Is it right to make BIG mark up's on parts ?? Think I'm being had off by the spark.

[marlinspike]

His ONLY mistake was telling a porky pie about the cost of the things.

In my view, he didn't just lie about the cost. He led the OP to believe he was getting a better product than he actually was. He has inflated the cost of the parts, presumably so he can reduce the quoted labour price and make himself look better value than he is. I think that is quite dishonest.

Customers do expect a mark up, though I have had several guys do work on our house who have charged the goods at cost and given me the invoices. I am talking about kitchen units and bathrooms, not small stuff.

 

[Richard.]

Yes he should of been more straight up. IMO he does not need to tell anyone what he paid for the goods but when/if the question arises he should of said "these lights can be sourced for around the £50 mark but there are other costs I need to cover on a supply and fit job" and if he then explained some of those costs the OP would of realised that it's not unreasonable to make £300 on top to cover those costs and turn a profit.
Mark up is never fixed its dependent on the job.
Some jobs can as simple as supplying a fuse for around the cost of 20p but if you don't know how to fit it yourself you would not have a problem paying someone a couple of quid for the fuse and a half hours labour to fit it for peace of mind it's done correctly. That's a mark up of 1000%
Do the lights do what he says they do, are they led out side security lights built to the quality standards as promised. Are they the brand he promised, are they fitted tidy and secure and wired in correctly. Do they look as you expected on your house. If yes is the answer to all that then you have done just fine out of this. I've used contractors before and people have ask me if I would recommend them. Usually I say he was expensive but the work he did was excellent so yes I would.

 

[Westfield-builder]

It would be interesting to know what the O/P does for a living, and if there is any and what % mark up in his line of work.

 

[MattF]

It would be interesting to know what the O/P does for a living, and if there is any and what % mark up in his line of work.

I don't think it's so much the cost as the way things are done. There's approaching things in a professional manner and just making it clear that someone is paying for your time, expertise and quality of work, and then there's the type who just seem to do things in an under-handed manner, even when there's no need.

 

[ajlelectronics]

It would be interesting to know what the O/P does for a living, and if there is any and what % mark up in his line of work.

Well if I am correct, he works for a BMW motorcycle main dealer. That being the case, I will let you know what I get charged for a 36000 mile service on my K1200 next week. You can bet your life that it will be eye watering.

 

[Richard.]

Ooh that's interesting I wonder if he can do me a fab deal on an s1000rr

 

[cecotto479]

Yes he should of been more straight up. IMO he does not need to tell anyone what he paid for the goods but when/if the question arises he should of said "these lights can be sourced for around the £50 mark but there are other costs I need to cover on a supply and fit job" and if he then explained some of those costs the OP would of realised that it's not .......

Come on Richard, please, it's "would/should have", not, "of".

 

[Richard.]

There are reading people and doing people. No prizes for guessing what I am

 

[wheresmejumper]

It might be the norm in other professions?
The amount of units, and the actual price of the goods comes into the matter.if it is one light at fifty quid, then charging 100 isnt too bad relative to time spent getting and fitting the light, knowledge of what fitting to get, consumables, van costs,tool/equipment depreciation factors etc.charging 100 each for 6 fittings isnt justifiable. It takes the same time to decide on what fitting to get, to retrieve them, to plan the job, marginally the same for consumables, for be it 1 light or 10.
Replacing a fuse and charging a few quid for it makes minimal difference to the bill.the customer isnt getting shafted.it is justifiable and relative.
Whether the bill is £40.15 or £42.00 isnt going to rob any customer or make any electrician rich.
at the end of the day its down to common sense.every honest spark knows it.

there could be a perfectly valid reason for the cost of this bill though, and the prices charged.a job is rarely as simple as how it looks on paper.its a one sided story without hearing his side

 

[cecotto479]

I just don't see the issue.

A supply and fit price was AGREED. The contractor supplied and fitted as AGREED. The customer paid as AGREED. The customer is happy with the work and the parts fitted.

I wish all business transactions were so straightforward. Where's the issue?

Because the customer could have bought similar items online cheaper?

When a potential customer tells me that Joe Bloggs is selling the same stuff cheaper, my invariable response is, "That's where to buy them then."

 

[Robotstar5]

When a potential customer tells me that Joe Bloggs is selling the same stuff cheaper, my invariable response is, "That's where to buy them then."

If a customer wants something they've supplied installed, I would install it to manufacturers specs, but if there is a warranty issue tell them "don't bother calling me"

 

[brightspark]

If a customer wants something they've supplied installed, I would install it to manufacturers specs, but if there is a warranty issue tell them "don't bother calling me"

all i say is to punters they supply there own gear and it goes faulty i want paying for the hour to take it out and another hour to refit it when they get the replacment or i will supply it at higher cost and its free relacement if it goes wrong under warranty . i only supply good gear that hardly gives any bother

 

[brightspark]

ive just had a new boiler fitted the lads did a good job and didnt over charge on there labour . the boiler and pipework seemed over the top to what i could have got it for but i wasnt prepaired to go source it all myself and waste the day otherwise i would have lost 200 quid taking the day off