I stole this

snoball

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I stole it but would love all my clients to have to read it!

A customer asked me how much it cost to make a table....
I answered him: $ 1500
He said: So expensive for this job?
I asked: How much do you think it would cost you?
He answers me: $ 800 maximum... That's a pretty simple job right? !"
- For $ 800 I invite you to do it yourself.
- But.... I don't know how to.
- For $800 I'll teach you how to. So besides saving you $700, you'll get the knowledge for the next time you want
- It seemed right to him and he agreed.
- But to get started: you need tools: A table saw, a planer, a top, dormants, etc...
- But I don't have all these equipment and I can't buy all of these for one job.
- Well then for another $250 more I'll rent my stuff to you so you can do it.
- Okay, he says.
- Okay! Tuesday I'm waiting for you to start doing this work
- But I can't on Tuesday I only have time today.
- I'm sorry, but I'm only available Tuesday to teach you and lend you my stuff. Other days are busy with other customers.
- Okay! That means I'm going to have to sacrifice my Tuesday, give up my tasks.
- I forgot. To do your job yourself, you also have to pay for the nonproductive factors.
- That is? What is this?"
- Bureaucratic, tax, vat, security, insurance, fuel etc.
- Oh no!... But to accomplish these tasks, I'm going to spend more money and waste a lot of time!
- Do you have them? You can do it to me before?"
- Okay!
- I'll make you all the material you need. Truck loading is done Monday evening or Tuesday morning you'll have to come by 6 loading the truck. Don't forget to be on time to avoid traffic jams and be on time
- At 6??? Nope! Too early for me! I used to getting up later.
...
- You know, I've been thinking. Y ' all better get the job done. I'd rather pay you the $1500. If I had to, it wouldn't be perfect and it would cost me a lot more.
When you pay for a job, especially handcrafted, you pay not only for the material used, but also:
- Knowledge
- Experience
- Study
- Tools
- Services
- Time to go
- punctuality
- Accountability
- Professionalism
- Accuracy
- Guaranteed
- Patents
- Sacrifices
- Safety and security
- Payment of tax obligations
No one can denigrate other people's work by judging prices.
Only by knowing all the elements necessary for the production of a certain work can you estimate the actual cost.
I did not write this dialogue, but am sharing it to support craftsmen and entrepreneurs.
 
One lives to regret employing a cut-price tradesperson for sure. I apprenticed in plumbing and heating, unfortunately, and just like other crafts and trades, they deserve every penny and more!

Oh the horror, the horror
apocalypsenow.jpg
 
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Even worse times in my life is when I've way over quoted for a job because I didn't want the work and the customer has accepted the quote! That's a nightmare scenario! 😊
 
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Even worse times in my life is when I've way over quoted for a job because I didn't want the work and the customer has accepted the quote! That's a nightmare scenario! 😊
I've done that with paintings I didn't really didn't want to part with. Makes it worthwhile to have to paint another. "smile"
This is the story of my life.
Mine too. Bob Ross ruined art for real artists. Everyone thinks you paint a painting in 30 minutes.
 
I have way underestimated a job and had to go cap-in-hand to ask for more. And you know the response that elicits. Ask Oliver.

That can be due to inexperience. Bad judgement. Or, as has sometimes been the case, a sense of being totally overwhelmed.

Btw., That house I went cap-in-hand to, the occupants were later arrested under the Terrorism Act.

Poor Ollie might have been a goner. 😆
 
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