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Just today I finished a pretty big job for a guy I considered a close friend. He is a multi-state contractor with years of experience, and encouraged me to get my license. We'll call him "Bob".
I have done a few jobs for Bob before, and we've always had a real smile and a handshake kind of relationship. He called me to tell me he currently has a job an hour and a half away that he is the General Contractor on.
He asked for a bid on three trees to be removed, and said he could get a dumpster and have his laborer help me... that would accomodate my lack of hardware and employees.
He offhandedly mentioned about $150 for the dumpster. He mentioned his laborer would cost $15/hr, hired through a temp agency.
It took me a while to get the bid to him because I actually went on vacation this year, and gave the dates to everybody I have to deal with, there was no question about when I'd return.
So I gave the bid for $1800, anticipating paying the costs out of that for the dumpster and the helper. But I had a funny feeling...
So I get to the job on saturday, and everybody's all smiles and we go to work. Before we started working, I tried to pin him down a little on the actual cost for the dumpster, and he said "oh, it's more than I thought, it's gonna be $350". I said, "Man, that's a lot more than I was expecting, what are we gonna do about that?". Bob was kind of dismissive about it and said that all the costs had run over on this job, and he hadn't given my bid to the property owner yet. That led me to believe the numbers weren't firm, and there might be some room to accomodate the increased dumpster fee. He didn't really answer yes or no, but was pleasant and friendly and left to do other things. At lunch Bob came back with a pizza for the framers and I.
So we work all day Saturday and all day Sunday, it's a big job. It went smooth, no damage, neighbors were happy. My blower died, and the laborer said it was no problem, he would just borrow Bob's.
I sent Bob an e-mail Sunday morning updating our progress, here is the actual e-mail:
[ QUOTE ]
Hi Bob, Andy and I will finish today. All the branches are in the dumpster, we are just going to rig down the trunks, and the neighbors have asked for the wood.
When I gave that bid, I figured two to three days for Andy @ $15/hr. That has been accurate. Currently I figure the hours are:
Fri: 9am-6pm, -30min lunch
Sat: 9am-5pm, -30 min lunch
Sun: 10am- ?
I am little concerned about the potential cost for the dumpster. I had anticipated that costing me $150. If it's going to be $350, how do you want to handle that? You mentioned you hadn't given the property owners a firm number yet, does that mean we can do a little damage control?
Talk to you later, -C
[/ QUOTE ]
Apparently he misread the e-mail, because he drove up to the jobsite Sunday morning, thinking it would be done, and called my wife at home, wondering where I was. we decided to start at 10am, since it was Sunday. Well, I rigged down the three spars, it took us 6 hours. We piled all the wood where the neighbors asked us to, and did an excellent job cleaning up. The next door neighbors offered us beer and a boatride in their speedboat, so I assume they were pleased (half of the trees were over their yard and house).
I called Bob to tell him we'd wrapped up, and got no answer. I sent him a picture message on the cell phone of the stumps and the jobsite. No answer.
I get home and here's the message in my Inbox:
[ QUOTE ]
C,
Your bid was $1800 and it included scheduling with the owner and neighbors, supplying labor, a dumpster and removal of all debris.
As it turns out, I did the scheduling and supplied legal labor at $19.00 per hour and $350 for a dumpster. It turns out I also supplied a blower and broom.
You need to re-calculate your bid based on what you actually supplied.
Bob
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, I don't mind telling you I was pissed. I had planned to deduct the cost for the laborer and the dumpster, but I also thought I'd at least clear a grand for the three days..
I supplied all the saws, climb gear, rigging gear, and did all the climbing and rigging despite bursitis and a torn fascicle sheath on my left hand...
So I deducted everything at the rates he quoted, and even paid him the going rental rate for his precious blower and broom... if I get paid the total will be $928.
What do you guys think? Do you think he felt I was trying to squeeze or extort him, or is my expectation way out of whack, or what? Do you think he is being pretty chicken about thewhole thing, or am I just too sensitive to run a business?
