Re: job quotes

["mikey" <someone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Frank Olson" <feolson@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:aQOTe.432254$5V4.397899@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "mikey" <someone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:feydnYCN3JyGHYLeRVn-pA@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Any of you chaps that don't sub-contract care to share how you quote
your
> > average res jobs? This is driving me batty. I find I spend more time
> > dicking
> > around with mark-ups and estimating time (and these friggin things
ALWAYS
> > have surprises (whathefuck is a check 100 ?!?)) than I do installing the
> > friggin' alarm. Do you price per point type thing or actually check the
> > place out and guesstimate your time? It may sound funny, but yes, I am
> > making money but I wish I could simplify the quote process.
>
>
> There is no easy way to estimate a job.  When I first got into the
industry,
> Chubb used a standard "price book" that included a labour and material
> allowance for "cable" that was calculated by the foot.  The sales guy had
to
> lay out the job and estimate the amount of wire it was going to take.  I
was
> impressed with how accurate the sales guy's estimate often was.  On some
> jobs we lost, but with Chubb's markups (in the 80's we could still charge
> $4000.00 for an install) that was rare indeed.
>
> ISTR it was $2.22 per foot.  We don't do residential except as a "favour"
to
> existing customers.  The market's just too crazy and I postively refuse to
> play "down there".  Besides, I much prefer re-arranging all the sales
> literature on my counter...  ;-))
>

wire BY THE FOOT?? This is amazing. Really? Never heard of that one, man you
guys really do have the best pot! Never mind how you used to do it, what can
I get NOW?