same day bid

[haycad]

so i just got off the phone with a lady, she wanted a bid on replacing some water lines in her basement. she said that she probably would want all the waterlines replaced while we were in there. she wanted to know if i could come this today. i said no i could come out saturday or monday she said neither would work with her and it needed to get done and than hung up. she calls at 2:55pm on a friday and gets rude when i cant come out today for a bid? :mad: I dont have anything pressing right now but i just crawled out from under a trailer and got cleaned up. but the last thing i want to do is go do a free estimate. if she had a leak or a plugged drain id be there. i just get annoyed with people. they wouldnt expect a mechanic or a dr. to do that why do you expect a plumber and if its so important why wait until 300?:rant-off:

[NHMaster3015]

so i just got off the phone with a lady, she wanted a bid on replacing some water lines in her basement. she said that she probably would want all the waterlines replaced while we were in there. she wanted to know if i could come this today. i said no i could come out saturday or monday she said neither would work with her and it needed to get done and than hung up. she calls at 2:55pm on a friday and gets rude when i cant come out today for a bid? :mad: I dont have anything pressing right now but i just crawled out from under a trailer and got cleaned up. but the last thing i want to do is go do a free estimate. if she had a leak or a plugged drain id be there. i just get annoyed with people. they wouldnt expect a mechanic or a dr. to do that why do you expect a plumber and if its so important why wait until 300?:rant-off:

Not criticizing you bud but Do your really think this is unusual.? If so you either have'nt been in business too long or you have real thin skin.

[haycad]

Not criticizing you bud but Do your really think this is unusual.? If so you either have'nt been in business too long or you have real thin skin.
no ive been in the business long enough and somedays people just bug me more than others, i just get back to back annoying customers and it gets to me im haveing a beer right now so im getting better:)

[DUNBAR]

Beer is good.


Here's the way I callem:


Anyone that's talking price in the first 10 words out of there mouth, I start talking like I got food in my mouth, making all kinds of noises that is irritating as all get out. I'll ask questions like if they have a pool in their back yard or if there is shrubbery near the back door, stoopid stuff that is irrevalent on all counts. They eventually pick up what I'm doing and abruptly get off the phone.

Those who are "slicker" about getting prices from me......I build it up like a climax that never happened. Take them right to the edge when I'm about to unleash the price and say "Can I call you back my dog is choking on something I gotta go!" and never call back. If they call back, I'll do a quick hangup, then wait for them to call back again and let it go to the answering machine.

If they talk with a heavy accent, I'll talk like my jaw is wired shut and they can almost hear me drooling over the phone. If I can't understand you...you are not going to understand me.

Mention another plumber gave a price of X dollars to do the job? I state I do whatever the job is.....for $45, doesn't matter if it is a faucet replacement or replumbing the entire house.....I'll do it for just $45.

And if you ask me for a senior citizens discount? I tell them I don't age discriminate.....allow for a long pause of silence forcing them to reply or hang up.....I really don't care which they do because I'm not going to say a word. It ticks them off royal when you mention age discrimination.

If I call your house and I get a busy signal? You don't need a plumber, you need call waiting so the next reliable plumber has the ability to leave a message to let you know he made a viable effort to contact you. I absolutely will not attempt more than one try when I get a busy signal....it's pointless and I don't need your work bad enough to chase you on a damn phone that you can't spend 4 ****ing dollars a month to allow a second call to come in. ****!

If you dare call me and then use your husband or wife as a pawn for decision making when I know from the drop of anticipation in your voice after I gave price......don't think for one minute I'm not like a trap with cheese as bait to a mouse just dying to hang up in your ear when that saluatory goodbye is rudely interrupted by my gotta go attitude.

At this point I'm having lots of fun with the "clutter" associated with the dealing of the general public. I can't recommend anyone to do the above but if you have the call volume that allows to toss the tossers.....it's more fun than what I can put in print...and I've done considerably worse. :shocked2:


I can sound just like that stain on www.mytalkingstain.com (http://www.mytalkingstain.com) to a tee. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[garager]

This happens to all of us, not just the Plumbers. I've had my fair share of rude, demanding potential customers. And if they are rude to me and expecting me to drop anything and everything and run to their beckoning. The chances of me, telling them that I'm to dang busy, is very high.

