Breaking out material and labor - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

Chris1971 · 05-01-2012, 09:12 AM

Customer wants me to give a line item of just the generator and the transfer switch and then break out the remaining labor and material separate. Don't quite like that idea. He kept asking if the generator dealer was offering any spring specials. Sounds like he's price shopping.

3xdad · 05-01-2012, 09:27 AM

If you are the dealer, make the sale. If not, consider letting the customer experience the ordering, purchasing and delivery of the exact model you want so he can earn the good deal that he sees online.

After it is set up on a pad to your specs, show up and install.

Just a thought, otherwise, no itemizing.

HARRY304E · 05-01-2012, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1971

Customer wants me to give a line item of just the generator and the transfer switch and then break out the remaining labor and material separate. Don't quite like that idea. He kept asking if the generator dealer was offering any spring specials. Sounds like he's price shopping.

Just jack up your prices to cover all the extra paper work....

magneticpersona · 05-01-2012, 01:15 PM

I used to itemize in the beginning and found that it took way too much time and i didnt have enough room on my invoice pad anyways! now i setup my bills with 2 categories: materials which i write down with an added price and labor with the hours at my rate with a price. Then i make a grand total with taxes.

nobody questions me on my markups anymore!

3xdad · 05-01-2012, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magneticpersona

I used to itemize in the beginning and found that it took way too much time and i didnt have enough room on my invoice pad anyways! now i setup my bills with 2 categories: materials which i write down with an added price and labor with the hours at my rate with a price. Then i make a grand total with taxes.

nobody questions me on my markups anymore!

i have found this works in certain cases also. It actually gives them an idea of how much equipment can be. (customer.."you mean you don't just sh*t out the parts and all the money is yours to keep?")

FWIW, magnetic.....Looks like a typo on your home page. "Plectrical" Unless that's something i've never heard of.

Dnkldorf · 05-01-2012, 02:07 PM

So let him price shop.

Give him a line item price for the generator and transfer switch.

Line 2-100 would list materials, and one bulk price for all of it.

line 101 would be labor amount.

I wouldn't list prices for every item in lines 2-100.

FWIW

Oh, and his specials are, .....................he has them in stock right now. No waiting, and no price gouging when the next storm hits.

B4T · 05-01-2012, 08:40 PM

I have no problem giving line item pricing.. but I never separate labor from material..

All of my operating costs of doing business are figured into my labor costs and what those costs are is nobody's business..

Same as what I pay for parts..

Try walking into Outback Steak House and asking them what a 8 oz. piece of fillet mignon costs.. what they pay for it..

The same goes for us.. those kind of demands should be brought up at the beginning of the job so you can tell the guy/gal to find someone else..

Magnettica · 05-01-2012, 09:28 PM

If I was the OP I'd stand my ground on price. The advantage in hiring you is he will be hiring a professional. If your proposal is clear to what it is you plan to do, boom, just list the size and type generator, ATS, ground and bond to code, permit and inspection, and a total price.