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View Poll Results: What will you do a free stimate for? Multiple choices okay
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Large Construction
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13 |
21.67% |
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Medium New Construction
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13 |
21.67% |
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Small New Construcstion
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16 |
26.67% |
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Large Remodel
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17 |
28.33% |
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Small Remodel
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15 |
25.00% |
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Panel
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18 |
30.00% |
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Circuits added
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16 |
26.67% |
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Multiple small jobs (fixtures, plug replacements)
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15 |
25.00% |
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Power Issues
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6 |
10.00% |
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Ill do free estimates for anything, its a business expense
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43 |
71.67% |
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05-25-2012, 12:07 AM
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#1
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Resi Service Electrician
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: California
Posts: 1,257
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Free Estimates..
What is the smallest job you are willing to "give a free estimate" on?
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"Understand one thing every one has a place in this trade, and no matter what your skill set I doubt you know it all." brian john 
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05-25-2012, 12:20 AM
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#2
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Mad Skills
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NJ
Posts: 4,331
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Is this a free poll?
__________________
póg mo thóin
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05-25-2012, 12:22 AM
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#3
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Heavily Armed Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Fascistchusetts
Posts: 29,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Celtic
Is this a free poll?
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No $160.00 please... 
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05-25-2012, 12:30 AM
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#4
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Wire Ninja
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Beautiful Cumberland Valley, in PA
Posts: 16,794
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Pretty much anything, depending on how busy things are. The face-to-face meeting is the best way to close sales. If things are busy enough, I can phone quote simple stuff like hang a light, add a receptacle, hang a fan, etc, but I'd actually rather even see that work in person. The 'free estimate', to me, is less about giving estimates and more about salesmanship.
__________________
One reason not to give DIY advice:
Catch a man a fish and you can sell it to him.
Teach a man to fish and you’ve ruined a good business opportunity.
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05-25-2012, 12:40 AM
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#5
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Resi Service Electrician
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: California
Posts: 1,257
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by MDShunk
Pretty much anything, depending on how busy things are. The face-to-face meeting is the best way to close sales. If things are busy enough, I can phone quote simple stuff like hang a light, add a receptacle, hang a fan, etc, but I'd actually rather even see that work in person. The 'free estimate', to me, is less about giving estimates and more about salesmanship.
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That's pretty much how we do it. It is frustrating when someone wants you to give a "free estimate" for something so ridiculously small though. I do it a lot mostly because it gains us a new customer and they may need other work. The power issues free estimate inquiries almost piss me off though.
__________________
"Understand one thing every one has a place in this trade, and no matter what your skill set I doubt you know it all." brian john
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05-25-2012, 06:25 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 11,533
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what i hate is folks trying to bully me into phone estimates without knowing what they have for a job ~CS~
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05-25-2012, 08:05 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NH
Posts: 22
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No free estimates for really small jobs and repairs of unknown or not obvious problems. Those calls get a flat fee for the 1st hr to troubleshoot and a flat price quote if it takes longer.
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05-25-2012, 08:36 AM
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#8
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ET Road Warrior
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Long Island, N.Y.
Posts: 27,297
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I go out for anything.. it is more about getting my foot in the door than just the one estimate..
If people like you from the beginning.. that relationship will longer than most marriages.. 
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There comes a time when people who volunteer their service need to step back and see if it is better for them to retire. A red flag is when they become "cranky" and lose all sense of reality by making decisions that really don't make any sense..
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05-25-2012, 12:05 PM
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#9
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Conservitum Americum
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,836
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B4T
I go out for anything.. it is more about getting my foot in the door than just the one estimate..
If people like you from the beginning.. that relationship will longer than most marriages.. |
I have liked you from the beginning.
__________________
There are 10 types of people.
Those who understand binary and those who don't.
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05-25-2012, 05:04 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Simi Valley, Ca.
Posts: 2,447
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In theory, I'm done with "free" estimates, however, in practice I still do 'em. I am going to be transitioning to a $35 (in-town) dispatch fee to new customers, which will be included in the invoice if I get the work. $45 for out of towners.
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Amazing love, how can it be, that you, my King, would die for me?
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05-25-2012, 05:44 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 9,895
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B W E
In theory, I'm done with "free" estimates, however, in practice I still do 'em. I am going to be transitioning to a $35 (in-town) dispatch fee to new customers, which will be included in the invoice if I get the work. $45 for out of towners.
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I have a job here for you to look at. It will only cost me $45.00. 
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05-25-2012, 07:17 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 760
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B W E
In theory, I'm done with "free" estimates, however, in practice I still do 'em. I am going to be transitioning to a $35 (in-town) dispatch fee to new customers, which will be included in the invoice if I get the work. $45 for out of towners.
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I made the transition a few years ago (residential service). Where is the "None of the above" choice.
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05-25-2012, 07:34 PM
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#13
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"small potatoes"
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Tralfamadore
Posts: 914
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MDShunk
Pretty much anything, depending on how busy things are. The face-to-face meeting is the best way to close sales. If things are busy enough, I can phone quote simple stuff like hang a light, add a receptacle, hang a fan, etc, but I'd actually rather even see that work in person. The 'free estimate', to me, is less about giving estimates and more about salesmanship.
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What he said...
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"It is as impossible to withhold education from the receptive mind, as it is impossible to force it upon the unreasoning." Agnes Repplier, American essayist
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05-25-2012, 07:51 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: somewhere in texas
Posts: 370
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All estimates are free but the lowest price I can do anything for is my service charge fee. So I tell them estimates are free but you will not get any estimate no mater how easy fix my seem that will be lower than service charge. This way they are aware before I waste my time going out there.
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05-25-2012, 07:58 PM
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#15
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Journeyman
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Chi-Town Burbs
Posts: 631
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Free estimates for anything except trouble calls. I tell them before I Hang up it will cost you xxx.xx to come out and tell you what the problem is then I will give you a free estimate to fix the found problem. 9 out of 10 say ok.
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05-28-2012, 01:01 PM
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#16
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PGW Professional
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Rahway, NJ
Posts: 12,779
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by chicken steve
what i hate is folks trying to bully me into phone estimates without knowing what they have for a job ~CS~
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When they call and they say, "I'm looking for a price," I'll shout a very high number. That person is price shopping and I'm never getting the job anyhow. Might as well set the bar high.
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05-29-2012, 06:21 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 9,895
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Magnettica
When they call and they say, "I'm looking for a price," I'll shout a very high number. That person is price shopping and I'm never getting the job anyhow. Might as well set the bar high.
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I agree 100%. Why settle for less.
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05-29-2012, 07:27 PM
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#18
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Conservitum Americum
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,836
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[quote=Magnettica;726084]When they call and they say, "I'm looking for a price,"/quote]
Then I say I'm looking for a profit. If we set down at a table and both leave smiling it's a good deal.
__________________
There are 10 types of people.
Those who understand binary and those who don't.
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06-04-2012, 07:01 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 166
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MDShunk
Pretty much anything, depending on how busy things are. The face-to-face meeting is the best way to close sales. If things are busy enough, I can phone quote simple stuff like hang a light, add a receptacle, hang a fan, etc, but I'd actually rather even see that work in person. The 'free estimate', to me, is less about giving estimates and more about salesmanship.
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this
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06-04-2012, 11:21 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 273
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by electrictim510
What is the smallest job you are willing to "give a free estimate" on?
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Where is the selection "there is no such thing as a free estimate"?
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