Have I just been done? (door repair cost €250)

Hogzy

Hey folks,

I had a window man come out to my apartment today to fix a balcony door that was rubbing off the balcony floor and needed to be repositioned. Turned out to be a broken bracket at the head of the door. The window man simple removed the door and then unbolted the bracket and refitted the door whilst also "resetting the glass". Im not too sure why exactly the glass had to be taken out of the door and reset into it to get the job done but I trusted him as hes the expert and came recommended by our maintenance guy in the apartment block.

The window guy (together with his assistant who didnt do much work) were working away for 90mins. Total bill was €250 incl VAT. There were no parts at all.

I dont have much experience with tradespeople as I am a first time buyer in my house 4 months. Does that price seem excessive for anyone?

dunnerc

Sounds vey expensive alright .

Calahonda52

dunnerc wrote: »

Sounds vey expensive alright .

Based on what?

allow 30 minutes travelling time each way gives 2.5 hrs for 2 men or 5 man hrs at 50 euro an hour after vat.

Out of that insurance, travel costs etc have to paid.

As for : (together with his assistant who didnt do much work)
this smacks of a colonial lifestyle /slavery mindset. (1)

The extra body may have been required if it were a bigger pane/door/window

As for the word simply: if it were that simple why did the OP not do it: again no credit given for skill/experience/knowledge for blue collar workers: as per 1 above

whatnext

Are balcony doors and windows not the property of the management company thus repairing the responsibility of the management company? Not sure, just asking.

Re the cost. Seems reasonable to me.

Effectively half a shift for two blokes between time budgeted to do the job and travel. Then general cost of overheads.

CJhaughey

How were no parts used if the bracket was broken?
If the door now works and doesn't rub off the floor I assume the job is good?

listermint

Cost seems about right.

Do you have the parts / knowledge and skillset OP?

If yes then why not replace parts, adjust and travel to sites yourself ?

Hogzy

Wow! How in the name of god someone can accuse me of possessing a colonial/slavery mindset after the post above I will never know.

To all of you who ask do I have the knowledge to do it myself or the tools, no I dont obviously hence I called someone in. I am left stumped though as I pay mechanics to service my car and that takes all of the same time and yet my car service costs are less than this and include parts/liquids.

250 for 90mins of 2 mens time seems incredibly expensive in my eyes. I have had an electrician out in the house over the space of two days (roughly 6hrs work, included 3 smoke alarms and 2 CO2 alarms) and the cost was 450.

250 seemed expensive for what I had done but tbh people seem to be getting offended that I questioned a tradesman so forget it.

This forum is unreal. A simple question and im almost labeled a colonial slaver.:rolleyes:

MODS: PLEASE CLOSE THIS THREAD AS ILL GO ELSEWHERE FOR DIY ADVICE

listermint

Hogzy wrote: »

Wow! How in the name of god someone can accuse me of possessing a colonial/slavery mindset after the post above I will never know.

To all of you who ask do I have the knowledge to do it myself or the tools, no I dont obviously hence I called someone in. I am left stumped though as I pay mechanics to service my car and that takes all of the same time and yet my car service costs are less than this and include parts/liquids.

250 for 90mins of 2 mens time seems incredibly expensive in my eyes. I have had an electrician out in the house over the space of two days (roughly 6hrs work, included 3 smoke alarms and 2 CO2 alarms) and the cost was 450.

250 seemed expensive for what I had done but tbh people seem to be getting offended that I questioned a tradesman so forget it.

This forum is unreal. A simple question and im almost labeled a colonial slaver.:rolleyes:

MODS: PLEASE CLOSE THIS THREAD AS ILL GO ELSEWHERE FOR DIY ADVICE

Ok, lets put a stop to that first of all.

YOU used the term colonial / slavery. So cop on a bit there horse.


And as for your car, is your mechanic Mobile? does he come to your home or office in a vehicle he has to insure and maintain ? No then there is a different cost.

Mobile mechanics have different pricing to a local garage.


a bit of realism in your mindset would probably tidy this up for you.

Hogzy

listermint wrote: »

Ok, lets put a stop to that first of all.

