Offset to 2nd Opinion (Pricing)

[Richard R.]

Bigboy,

I didn't mean to give you the impression that I have been in business for 27 years.

I started working in the public when I was 14 years old. I have had many different odd jobs over the years. Much of those jobs were working in home construction which consisted of insulating,
framing, roofing, painting, sheetrocking, taping bedding and floating, brick laying, tile setting, carpet laying, floor tile insulation, hardwood floor insulation and restoration, and a few other things. I never mastered any of them and was always someones helper or golfer, but I was never good enough to brag about any of them. I never made it to a Jack. I was a golfer of all trades and a master of none. The one thing I stayed the longest in was tile setting where I became an apprentice just before I quit and went to work for the police department. I feel like I became a good cop because I was just as mental as the rest of them, so I stay on for a little over 22 years.
When I was in tile setting, we used to use about a 50/50 Muratic Acid mix that would clean the mortar off of the quarry and terazzo which was about the same thing we used on brick.
If you ask an old timer that laid brick, most of them will tell you that the Muratic Acid myth is a crock. Sure you can burn the brick and possibly damage some of it too, but if you saturate the brick first, scrub on the muratic (hydrochloric) acid and rinse it off right away, it works better than any of the other brick cleaners combined. If you do it right, your actually not even touching the brick persay. From what I've experienced, acid seems to only respond to the foriegn substance that is attached to the brick like mortar and efflorescence. I wouldn't swear by it not touching the brick, but it seems that way.

As for the lady coming to the network, I don't think that would accomplish anything unless she planned on becoming a contractor herself. It took me several months to learn how to move around on this bbs and understand what most of you contractors were even talking about. I am hoping by then I will have already got the job and moved on to the next one.

Take Care

Richard R

 

[Larry L.]

That was my point Richard,you do not have to be a Jack to drive a nail without bending it.Sometimes these sweet agendas minded ladies are smart enough to realize if you can get info to show her she can also get the info the way you did.Your sales pitch may go up in flames and backfire on you if you do not watch your steps in your goal.What if she dicides to check this web page out after you have shown her the answers from the others from this bbs,she's going to find out more then you realize and can spread the word around town to the other sweet ladies that they can check out their contract cleaners in the area.There is alot of info on you,me and others here and when those agenda minded ladies get on the phone word can spread like a little fire all over town,that would be OK with me,what about you.I can understand your goal and the scam and taking advantage of thingy but what makes you think she's going to take your shown answers as not a scam or taking advantage of her.
The way I read between the lines you already made the sale b/c all she has to do is get another bid from another contract cleaners in your area to see if your scaming or taking advantage of her.Sometimes taking it a step like you have to close the deal will open another can of worms for you later on down the road.

What if a new shop opened and I wanted to buy a new motor for my truck and they install it for so so and Jack over there has the same motor for so so installed.The new shop dicides they are going to prove to me they are not scam or taking advantage of me by showing me web pages from others that installs the same motor.Will I read the prices are about the same and the new shop acts like they care about me by prov'ing they are not scam but wait Jack over there said he'd do it for the same price or about the same price and he did not try to prove he was taking advantage of me.Word around town is that Jack doesn't have to prove nothing he shows it in his work thats hanging on his wall and doesn't care if you dicide to use the new shop or not and only laughs at their prov'ing they are not scam.Who do you think I'm letting put the new motor in the new shop or Jack,I've seen Jacks work hanging on the wall and only read what the new shop said about it.

Not saying you're wrong in showing the answers from others and what they say but it could cost you the job.If you do not have a picture book or someone they can call to check you out your hanging yourself out on a limb trying to prove your honest-T.

like I said long time ago,slow down as your over excite'ment about this trade may be costing you jobs.I know ya got to eat but eat whats on the table in front of you while your setting at it.

Richard I know sometimes I get on your back and you do not like what I say to you in my post b/c of others reading what I say to you.If I was setting across the table from you with others I still tell you the same thing and them too if I thought they were wrong.I had rather see you go around taking pictures of other peoples work to show her as to prove it by reading what others have said,Yel I know but you want to eat don't ya,lol,its the same thing to me.
Hopefully she'll read your answers and everything will work out for you,she may be a book worm that likes reading alot tho.Good luck Richard but do not let the over'excite'ment drag you down a hole by over'ack'ing.........show and tell not read and tell.

Sorry if you think I'm trying to be your Daddy b/c like most kids they think Daddies is wrong alot of times and I could be wrong on this one too.Think about this,,,place your feet in her shoes..now read what was said while still wearing her shoes and hope Jack doesn't show up with his picture book while your still reading in her shoes,now think while still wearing her shoes and looking at Jacks pictures would you go with the picture or what you was reading....now take off her shoes and put Jacks on,heck man he cann't even read but can show ya what he can do b/c he's had her shoes on before and knows it easier to show pictures and tell than it is to read what others say and tell.Jack knows you can still drive a blend't nail when hammering on a brick wall.Now put her shoes back on,whats she going to do.

