Can you beat our electrician?

We had a tree, only small, growing out of our fake chimney ( what's that about?) The scaffolding was a couple of hundred. The man who climbed up, removed the tree and made good said we'd paid enough so didn't charge us. He was nothing to do with the scaffolding company.

Can I risk just pointing out a few things on behalf of tradespeople? We have a small family business part of which includes doing repairs in people's homes, we explain that there is no call out charge but there is a minimum repair charge, we always confirm the price before going ahead and pride ourselves on our service and integrity. However this is a business and we have costs such as purchasing and maintaining a vehicle, advertising (you have no idea what Google charge) public liability insurance, administration, taxes - and that's before we pay ourselves or small staff.
I accept that there are rip off merchants out there, but I don't think they're in the majority at all and maybe we all need to consider the above when thinking costs are a bit steep.
Ducks!!

Yes, I have an electrician who called in on two occasions to to fix differing problems on lights for me. 'Oh a fiver will do'. I gave him twenty on both visits and considered that a huge bargain A treasure indeed. I also have a plumber who will call round at any time. I've never used him for anything major but on the minor 'Oh shove a tenner through my door sometime'. Another treasure. Both lovely mature men who know their trades inside out but obviously not their worth. Amazing and heart warming and an absolute comfort zone to me.

Saraellenwhitney. She started off in her own Van with all her own equipment and that is what we agreed. She charged £12.00 per hour, sometimes there was two and others three of them, she put the price up to £13.50 some months later.

We are in an area were it is usually £10 per hour. I did think at the time that, according to political parties no one is getting wage increases.

Marieeliz What country do you live in.?
I have yet to find a cleaner/ie domestic help is what they are usually known in the UK who will bring their own cleaning equipment. ie vacuum,.etc etc
I keep all necessary items for my domestic in my utility room.
I have this lady once a fortnight as she is so b***efficient that a dust over and a quick vacuum I do myself in between is suffice living alone
Only if my carpets need cleaning do I employ specialists for this who do bring in their own items.

Handyman in our village quoted £100 for a plastering job. When he had done it DH offered the cash and he gave £20 back saying it hadn't taken as long as he thought.

My wonderful Son in Law came yesterday evening to fix a dead cooker and a lack of internet connection. He fixed both and all I did was shower my granddaughter (who had come to help her dad) and send her home ready for bed. No charge at all

We have a jobbing man, who charges by the day, my goodness how that man works start's at 8.30am until 5.30pm works non stop.
So far changed all lights, extra sockets, help to build kitchen,and made shower more safe for me, all for the grand total of 80 Euros a day.
And he cleans up after himself. Now waiting for my living room to be decorated.
Now if I could only find a cleaner!

We had some builders working on our house when an elderly lady stopped and asked if one of them would have a look at her garage door, which she couldn't close. Builder popped round there later, came back and said that he had sorted it out, just needed the weights adjusting, and the old lady had tried to give him money which he had refused ; 'You can't charge a poor old lady for a tiny little thing like that'. A few weeks later he called in to say that she had contracted his firm to put a major extension on the back and side of her house which would give them work for almost six months! (Not free, of course).

Yes lots of great workers around. A man was putting up new blinds and I asked him if he would lift the last ring on my curtain back on as it had slipped off. No I won't he said I am not contracted to do anything but blinds. As I tried to slip away I could hear him ranting to himself. How I wished I hadn't asked him. As he was leaving he said you'll just get rid off all this pointing to loads of cardboard boxes. No I told him I don't get paid to pick up your rubbish and you have got a cheek asking. Make sure you do the job right and don't give me your problems I wasn't told in the shop to pick up after you....

Marieeliz I don't blame you one bit she is taking advantage and will soon realise that when she loses your business,is you friend also looking for a new cleaner if she is it would make for a big shortfall in you existing cleaners earnings,I do hate it when people think they can take advanatge.

My friend and I have the same cleaner. She was excellent initially, went through the house like a dose of salts. A few months in she arrived and prior to starting told me her prices had increased. Last visit she had no vacuum so used mine.

This time said that she would no longer be bringing her own equipment she would be using mine not reducing the price though. We are looking for someone else.

Called in the people who had put up the conservatory 7 years ago because an end piece had come off. They turned up, spent 45 minutes (including a little chat!) fitted a new piece and charged nothing.

My gardener calls every 2 weeks in summer and we needed the hedges either side cutting back and trimming along the tops a job for an electric trimmer which we don't have,he obliged as an extra and moved all our heavy pots for the Autumn to by the shed and they where large heavy pots he even planted some bedding plants I had bought all for £20.00 just £10.00 more than he usually charges,a true superstar.

I think most tradesmen would give you the choice to pay for the job by price or an hourly rate it would be your choice. If you agreed a price you can't really expect him to take less if he did the job quicker.

Just saw this thread and it struck a chord with me.
Just had some walls emulsioned and the paintwork done. The decorator said it would take 2 days and gave mne a price. I thought it a little steep but needed it doing quickly as another job was depending on that being done first.
He actually worked from from 8am until 2 30 the first day and charged the same! Can't fail to think I was taken for a mug!

Two leaking radiator valves tightened as much as Mr C dared had our plumber calling on his way home, no charge.

Yes, not every tradesman rips us off.

Alima we do find people in our area to be very fair. We had a great decorator who did more than could have been expected but when recommended to a woman in her 80s he was magnificent, did all sorts of odd jobs while he was there and only charged a very reasonable amount for the painting work.

Its good to know not everyone is ripping us off.

Well, I emailed our double-glazing man on Friday morning about a problem with our conservatory roof. (The conservatory was not built by him so he was not to blame!) He came round Friday afternoon, assessed the job, used a special tool type thingy and charged us a tenner. Wonderful.
That's an electrician and a double glazing man so far. Just need a gas man and builder and it will be all we need. Wonder how far they are willing to travel?