TheTechGuys ?

On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:24:43 +0100, brightside S9
wrote:

On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:04:22 +0100, Edward W. Thompson
wrote:


On Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:59:44 +0100, Usenet
wrote:

http://www.thetechguys.com/services/...allation.shtml

They offer a "digital aerial" and TV installation for £199.

Wonder what exactly do you get for the money?

Glenn

I suggest anyone looking for a reasonable' price for this work should
go to www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk. This site seems to provide a
sensible guide to reputable contractors in an area disgnated by the
user together with a price guide. For the area in which I reside all
contractors appear to quote £75 for this type of service. £75 seems
within reason for this type of work assuming a 'standard' type
installation.


I suggest you hover uour mouse pointer over the £75. The £75 is *not*
a 'quote'.

Agreed. The quote may be less than £75 and may be greater than,
depending upon the job. However, it does appear that £75 is, for some
traders, a figure they can profitably do the work for.

On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:53:07 +0100, "Woody"
wrote:

"Andrew" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:04:22 +0100, Edward W. Thompson
wrote:

I suggest anyone looking for a reasonable' price for this work should
go to www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk. This site seems to provide a
sensible guide to reputable contractors in an area disgnated by the
user together with a price guide. For the area in which I reside all
contractors appear to quote £75 for this type of service. £75 seems
within reason for this type of work assuming a 'standard' type
installation.

According to that I don't have any within 25 miles of me, and I live
in a large town.
--
Andrew, contact via http://interpleb.googlepages.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.



Even better here in Harrogate. The nearest 'approved' TV aerial
installer is in NOTTINGHAM!!!


I hope one can't draw the inference from this that there are very few
traders in the aerial installation business that you cannot buy with
confidence from! :-).

In article , Edward W. Thompson
scribeth thus

On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:19:38 +0100, tony sayer
wrote:

In article , Edward W. Thompson
scribeth thus

On Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:59:44 +0100, Usenet
wrote:

http://www.thetechguys.com/services/...allation.shtml

They offer a "digital aerial" and TV installation for £199.

Wonder what exactly do you get for the money?

Glenn

I suggest anyone looking for a reasonable' price for this work should
go to www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk. This site seems to provide a
sensible guide to reputable contractors in an area disgnated by the
user together with a price guide. For the area in which I reside all
contractors appear to quote £75 for this type of service. £75 seems
within reason for this type of work assuming a 'standard' type
installation.

You wouldn't get this done around here for less than 140 to 199
nowadays!....

I would expect certain contributors to this group to object to this.
Based upon their comments to an earlier thread, I would have expected
them to have posted support for £199 being reasonable for this type of
work.

Course you never told us what you did Edward...

Is what I did relevant? If it is then I was a Project/ Engineer
Manager for the construction of large power plant. My experience does
not qualify me to install TV aerials on residential properties
admittedly but I do have some experience in costing/pricing and
contract management, however, scale is a little different :-)..

OK so you weren't self employed...

It is apparent that what erectors charge is what the market will bear.
In many cases it has nothing to do with cost plus a reasonable profit.
Trades such as electricians, plumbers, aerial erectors, car servicing
etc., seem in recent years to have jumped on the gravy train and have
simply been charging inflated prices for their time. It maybe we are
coming to a period when there may be some correction (sanity being
restored) as people find themselves out of work.

Yes, and of course those in the public sector will still keep their jobs
and get paid....

--
Tony Sayer

I must admit I do live in Nottingham which sems to be a 'hotspot'. I
certainly didn't check to see how this 'service' covered the rest of
the country. It is curious that from those who responded, only
Nottingham, appears to have aerial fitters taking advantage of this
'scheme'. I wonder why?

Looking at the local press, many aerial installers advertise a fixed
price that varies from £60 to £90 to supply and fit a TV aerial, so
for this locality that seems to be the 'selling' price for an average
installation, that is an installation with not 'gotchas'.