I don't know what goes on in their mind, but it sure seems as if they are more special then everybody else. Plus the chances of your bid is to damn high, is more likely to be. Then they'll tell me, that so and so are a thousand dollars cheaper, thats when I turn around and leave.

I don't want customers that'll be like that, because its a good case for a bad outcome, and I don't need more aggravation. Not only can the H.O. pick and choose their company of choice, but we as businessmen can also choose our clients, we are not a retail store. If something in your head, warns you about a potential customer, then you should really think twice about doing that job or even turning in a bid, but don't leave them hanging, you should just explain that your to busy to do this job.

[NHMaster3015]

Yet another site that's a pain in the *** to register with. Rejects 90% of user names and has that insipidly stupid "try to guess the f-ing letters in the box" I gave up after the third try. Why in christ web masters can't seem to get their **** together I'll never know. Might be a good site but I just don't have the time and energy.

Josh: This site is far and away the best forum on the web for tradesmen.

[haycad]

dunbar after meeting you your post crack me up even more!:) you make very good points, i sometimes am not a very good judge of charector though ive misjudged some very good clients. like i said before sometimes people just easily annoy me. i wish i had the marbles to annoy the customers that annoy me. and garager thanks for the response. ive just been slow this week and people fishing bug me more than usual.

[aero1]

you get used to it and stop it the moment it starts, ive fired customers before some time you have to. we all have to take a certain amount of **** its the business were in but we sure can control the amount of **** we eat, remember if it was easy everyone could do this,believe me weve all felt your pain at one time or another.

[gear junkie]

I give free estimates over the phone. "How much for a water heater? Minimum price starting off is $XXX.XX and goes up from there. I'll have to charge one hour of labor to do a detailed estimate." This weeds out the cheapskates.

[aero1]

we do the same its just fishing,we tell any potential customer that everything looks the same over the phone and prices will vary depending on the situation. some just have to know so you give them a start and try to get a tech to the house. id rather lose in the field than not try at all. sometimes the best you can get is a service call.

[gear junkie]

I think it depends on the tech's personality. I'm a terrible salesman, not charasmatic, no tact but I do good work. Either the customer wants the work at the price I set or "thank you and have a nice day". Me being at the house talking to the customer in person, will not sway their mind at all. I've worked with some people who could sell ice to an eskimo. All he needed to do was twinkle the eye and the customer would buy anything. That's not me. It would be counter productive for me to go to every call for a free estimate with gas at the price it is.

[seanwarde]

I remember an old plumber told me once," its not your water p*ssing out their pipes or your shyte pouring out their drains and your house is dry so stay calm!"

[westcoastplumber]

Like I have always said.....the water is on and working in my house.

It all started many years ago with companies offering the free estimate.

sadly, people expect it now.

I don't have it written on my van and I refuse to openly advertise it, but sadly, when I get called on it, I honor it, because there are 100 others that wil do it if I don't, and besides, 95% of the time when I get out there, I close the deal and complete the job, and most importantly get a repeat customer.

It is really hard sometimes, but if your not offering excellent customer service, then someone else will.

[DUNBAR]

people who could sell ice to an eskimo


Yep, that's me :wave:


Been told I could sell a box of dirt because that dirt is needed, and that dirt is better than what everyone else is selling and this is why --------------.


You have to talk at their level, explain the situation clearly, play the devil's advocate with your own logic (that's a talent that's hard to do at times but will have people thinking pro before con) and answer their question beyond the question asked. Positive thinking, positive attitude no matter how pissed off the customer is, you are in control and you make the rules while you're there. It's a domination tactic but don't ever become pushy. There are those who want to have an upper hand in the meeting of the minds and you'll fail miserably if you cater to their implied stance. You're the one making nearly $100/hour and you're the one making in a few hours what takes them all week to make; you are in charge.

