🚀 go-pugleaf

On 2 Jun 1996 02:39:31 GMT, pariah@eyre.iinet.net.au (Michael Malone)
wrote:

>Anthony Kidd (drwho@iinet.net.au) wrote:
>: In short, the standard of work on "none union jobs" is far worse than
>: union jobs.
>
>That's a very broad statement. In my experience, and we've had
>this argument before, it is also untrue. Contractors have competition
>to deal with, and don't get work tomorrow unless the last person was
>happy with their job.

In my industry Michael this is true as most cowboys could not and
would not price a big union job. Because not only would there quality
of work not be up to scratch. They would have to pay the worker what
they are due.

I have also worked in the cottage industry and it is a eye opener
regarding there quality of work. No primers are used and after
one or two yrs the paint is falling of the gutters and down pipes.

The door frames have no primer on them just one coat of undercoat
and a coat of gloss. Same for the doors.

I only use these examples as painters never usualy paint walls on new
homes.

Re-painting old houses is the same if the painter can get away with
one coat,they will. The consumer would of been charged for two coats.

On union jobs there would be a forman onsite all the time to keep a
eye on the tradespeople. On cottage work you would be lucky to see
a foreman once a day. Just because the work looks nice does not mean
the work the tradesperson has done is going to last the amount of time
it is supposed to.

>
>
>: Most consumers go for the cheapest quote.
>
>This is the real question. I agree with you, except in industries
>where there is a lot of competition.  As you know, I used to put
>up fences. There was a lot of other people out there also putting
>up fences, and some of them were a little bit cheaper than us. The
>profit margin was quite low (around 8%) so there wasn't a lot of
>room for people to go much lower.

But when it comes to fences there is no room for cheating as far as I 
could see. Yet if I painted a wall how would you know if I put on a
sealer coat or I put on two coats when it was due for three coats?

There is alot of competition in the painting industry. That is why
some companies cheat on work to keep up with the other cheats.

Also when it comes to fences Michael did you have to buy your fences
from one company such as James Hardie?...If the answer is yes then
James Hardie would have something to do with the price you set.
Where as in my industry we can buy our products from quite alot of
manufactures....From dulux to home brand.

Maybe like a computer company Michael. Some computer companies can
charge up to a thousand dollars cheaper on a system that another
company would charge and there is alot of compertion in this industry.
>
>As you say, you had to have a low price to keep the consumer happy, but we
>all charged low prices. After that, people chose their contractor based
>on word of mouth advertising. So if you wanted to be able to eat next
>week, you did a good job this week. Lots of people came into our industry,
>put up a few fences, which looked like crap, and quickly went bust.
>Our family business is still running after eighteen years because we
>have a good price, a friendly attitude and we do a good job.

Word of mouth is big Michael,but it does not seem to effect some
companies. Like some companies who sell computers.
>
>Of course, from what you are saying, in industries where the market is
>less saturated, price is probably more prevalent.

The painting trade would be very saturated Michael. 
>
>This is a serious question: have you ever considered going private? Dump
>the union and go out there on your own or with a few colleagues and do the
>job yourself. Small businesses have much less costs, you can take the time
>to do a good job if you want, and you'll be surprised at how satisfying
>it can be to watch your business grow (or fail) solely on the basis of
>your own effort and talent. Its a pretty nice feeling.

Dump the union.....Why?

I hope I have not come across as a winger as I was only ever trying to
talk about the tax the goverment has imposed on me. At this moment in
time I like working for someone as I am lazy (not at work) and like my
weekends of <g>,but if I think something is wrong. Then people should
know.
 I hope you do not feel as if I am bagging bosses as I realise they
take the good with the bad and put alot of money up front to make
there company grow and as you have said if you fail you could loose
everything,but not every boss smells like roses.
>
>Michael

Maybe I am stuck at the traffic lights.

Bye
Anthony :)

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