How many chances? - Plumbing Zone

CardinalPumbing · 03-20-2010, 12:25 PM

How many of you have worked for a GC that has held you up just about everystep of the way? I have recently just finished a job with this GC/carpenter, if that's what you want to call this guy. I started the job in December and it is now March 20. The job consisted of a bath remodel and an addition with a master suite. The GC has held me up consistently, promising certain stages of the job are ready for plumbing, I show up to the job and is he no where near being ready. Big waste of my time considering the shop is 45 min away from the job site. Anyway lesson learned. So, I decided not to do anymore work for him. Until, he asked for me to put a bid on another remodel. A 3 family home that is being gutted and remodeled. It is going to have 3 gas,boilers, forced hot water baseboard heat, 4 full baths, 3 kitchens, and a laundry facility in the basement. So, I really don't want to do it, because of HIM. So, I give the guy a super sized price. Guess what? The guy gives me the job because he feels that we have developed a good working relationship. So my question is do I give this guy 3 strikes, where he is already down in the count 0 and 1. Or just tell him thanks but no thanks after this 3 family is complete? Thanks.

Phat Cat · 03-20-2010, 01:02 PM

If he pays you on time and you don't feel that is an issue, I would do the job.

You have already factored in the PITA costs, so you should be fine. Unless you are so busy with work and don't need this job. If that is the case, I don't know why you wasted the time working up a price for him.

My .02.

TheMaster · 03-20-2010, 01:14 PM

Make him pay you for the wasted trip by the hour. Round trip too. Put that hourly price in the proposal.

**SlickRick** · 03-20-2010, 01:26 PM

You have experience with him now. If he pays good and you are getting your price with the extra trips figured in, go for it. None of them are perfect.

plumbpro · 03-20-2010, 02:14 PM

I worked for a HO/GC that was trying to get into his house to switch it from a constuction loan to a standard mortgage to save money on interest. he would call twice a week to what amounted to setting a toilet and installing some shower trim. It would take 35 min to get there, 15 min to unload tools, and 45 min to work before you had to pick up and come back. After a few times of this, He wanted me to come back the next day and set a WH because he didn't want to use a plastic WH pan (all that was available locally). I said no, I wouldn't be back until he was really ready for the rest of the fixtures. He said "alright, i guess" in his whiney tone. When it was all said and done, I had to build up the dishwasher space to set the DW, mount cheap chinese made free standing lavatory cabinets, and put together fancy

that he already opened and lost the instructions. What it boiled down to was about 7 hours of wasted time that he paid in backcharges. His time may be worthless as far as tracking down the cheapest junk he can find for his 4000 sq/ft home, but my time is valuable.

AKdaplumba · 03-20-2010, 02:45 PM

If you get the job for the money you want then do it. You're factoring in the BS when you bid. Make it worth your time.

Bollinger plumber · 03-20-2010, 08:58 PM

If you already accounted for the pita charge as others have said and he pays on time... do it. Good paying gc's are hard to find. If he gives you a hard time again just keep boosting the price.

Master Mark · 03-21-2010, 10:06 AM

If you dont have absolutely anything else to do
and you have gouged him deeply for
the pain and extra trips you are gonna make

then go ahead and do the job.....

But before I started ,
I would get on the phone with the guy
and clearly nail him down to agree that every
wasted 1 hour trip you make out to the home and its not ready......
there will be a trip charge of 150---$200......

PUT THIS IN THE CONTRACT.....to be signed....
and make up and date all the extra trip charges
on your official bills.....and fax them to him every time it
happens....

if that dont scare him away.....
either he really likes you a lot or

he really wants to bend you over and stiff you badly
and he might have no intention off ever paying you anyway....