I'll agree that it's a talent to be within the guidelines of salesmanship without looking like a car salesman but always refer back to that code book, our plumber's bible. Tis it be written, thou shall it be.

[ToUtahNow]

Like I have always said.....the water is on and working in my house.

It all started many years ago with companies offering the free estimate.

sadly, people expect it now.

I don't have it written on my van and I refuse to openly advertise it, but sadly, when I get called on it, I honor it, because there are 100 others that wil do it if I don't, and besides, 95% of the time when I get out there, I close the deal and complete the job, and most importantly get a repeat customer.

It is really hard sometimes, but if your not offering excellent customer service, then someone else will.

Are you giving free estimates for service calls or for real jobs? I always advertised free estimates but for service calls the estimate was over the phone. There was no way I was going to pay a guy an hour to go give an estimate on an hour service call we might not get.

Mark

[SlimTim]

Caller: "Tim, my name is so & so, I need a new water heater, what does that cost?"
Me: "Uh, who referred you please?"
Caller: "Mrs. Whatshername I think, at the garden club"
Me:"I don't know Mrs. W."
Caller: "Well, someone gave me your name."
Me: "O.K., it'll probably be under $1500.00"
silence
Me, purposefully misinterpreting the silence: "I know that sounds really cheap but I keep my overhead low."
Caller: "Actually, I thinks it's high. Someone else quoted me half that."
Me: "Well then, please, by all means call whomever that "someone else" was to put it in."
Caller: "Why is YOUR price so high"
Me (I'm really thinking why are YOU so stupid!): "I guess the price is just what you pay, the value is what you receive. Bye"

[Service Guy]

Caller: "Tim, my name is so & so, I need a new water heater, what does that cost?"
Me: "Uh, who referred you please?"
Caller: "Mrs. Whatshername I think, at the garden club"
Me:"I don't know Mrs. W."
Caller: "Well, someone gave me your name."
Me: "O.K., it'll probably be under $1500.00"
silence
Me, purposefully misinterpreting the silence: "I know that sounds really cheap but I keep my overhead low."
Caller: "Actually, I thinks it's high. Someone else quoted me half that."
Me: "Well then, please, by all means call whomever that "someone else" was to put it in."
Caller: "Why is YOUR price so high"
Me (I'm really thinking why are YOU so stupid!): "I guess the price is just what you pay, the value is what you receive. Bye"

Awesome! I like your style.:ok:

[Service Guy]

I am now charging $40 for a service appointment for new customers, then upfront pricing when I get there and see the job myself...80% have no problem with it, the other 20% that want a 'free estimate' are a liability to my company so I am glad to hang up on them.

The first 9 months I did free estimates and was abused by price-shoppers!:angry: Some would call me out for the smallest jobs and then try to haggle with me. I ended up leaving empty handed...now I just get rid of them on the phone. Or they have to pay me $40 for my time and gas just to show up.

(p.s.- so far only one person has paid the $40, everyone else has done the work!:))

[haycad]

i dont have a problem doing free estimates on larger jobs, small ones i can give them a ball park over the hone and narrow it in when i get there. i consider myself a good salesman because im selling a good product, but it just bugs me when people get in there head that because we are in a service business that we will just run and jump because they call. i love the " my husband tried to fix it but he didnt have the right tool, it should only take you 15 minutes to fix it, we need you here now, oh how much do you charge? well why so much its a 15 minute fix"

[NHMaster3015]

Now see boy's. If you all were flat rate pricing, giving a quote over the phone is simple. Go to book. Open page, read off price. Do job. Don't do job. Either way very quick phone call and blood pressure stays low.

[plumberscrack]

Caller: "Tim, my name is so & so, I need a new water heater, what does that cost?"
Me: "Uh, who referred you please?" Why would this matter? and why answer a question with a question?

Caller: "Mrs. Whatshername I think, at the garden club"

Me:"I don't know Mrs. W." You have alienated this customer in within the first 10 seconds

Caller: "Well, someone gave me your name."

