What do you think?
24 November 2006, 09:03 AM
#32
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Paul
Hello fella... seem to recall we did exactly the same when you did all our rear landscaping, and we had the front garden dug up by the earth collection truck. Cost was £500 so we split it. Was fair enough at the time, but I think there is a lesson to be learnt here for you eh - regardless of the time issues, if a client changes the job, do nothing until costs are discussed and agreed?
I would also say it depends on the value of the overall project. For us, given we spent about £14.5k with you, another £250 versus the high quality of the work you did was nothing and not worth falling out over. Hopefully it will be the same with this chap.
Also depends on the location of the work - how close to home such that a bad word of mouth could have other long term implications.
And you'll be glad to know the garden still looks great - even though we have just sold the house. But the purchasers love the garden so you did something right...
Good luck fella
Andy
Hello fella... seem to recall we did exactly the same when you did all our rear landscaping, and we had the front garden dug up by the earth collection truck. Cost was £500 so we split it. Was fair enough at the time, but I think there is a lesson to be learnt here for you eh - regardless of the time issues, if a client changes the job, do nothing until costs are discussed and agreed?
I would also say it depends on the value of the overall project. For us, given we spent about £14.5k with you, another £250 versus the high quality of the work you did was nothing and not worth falling out over. Hopefully it will be the same with this chap.
Also depends on the location of the work - how close to home such that a bad word of mouth could have other long term implications.
And you'll be glad to know the garden still looks great - even though we have just sold the house. But the purchasers love the garden so you did something right...
Good luck fella
Andy
24 November 2006, 09:15 AM
#33
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Originally Posted by OllyK
As an aside, I had my house re-wired. The electrician quoted £250 per room. He has since said he badly mis-quoted, but that's his problem and not mine. I have offered to cover some of the difference but he won't hear of it. As a result he has had additional repeat business off me (and I don't feel he has taken the pi$$ on the prices to compensate).
That was a pure misquote on the sparkies part, hence the sparkie could appeal to your good nature or just take the hit and learn. If you had been quoted to rewire downstairs at say £1k and then you, as the customer, changed the job spec asking for upstairs to be done aswell would you still expect to pay just £1k? This is the situation POC appears to be in
24 November 2006, 09:22 AM
#34
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Originally Posted by Kev_turbo
That was a pure misquote on the sparkies part, hence the sparkie could appeal to your good nature or just take the hit and learn. If you had been quoted to rewire downstairs at say £1k and then you, as the customer, changed the job spec asking for upstairs to be done aswell would you still expect to pay just £1k? This is the situation POC appears to be in
24 November 2006, 10:11 AM
#36
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sounds like a huge difference....original job £90 final job £500? It wouldnt have taken more than 5 secs to say "ok...i can make the changes but the final price will be different, do you want a new quote now or shall i just invoice later"
at that time you would have found out if there were issues ahead - its no go saying "the job was moving at 100mph" because all you were doing was rushing towards not getting paid!
my gardener is the same....must be a green fingers thing! (too stuby for a calculator?
)
at that time you would have found out if there were issues ahead - its no go saying "the job was moving at 100mph" because all you were doing was rushing towards not getting paid!
my gardener is the same....must be a green fingers thing! (too stuby for a calculator?
)
24 November 2006, 12:18 PM
#38
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If I had a quote for work coming to £90 and without one word of a pricing change you hit me with a bill for £540, there is no way on this earth I would pay you a penny more that the original £90.
If the guy asked for changes and you agree, making no statement about additional cost then tough.
People live life on a budget and hitting someone with a bill for £540 after originally quoting £90 is not on.
Tell him about all the work you have done, add that you have made a lost as you did not mention the extra cost at the time the spec was changed. Accept it is totaly your own fault. smile and thank him for the business.
Word of mouth means a lot in your business as I am sure you know, put the £450 down to a mistake to learn from and some cheap advertising.