AKdaplumba · 03-21-2010, 07:00 PM

thats the point of the contract

03-20-2010, 12:25 PM	#1
CardinalPumbing Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brooklyn, CT Posts: 79 My Photos	How many chances? How many of you have worked for a GC that has held you up just about everystep of the way? I have recently just finished a job with this GC/carpenter, if that's what you want to call this guy. I started the job in December and it is now March 20. The job consisted of a bath remodel and an addition with a master suite. The GC has held me up consistently, promising certain stages of the job are ready for plumbing, I show up to the job and is he no where near being ready. Big waste of my time considering the shop is 45 min away from the job site. Anyway lesson learned. So, I decided not to do anymore work for him. Until, he asked for me to put a bid on another remodel. A 3 family home that is being gutted and remodeled. It is going to have 3 gas,boilers, forced hot water baseboard heat, 4 full baths, 3 kitchens, and a laundry facility in the basement. So, I really don't want to do it, because of HIM. So, I give the guy a super sized price. Guess what? The guy gives me the job because he feels that we have developed a good working relationship. So my question is do I give this guy 3 strikes, where he is already down in the count 0 and 1. Or just tell him thanks but no thanks after this 3 family is complete? Thanks.

03-20-2010, 01:02 PM	#2
Phat Cat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5,106 My Photos	If he pays you on time and you don't feel that is an issue, I would do the job. You have already factored in the PITA costs, so you should be fine. Unless you are so busy with work and don't need this job. If that is the case, I don't know why you wasted the time working up a price for him. My .02. __________________ All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. – Edmund Burke

03-20-2010, 01:26 PM	#4
SlickRick Moderator Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gilmer, Texas Posts: 5,770 My Photos	You have experience with him now. If he pays good and you are getting your price with the extra trips figured in, go for it. None of them are perfect. __________________ "I believe human-beings and fist can co-exist peacefully....." GW

03-20-2010, 02:14 PM	#5
plumbpro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NE Arakansas Posts: 1,162 My Photos	we had a guy like this I worked for a HO/GC that was trying to get into his house to switch it from a constuction loan to a standard mortgage to save money on interest. he would call twice a week to what amounted to setting a toilet and installing some shower trim. It would take 35 min to get there, 15 min to unload tools, and 45 min to work before you had to pick up and come back. After a few times of this, He wanted me to come back the next day and set a WH because he didn't want to use a plastic WH pan (all that was available locally). I said no, I wouldn't be back until he was really ready for the rest of the fixtures. He said "alright, i guess" in his whiney tone. When it was all said and done, I had to build up the dishwasher space to set the DW, mount cheap chinese made free standing lavatory cabinets, and put together fancy that he already opened and lost the instructions. What it boiled down to was about 7 hours of wasted time that he paid in backcharges. His time may be worthless as far as tracking down the cheapest junk he can find for his 4000 sq/ft home, but my time is valuable.

03-20-2010, 08:58 PM	#7
Bollinger plumber Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sedgewickville Missouri Posts: 1,326 My Photos	If you already accounted for the pita charge as others have said and he pays on time... do it. Good paying gc's are hard to find. If he gives you a hard time again just keep boosting the price. __________________ http://alsdrainservice.services.offi...m/default.aspx Only two devining forces have died for you. One is Jesus Christ and the other is the American soldier. One died for your soul the other died for your freedom.

03-20-2010, 01:14 PM	#3
TheMaster Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6,437 My Photos	Make him pay you for the wasted trip by the hour. Round trip too. Put that hourly price in the proposal.

03-20-2010, 02:45 PM	#6
AKdaplumba Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 723 My Photos	If you get the job for the money you want then do it. You're factoring in the BS when you bid. Make it worth your time.

03-21-2010, 10:06 AM	#8
Master Mark philosopher and statesmen Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Indianapolis indiana ... Posts: 2,367 My Photos	you know what you are getting into If you dont have absolutely anything else to do and you have gouged him deeply for the pain and extra trips you are gonna make then go ahead and do the job..... But before I started , I would get on the phone with the guy and clearly nail him down to agree that every wasted 1 hour trip you make out to the home and its not ready...... there will be a trip charge of 150---$200...... PUT THIS IN THE CONTRACT.....to be signed.... and make up and date all the extra trip charges on your official bills.....and fax them to him every time it happens.... if that dont scare him away..... either he really likes you a lot or he really wants to bend you over and stiff you badly and he might have no intention off ever paying you anyway.... __________________ God created man, Sam Colt made them equal." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swkq2E8mswI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQMO1eyMRuM Last edited by Master Mark; 03-21-2010 at 11:48 AM..

03-21-2010, 07:00 PM	#9
AKdaplumba Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 723 My Photos	thats the point of the contract

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