YOU used the term colonial / slavery. So cop on a bit there horse.


And as for your car, is your mechanic Mobile? does he come to your home or office in a vehicle he has to insure and maintain ? No then there is a different cost.

Mobile mechanics have different pricing to a local garage.


a bit of realism in your mindset would probably tidy this up for you.

Eh no I didnt...horse
Did you read the thread?

The mechanic is not mobile, but the electrician is. I called one of the lads there and he said it sounds very expensive for what was done. Cheers for the help boards.ie :rolleyes:

Im guessing ye are all tradesmen

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Based on what?

allow 30 minutes travelling time each way gives 2.5 hrs for 2 men or 5 man hrs at 50 euro an hour after vat.

Out of that insurance, travel costs etc have to paid.

As for : (together with his assistant who didnt do much work)
this smacks of a colonial lifestyle /slavery mindset. (1)

The extra body may have been required if it were a bigger pane/door/window

As for the word simply: if it were that simple why did the OP not do it: again no credit given for skill/experience/knowledge for blue collar workers: as per 1 above

FYI there horse.

Dardania

To add to the advice OP has already received, price seems reasonable for the result - a working section of glazing. It feels that you don't value the work delivered as much as the market rate seems to be?

Did you seek quotes etc.?

Also, as this is your first house, it's probably your first time maintaining a major asset. Over the years, without prejudicing how you think, chances are your thought process will change.
You should consider budgeting about 1% per annum on maintenance charges of any nature (like painting or fixing broken doors, or the flusher button on the toilet is broken or a multitude of other issues) - these things happen, and the money isn't the issue it's the time hassle, and interruption to your enjoyment of the house that's more important. Not to mention that if you don't fix the problem, you decrease the value & integrity of the asset.
Welcome to owning a house!

Hogzy

Dardania wrote: »

To add to the advice OP has already received, price seems reasonable for the result - a working section of glazing. It feels that you don't value the work delivered as much as the market rate seems to be?

Did you seek quotes etc.?

Also, as this is your first house, it's probably your first time maintaining a major asset. Over the years, without prejudicing how you think, chances are your thought process will change.
You should consider budgeting about 1% per annum on maintenance charges of any nature (like painting or fixing broken doors, or the flusher button on the toilet is broken or a multitude of other issues) - these things happen, and the money isn't the issue it's the time hassle, and interruption to your enjoyment of the house that's more important. Not to mention that if you don't fix the problem, you decrease the value & integrity of the asset.
Welcome to owning a house!

Thank you I appreciate the advice! I value the work obviously but I feel a little too much was done if you get me. I have looked at the bracket that needed to be removed and they could simply unbolted the door from its hinges, removed bracket and rebolted. I have no idea why they took the glass out of the door and as they described "reset" the glass. That took them almost 45mins to do and as I can see it served no purpose for fixing the door.

aluminium

I havent read the full thread, but based on your original post, you were done.

Realignment of a tilt and turn door / balcony window ( domestic), no parts is 90 - 120 plus vat. Takes about 30 mins.

Glass removed.............thats a first.

listermint

Hogzy wrote: »

Eh no I didnt...horse
Did you read the thread?

The mechanic is not mobile, but the electrician is. I called one of the lads there and he said it sounds very expensive for what was done. Cheers for the help boards.ie :rolleyes:

Im guessing ye are all tradesmen



FYI there horse.

I read the entire thread, no one used those terms but you.

And no im not a tradesman, and i dont dish out abuse to people who are trying to give you information.

Tad bit of reality check their buddy. your off on one.

Sleeper12

Bringing your car to a main dealer will set you back around 70 euro per hour. You only pay for the time spent on the vehicle as you travel to them.

In all honesty the price you paid sounds about right. If the 2nd guy was only needed for 5 minutes then he was needed. You can't expect to pay for the 2nd guy for the amount of time working. He still had to be there waiting for when he was needed.

As for taking the glass out, I'd imagine that the whole shape of the door was out of whack and they had to literally rebuild the door to fix the part that you felt needed repairing.

