Please comment on the quote - too high

[Homeowner1]

Hi everyone, we bought a house with very old radiators and would like to have them replaced. The plumber quoted us 9k for fitting 14 radiators with thermo valves, 1 bathtub and 2 shower enclosures. This comes on top of 1700 quote which includes installation of 2 wall hung toilets, splitting our piping network into 2 zones (bathrooms and rest). Not sure what prices are normal but seems way too high and for 9k quote he says all rads are about 1600 and all the rest is his work + valves. We asked for splitting the quote into 2 parts for the gf and 1st floor but he refused and offered us to find smb else then.
Any comments appreciated thanks a lot.

 

[Riley]

Not sure I have the balls for that...

Try it it’s liberating

 

[Best]

Not sure I have the balls for that...

I never used to be assertive, but should have been. Makes people often respect you and hopefully consider your viewpoint.
Say it with a smile.
If you are not desperate for that job, then tell it how it is.

 

[Harvest Fields]

You’re not Rob Foster?? So who are you??

He still hasn’t replied to this comment.

 

[rpm]

He still hasn’t replied to this comment.

He is still thinking about who he really is!

 

[Welder]

I never used to be assertive, but should have been. Makes people often respect you and hopefully consider your viewpoint.
Say it with a smile.
If you are not desperate for that job, then tell it how it is.

At the end of the day, most of us are professionals. Unfortunately we rarely act as such. To begin to alter public perceptions of us we need to act as such and, in this instance, it means being assertive. As already mentioned, it can be done so that it reinforces that professionalism. Personally, I do not grin when faced with those questions as I believe it demeans my reply. My typical reply is, "As a fellow professional you fully understand the value of hard earned experience and the peace of mind that delivers. If you would like a cheap job I'm sure you will be well served but I'm afraid I dont not lower my standards." Then you SHUT UP. With an impassive face you wait for THEM to speak. When they do it will be to say sorry or to say goodbye. Either means you win...

 

[Best]

At the end of the day, most of us are professionals. Unfortunately we rarely act as such. To begin to alter public perceptions of us we need to act as such and, in this instance, it means being assertive. As already mentioned, it can be done so that it reinforces that professionalism. Personally, I do not grin when faced with those questions as I believe it demeans my reply. My typical reply is, "As a fellow professional you fully understand the value of hard earned experience and the peace of mind that delivers. If you would like a cheap job I'm sure you will be well served but I'm afraid I dont not lower my standards." Then you SHUT UP. With an impassive face you wait for THEM to speak. When they do it will be to say sorry or to say goodbye. Either means you win...

You are probably correct to say not to smile when giving a response to such customers, but sometimes smiling makes our comment to the customer appear less rude.
Bit like adding a Smilie to show the tone of our posts on here

 

[Rob Foster]

You are probably correct to say not to smile when giving a response to such customers, but sometimes smiling makes our comment to the customer appear less rude.
Bit like adding a Smilie to show the tone of our posts on here

I was taught transactional analysis years ago...its quite a good tool with customers positive and negative.
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[JVTrades]

It is always a bit annoying when a customer asks for a detailed price breakdown. It usually means that they want to compare the prices on line but fail to understand that we’re in business and don’t spend time organising, procuring and taking responsibility for products free of charge. Like any business products are marked up otherwise we’re spending time working and taking risk for free.

That said, I’m up front about that and ask customers if they want to purchase those products themselves and assume the risk.

These same customers wouldn’t ask Mr Sainsbury’s how much he pays for a tin of beans and accept this business model but strangely expect that they should have our trade discount and assume no risk themselves.