New here

[DuckButter]

Self employed plumber here,
Just registered in hopes that this forum is ok with licensed pro's to exchange idea's and not cater to DIY freebies (geesh it's Ridgid afterall).
Made the mistake of joining another forum and was all of ostricized for suggesting folks hire a plumber when they ask questions about installing/modifying gas fixtures or large jobs that need experience.
I 'm a sole proprietor, so it's a small chunk of sanity to be able to "talk shop", but there are only so many trips I can make to the local supplier.
(feel free to rag on my choice of names...I have a sense of humor
s 'why I chose it...for those who know)

[westcoastplumber]

Self employed plumber here,
Just registered in hopes that this forum is ok with licensed pro's to exchange idea's and not cater to DIY freebies (geesh it's Ridgid afterall).
Made the mistake of joining another forum and was all of ostricized for suggesting folks hire a plumber when they ask questions about installing/modifying gas fixtures or large jobs that need experience.
I 'm a sole proprietor, so it's a small chunk of sanity to be able to "talk shop", but there are only so many trips I can make to the local supplier.
(feel free to rag on my choice of names...I have a sense of humor
s 'why I chose it...for those who know)

Welcome to the forum. I too am a licensed plumber and a sole proprietor, many of us are in here, we welcome you .

[freddy]

Welcome aboard hang on for the ride hope your not offended to easy:D:)

[gear junkie]

Good having you here. I'm sure you'll make a welcome addition. Mars?? Is that East or West Coast?

[DuckButter]

Welcome aboard hang on for the ride hope your not offended to easy:D:)

I'm ugly, smell like a toilet, garlic breath and I mumble to myself in basements...whats to insult?

[DuckButter]

Good having you here. I'm sure you'll make a welcome addition. Mars?? Is that East or West Coast?
My wife says it...I'm actually on the east coast...north east

[drtyhands]

Hey D/B,

Welcome,and no you won't be looked upon ina negative light.We here like to suggest the DIY'S hire a qualified entity before changing their shorts,as it could be a hazard;)

Hope you enjoy it here as much as our regulars.Sir Dog shall be along shortly for a groin check,how are you with the canines?:p

Adam

[DuckButter]

Box o' milk-bones under the front seat

[Crappy days]

Duckbutter, welcome to the forum. As stated earlier hope you don't become offended easily. There are allot of us who are self employed with different views and thoughts on just about everything. We help one another more then we bicker , so thats the important thing. So do you flat rate:) or charge time and material :eek::eek::eek:...........Oh on second thought you might not want to answer that . Once again welcome.

[drtyhands]

Box o' milk-bones under the front seat
Perfect,
We freaked an apprentice out while working out of town years ago.He made the mistake of passing out while we continued to consume alchohol.Well when he woke up,did you know duck butter isn't water solluable.I swore he was walking strange the next day.NO IT WASN'T WHAT YOU THINK:eek:

[DuckButter]

Duckbutter, welcome to the forum. As stated earlier hope you don't become offended easily. There are allot of us who are self employed with different views and thoughts on just about everything. We help one another more then we bicker , so thats the important thing. So do you flat rate:) or charge time and material :eek::eek::eek:...........Oh on second thought you might not want to answer that . Once again welcome.


I'd leave dissapointed if everyone agreed...the idea is to debate and learn.
I usually do flat rates on things that are common...on the unpredictable "There's a leak and I dunno where it's coming from" type jobs I go the hourly route of course.
Had a customer call me tonight and ask "How much to install a double basin with dispoasl, dishwasher and gas stove?"
I gave her a price, then she asks "How much just for the stove".
I gave the same price.