Me: "O.K., it'll probably be under $1500.00" Might I suggest you have established prices for standard water heater installations for phone quotes. 'Not to exceed' ballpark prices will scare then off

silence

Me, purposefully misinterpreting the silence: "I know that sounds really cheap but I keep my overhead low."

Caller: "Actually, I thinks it's high. Someone else quoted me half that." Careful here, you are on the verge of losing this sale....

Me: "Well then, please, by all means call whomever that "someone else" was to put it in." You blew it....should have ended the phone call here. To continue is just a waste of time for both of you.

Caller: "Why is YOUR price so high" What?... he didn't hang up on you? Time to justify your price and explain the value of your service

Me (I'm really thinking why are YOU so stupid!): Why would you be so condensending? He just wants the best price on a heater installation."I guess the price is just what you pay, the value is what you receive. Bye"

Now I don't pander to every person wanting a phone quote on a water heater but every one is a potential sale in my opinion.

Water heater prices are extremely competitive and it hardly makes sence to bend over backwards trying to sell one. You had a customer that wanted one and you happen to sell them. Seems like a perfect match:D

[gear junkie]

Now see boy's. If you all were flat rate pricing, giving a quote over the phone is simple. Go to book. Open page, read off price. Do job. Don't do job. Either way very quick phone call and blood pressure stays low.
Not quite, with flat rate you need to add all the extra's up. For example a WH-slap in slap out is $XXX, an expansion tank, ball valve, etc. are an add on and this much. How will you accurately bid the job unless you're there. That's why I give my starting price over the phone. If they're perturbed(new word of the day) by that price they probably will have a coronary once the add ons are added to the final price.

[NHMaster3015]

Not quite, with flat rate you need to add all the extra's up. For example a WH-slap in slap out is $XXX, an expansion tank, ball valve, etc. are an add on and this much. How will you accurately bid the job unless you're there. That's why I give my starting price over the phone. If they're perturbed(new word of the day) by that price they probably will have a coronary once the add ons are added to the final price.

It's like selling cars. You bait them in with the bottom of the line and then up sell to the caddy. ;)

Seriously though, most big companies have salesmen that take care of that end of the business. In mine my partner takes care of this end of the business. He service plumbed for twenty years or so so he knows what he's looking at. Unfortunatly if you're a one man show, estimating is one of those things you just have to bite the bullet and do. It can be and often is a total waste of time. It's often frustrating and non productive. But every once in a while you snag a good customer from the process.

[drtyhands]

It's like selling cars. You bait them in with the bottom of the line and then up sell to the caddy. ;)

Seriously though, most big companies have salesmen that take care of that end of the business. In mine my partner takes care of this end of the business. He service plumbed for twenty years or so so he knows what he's looking at. Unfortunatly if you're a one man show, estimating is one of those things you just have to bite the bullet and do. It can be and often is a total waste of time. It's often frustrating and non productive. But every once in a while you snag a good customer from the process.

I appreciate your honesty in the truth about a companies practices.In construction we are constantly underbid on the full spectrum of projects by entities that deliberately leave out neccessary components for completion knowing they will add in at an over inflated rate to exceed my bid at a later time.

I try to convey this to purchasing agent(whether a homeowner or builder) as best I can without educating them on the particulars of their project.People sometimes have the tendancy to use others.

"Get as many bids as you feel comfortable with.Then we can talk apples to apples"

Let the Pitch brothers talk their hearts out.Make-em do the leg work so I know what I'm pricing against.

Thanks to this forum I'm waisting far less time chaising Kia For Caddy prices.

[DuckButter]

Now see boy's. If you all were flat rate pricing, giving a quote over the phone is simple. Go to book. Open page, read off price. Do job. Don't do job. Either way very quick phone call and blood pressure stays low.
Exactly the way I see it.
For whatever reason, I find the ones that want the cheapest are also often the ones that scrutinize your work or stare over your shoulder.

Dunbar said something about hearing "price" as the first thing they ask about...when I get that impression, I try to scare them off the phone...let them look up the next plumber, I'd rather I not be the one who has to deal with it.

