ajlelectronics
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 8,674
- Location
- Gloucester, England
Theres no way I would be grubbing about welding a car for £20 an hour, you can sit at home and loose money
Or you could sit at home and re-tighten it.
Theres no way I would be grubbing about welding a car for £20 an hour, you can sit at home and loose money
did u laugh at him and say close the door behind you on the way outI gave up welding cars as it’s involved work and no one wants to pay. I always quote for 3 times more than I can see, because inevitably it’s going to get much worse before it gets better by the time I’ve cleaned it back to decent(ish) tin.
As others have said, TELL them the price and don’t entertain haggling. I’ve picked up the grinder before today and told a knobby customer that I’ll happily cut out what I’ve done so they can take it elsewhere, amazing how quickly they can suddenly afford the price quoted.
Last guy I quoted for scoffed and said he could get it done cheaper at his mates garage, so off he went. Came back not long after though when the towbar ripped through the rotten rear 1/4 chassis on his disco and peeled the half tacked/ half siliconed “repairs” he’d been charged 350 quid for.
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?
No but I charged him more to undo the absolute state of the “repairs” and make it safe. Didn’t do any more work for him though, bloke was a liability and it amazes me he hasn’t killed someone yet with his or his mates handiworkdid u laugh at him and say close the door behind you on the way out
Hers some pictures basically built the shell
View attachment 427968 View attachment 427969 View attachment 427970 View attachment 427971 View attachment 427972 View attachment 427973
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 dicksIf
If surrounded by dicks I’d play whack a mole!
This is a tough one. Money aside something is going wrong here, there are some top notch guys out there with some amazing skill sets but are lousy with customer relations. Nobody can tell you what to charge because only you know the limits within your area and client base. Might be an idea to draw up some terms and conditions and get a bit creative with your invoicing, you could easily stay the same on the hourly rate and then dial in workshop consumables/expenses, a typical 8 hour day @£20 an hour could be £160 + £60 worth of detailed extras. Then hand over the invoicing/money chasing to your partner and divorce yourself from that side of things.
Bob
Last guy I quoted for scoffed and said he could get it done cheaper at his mates garage, so off he went. Came back not long after though when the towbar ripped through the rotten rear 1/4 chassis on his disco and peeled the half tacked/ half siliconed “repairs” he’d been charged 350 quid for.
Great uncle owned a top level coach builders from the 70s thru early 00’s. The reputation was such that people would come from anywhere in the country to have work done there as it was flawless. Unfortunately he developed dementia and his son took over, sacked the top quality panel beaters and took on panel fitters instead. Place was gone inside 18 monthsPeople are prepared to travel to get their cars restored if you have the right reputation. Its not uncommon to have cars shipped overseas to have work done. I've had people hundreds of miles away because you are the right person to do the job for them.
So having no one local prepared to pay your prices isn't always a problem.
Do great work, show the worlds it's great on social media and the customers will find you
When I did my apprenticeship back in the late '70s, there was an ancient old fella (must have been at least 60) there been doing coachwork all his life. He could straighten creased panels with a torch and wet towels like magic. Never seen anyone able to do it since. Never in a hurry and never lost his temper.Great uncle owned a top level coach builders from the 70s thru early 00’s. The reputation was such that people would come from anywhere in the country to have work done there as it was flawless. Unfortunately he developed dementia and his son took over, sacked the top quality panel beaters and took on panel fitters instead. Place was gone inside 18 months