Two guys for 2 and a half hours inc travel I think 250 is fair. I'm in shower repair & I charge 100 per hour. Obviously I don't get 100 myself as I have VAT, insurance, accounting, van, etc, etc.

knipex

listermint wrote: »

I read the entire thread, no one used those terms but you.

And no im not a tradesman, and i dont dish out abuse to people who are trying to give you information.

Tad bit of reality check their buddy. your off on one.

Look again

It was mentioned in post 3 by Calahonda52

Not by Hogzey.

Calahonda52

aluminium wrote: »

I havent read the full thread, but based on your original post, you were done.

Realignment of a tilt and turn door / balcony window ( domestic), no parts is 90 - 120 plus vat. Takes about 30 mins.

Glass removed.............thats a first.

You didn't read the whole thing so your contribution is based on what?

RandomName2

listermint wrote: »

I read the entire thread, no one used those terms but you.

Your comprehension capacity is about what I expected.

listermint wrote: »

Tad bit of reality check their buddy. your off on one.

The grammar is outdone by the tone.

Hogzy wrote: »

The window guy (together with his assistant who didnt do much work) were working away for 90mins. Total bill was €250 incl VAT. There were no parts at all.

Hey OP, I'd say yeah that's expensive, but from their point of view you're a one-off sort of customer in all likelihood. While a 'fairer' charge might be something like €150, there's no huge incentive for them to cut their margin for someone who isn't going to be a repeat customer anyway. I'd say that most of their competition will probably charge a similar rate, so I don't think you should necessarily be kicking yourself. Remember that the reverse is true as well, it's unlikely that you'll ever have to pay a similar charge for door repairs for the time you live in that address.

jack of all

I think the moral of the story is: always ask for a quote before having any kind of work done, especially if the job is unusual or specialized.
If nothing else, by getting an estimate beforehand you rule out the the possible niggle of that doubting voice in your head: "was I just screwed over?". I don't ask my regular mechanic for a quote for a standard car service, but if I'm getting any other extra work done I'll always want to know the approximate cost beforehand and I think it's good business practice for businesses to advise on potential costs before carrying out work- it just avoids anyone feeling hard done by when both parties enter into an agreement knowing the costs involved.

listermint

knipex wrote: »

Look again

It was mentioned in post 3 by Calahonda52

Not by Hogzey.

Fair point missed that.

Apologies

the_pen_turner

Seems fair for a tradesman and helper for half a day.

lalababa

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Based on what?

allow 30 minutes travelling time each way gives 2.5 hrs for 2 men or 5 man hrs at 50 euro an hour after vat.

Out of that insurance, travel costs etc have to paid.

As for : (together with his assistant who didnt do much work)
this smacks of a colonial lifestyle /slavery mindset. (1)

The extra body may have been required if it were a bigger pane/door/window

As for the word simply: if it were that simple why did the OP not do it: again no credit given for skill/experience/knowledge for blue collar workers: as per 1 above

Jeasus ha! Begob I wouldn't be calling them again. Tis a bit fat that bill alright.
Mechanics have to have a premises with rates and insurance. If they were just mobile they wouldn't have these overheads.

emeldc

I called out a window man to replace 2 double glazed panels that were leaking. He arrived in his van, measured up, (6'x2' & 2'x2') and went off to make the panels up. Came back the next day, removed the old panels, fitted the new ones in about 40mins and charged me €90 in total. Compare that to what the OP got done and I'd say he was robbed.

thejaguar

RandomName2 wrote: »

Hey OP, I'd say yeah that's expensive, but from their point of view you're a one-off sort of customer in all likelihood. While a 'fairer' charge might be something like €150, there's no huge incentive for them to cut their margin for someone who isn't going to be a repeat customer anyway. I'd say that most of their competition will probably charge a similar rate, so I don't think you should necessarily be kicking yourself. Remember that the reverse is true as well, it's unlikely that you'll ever have to pay a similar charge for door repairs for the time you live in that address.

This sounds like the most reasonable advice - i.e. you were probably overcharged

listermint wrote: »

Fair point missed that.