[youngsplumbing]

I think we have hi-jacked the original post, but anyway here's my 2 cents...

Do I like demanding (potential) customers who expect you to drop everything for them? NO, but it's all relative. What I mean by that is if you are not busy at the moment and have potential for a complete re-pipe I'd likely go. Here in Michigan it's real tough times...economy is bad and we are having trouble keeping our guys busy so it's up to me to find some work. I'd likely go to the customers house and look at the job and let them know it's a large job that will take the better part of the day and is best started in the morning.

My pet peave is a customer who demands an exact time appointment...they don't understand that our job is rarely cut and dry. We give AM or PM appointments and thats as small of a window we will give.

Another lesson I've had to learn is not to get too detailed in your estimates. We have lost jobs after doing a lot of leg work in order to accurately quote a job to find that customers take our detailed proposal and shop it around for a better price. That really pisses me off...hours of leg work and a lost job over a minimal savings for them...no one appreciates your efforts, its all about the bottom line.

And my all time favorite is the person who could have had it don at half the cost...AFTER the fact. How many times have you had this one...
"I called XXX Plumbing company and they said they'd do a 50 gal HWT for $500!"
Well, did they come out?
"NO"
What type of heater did they quote?
"They said a 50 gallon".
Well did you tell them we went from standard vent to power vent, re-piped gas and water and installed new valves?
"Well isn't that all included?"

Anyway, that's my rant for the day

JSP

[SlimTim]

Now I don't pander to every person wanting a phone quote on a water heater but every one is a potential sale in my opinion.

Water heater prices are extremely competitive and it hardly makes sence to bend over backwards trying to sell one. You had a customer that wanted one and you happen to sell them. Seems like a perfect match:D


Hey PC, this is a little off topic but I hope you are not pandering to ANY person wanting a phone quote on a water heater. :D
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pander

But seriously, that wasn't a verbatim conversation and I probably sounded more curt in text than I did on the phone. Besides, (I thought the garden club reference would give it away) the caller was a woman and I probably had been ragged on by my wife that a.m.

Don't you frequently answer a question with a question in order to get to the best answer for both of you? She asks for a price on a water heater, you may ask "what size?, what's your zip code?, upstairs or down?, gas or electric?, etc." I asked who referred her because that is very important to me. There are no cookie-cutter plumbing shops and every company is molded around the personality of its owner. I'm a single-man shop and when I take on a new customer it's like bringing them into the family.
So, I do superior work for them and a good report will get back to the person that referred.

I assume you own or work at a multi-truck shop and if I were you I would have approached that call much differently. Besides, I'm shying away from most water heater installs now since I'm not as strong as I used to be and the installs are so much more difficult with new w.h. sizes to accomodate.

Looking back, (by the way, it really irks me when someone says my prices are high) I should of asked how the other guy could install a water heater at less than break-even prices.

But, I'm guilty as charged. If I were about to make a major purchase I would also look for the best price but with a sensitivity to what that entails.

[DUNBAR]

every company is molded around the personality of its owner.



That's right. People in my community know me as a sharpshooter in plumbing and there's no denying I do the work to perfection. But if you approach me with no respect to my profession based solely on price or you want to preach your hardships why you can't afford much,


I am a total prick and I make sure you tell your friends and family, because that truck is pulling out and landing in driveways every day making smiles and referrals as a standard practice. Those who get my impolite banter are my daily scrubbing of perfecting my crazed wit.:smash:

[plumberscrack]

Hey PC, this is a little off topic but I hope you are not pandering to ANY person wanting a phone quote on a water heater. :D
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pander (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pander)


Hey, I do whatever it takes to make a sale :canoodle::grin-loving:
Actually the definition I had in mind was way down the list :p

Getting back to Haycads O/P.... I took an estimate Fri at 2:30. I didn't get a signature but I'm confident that I will because I was able to respond to the customers needs. He was only going to be there for another hour. Not a big job but a days work for 2 men. My estimate will include my time invested.