 

[Jon]

Richard,

Way I see this is your not sure of yourself so you want to bring this little old lady here to prove to her your honest.

Is she questioning your price, your work or what to make you bring her here or print and show.

We offer help so you and others can step out and know your bidding fair but to bring customers here only shows that the price we charge is what the market will pay.

Example here in So. CA. I cannot get what you can for cleaning concrete, nor what the Mid-West or East gets, we work all year and bidding is cut-throat, how would you feel if she see's a price for say $25 an hour and your asking $75? she is going to say your scamming her and lower your price or no job.

You have been around long enough to know what you need an hour to live on and by now should be bidding above that so you have money left over after all expenses.

Now that said someone mentioned and I back them on this, if you by sealer add to the total price you paid, cost of sealer+shipping and add say 20% for profit on top of your cost.

Your in business to make money, not please little old ladies unless you are thinking of dating her plan to then in that case do it for free.

Please tell us why you're so set on her seeing what others offer in way of prices to you?

Jon

 

[Richard R.]

First Jon, I would just like to say, it's good hearing from you. Haven't heard from you much, unless I'm just not reading the right posts your posting on. Usually you make your rounds pretty good and keep Bigboy in line, but since you've stepped back, he's getting a little wild. I wish he would leave his computer at home when he goes fishin. Everytime I see his posts, he's in his boat fishin, so he's got to be carrying it with him. LOL You need to get that can out next time you see him. Maybe you could open up a can of whup @$$ on him before he get to for out of line.

As for showing others pricing, heck, we do it all the time. I search nearly 6 hours the other day on other posts just to make sure I was up to snuff this year with medium range pricing. I just wanted her and her nephew to see everyone doing a bid on her home. This way they would know that I am reasonable with my pricing and that I am actually giving them a break.
Surely it's not hard for everyone to figure out what my purpose is.
If anyone else wanted me to look at one of their project and make a bid on it, I would do it in a heartbeat. We compare our bids all the time.
The only problem I see with the pricing is when I do a search on deck pricing, flatwork pricing and a few others, I see so many different prices coming from the same person that varies. One may say he bids a dollar per sq ft plus the sealant and the next post I see him bidding one dollar per sq ft plus .60 cents per sq ft for stripping and so much for the rails.

I just think they would better understand it if they were able to see a group of contractors focusing on their project and it would help me out emensely. So far, 70% of the guys want to question my intent and give me advise on everyting else but what I've ask for. No offense anyone, but I don't see why everyone is putting so much attention on my reason for asking this favor. If the network contractors do not wish to participate I respect that.
Most customer's agenda do not including the researching the entire powerwash business. They have something dirty and they want it cleaned at the best possible price.
I'm just trying to show them my price is in sync with other contractors even though there is a difference in geography.

No offense.

Thanks
Richard R

 

[Jon]

Richard,

Concerning Bigboy, I too have noticed some sort of box in his boat, guess a laptop counter is what it is ok, and a cell phone to send his compositions out on!

Hey you still driving that little import or did it grow up yet? Richard at the risk of getting others angry at me I think a lot of guys fudge on the prices they post vs. what they really charge.

We all know more lurk then join and post, so why give them our true cost, I have nothing to hid on a general range but like others I will not say who my accounts are nor what they pay nor would I expect that of you either.

Have you seen Rick of Pro Wash lately or his son? seems they dropped off the face of the earth or maybe they got sucked into that vacume truck of theirs

You're not offending anyone Richard, other then that fisherman in his boat playing with his computer, must be since he don't compose things on paper first, wonder if he is a one finger typer, is you Bigboy?

Jon

 

[Larry L.]

open up a before he get to for out of line.


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAheheheheheHAHAHA,will by deleting your other thread didn't do it,what went wrong,you didn't like wearing her shoes hahahahahahahahahahaha.

Surely it's not hard for everyone to figure out what my purpose is...... giving them a break. .....hehehehe I typed this with one finger luckyboy.


can of whup @$$ on him


and I typed this with all 8 ofem fingers,no not use thum's this time only use them when hatching a ride or given ya the ok sign.I wonder ifen them birds are flying in front of pc's nowdays,I hardly ever see'm anymores cuss whup @$$ done scared'm all off.

 

[Mike Hughes]

I didnt read this thread, but, Richard, no need to show her the web page..........just print it out, and cut out the web address. No need for her to visit or view the site.