I find it perfectly reasonable for aerial erectors to quote a 'from'
price. There clearly is a minimum price to cover, time materials and
overheads. It is obvious that there will be differences betwen jobs.
However, a basic job of installation onto a chimney that is accessible
by a ladder (no roof ladder required) and a straight cable run to the
connection point should attract the lower price. If the job requires
more than the 'basic' time then it is reasonable there will be an
additional charge to cover the time required. It would be my opinion
that the minimum charge would be based upon a one hour on site time.

Edward,

Without wishing to patronise you, I frequently have these same arguments
with my father in law who has just hit 70. Is this a generational thing?

1. Not every trader in the world is out to rip you off. However, some are
and if you accept cheapest quotes you will be more likely to find them.
2. There are at least three riggers on this group who are knowledgeable,
helpful and seemingly honest people. They are telling you that they would
charge more than £90 for an average install. For that you would get a
guaranteed, insured installation from a rigger who is willing to return and
rectify any faults. Not a mobile phone number which is never answered when
they see you calling!
3. You will find riggers who will save you probably about £50. Averaged over
the 10 year life expectancy of your aerial it's not worth the hassle of
risking using a cowboy.
4. Of course riggers charge what the market will stand. Welcome to the free
market economy!
5. The small job friendly thing at £75 is obviously not a quote. A trader
may call to do a small job, for a rigger this could be replacing a faceplate
or adding an extra aerial socket. This should be under £75.

I also know a bit about "Buy With Confidence." It started with (I think)
Hampshire Trading Standards and was called something else (Approved Trader
Scheme?) it has expanded to other Trading Standards Departments who wish to
partake. Not all do by any means, and whilst I believe it is still
expanding, some parts of the country are still not covered by their local TS
who may use another scheme or just not bother to offer an approved trader
scheme.

Cheers
D.

In message ,
Edward W. Thompson Proclaimed from the tallest
tower:

On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:36:40 +0100, Usenet
wrote:

Andrew wrote:
On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:04:22 +0100, Edward W. Thompson
wrote:

I suggest anyone looking for a reasonable' price for this work
should go to www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk. This site seems to
provide a sensible guide to reputable contractors in an area
disgnated by the user together with a price guide. For the area
in which I reside all contractors appear to quote £75 for this
type of service. £75 seems within reason for this type of work
assuming a 'standard' type installation.

According to that I don't have any within 25 miles of me, and I live
in a large town.

I live in Northern Ireland and the nearest installer is Nottingham!

As for the £75 aerial install, the site does not claim any such
thing. It states "Small Job Friendly traders are happy to consider
work/orders for £75 or under", nothing about that that is the cost
of an install.

Glenn.

True, I did make the assumption that if a trader advertises he is in
the business of supplying and erecting TV and radio aerials the
work/orders referred to as £75 or under are for services he is in
business to supply. Is this an unwarranted assumption?

A little. The £75 suggests they are prepared to come out for a small(?)
charge/job, but that could be for adjusting an aerial, or fitting a new wall
backplate, it doesn't say it is for supplying and fitting a new aerial and
cabling...

--
Regards,
Chris.
(Remove Elvis's shoes to email me)

"Edward W. Thompson" wrote in message
...
It maybe we are
coming to a period when there may be some correction (sanity being
restored) as people find themselves out of work.

Best if we keep on charging what the market will stand then, so we've
something for a rainy day. Unlike those who project manage fort large
companies we get no redundancy or job security.

Bill

On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:28:56 +0100, tony sayer wrote:
Yes, and of course those in the public sector will *still keep* their
jobs and get paid....
You mean like those who work for HMRC?

Anger at latest HMRC office closures
By Daniel Selwood, on 29-02-2008 16:11

QUOTE

Figures of up to 7,000 redundancies have been reported as a result of 35
newly announced office closures, following a review of the department’s
operations.