In this service business you have to be flexible. If that means having a man washing/stocking his van at 3pm waiting for that call that comes in sobeit.

[haycad]

its not the fact of doing a bid at 3,6,10 o'clock at night its the fact of if a person calls you on friday afternoon for a bid on a repipe, not a leak not a plugged toilet not a i have family coming tonight and my faucet fell off, A BID ON A REPIPE, if she would have called monday or thursday or friday morning for that matter, i would have been there but friday at 3 and than get pissy, thats not a person i want to do work for, could i use the work? yes do i have the spare time to get beat down about my prices and give some pushy b**ch a bid at 3pm NO. On the other end of the spectrum i had a old guy call me at 8 last night he had a leak on his recirc pump he had it shut off and it was not leaking anymore and i explained to him that it would save him money if i came out saturday, he said he didnt care the price he just wanted a warm shower in the morning, for respectful customers like him i have no problem going out whenever to make them happy.

[Service Guy]

A job that will take a day or longer??? Ok, a free estimate is understandable.

But a free estimate on a service call??? (incuding minor water heater change-out) PLEASE, I hope nobody is going out to give people free estimates for that.
I did, and it was a mistake...if you give an inch, some customer's will take a mile!

Haycad...don't sweat it, that customer sounds like a pain in the plumber's crack!!! You are lucky you didn't end up wasting your time going out there.

3pm on friday for an non-emergency re-pipe estimate!!!!:rotflmao1:

[Service Guy]

P.S.> I wouldn't doubt it if she already had another company lined up to do the work on Saturday or Monday, and she was frantically calling around on Friday afternoon to try and beat their price.:loser:

[metx]

How about giving a price and the lady said can you come down some .I said that is the bottom then she said " I GOT A PRICE OF 500.00 MORE " i said you mean cheaper .she said no i mean more >> duhhh

[DuckButter]

My pet peave is a customer who demands an exact time appointment...they don't understand that our job is rarely cut and dry. We give AM or PM appointments and thats as small of a window we will give.

Another lesson I've had to learn is not to get too detailed in your estimates. We have lost jobs after doing a lot of leg work in order to accurately quote a job to find that customers take our detailed proposal and shop it around for a better price. That really pisses me off...hours of leg work and a lost job over a minimal savings for them...no one appreciates your efforts, its all about the bottom line.

And my all time favorite is the person who could have had it don at half the cost...AFTER the fact. How many times have you had this one...
"I called XXX Plumbing company and they said they'd do a 50 gal HWT for $500!"
Your new on this forum.
I really hope you stick around.
Once in a while I see a post thats refreshingly honest, that was one.
I call the whole thing the "I'm not gonna pay alot for this muffler" syndrome.
Consumers have low price and high expectations drilled into them by corporate marketing guru's that only want a foot in the door for profit which often creates distorted idea's on what to expect from many trades & service markets.
Sometimes I almost want to just do what the bigger franchises & box stores do and lure 'em in with promises that look fantastic...until you take the time to read the fine print.

[CPlumb]

Hey I'm with the OP ! EVERY Friday
I get a call around 3-3:30 pm .

" George , I have this leaky toilet that runs on and off every 3 hours . You CAN COME OVER AND FIX IT "

" GEE THANKS ,Mrs . How long has this been going on ?"

" About 2 weeks "

" So you wait till Friday afternoon to call me . You CAN wait till next week "

" But I want it done now or ,,,, I CAN call someone else !"

" You have a nice weekend :)"

They call back the following week ,,, EVERY TIME !

I know we are service providers.The customer puts food in our families mouths , etc .etc.

BUT COME ON !!! Respect is a two way street .

CP

[DUNBAR]

Or......an older fellow that calls at 3:45pm wanting a dishwasher replaced, now.

Or, somebody that has an ego bigger than tacoma that calls up, leaves a message who only leaves his first name like he's never going to give you his last name because you don't deserve that luxury of information because you're not working for him yet...

states that he's casually getting estimates for his kitchen remodel like the bottom dollar is his only interest.

