Rant about contractors that don't show up. Must be millionaires that don't need work!

[Blue bio balls]

I was a sub contractor for 45 yrs and rarely supplied materials. Didn’t expect to get paid until the job was done. It motivates you to get the job done and satisfactory. The best part was the big smile on customers faces when they gladly paid up! There’s always been crooks in the construction business and sometimes it’s hard to tell. A good reputation goes along way!

But then you miss out on the 30% material markup.

 

[Alpha5717]

The same reason why I stopped doing side jobs decades ago. People wanting something for nothing. No thought about the years of experience, time and tools invested in learning a trade.

That is a stretch. Wanting a reasonable price is not getting something for free. Let's talk about this:

This past week some workers showed up at a rental house across the street. They spent Monday thru Saturday and a half a day today there. It usually averaged four workers. So, the math is 4 workers times 52 man hours is 208 hours.

Now, let's go back to my example from the previous post:

A company wants roughly $15,000 for a man to do a tub to shower swap and do it in the same day. Maybe they send two guys. No more than that can fit in a bathroom and work. So, let's call that $7,500 per man each day. That is $937.50 per hour per man. Okay, back to the rental house:

If that crew is being paid on that same scale, then 208 man hours to work on that house is $195,000. Common sense dictates that is not what is happening. Major corporations are getting a good deal and not being charged for "all those years of experience." They have to be. Who would pay $195,000 in LABOR to fix a house that isn't worth but $300,000 in good condition? There is a disconnect between what corporations pay for services and what the average Joe has to pay.

So, is what I can afford to pay the same as "free?" Am I expecting something for nothing? If I hired someone to do a tub to shower exchange and paid them $200 an hour and it took two days my cost would be $1600 in labor. A man working for $800 a day and working five days a week / 40 hours with two weeks off for vacations and two weeks for personal time is grossing $385,000 a year. How is that expecting him to work for nothing? My surgeon's income before taxes is $377,000 a year.

 

[Rimfire rifleman]

Some will give a price over the top because they really don’t want the job!

 

[Gunanddoglover]

That is a stretch. Wanting a reasonable price is not getting something for free. Let's talk about this:

This past week some workers showed up at a rental house across the street. They spent Monday thru Saturday and a half a day today there. It usually averaged four workers. So, the math is 4 workers times 52 man hours is 208 hours.

Now, let's go back to my example from the previous post:

A company wants roughly $15,000 for a man to do a tub to shower swap and do it in the same day. Maybe they send two guys. No more than that can fit in a bathroom and work. So, let's call that $7,500 per man each day. That is $937.50 per hour per man. Okay, back to the rental house:

If that crew is being paid on that same scale, then 208 man hours to work on that house is $195,000. Common sense dictates that is not what is happening. Major corporations are getting a good deal and not being charged for "all those years of experience." They have to be. Who would pay $195,000 in LABOR to fix a house that isn't worth but $300,000 in good condition? There is a disconnect between what corporations pay for services and what the average Joe has to pay.

So, is what I can afford to pay the same as "free?" Am I expecting something for nothing? If I hired someone to do a tub to shower exchange and paid them $200 an hour and it took two days my cost would be $1600 in labor. A man working for $800 a day and working five days a week / 40 hours with two weeks off for vacations and two weeks for personal time is grossing $385,000 a year. How is that expecting him to work for nothing? My surgeon's income before taxes is $377,000 a year.

YouTube is your friend. Learn how and do it yourself. Also, I see no mention of the material and overhead cost in your rant.

 

[Alpha5717]

YouTube is your friend. Learn how and do it yourself. Also, I see no mention of the material and overhead cost in your rant.

That is because you haven't read the thread. I posted an earlier posting.

There is a company that advertises a tub to shower replacement. The average cost is $16,000. The cost of materials for the shower is $1700 tops and that includes every incidental down to several tubes of caulk. The company says it can complete the job in one day.

Even if they bought all new tools to do each job (and they don't), that is still a LOT of money. NOBODY'S overhead is high enough to justify that kind of charge.

 

[lostchild]

That is because you haven't read the thread. I posted an earlier posting.

There is a company that advertises a tub to shower replacement. The average cost is $16,000. The cost of materials for the shower is $1700 tops and that includes every incidental down to several tubes of caulk. The company says it can complete the job in one day.

Even if they bought all new tools to do each job (and they don't), that is still a LOT of money. NOBODY'S overhead is high enough to justify that kind of charge.

But, 'Murica, they can charge what they want, we can always select the low bidder.

 

[Gunanddoglover]

That is because you haven't read the thread. I posted an earlier posting.

There is a company that advertises a tub to shower replacement. The average cost is $16,000. The cost of materials for the shower is $1700 tops and that includes every incidental down to several tubes of caulk. The company says it can complete the job in one day.

Even if they bought all new tools to do each job (and they don't), that is still a LOT of money. NOBODY'S overhead is high enough to justify that kind of charge.

Free market will decide what people are willing to pay. If the cost is too high they won't stay in business. Maybe you want government regulations on what can be charged for goods and services. IDK.

Man, I understand why the younger generations make fun of Boomers. Please just stop ranting you are an embarrassment to the Boomer generation.

 

[Fatal_Bert]

When the same person has the same problems with there mechanics, contractors, barber, post office, lawn guy, etc....

They're just a ****ing Karen nobody is ever gonna make happy.

 

[Grdbreaker]

I will pay for materials, but to where they came from, a sorry contractor will take the material money and spend it and if he does not pay the provider of said materials, then the homeowner is still responsible for them, because they delivered to said address and contractor did not paid for them with the money you gave the contractor. I know what I'm talking about. Can you understand now.

Understand? LOL... Why cant you agree on a material list and you purchase and pay 85 bucks for delivery to your project?? I have been contracting over 30 yrs...You don't get it... and goodbye because you are at the insult stage of your argument.

 

[Rimfire rifleman]

I will pay for materials, but to where they came from, a sorry contractor will take the material money and spend it and if he does not pay the provider of said materials, then the homeowner is still responsible for them, because they delivered to said address and contractor did not paid for them with the money you gave the contractor. I know what I'm talking about. Can you understand now.

True and happens all too often!