Rates

[ColinK]

Good day Fellow Sparkies

I have recently repaired a geyser at a big business,it was the element,I charged them the following:

Element R135
Labour incl. travelling 3 hours @ R300 p/h

Total : R1035.00

The business is 30km from my office,I got questioned whether that is the going rate or not,was I under invoicing or over,please advise...

Regards

Colin

[Dave A]

Certainly not unreasonable imo.

[murdock]

if it was a pressure geyser ...i dont know how you did it so cheap...by the way as a standard thing i always replace the thermostat at the same time...othing like egtting called back after 3 weeks for a faulty thermostat...and trying to tell the customer it was just the thermostat

[AndyD]

For call-outs or unquoted jobs that's exactly the way we bill the customer. Hourly rate x no of hours plus materials cost plus materials mark-up plus VAT. Your labour rate is also very reasonable even for office hours work.

[Greg]

My labour rate is R 430.00 per hour. I charge R 560.00 for a call out and that includes the first hour of labour. This is in JHB.

People have this idea that because you are a contractor you are lower class. People assume that when you give them an invoice for R 1000.00 that R 900.00 is profit.

The man on the street would fall flat on his back when he sees what it costs to run a contracting business if it is done by the book.

[ColinK]

Ok great thought so,tx alot guys,btw nice Rates Greg yoh,wish i could start charging my clients that hehehe

[murdock]

Ok great thought so,tx alot guys,btw nice Rates Greg yoh,wish i could start charging my clients that hehehe

you can and thats another issue in our industry are the people working for low rates...pulling the industry down and making it difficult for the rest of us.

[ColinK]

I comletely agree with u murdock,but then again ive only been running for a year now,and also im getting f*#ked by companies that i sub for,cuz my rate there is 260 and i hate that cuz i dunno what they charging the client,but i need there business so untill im in demand by them i have to work on those rates...

[murdock]

I comletely agree with u murdock,but then again ive only been running for a year now,and also im getting f*#ked by companies that i sub for,cuz my rate there is 260 and i hate that cuz i dunno what they charging the client,but i need there business so untill im in demand by them i have to work on those rates...

now you a retalking about a completly different subject...sub contrating...there is a big difference between sub contracting and operating a bussiness...i can hire sub contractors for less than R260

[Leecatt]

What rates are other electricians in Joburg charging? I charge R395.00 for a callout (travelling fee) and R440.00 an hour labour all ex Vat. I suspect it is top rate but so is my service and I do ok with those tired of using the wannabe electricians. Perhaps we should use this forum to standardize a rate of sorts.

[Blurock]

My view is if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys to do the work. If you want to buy or fix something always remember your choices;

Price, quality, service.

You may only choose two.

You may never find a quality item with a low price linked to good service. There is always a compromise. If you want quality and service, be prepared to pay for it. Some people may bluff you into believing that they can offer a quality service and product at a low price, but they will either go out of business or their short cuts and mistakes will come out in the woodwork.

[Leecatt]

My view is if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys to do the work. If you want to buy or fix something always remember your choices;

Price, quality, service.

You may only choose two.

You may never find a quality item with a low price linked to good service. There is always a compromise. If you want quality and service, be prepared to pay for it. Some people may bluff you into believing that they can offer a quality service and product at a low price, but they will either go out of business or their short cuts and mistakes will come out in the woodwork.

I agree with you. As a matter of interest what would your charges be.

[Dave A]

Perhaps we should use this forum to standardize a rate of sorts.

That would be illegal collusion.

But there is nothing wrong with people disclosing their rates and pricing structure as has happened in this thread so far.

[Blurock]

I agree with you. As a matter of interest what would your charges be.

I am not an electrician, but if I should hire one, I'll get suspicious if he charges only 50% of the going rate. You do not charge for hammering a nail. You charge for knowing where to put the nail. Also check the credentials before paying too much!

[murdock]

my rates...
2011 R385 + vat
2012 R420 + vat

i dont charge a call out fee unless i travel further than 20km

thermography

depends on type of audit and quantity...this service is included at standard rates for regular customers

industrial fault finding...where a power quality analyser or thermal imager is used to trace the fault...only do this type od work for regular customers and standard rates apply.