Trouble getting payment and no thanks or respect for my work

[whensparksfly]

I've been work on cars for 20years welding and fabrication I put a huge effort into my work but I find no matter what I do I'm wrong they complain I'm too slow I'm too expensive or then nit picking my work even when it hasn't a problem what do people charge per hour I charge 20pound and do people feel about there customers?

 

[Barking Mat]

You charge £20 an hour ? And people complain ????????

Double or triple that.

Unless you work cash in hand no tax. I'd still want 25 / 30.

Tell them to go somewhere else FFS.

 

[Barking Mat]

If* I worked on the black, I'd want 35 an hour, for short jobs, a morning, a day. You want a week, I'll go down a bit, client pays consumables, lunches ideally.

Over here a welder, proper, starts at 70 an hour, declared, before tax.

* I don't do cash in hand. It's hypothetical, obviously. Honest...

 

[whensparksfly]

I suffered bad this last few year with my mental health and had a few bad costumer s I've lost all my confidence because of them

 

[Barking Mat]

I suffered bad this last few year with my mental health and had a few bad costumer s I've lost all my confidence because of them

Ooph, do you do a good job ?

Does it fix the problem ?

Not many people willing to weld people's (I assume) cars, double your rates, get rid of anuses.

 

[whensparksfly]

I do as good a job as the next person.
Im just I a bad frame of mind and doubting my work just because of a few dicks

 

[chrismac]

Maybe you should consider increasing your price to eliminate those who are not will to pay for what sounds like someone who is trying to do a good job.
Hope you get over this period sooner rather than later.

Best of luck.

Edited, same reply as above I was just slower at typing.

 

[Barking Mat]

Are you paying your wire, leccy, gas ? Ooh ?

 

[Barking Mat]

Sounds like your getting shafted by ungrateful tossers.

 

[whensparksfly]

I do add materials sometimes but sometimes I don't even bother

 

[minimutly]

I suffered bad this last few year with my mental health and had a few bad costumer s I've lost all my confidence because of them

if you work cheap you work for cheap customers. @Barking Mat is right, triple your charges, work less, add some cherry on top if your new customers appreciate it.
You'll make the same money and work less hours for a more appreciative set of customers.

 

[whensparksfly]

Thank you for your replys

 

[Keith 66]

Cheapskates are a fact of life. It isnt worth working for them. When i started self employed in 84 I charged 10 to 12 quid an hour which was about the going rate for a chippy. But £12 an hour back in 1984 equates to £37.35 an hour today. So if you are charging less you are effectively losing over a third of your money. I found that if you only do cheap work thats all you get. Good work costs.
Saying that I did have some real lean times when people simply wouldnt pay, but in the end i still got enough good jobs to keep going.

 

[Barking Mat]

If you're not billing for leccy, gas, wire, disks, wear and tear on tools, you'd probably be better off in Lidl.

Sounds harsh, apologies, but all the above is costing you money, which comes off your 20 quid an hour, and nowadays 15 quid doesn't get you far.

Double your rates, recommend to anuses a standard garage which charges xxx an hour plus vat, and see what clients want to remain friendly.

Is this your only income ?

Maybe gradual price hikes, everyone else is doing it.

 

[Pete.]

As above, do a decent job, charge a decent price. TELL people what the price will be and do it in writing then stick with it. If they whinge straight away tell them I'm sorry but I'm too busy take it somewhere else. Do all this and you'll feel better about yourself and be better off too. Once people realise you're not to be messed with they'll settle down and stop trying it on.

Don't ever under-value yourself. Don't give credit, don't let them knock you down, don't let them take the job away without paying. If you do any of those you'll label yourself as a soft touch.

 

[Erie Fred]

post up a few pix of your work.

I agree with the above, had a friend that patched up old cars, this was before all the pre-made replacement parts came about.
Old cars are owned by cheap people.
They are cheap for a reason, don't cater to them.

Always estimate high, so the price comes in under the estimate, customers feel they have 'won".

Make damn sure you write "estimate only" on your written estimate, no more arm waves, or verbal pricing.
Make up a estimate form, with rules on the back to cover yourself.
Have the customer sign the form if you get the work.
Make a line item "cost not to exceed" and have the customer put in a number, you stop all work
and call them if you hit that number.
Any changes (like exceeding) is written on the same contract, and signed (again) by the customer.

Don't hard quote work that is too variable (don't see half the work until you dig in and start cutting)

 

[Barking Mat]

Some fine advice people, good stuff.

Don't let the b&stards grind you down @whensparksfly .

 

[whensparksfly]

Thank you much appreciated

 

[whensparksfly]

Hers some pictures basically built the shell

 

[Barking Mat]

I'll be honest, I can't afford to take my car to a garage, as the labour fees are savage, I don't want to spend a day doing mechanics on my car, but if I have to, I will. But things are tight at the moment, so I understand, but if I could have someone welding my car for 40 an hour I'd be chuffed, if I didn't have the skills or equipment.

Skills and equipment, for God's sake alone, are worth 40 an hour.