The areas affected include Liverpool, Manchester, Blackpool, Preston,
Cardiff, Swansea, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

UNQUOTE

On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:58:44 +0100, "Doctor D"
wrote:


I must admit I do live in Nottingham which sems to be a 'hotspot'. I
certainly didn't check to see how this 'service' covered the rest of
the country. It is curious that from those who responded, only
Nottingham, appears to have aerial fitters taking advantage of this
'scheme'. I wonder why?

Looking at the local press, many aerial installers advertise a fixed
price that varies from £60 to £90 to supply and fit a TV aerial, so
for this locality that seems to be the 'selling' price for an average
installation, that is an installation with not 'gotchas'.

I find it perfectly reasonable for aerial erectors to quote a 'from'
price. There clearly is a minimum price to cover, time materials and
overheads. It is obvious that there will be differences betwen jobs.
However, a basic job of installation onto a chimney that is accessible
by a ladder (no roof ladder required) and a straight cable run to the
connection point should attract the lower price. If the job requires
more than the 'basic' time then it is reasonable there will be an
additional charge to cover the time required. It would be my opinion
that the minimum charge would be based upon a one hour on site time.

Edward,

Without wishing to patronise you, I frequently have these same arguments
with my father in law who has just hit 70. Is this a generational thing?

1. Not every trader in the world is out to rip you off. However, some are
and if you accept cheapest quotes you will be more likely to find them.
2. There are at least three riggers on this group who are knowledgeable,
helpful and seemingly honest people. They are telling you that they would
charge more than £90 for an average install. For that you would get a
guaranteed, insured installation from a rigger who is willing to return and
rectify any faults. Not a mobile phone number which is never answered when
they see you calling!
3. You will find riggers who will save you probably about £50. Averaged over
the 10 year life expectancy of your aerial it's not worth the hassle of
risking using a cowboy.
4. Of course riggers charge what the market will stand. Welcome to the free
market economy!
5. The small job friendly thing at £75 is obviously not a quote. A trader
may call to do a small job, for a rigger this could be replacing a faceplate
or adding an extra aerial socket. This should be under £75.

I also know a bit about "Buy With Confidence." It started with (I think)
Hampshire Trading Standards and was called something else (Approved Trader
Scheme?) it has expanded to other Trading Standards Departments who wish to
partake. Not all do by any means, and whilst I believe it is still
expanding, some parts of the country are still not covered by their local TS
who may use another scheme or just not bother to offer an approved trader
scheme.

Cheers
D.

I agree with much of what you have posted. However, with respect to
price, a high cost does not ensure a 'good' job either. Surely it is
wrong to assume that a price which is say of the £75 range to supply
and fit an aerial will mean an inferior job or materials used. Maybe
the trader with the lowest price is content to make a reasonable
profit rather than 'excessive' profit. It is all a bit of a dilemna
:-)

As for those that post and are 'in the trade', I do not doubt their
technical competency, why should I? I do however, question their
morals and ethics based upon what they have previously posted
concerning pricing of work.

It is possible, indeed likely, that being of a similar age to your
father, our standards relating to business practices and the idea of
fairness are out of date or are not applicable to self employed
traders.

I am disappointed at what appears to be a commonly held view that it
is legitimate to 'rip-off' the public by charging prices that are
unrelated to costs. That is not to say that all are not entitled to
make a profit but profit should be a fair profit for work done. I
suppose that is what the present furor about bonuses paid in the
financial sector is all about.

I fully understand the protestations (and abuse) by those engaged in
'rip-offs' that a 'low' price must mean sub-standard work. After all
how else would they defend their obscene pricing?

In article ,
Edward W. Thompson wrote:
I agree with much of what you have posted. However, with respect to
price, a high cost does not ensure a 'good' job either. Surely it is
wrong to assume that a price which is say of the £75 range to supply
and fit an aerial will mean an inferior job or materials used.

It certainly does. Unless you think tradesmen work for free.

--
*Laugh alone and the world thinks you're an idiot.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 24/09/2008 08:24, Edward W. Thompson wrote:

with respect to
price, a high cost does not ensure a 'good' job either.

Plenty (including several, like me, who are not in the trade) will agree
with you on that point.