Bid a job and never got a call back....

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Had a guy call and ask for a quote on a job....not unusual as things are slowing down and customers are holding back more and more.... well I know I was under any other shop in town as I am short work so any profit at all is good so I underbid the job vs my usual labor rates. I guess it was another one of those home hobby guys getting into my cookie jar again....o'well I'll make up for it when his work fails and he wont stand behind it and I have to fix it for his customer.
Reply:Originally Posted by CruzismyBitchHad a guy call and ask for a quote on a job....not unusual as things are slowing down and customers are holding back more and more.... well I know I was under any other shop in town as I am short work so any profit at all is good so I underbid the job vs my usual labor rates. I guess it was another one of those home hobby guys getting into my cookie jar again....o'well I'll make up for it when his work fails and he wont stand behind it and I have to fix it for his customer.
Reply:Originally Posted by CruzismyBitchI guess it was another one of those home hobby guys getting into my cookie jar again....
Reply:Or more likely he knows you're going to be the low bid. He gets a bid from the guy he's used for years or everyone tells him this guy is good. He thinks the price is too high. He gets a low ball bid from you and goes back to the other guy and says joe blow will do it for $XXX less, just to see if he can get him to drop his price. 9 times out of 10 it's best to let this guy go to the next guy down the road. He'll get you to cut your price to the bare bones then when the job is done he'll not want to pay until a bunch of extra work that wasn't discussed is done.
Reply:that must be terrible... hope thing get better in a lighter sense... I find out in business is that your enemy can be your best friend... fighting and price slashing will only make the customer doubt even at that incredible price... 2 ct. Attached ImagesUnit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Originally Posted by westlawn5554xthat must be terrible... hope thing get better in a lighter sense... I find out in business is that your enemy can be your best friend... fighting and price slashing will only make the customer doubt even at that incredible price... 2 ct.
Reply:I guess I'd call the prospective client to find out it he has actually awarded the job, then to whom.  At least you will have the facts.  I had a guy send me a $1000.00 deposit on a job I had written off.  I actually didn't remember bidding the job until I review my records.  I have had others wait for more than 1 yr. on a job.I don't root for failure of others in our business.  Metalwork failure makes the trade/material look and people look for alternative, like vinyl and wood. Sorry things are slow for you, right now. Bid deposit, good idea, never thought of that.  Makes a lot of sense.  Thanks.
Reply:Tap, if I get the old "We're looking for some prices..." then I'll give a simple bid, for no fee. But if I am doing the footwork, and they are using my ideas and input to give to other builders??? I want a minimum of $200. It will scare off the people who expect you to be the free designer, but not the cheap labor.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Originally Posted by CruzismyBitchHad a guy call and ask for a quote on a job....not unusual as things are slowing down and customers are holding back more and more.... well I know I was under any other shop in town...
Reply:DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:seriously I think everybody know "who he is" just wanna see "what he does" and "what is his point" and maybe "what he is getting at" and "what way he want" and "what is his solution" nice senario for us anyway...  just being polite sir denrep by answering to his hypo question... back to my cage... gonna hit the sack...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepHelpline: Bidding Emergency Helpline; What is your bidding emergency?....Had this been an actual bidding emergency...
Reply:Denrep's firt point is really the key. You need to follow up on bids/quotes, engage the client, and show thta you really want to do the work becuase you know you can do a good job.  This also keeps you in the loop when you do get outbid, it helps you refine your process for quoting jobs and helps you stay on top of what the "going rates" are. At the end of the day, if you run your own shop you can't just be a good welder, you need some personal skills and some sales skills as well.
Reply:Depends on how good you really are.  If you're good, you set your rates high and don't care if they don't call back.  You've got plenty of good-paying work already and no time to be bothered by peons.
Reply:Great job explain the hows and whys MR Helpline. A few more things to add. I'd never bid anything over the phone unless it was repeat business with a trusted customer that knows what he's talking about. Show up at the site with a blank note pad and at least 2 pens. Walk through the whole job, question every detail that's left unexplained. Don't be anybody's engineer unless you are one. If the customer wants that appears to be unsafe suggest that an engineer should be consulted. Don't frount the money for the engineer. When he's done explaining the job nicely ask him if there's anything that he's forgetting. For the simple little jobs try to get them to bring it by the shop.
Reply:My advice is don't worry about it. It happens all the time. My long term customers seldom ever ask for an estimate and don't have to put up a deposit or sign a contract. Anybody else signs a contract and puts up 50% up front. Nobody sees more than a line drawing until the contract is signed and the deposit paid. Got tired of telling them how I would do the job and then they call some crackhead or no-speaka-de-english guy and use my knowledge for free. Don't cut 'em a break and never fall for the I have lot more work for ya if you make me a good deal. Until I see a signed contract they don't have any more work.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Originally Posted by CruzismyBitchHad a guy call and ask for a quote on a job....not unusual as things are slowing down and customers are holding back more and more.... well I know I was under any other shop in town as I am short work so any profit at all is good so I underbid the job vs my usual labor rates. I guess it was another one of those home hobby guys getting into my cookie jar again....o'well I'll make up for it when his work fails and he wont stand behind it and I have to fix it for his customer.
Reply:Originally Posted by J HallMaybe it was one of your competitors checking to see how hungry you really are.Or maybe it was your ex wifes lawyer  looking to jack up the alimony
Reply:Enough.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:denrep im trying to  grasp what the hidden agenda in the "hypothetical" post might be and striking out..pls clarify..thx.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeaddenrep im trying to  grasp what the hidden agenda in the "hypothetical" post might be and striking out..pls clarify..thx.
Reply:forum name can tell u somethin when thread somhow ...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Originally Posted by CruzismyBitchCould have been but I bet it was some home hobbyist jerk off that is working out of his drive way that couldn't bit a job right if his life depended on it....
Reply:I know cowboys like beef jerkin... ... ... I heard that somewhere... Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Originally Posted by BurnitThere is no job, there is no bid. "Cruzismybitch" is refering to the post usmccruz made about getting bids from local welders so that he would have an idea what he should charge for a job he wanted to do.The aforementioned post that cruz started, had some heated opinions in it and some people got pretty pissed. Then it turned into a pissing match.Then this thread started, most likely by somebody who is being ignored by usmccruz so they could get another shot in.Remind me of the song" His aint heavy, his my neighbour's ape?" Attached ImagesUnit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:CRUZISMYBITCH ????????? wow
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomCRUZISMYBITCH ????????? wow