Ron
09-27-2001, 09:03 PM
Hi fellow tilesetters,
This year I've had a few stressful occasions in my career as self-employed tilesetter.Recently I've stopped to reflect and come up with some resolutions so these things don't happen again.
Lately I've realized that my friends don't always want to endure my saturated rantings so I thought what better place to get things offa my chest than at the renowned Mud Box.
Maybe some of yous can relate.Also,with the money I'll be saving on a shrink,I'll be able to buy a shiny new pool trowel,case of Guinness and some good scotch...yeah,a big bottle of Lagavulin.Lord have mercy on me poor Dutch soul.
1. No more work in the city.
I live about 30 min. from downtown Toronto IF I'm going there in the evening to join some pals at a pub.Otherwise it takes anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours to get there.Toronto's highway system sucks as do the drivers.
Have a myriad of parking tickets under seat of truck,all written while unloading my truck or stopping briefly to get a coffee by a guy who hasn't quite grasped the English language...Ah,the beauty of Canada's immigration laws...hey,I'm an immigrant too but I hef learnt Engels ferry goed,yaa.
Just warning you now that this is gonna be a long one.I tend to go on and on,sorry.
2. No more haggling.
Often I have customers trying to get me to lower my estimate.When I do give in,I end up working unhappily and kicking myself for it the whole time.From now on I consider the haggling effort somewhat of an insult to my honesty and will leave the price as quoted knowing that it is fair.I'm not expensive,usually figure out the estimate so that I earn between $30 - $40 an hour(for actual labour hours.)
3. All estimates on paper.And all changes to original contract on paper too.
Have heard "Yeah but I thought you were going to tile that too" or "I thought you were including that in the price" too many times.I always itemize estimates so that the customer knows exactly what I'm supplying and what I'll be expected to do.Some of the times that it has been verbal I've been screwed.
4. Advance payment at starting date.
On some estimates I had specified payment upon completion.Some of these jobs got extended for various reasons and I had to wait until the job was finished to get paid.With,say,25% up front,the material is at least financed and it shows good faith from the customer.
5. No more work for "friends" (unless they'll pay what the job is worth)
I've always given friends or acquaintances a great deal when I've completed tile jobs for them.They always seem a lot more friend-like when work needs to be done.Most of them never really appreciate it and some still complain about the cost(when I could have been out earning at least twice as much).Kinda feel used afterwards.It also never comes back your way either.One "friend" was head of security at a downtown college.What's he gonna do,guard my truck for me for free?If they are truly "friends" then they should pay what everyone else would pay knowing that I will take even more care with their project than someone else's.
6. No more working on Sundays.Or late on Saturdays.
At one point I had worked every day for 4 months straight.Not worth it.Rather be wasting time on a barstool.
7. No more lending out tools.And this time I mean it.
This never seems to work out for me.I either get it back worn,dirty or late,or never.Have had to rent or borrow the same tool while my "friend" is in possession of mine.Also they'll call me incessantly trying to borrow the tool.When I want it back I can't get a hold of them.When they need it they'll make time to come and pick it up.Then I end up having to go out of my way to reach them to get the damn thing back.This week I had to borrow a Sawzall and buy a trowel due to this problem.Never,ever,ever again!
8. No more rush jobs.
"Yeah,but we're moving in Monday".Guess what lady,I'll still be here...
I'm slow at what I do and these rush jobs don't seem to speed me up any.Few times I've had to endure frowns and guilt when it turned out I couldn't get it done before I became "inconvenient".Next time I won't take these type of jobs.
Ah...that feels better.Learning all the time.
Have you guys had some of these problems?Thanks for letting me vent.
Ron.
This year I've had a few stressful occasions in my career as self-employed tilesetter.Recently I've stopped to reflect and come up with some resolutions so these things don't happen again.
Lately I've realized that my friends don't always want to endure my saturated rantings so I thought what better place to get things offa my chest than at the renowned Mud Box.
Maybe some of yous can relate.Also,with the money I'll be saving on a shrink,I'll be able to buy a shiny new pool trowel,case of Guinness and some good scotch...yeah,a big bottle of Lagavulin.Lord have mercy on me poor Dutch soul.
1. No more work in the city.
I live about 30 min. from downtown Toronto IF I'm going there in the evening to join some pals at a pub.Otherwise it takes anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours to get there.Toronto's highway system sucks as do the drivers.
Have a myriad of parking tickets under seat of truck,all written while unloading my truck or stopping briefly to get a coffee by a guy who hasn't quite grasped the English language...Ah,the beauty of Canada's immigration laws...hey,I'm an immigrant too but I hef learnt Engels ferry goed,yaa.
Just warning you now that this is gonna be a long one.I tend to go on and on,sorry.
2. No more haggling.
Often I have customers trying to get me to lower my estimate.When I do give in,I end up working unhappily and kicking myself for it the whole time.From now on I consider the haggling effort somewhat of an insult to my honesty and will leave the price as quoted knowing that it is fair.I'm not expensive,usually figure out the estimate so that I earn between $30 - $40 an hour(for actual labour hours.)
3. All estimates on paper.And all changes to original contract on paper too.
Have heard "Yeah but I thought you were going to tile that too" or "I thought you were including that in the price" too many times.I always itemize estimates so that the customer knows exactly what I'm supplying and what I'll be expected to do.Some of the times that it has been verbal I've been screwed.
4. Advance payment at starting date.
On some estimates I had specified payment upon completion.Some of these jobs got extended for various reasons and I had to wait until the job was finished to get paid.With,say,25% up front,the material is at least financed and it shows good faith from the customer.
5. No more work for "friends" (unless they'll pay what the job is worth)
I've always given friends or acquaintances a great deal when I've completed tile jobs for them.They always seem a lot more friend-like when work needs to be done.Most of them never really appreciate it and some still complain about the cost(when I could have been out earning at least twice as much).Kinda feel used afterwards.It also never comes back your way either.One "friend" was head of security at a downtown college.What's he gonna do,guard my truck for me for free?If they are truly "friends" then they should pay what everyone else would pay knowing that I will take even more care with their project than someone else's.
6. No more working on Sundays.Or late on Saturdays.
At one point I had worked every day for 4 months straight.Not worth it.Rather be wasting time on a barstool.
7. No more lending out tools.And this time I mean it.
This never seems to work out for me.I either get it back worn,dirty or late,or never.Have had to rent or borrow the same tool while my "friend" is in possession of mine.Also they'll call me incessantly trying to borrow the tool.When I want it back I can't get a hold of them.When they need it they'll make time to come and pick it up.Then I end up having to go out of my way to reach them to get the damn thing back.This week I had to borrow a Sawzall and buy a trowel due to this problem.Never,ever,ever again!
8. No more rush jobs.
"Yeah,but we're moving in Monday".Guess what lady,I'll still be here...
I'm slow at what I do and these rush jobs don't seem to speed me up any.Few times I've had to endure frowns and guilt when it turned out I couldn't get it done before I became "inconvenient".Next time I won't take these type of jobs.
Ah...that feels better.Learning all the time.
Have you guys had some of these problems?Thanks for letting me vent.
Ron.