If the guy asked for changes and you agree, making no statement about additional cost then tough.
People live life on a budget and hitting someone with a bill for £540 after originally quoting £90 is not on.
Tell him about all the work you have done, add that you have made a lost as you did not mention the extra cost at the time the spec was changed. Accept it is totaly your own fault. smile and thank him for the business.
Word of mouth means a lot in your business as I am sure you know, put the £450 down to a mistake to learn from and some cheap advertising.
24 November 2006, 04:47 PM
#39
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Good to see people from both sides giving their opinions, you can tell who are the self employed posters!
We had a discussion this morning, shook hands at the start of the day, agreed a 50/50 split. I assumed full responsibilty for my mistake and will not be making it again. I'm not new to the game so it wasnt naivety, more of a technical oversight! But I shall be chalking this one down in the exp book.
I wasnt willing to tarnish my good rep over a few quid, we have parted on very good terms and hes invited myself and the missus round for a drink next weeked
As a result, the customer is over the moon with the job (so he should be, its immaculate!) and a cheque just shy of 20k was banked not less than an hour ago.
Good to hear from you Andy, where you off too now? Abroad I imagine? I still have photos of your job on the wall here 
It was a much bigger picture than that.
Thanks for all the advice guys, good to see so many different approaches.
We had a discussion this morning, shook hands at the start of the day, agreed a 50/50 split. I assumed full responsibilty for my mistake and will not be making it again. I'm not new to the game so it wasnt naivety, more of a technical oversight! But I shall be chalking this one down in the exp book.
I wasnt willing to tarnish my good rep over a few quid, we have parted on very good terms and hes invited myself and the missus round for a drink next weeked
As a result, the customer is over the moon with the job (so he should be, its immaculate!) and a cheque just shy of 20k was banked not less than an hour ago.
Originally Posted by mightyyid
Paul
Hello fella... seem to recall we did exactly the same when you did all our rear landscaping, and we had the front garden dug up by the earth collection truck. Cost was £500 so we split it. Was fair enough at the time, but I think there is a lesson to be learnt here for you eh - regardless of the time issues, if a client changes the job, do nothing until costs are discussed and agreed?
I would also say it depends on the value of the overall project. For us, given we spent about £14.5k with you, another £250 versus the high quality of the work you did was nothing and not worth falling out over. Hopefully it will be the same with this chap.
Also depends on the location of the work - how close to home such that a bad word of mouth could have other long term implications.
And you'll be glad to know the garden still looks great - even though we have just sold the house. But the purchasers love the garden so you did something right...
Good luck fella
Andy
Hello fella... seem to recall we did exactly the same when you did all our rear landscaping, and we had the front garden dug up by the earth collection truck. Cost was £500 so we split it. Was fair enough at the time, but I think there is a lesson to be learnt here for you eh - regardless of the time issues, if a client changes the job, do nothing until costs are discussed and agreed?
I would also say it depends on the value of the overall project. For us, given we spent about £14.5k with you, another £250 versus the high quality of the work you did was nothing and not worth falling out over. Hopefully it will be the same with this chap.
Also depends on the location of the work - how close to home such that a bad word of mouth could have other long term implications.
And you'll be glad to know the garden still looks great - even though we have just sold the house. But the purchasers love the garden so you did something right...
Good luck fella
Andy
Originally Posted by hail-hail
If I had a quote for work coming to £90 and without one word of a pricing change you hit me with a bill for £540, there is no way on this earth I would pay you a penny more that the original £90.
Thanks for all the advice guys, good to see so many different approaches.
27 November 2006, 11:53 AM
#43
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Originally Posted by druddle
Makes you appreciate the importance of change control on a project......
Dave
Dave
27 November 2006, 12:42 PM
#44
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Originally Posted by POC
As a result, the customer is over the moon with the job (so he should be, its immaculate!) and a cheque just shy of 20k was banked not less than an hour ago.
Think I have missed something
