Buy electrical goods from shop normal for electrician to charge more in labour?

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Stu1

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#226002 14-Dec-2017 21:37

Well had a site visit from our builder and plumber and electrician come around to quote us for an extenstion. I asked the sparky out of interest how much he would charge for a pdl plug price was 13 plus their markup so around 16 bucks per plug. I asked if I could provide my own plugs as I can get them online often for around 14 per plug. I was told that he would charge more labour due to the warranty falling on him if I used plugs that I have purchased myself. Is this normal Practice?

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#1919893 14-Dec-2017 21:41

Completely normal.

Stu1

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#1919895 14-Dec-2017 21:49

sbiddle:
Completely normal.

our normal sparky just installs what I have given him even gave me his trade account to buy my bathroom fan on , didn’t think there was much difference in labour costs. I just thought it was odd going to get at least 3 quotes on the plumber, builder and sparky. Electrical costs sound scary soo far amount of lighting, plugs and a new switchboard as we are getting a new kitchen and all power points now have to be on a rcd circuit

reven

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#1919896 14-Dec-2017 21:50

Some do, some dont. I tend to never get the ones who do back. I found one in my area that doesnt now.

electricaldirectltd sales basically at trade prices, and I can get trade prices at JA Russel via a connection.

richms

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#1919897 14-Dec-2017 21:50

If you're calling tradies and getting quotes, they will pad them out to the extreme to cover unforseens, and their time they take to make the quotes etc.

Richard rich.ms

Stu1

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#1919899 14-Dec-2017 21:58

richms:
If you're calling tradies and getting quotes, they will pad them out to the extreme to cover unforseens, and their time they take to make the quotes etc.

This one was through the building company that did the plans they do the design part as well so they arranged the quote. I was going to get our local plumber who has done a bit of work for us and our normal sparky . The other thing that put me off is I installed new pdl plugs and switches a year ago and he wont reuse them have to be new even though they are from electrical direct and still have the recept

richms

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#1919900 14-Dec-2017 21:59

Not using used parts is really normal for them, especially if they are going thru a building company which will have their own terms of warranty they need them to meet.

Richard rich.ms

sbiddle

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#1919902 14-Dec-2017 22:08

Electricians make money two ways - on labour and parts.

You don't go into a restaurant with your own steak and then expect the chef to cook it and give you a big discount..

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Stu1

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#1919907 14-Dec-2017 22:13

I just thought that he would make enough on his normal labour charges , if he or I buy the product still going to take the same about of effort to install . I guess the difference is if the product fails then he deals with the supplier not me

reven

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#1919910 14-Dec-2017 22:15

thats not how I see it. and I dont think its a far comparison.

You hire a builder/plumber/tiler/electrician to do a job. that job takes so much time, charge a hourly rate thats fine. Some jobs would require heaps of materials, some jobs not much and more labour intensive. Sure all materials the tradeperson supplies they make a cut on it, thats far, they have to stock it and get it etc. But if the customer supplies the materials (some materials tradies simply cannot get) their hourly rate should not go up. Sure they may not want to take that job, thats far, but blatantly charging more, piss off.

Stu1

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#1919912 14-Dec-2017 22:25

reven:
thats not how I see it. and I dont think its a far comparison.

You hire a builder/plumber/tiler/electrician to do a job. that job takes so much time, charge a hourly rate thats fine. Some jobs would require heaps of materials, some jobs not much and more labour intensive. Sure all materials the tradeperson supplies they make a cut on it, thats far, they have to stock it and get it etc. But if the customer supplies the materials (some materials tradies simply cannot get) their hourly rate should not go up. Sure they may not want to take that job, thats far, but blatantly charging more, piss off.

That’s exactly how I feel about it

chevrolux

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#1919924 14-Dec-2017 22:54

Completely agree with the Sparky.

CCTV install for example... I know I will do well on the markup on the kit so can go lighter on the labour.
A little 4 channel system though will have almost the same labour as a 8 channel system install.

Not too mention time taken to quote etc

sparkz25

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#1919953 15-Dec-2017 05:42

and when you do supply your own crappy arlec sockets and they fail who is the first person you blame? the sparky of course, stick with the pdl 600 series as its a good reputable brand and it works and has done for years, looks half decent too

Stu1

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#1919954 15-Dec-2017 06:18

sparkz25:
and when you do supply your own crappy arlec sockets and they fail who is the first person you blame? the sparky of course, stick with the pdl 600 series as its a good reputable brand and it works and has done for years, looks half decent too

I was going to supply pdl 600 that's my point the quality of the product is exactly the same as well as the work effort so why charge more for labour. The same applies for running cable I can run it I can't connect it. I don't mind paying an expert for a service and their time but why should I pay for additional labour?. When I have cable connected the sparky normally doesn't say to me you didn't buy that plug off me that's another tener on the price.

gzt

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#1919959 15-Dec-2017 07:12

Stu1: I asked the sparky out of interest how much he would charge for a pdl plug price was 13 plus their markup so around 16 bucks per plug.

Hardly any difference for that one compared to labour.

surfisup1000

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#1919974 15-Dec-2017 08:02

sbiddle:

Electricians make money two ways - on labour and parts.

You don't go into a restaurant with your own steak and then expect the chef to cook it and give you a big discount..

You also don't pay a chef by the hour.

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