 2 guys I could imagine someone going in at £200 for pound notes if they could do it in half a day. Or maybe they're complete cretins and made no money, either way you should charge more ;-)

[Mortimer Firewood]

Yes confidence plays a part prised a job few weeks back, gave the customer a price and she replys how much! I explained the jobs not simple as it was over conservatory roof all needed lowering, so I said please go ahead a get another quote! Did the job last week. She never got another quote, if she did I could of quite easily of lost it.but by being confident and saying get another quote it reassured her that she was getting a good price.

 

I all ways tell the client to get three quotes we get about 6 out of 10 jobs

[Ty Korrigan]

We send out the quotes as a PDF file.

This I am informed prevents clients from 'editing' them to their own ends.

It came about that a client called every ex-pat Arb in the West then came back to us forgetting my face and thinking I was another Brit outfit before flashing our own quote before my eyes with a very much reduced figure at the bottom.

Cheeky git using our Word Document as a bargaining tool...

Needless to say he found some-one to do the job eventually.

I am informed it was a fireman and his mates with a hired in cherry picker.

There were postings on Anglo-info Normandy forum asking if any-one had a chipper to 'lend' him...

 

Ty

[Xaltu]

We send out the quotes as a PDF file.

This I am informed prevents clients from 'editing' them to their own ends.

....

 

This only applies if the security features are enabled. It is quite easy to edit pdf files otherwise. Even then it is is not foolproof if the document is being printed.

[skyhuck]

Verbal quotes cannot be tapered with

[oldwoodcutter]

We all get undercut but its sometimes a bitter pill to swallow when you see someone working on a job you've priced,especially if you're a bit short of work.You know your rates,stick to them ,advertise,and more work will come.

I price a raggedy old connie hedge few weeks ago,to which the customer laughed at and walked away from me. Last saturday morning i was down that neck of the woods,slowed down to see a fellow with an escort van and a trailer,he was standing on his trailer reaching to the top using a pair of shears.

[Ty Korrigan]

Verbal quotes cannot be tapered with

 

As in 'tapered down'...

Ty

[Ian C]

Verbal quotes cannot be tapered with

 

No but you have no proof of what was agreed either.

[hamdogg]

Well £320 for two men and chipper is cheap!! As for the £200, obviously not a proffesional with good kit and insurance!! This is what we're up against, as most home owners wouldn't let Cowboys touch there electrics, plumbing, decorating etc but when it comes to trees and the garden they don't seem so fussy!!!

[aspenarb]

Out of interest how would you guys price to remove 20 mature conifers down a drive with good access. All of them a foot to eighteen inches in diameter at the base and about 25/30 feet tall.Nothing in the way and all arisings to be taken off site. No stumps to be ground.

 

Bob