What's awesome was I purposely waited a few hours to call him back...and this is what I said, verbatim on a message machine,


"Well, Chuck, thanks for your interest in our company but at this time we are unavailable due to demand. Good luck with your project CHUCK."

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

I hope he enjoyed that response as much as I did. I made sure I let him know that I don't need you one bit.

See what sucks is I'm accountable for always calling back customers thanks to Angie's List. Otherwise some of them can throw a whiplash report for not returning calls.

The only ones I don't return calls on are winterization/dewinterization calls *didn't return one this week* and tankless water heater requests for free estimates *always at least one every two weeks.* I'm just tired of both, always hinged on pricing and I'd rather grow corn out of a bucket than play the game, waste my time on the phone just to appease someone so they'll go somewhere else to get the cheap.

[NHMaster3015]

Because so many people work and either can't stay home or won't leave the door open (liability nightmare by the way) we have been toying with putting 1 or two guys on second shift from either 11 to 8 or 1 to 10. just to handle after hours service calls. We do et a lot of calls from people after 3:00 pm. Either because they just got home and discovered the problem or they could not make the call during work.

[saysflushable]

Because so many people work and either can't stay home or won't leave the door open (liability nightmare by the way) we have been toying with putting 1 or two guys on second shift from either 11 to 8 or 1 to 10. just to handle after hours service calls. We do et a lot of calls from people after 3:00 pm. Either because they just got home and discovered the problem or they could not make the call during work.

I don't mind at all the person that knows an evening call will be expensive, but says I just can't get home until 4or 5. If they are willing to work with me they get the daily rate as long as it's early evening. I'm not paying an employee time and a half so that makes a difference. I respect people who work and try to work with them.

This would be a perfect 2nd shift job. advertised that way has possibilities.
I think people know the places that say 1 price 24/7 are expensive 24/7. O.K. let's say higher priced 24/7(I respect the companies that charge more than I do and stay busy, more power to them ) If you try it let us know how it works.

[Service Guy]

I don't mind at all the person that knows an evening call will be expensive, but says I just can't get home until 4or 5. If they are willing to work with me they get the daily rate as long as it's early evening. I'm not paying an employee time and a half so that makes a difference. I respect people who work and try to work with them.

This would be a perfect 2nd shift job. advertised that way has possibilities.
I think people know the places that say 1 price 24/7 are expensive 24/7. O.K. let's say higher priced 24/7(I respect the companies that charge more than I do and stay busy, more power to them ) If you try it let us know how it works.

I used to work at a Mr. R****r....thats exactly how they do things. "NO OVERTIME CHARGE!!!" translates to "WE ARE OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE 24/7 DAY OR NIGHT, WEEKDAYS OR WEEKENDS!":smilewinkgrin:

Of course each one is independantly operated, so I am not saying they are all like this, but thats the basic template they are supposed to follow.:rolleyes:

[NHMaster3015]

We are not planning on a different rate for this service than normal. The service guys will be paid the same and there will be no additional overhead.

[saysflushable]

We are not planning on a different rate for this service than normal. The service guys will be paid the same and there will be no additional overhead.

I think it will work awesome.

[MPMGinAL]

I have contemplated the same 2nd shift idea. No reason not to step outside of the box. You have to offer something to your customers that they may not can get elsewhere. That may be it. However, that would mean me talking a tech through service calls or dealing with where to get materials at 7:00. More times than not probably while at dinner with the fam. Just never could figure out a way to make it work.

As for O/P. I don't advertise free estimates. I generally feel the customer out first. I know im not the cheapest person in town, nor the most expensive, and don't have a problem telling the customer that. If a HO is that demanding my usual reply is Mr. Ma'am, i'm terribly sorry, but i can't get out today, and i warn you if you call someone that can get out on this short of notice, one might have to ask themselves "why does he have nothing else to do? if he is the professional his ad says he should be busy." Generally this will get thier attention and they can wait. I generally can get them in the next day with a 2 hour window of time to expect my arrival. I charge $55. for my time that will be deducted from cost of job at time of sale.