Pet @ www.gymratz.co.uk ;¬) wrote:
nightjar nightjar@ wrote:

I think the sliding scale pricing may put people off. They will look atthe
rate for one hour and compare that with other tradesmen, ignoring the fact
that they probably have a call-out fee on top. Supplying materials at cost
+15% also sounds more expensive than supplying them at list price, evenif
you are getting more than 15% trade discount and the actual cost to the
customer is less.

I agree Colin.
I just checked the prices !!

If I wanted something doing whether 1 hour or 1 day then I'd say £15 an
hour is a lot for a "handy man" No sliding scale.

I'd be far more inclined to say "while your here can you just ......"

Once you're in and and build up a trust with customers they are more
likely to go for repeat jobs.

Perhaps have a 2 hour minimum so there's not too much time wasting.

Better to be getting £600 a week and working a 40 hour week than £100
pound a week and not building up a client base.

Last year we had a local chap doing a lot of plastering work for £10 an
hour! (but only on weekends as he worked for a building company in the
week)

Also like you say Colin, stating he'll be taking a further 15% on
material is a joke.

Better to say he'd give a 10% discount off list price for all materials
supplied!

He's just being honest about it. Other tradesman will also charge more
than cost but never say so or they'll screw you somewhere else. If this
honesty helps or hinders, I don't know.

To me, a tradesman offering discounts just sounds like a scammer. Like
people who offer discounts for the elderly etc. But that's just me I
suppose and plenty of people fall for this stuff.