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11-19-2009, 07:06 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 44
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Are You Still Estimating Jobs?
I am just curious how many others are feeling the same way. With this horrible economy I am less and less willing to bid or quote jobs. It has gotten to the point where I do not want to waste my time because I know there are on average 7 or 8 other contractors chasing the same job. For the commercial guys out there, I am sure you are aware of how much time and effort it takes to bid some of these jobs. I used to bid alot of jobs when the economy was good,however, less and less with this economy.
As far as homeowners go, I will not even waste my time if I feel they are price shopping, because it is so cut throat right now.
It is really sad what this once great trade has come to.
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11-19-2009, 07:27 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: us
Posts: 696
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Doesn't sound like you're gonna be workin' much 
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11-19-2009, 07:33 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 19
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Right now its really bad. I make it a rule of thumb to give contractors only three bids. After that you can tell they are using your bids to price shop. I also only give out bids to out of town contractors. No local guys, if they are local in your area, they probably already have their subs they work with all the time, and are using your bid to bring his bid down lower. After all if you give your same sub all your work, hell think hes the only guy in town. Thus raising his prices, thats when your lower bid comes in, to lower his.
__________________
 It is what it is!!!
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11-19-2009, 07:36 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcclary's electrical
Doesn't sound like you're gonna be workin' much |
We aren't working very much now!!. However there reaches a point where you just can't go any lower, and excessive competition does just that.
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11-19-2009, 07:58 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,137
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its survival of the fittest and It sounds like you are giving up.....
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11-19-2009, 08:19 PM
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#6
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bored member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Posts: 3,175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captkirk
its survival of the fittest and It sounds like you are giving up.....
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yeah good for us rats.
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11-19-2009, 09:00 PM
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#7
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 947
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I bid several projects last month and have bid several this month so I know the work is out their.
I just recieved a call about a job I bid back in 08 that now they are ready to move on and want to meet with me next week.
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11-19-2009, 09:01 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BuzzKill
yeah good for us rats.
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I've heard mention of these rats. What does it mean? Is it unlicensed contractors.
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It is what it is!!!
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11-19-2009, 09:11 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,137
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AllStar
I've heard mention of these rats. What does it mean? Is it unlicensed contractors.
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Non Union guys....They (Union boys) call us rats because we are following our country's capitalist system... go figure. Funny thing is I dont care if they are union but they seem to have a big problem with us. We are able to get more work because we dont have a big "politbureau" to prop up or officials and bureaucrats to pay.
Last edited by captkirk; 11-19-2009 at 09:13 PM.
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11-19-2009, 09:16 PM
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#10
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 947
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captkirk
Non Union guys....They (Union boys) call us rats because we are following our country's capitalist system... go figure. Funny thing is I dont care if they are union but they seem to have a big problem with us. We are able to get more work because we dont have a big "politbureau" to prop up or officials and bureaucrats to pay.
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and they work cheap  
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11-19-2009, 09:37 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,137
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Your right, that's exactly why I went into business. I basically do it for the exercise................. 
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11-19-2009, 09:43 PM
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#12
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Licensed RAT
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 785
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rewire
and they work cheap |
yep........
__________________
Clinton ruined a dress,Obama ruined a nation...
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11-19-2009, 09:46 PM
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#13
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el abogado del diablo
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: belly of the beast
Posts: 1,347
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oddly, my non-union guys cost me 2x rewires union men...must be real cheap living in the ozarks...
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11-19-2009, 09:54 PM
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#14
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 947
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldman
oddly, my non-union guys cost me 2x rewires union men...must be real cheap living in the ozarks...
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And the non union guys are even cheaper but it all depends on your area a reidential wireman package is around $22.00/hr insidewireman package is around $40.00/hr non union residential/commercial ranges from $ 9.00-$15.00 with the average being $12.00 no bennies no holidays no vacation
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11-19-2009, 09:56 PM
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#15
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el abogado del diablo
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: belly of the beast
Posts: 1,347
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see, up here, union B men (residential) are about $28/hr total package..my non-union resi guys were about $33-35/hr total package...but the union couldn't get me service guys....
A men are $75/hr total package...non-union are $40-50/hr.....
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11-20-2009, 04:23 AM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 44
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Forget Union/Non Union. The issue here is contractors are just cutting each other throats. They are creating an artificially low market by cropping prices more and more. Cutomers/clients are making it worse by taking so many bids.
For some reason, I do not ever remember seeing 7 or 8 plumbers bidding a job and cutting throats. They always seem to hold their prices and most plumbers I have seen bid a job is 4 maybe.
Guess electriicans are a dime a dozen nowadays, just like painters and carpenters
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11-20-2009, 07:19 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Raleigh NC
Posts: 180
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Sad. If we would all just hold the line at a certain minimum it would be better. There was ad on top of this website for a an electrician in Raleigh that charges 50$ an hour and 20$ trip charge. I want to scream at him to up his rates. How does he make money like that. It's not worth it for me to run a EC business for that money!!!
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11-20-2009, 08:29 AM
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#18
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 947
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldman
see, up here, union B men (residential) are about $28/hr total package..my non-union resi guys were about $33-35/hr total package...but the union couldn't get me service guys....
A men are $75/hr total package...non-union are $40-50/hr.....
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how does the non union resi package break down?
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11-20-2009, 09:32 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Hollis Center Maine
Posts: 190
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gptechelec, I have cut way back on what projects I am willing to bid. I am being far more selective these days than in days past. I find myself looking to bid the projects that fall more under a specialty type of project, (high voltage, controls, alarm systems) things like that, this tends to weed out a few of the competitors.
I went to a pre-bid last Thursday for a 60,000sq ft commercial renovation project. 15 other electrical contractors joined me at the pre-bid, needless to say I am not wasting my time on this one. I would love to see the days of 4 or 5 contractors bidding projects again. Pick and choose, stick with your current clients and hang in their, this can't last forever. Can it?
__________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.
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11-20-2009, 12:51 PM
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#20
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Licensed RAT
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 785
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rewire
how does the non union resi package break down?
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Who cares you jerk off.
This ain't a god damn union topic.
THIS IS WHY THERE ARE SO MANY ARE ON HERE WITH RAT'S ON OUR PROFILES AND ALL THIS FIGHTING HAS BEEN GOING ON.
IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU REWIRE.
I AM SO SICK OF THIS UNION CRAP.
YOU REVIVE OLD THREADS,TURN EVERY THREAD INTO A UNION VRS NON UNION FIGHT.
GROW UP OLD MAN!!!!!
__________________
Clinton ruined a dress,Obama ruined a nation...
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