Thanks for letting me vent!
I have done a few jobs for Bob before, and we've always had a real smile and a handshake kind of relationship. He called me to tell me he currently has a job an hour and a half away that he is the General Contractor on.
He asked for a bid on three trees to be removed, and said he could get a dumpster and have his laborer help me... that would accomodate my lack of hardware and employees.
He offhandedly mentioned about $150 for the dumpster. He mentioned his laborer would cost $15/hr, hired through a temp agency.
It took me a while to get the bid to him because I actually went on vacation this year, and gave the dates to everybody I have to deal with, there was no question about when I'd return.
So I gave the bid for $1800, anticipating paying the costs out of that for the dumpster and the helper. But I had a funny feeling...
So I get to the job on saturday, and everybody's all smiles and we go to work. Before we started working, I tried to pin him down a little on the actual cost for the dumpster, and he said "oh, it's more than I thought, it's gonna be $350". I said, "Man, that's a lot more than I was expecting, what are we gonna do about that?". Bob was kind of dismissive about it and said that all the costs had run over on this job, and he hadn't given my bid to the property owner yet. That led me to believe the numbers weren't firm, and there might be some room to accomodate the increased dumpster fee. He didn't really answer yes or no, but was pleasant and friendly and left to do other things. At lunch Bob came back with a pizza for the framers and I.
So we work all day Saturday and all day Sunday, it's a big job. It went smooth, no damage, neighbors were happy. My blower died, and the laborer said it was no problem, he would just borrow Bob's.
I sent Bob an e-mail Sunday morning updating our progress, here is the actual e-mail:
[ QUOTE ]
Hi Bob, Andy and I will finish today. All the branches are in the dumpster, we are just going to rig down the trunks, and the neighbors have asked for the wood.
When I gave that bid, I figured two to three days for Andy @ $15/hr. That has been accurate. Currently I figure the hours are:
Fri: 9am-6pm, -30min lunch
Sat: 9am-5pm, -30 min lunch
Sun: 10am- ?
I am little concerned about the potential cost for the dumpster. I had anticipated that costing me $150. If it's going to be $350, how do you want to handle that? You mentioned you hadn't given the property owners a firm number yet, does that mean we can do a little damage control?
Talk to you later, -C
[/ QUOTE ]
Apparently he misread the e-mail, because he drove up to the jobsite Sunday morning, thinking it would be done, and called my wife at home, wondering where I was. we decided to start at 10am, since it was Sunday. Well, I rigged down the three spars, it took us 6 hours. We piled all the wood where the neighbors asked us to, and did an excellent job cleaning up. The next door neighbors offered us beer and a boatride in their speedboat, so I assume they were pleased (half of the trees were over their yard and house).
I called Bob to tell him we'd wrapped up, and got no answer. I sent him a picture message on the cell phone of the stumps and the jobsite. No answer.
I get home and here's the message in my Inbox:
[ QUOTE ]
C,
Your bid was $1800 and it included scheduling with the owner and neighbors, supplying labor, a dumpster and removal of all debris.
As it turns out, I did the scheduling and supplied legal labor at $19.00 per hour and $350 for a dumpster. It turns out I also supplied a blower and broom.
You need to re-calculate your bid based on what you actually supplied.
Bob
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, I don't mind telling you I was pissed. I had planned to deduct the cost for the laborer and the dumpster, but I also thought I'd at least clear a grand for the three days..
I supplied all the saws, climb gear, rigging gear, and did all the climbing and rigging despite bursitis and a torn fascicle sheath on my left hand...
So I deducted everything at the rates he quoted, and even paid him the going rental rate for his precious blower and broom... if I get paid the total will be $928.
What do you guys think? Do you think he felt I was trying to squeeze or extort him, or is my expectation way out of whack, or what? Do you think he is being pretty chicken about thewhole thing, or am I just too sensitive to run a business?
Thanks for letting me vent!