Apologies

I've never seen this on boards before and am strangely impressed

lawred2

listermint wrote: »

I read the entire thread, no one used those terms but you.

And no im not a tradesman, and i dont dish out abuse to people who are trying to give you information.

Tad bit of reality check their buddy. your off on one.

urm....

listermint

lawred2 wrote: »

urm....

Ohh. someone made my mistake!


:P :pac:

lawred2

listermint wrote: »

Ohh. someone made my mistake!


:P :pac:

oops

Rackstar

€250 was reasonable.

As for the comedy value of this thread, well you can't put a price on it.

Hogzy

Might start selling slaves to recoup some of the 250 :pac:

BrokenArrows

Put it down to a life lesson OP.
Never let any trades person do work for you without first getting a quote.

Once the work is done then basically they can charge you whatever they like and you cant say anything about it.

Go back to the guy who recommended them and tell him you were robbed. Just so he doesn't keep recommending them.

And to the people on here to are justifying the €250 because of tax, car insurance etc youre crazy. Insurance will work out to about £5 a day over the course of the year.
Yes two people might make the job easier but having someone there to help lift a door occasionally should be charged at laborer rates.

listermint

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Put it down to a life lesson OP.
Never let any trades person do work for you without first getting a quote.

Once the work is done then basically they can charge you whatever they like and you cant say anything about it.

Go back to the guy who recommended them and tell him you were robbed. Just so he doesn't keep recommending them.

And to the people on here to are justifying the €250 because of tax, car insurance etc youre crazy. Insurance will work out to about £5 a day over the course of the year.
Yes two people might make the job easier but having someone there to help lift a door occasionally should be charged at laborer rates.

Fiver Euro a day for Van Insurance and Public Liability Insurance. Bargain! Where do we sign up for this.

Sleeper12

BrokenArrows wrote:

Go back to the guy who recommended them and tell him you were robbed. Just so he doesn't keep recommending them.

There are a lot of posters with little or no knowledge of the trade saying that op was robbed. One poster tried to compare replacing glass with this totally different job. Then we get others saying that I got the same for half the price without pointing out that they got a cash job & didn't pay vat.

The bottom line here is that there was around 5 man hours involved here. 50 euro an hour for a tradesman is not expensive. I'm double that & get no complaints

BrokenArrows

listermint wrote: »

Fiver Euro a day for Van Insurance and Public Liability Insurance. Bargain! Where do we sign up for this.

I hadnt considered public liability.

Either way, how much are you paying for both per year?

aluminium

The company I work for manufactures commercial windows and supplies componants to the trade. Some of the lads do nixers. Trade guys who come to the counter boast / brag how much they get for a job.

I think I know what I'm talking about......................

Hogzy

FYI I paid cash and didnt get a receipt!

Lesson learned is to get a quote beforehand. Wont be going back to the guy again and iv learned a valuable lesson.

Sleeper12

Hogzy wrote:

FYI I paid cash and didnt get a receipt!

Hogzy wrote:

Lesson leanred is to get a quote beforehand. Wont be going back to the guy again and iv learned a valuable lesson.

Two lessons I hope. Quote first and insist on the receipt

listermint

BrokenArrows wrote: »

I hadnt considered public liability.

Either way, how much are you paying for both per year?

Nothing im not a tradesperson.

But I know folks who are and insurance is not cheap

Pretending it is and then firing back at me about how much I'm paying is a tad silly now isn't it

emeldc

Sleeper12 wrote: »

There are a lot of posters with little or no knowledge of the trade saying that op was robbed. One poster tried to compare replacing glass with this totally different job. Then we get others saying that I got the same for half the price without pointing out that they got a cash job & didn't pay vat.

The bottom line here is that there was around 5 man hours involved here. 50 euro an hour for a tradesman is not expensive. I'm double that & get no complaints

I wasn’t comparing the job, more the effort my man made and the fact that he supplied and fitted made to measure parts. He also called to the house twice which seems to take hours and hours according to some posters.
I’m in the drycleaning business and use a plumber/RGI fitter on a regular basis and he charges no where near €100 p/h. But more luck to you if you can get it.