[Crappy days]

DB, I also flat rate to some degree. That was a loaded question, as there are many members who do not care for us flat raters..............So I would ask all the other members to beat me up for this just for tonight. Since DB didn't know how hot this subject is............Sorry I just couldn't resist stirring the pot.:p:p:p

[DuckButter]

Perfect,
We freaked an apprentice out while working out of town years ago.He made the mistake of passing out while we continued to consume alchohol.Well when he woke up,did you know duck butter isn't water solluable.I swore he was walking strange the next day.NO IT WASN'T WHAT YOU THINK:eek:


YEah, but at least he had BOTH eyebrows

[DuckButter]

DB, I also flat rate to some degree. That was a loaded question, as there are many members who do not care for us flat raters..............So I would ask all the other members to beat me up for this just for tonight. Since DB didn't know how hot this subject is............Sorry I just couldn't resist stirring the pot.:p:p:p

Works out good...customers are happy to at least know in advance what they'll get hit with, and if you know your pricing, you make out better than hourly. So many jobs are the same thing over and over it's almost an imposition to keep track of how long you're there, just quote a flat rate that you know covers the usual time/stock, make sure you let them know it doesn't include extra's...problems with existing plumbing etc.

[westcoastplumber]

Works out good...customers are happy to at least know in advance what they'll get hit with, and if you know your pricing, you make out better than hourly. So many jobs are the same thing over and over it's almost an imposition to keep track of how long you're there, just quote a flat rate that you know covers the usual time/stock, make sure you let them know it doesn't include extra's...problems with existing plumbing etc.


OH MAN, I THINK THIS IS THE START OF ANOTHER FLAT RATE
DISCUSSION:eek: THE SH** IS ABOUT TO HIT THE FAN:D

[drtyhands]

DB, I also flat rate to some degree. That was a loaded question, as there are many members who do not care for us flat raters..............So I would ask all the other members to beat me up for this just for tonight. Since DB didn't know how hot this subject is............Sorry I just couldn't resist stirring the pot.:p:p:p
HISSSSSS....FFFFFFTT:mad:;)

[Crappy days]

Once again I am sorry I just couldn't resist.:D:D:D

[Crappy days]

I hope I did'nt scare Duck Butter off.:o:

[apf]

Hey Duck , welcome . Contractor/sole proprieter here . You guys shouldn't get started on pricing .................:(

[DuckButter]

RUT-ROH RORGE!

In all honesty...I'll take insult if thats the price to hear alternate idea's on flat rate vs hourly...that's why I'm here...exchange idea's with peers.
(insults' a heck of alot cheaper, less time consuming than the alternative...plus I get a chuckle, free of charge)
You might teach me something, I might teach you something, but I know I DON'T know everything!

[Bogart]

I am new too. One man band with delusions of grandeur. I charge 90 an hour and am thinking about going to 120 or flat rate.

[gear junkie]

Good going Crappy, see what you started.

[DuckButter]

So far, what I see is civil disagreement...no name calling or serious insult.
Not as bad here as you might think..(I hope)

[gear junkie]

I meant it as a joke. By all means; let the discussion begin. I do flat rate and am happy with my decision. Who's next?

[westcoastplumber]

I do flat rate also, and am happy with it, more importantly, so are my repeat customers;)

[DuckButter]

I do flat rate also, and am happy with it, more importantly, so are my repeat customers;)

To add...they like that they know what the bill is before they get it.

[westcoastplumber]

I am new too. One man band with delusions of grandeur. I charge 90 an hour and am thinking about going to 120 or flat rate.


I have a question, how can you charge 90 an hour when your average income is 44,000 in your location. This means I can charge approx 130 an hour here in los angeles, where the medium income has to be 100,000, to survive, the properties average 500,000+ Are you very busy on a day to day basis? not trying to insult or be rude or anything of the like, just trying to understand geographics better.

[Bogart]

I can charge 90 because people pay it. I am not really making money. I am too busy for what I am making. The highest plumber in my area is at 120. Non-union. Then there are a couple of clown outfits 10 miles south and 10 miles west that charge 50. There are a couple of flat rates that charge about 230-240 per hour, one franchise and two independants. They are about 25-35miles north of me, but they get calls down here. So, I need to get serious about having a life outside my business and either raise rates by rasing the hourly or going flatrate.

[westcoastplumber]

I am flat rate. I would rather run 5 calls a day, do a great job on them and save my health, then have to run 10 calls a day, work late, and not have a family life. :D:D

[Bogart]

Robert,
I here ya man. This month has been nuts. I usually do service, but I had one school job of replacing fixtures that took a week, and another for a school district testing rpz's that took a week. I was catching calls on my way home till 10 or 11 almost every night. Like I said, I want a life outside of plumbing.