3 ms·

I am talking about laying down new PVC pipes stuff. And no - I have to wait for plumber to come over to give me an estimate. I am not talking about ones who are

by hippich 12y ago

I am talking about laying down new PVC pipes stuff. And no - I have to wait for plumber to come over to give me an estimate. I am not talking about ones who are on 24/7 calls and dealing with nasty stuff.

jacquesm 12y ago
Being picky is not going to get you very far. Someone lists themselves as a plumber, they'll be called for whatever plumbing job is available. If you do the dirty jobs they'll hire you for the nice jobs too. If you refuse the dirty jobs then those plumbers that do do the dirty jobs will will end up running off with your potential customers. Especially in the early years you won't be having too much work that you can afford to send away the jobs (and thus the customers) that you don't want. You want to build up a reputation that says you are a good plumber, not a picky plumber that doesn't want to get his hands dirty. (In fact, that's one of the reasons plumbers can charge what they do.) edit: this comment is a nice example of what I mean: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8120404 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8120404
- hippich 12y ago
  The reason why poster from this comment you referred called same plumber - because they did dirty work for free. If they would charge $250/hr - $350/hr - it could turn differently (could, not necessary would)
  - jacquesm 12y ago
    They got the job because they came, showed they had what it takes to get the job done and then took their lumps because they said their estimate was free (so they stood by their word). That's the start of a fruitful business relationship which you can see for yourself worked out well for them. If they would have charged for their estimate then the job would have probably gone to another plumber. Free estimates are fairly standard for plumbers and will reduce your profit margin, but it is a long term investment in the relationship.

by hippich 12y ago

jacquesm 12y ago

Being picky is not going to get you very far. Someone lists themselves as a plumber, they'll be called for whatever plumbing job is available. If you do the dirty jobs they'll hire you for the nice jobs too. If you refuse the dirty jobs then those plumbers that do do the dirty jobs will will end up running off with your potential customers. Especially in the early years you won't be having too much work that you can afford to send away the jobs (and thus the customers) that you don't want. You want to build up a reputation that says you are a good plumber, not a picky plumber that doesn't want to get his hands dirty. (In fact, that's one of the reasons plumbers can charge what they do.) edit: this comment is a nice example of what I mean: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8120404 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8120404

hippich 12y ago
The reason why poster from this comment you referred called same plumber - because they did dirty work for free. If they would charge $250/hr - $350/hr - it could turn differently (could, not necessary would)
- jacquesm 12y ago
  They got the job because they came, showed they had what it takes to get the job done and then took their lumps because they said their estimate was free (so they stood by their word). That's the start of a fruitful business relationship which you can see for yourself worked out well for them. If they would have charged for their estimate then the job would have probably gone to another plumber. Free estimates are fairly standard for plumbers and will reduce your profit margin, but it is a long term investment in the relationship.