Hearthlist Digest #182 - Thursday, August 6, 1998 Re: Contractors discounts by <[email protected]> Re: owner-builders (new construction installations) by <[email protected]> Re: Dustless Ash Remover by "Bill Kline" <[email protected]> Re: owner-builders by "Bill Kline" <[email protected]> Owner Builders by <[email protected]> Re: Owner Builders by "Roger Sanders" <[email protected]> Re: Owner Builders by <[email protected]> IMac and Retail Stores by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: Re: Contractors discounts From: [email protected] Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 07:54:30 -0500 Easy Sell only to state licensed contractors at a discount.make at least 25% on them. Anyone else you can either give a smaller discount or none at all. All your knowlege and time is worth alot. These people are building one house, the contractor many. Mr Mike
(back) Subject: Re: owner-builders (new construction installations) From: [email protected] Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 07:54:52 -0500 Noel Gilmore wrote "For those of you who deal primarily with fp's in new construction...what do you do about those owner-builders? Every owner-builder who's come into my store in the last ten years expects to get the same pricing as a contractor gets..." here's what we did: explain "contractor pricing" is for quantity purchases and the "extra discount" starts after 5 units are purchased and is retroactive to first purchase; and that contractor discounts require payment in full, up front. To cover your butt on those new construction problems we wrote up an addendum to the invoice and had the customer/contractor sign it: 1. Customer has been suplied with manufacturer's framing specs. Our cost for carpentry and construction adjustments is $75/hour, 2 hour minimum. 2. There will be a $75 trip charge every time we must return due to trade interference (the tile guy is there working in the same room where you're supposed to be), inaccessibility (we need to be able to drive right up to the house and there must be steps there - we're not walking a plank up to a porch while carrying a fireplace) and they must supply electricity for the tools. Otherwise, we go back and charge again FOR EACH TRIP. We explain that rescheduling in-season may delay their installation considerably, which may in turn delay framing inspections and postpone their moving date. Hope this helps you...SOMETIMES it helps us. If you're dealing with a decent contractor he should be able to read framing specs.
(back) Subject: Re: Dustless Ash Remover From: Bill Kline <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 07:55:25 -0500 >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Subject: Dustless Ash Remover >From: Dana Crist <[email protected]> >Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 15:53:24 -0500 > > It's >not electric, and the best way I know how to describe it without a >picture is to say that it resembles a large scoop with a hinged lid >and a carrying handle. As far as price point, I can only say that it >retailed around $39.95 back in the early eighties. I don't know how >much it would cost to produce at today's prices. That's one of the >things I'm working to find out right now. We have about 1500 of the >old units in storage at the present. > > >I'm not sure if this helps give you an idea or not, but like I said, >we hope to have a small website up with some pictures and information >early next week. I'll post the address as soon as we get the site up. > >Dana > Dana, Sounds just like a unit I've been using nearly 20 years. I think I got mine from Copperfield Chimney Supply, or some similar place. I've liiked for one like it for a customer several times , to no avail. I'll be interested to see your web page when you get it online. Bill Kline Chim Cheree Chimney Sweep Greer, SC 864-895-4204 Chimney Safety Institute of America Cert#257 In our Twenty-First year
(back) Subject: Re: owner-builders From: Bill Kline <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 07:55:47 -0500 >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Subject: owner-builders >From: [email protected] (Noel Gilmore) >Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 15:55:05 -0500 I want to put up a sign that says, in >essence, that we charge owner-builders more because they take up more time, >only I'd need someone to help me choose some more diplomatic language. Or >perhaps make them sign a document which is loaded with all the caveats >needed to cover our time and money. > >Any suggestions? Noel, Perhaps you could offer them a choice of a proper price, or contractors price plue $50 or $60 per hour for consultation. Give them an idea how many hours, on average the owner-builder needs to get it done right. That should scare him into taking the higher price. Bill Kline Chim Cheree Chimney Sweep Greer, SC 864-895-4204 Chimney Safety Institute of America Cert#257 In our Twenty-First year
(back) Subject: Owner Builders From: [email protected] Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 14:19:18 -0500 Regarding Owner Builders: We are a retail hearth shop that deals primarily with new construction builders. When an owner builder comes into the shop we have "special contractor" prices for them. They basically receive 10% off list price. We explain to receive deeper discounts they must purchase multiple units on a continuing basis. Also, we explain that the labor charge includes the installation and one return trip. If we arrive and the framing is not right or the job is not ready when the client says it is, there is a $50 fee each time it happens. We allow a certain amount of time for each job based on the installation. If we are there longer and it is because of the client, Labor is charged at $50 per hour. If they are apalled and walk out....... Well maybe your competition can lose some money on them. I don't mean to be flip but you can't afford to lose money on a consistent basis and stay in business. Most of the time, the client understands when the situation is explained in advance. Good Luck Lisa Allen Midwest Fireplace Olathe, KS
(back) Subject: Re: Owner Builders From: Roger Sanders <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 14:21:35 -0500 From: Roger Sanders Fireside Spa & Patio Bend, OR Subject: Owner-builders Noel Gilmore in the last digest, wondered what other hearth retailers do with owner builders who expect contractor discounts and require much more "hand holding". We give gladly them contractor discounts if they can produce a valid contractor's license of any type. This insures that our "real" builders will not be upset. We also offer our "real builders" specials that are better than the standard discounts and we always attempt to give them superior service. >From our perspective, the intention of extending contractor discounts is simply to get repeat business. I would estimate that a high percentage of "real" contractor business is just like owner builders in that there is very little repeat business. It's OK thought. Be happy that you do get owner builder non-repeat business. It's in your favor to give them the extra time. It can still be profitable. A good thing to do when you have an owner builder or a real builder that isn't ready when you get there is to staple up a nicely written notice that says that you were there and the framing was not ready. In the notice, invite them to come by the store and get the framing information that they may be missing and also notify them that there will be a trip charge if the house is not ready next time. Don't let your installers stay 4 hours on a job that is not ready. If your customer acts like a idiot in response to your nicely written notice, or your first discussion with them about not being ready, cut your losses and don't do the job for them. They are repeat business that you definitely don't want. In our experience, the example you describe is an extreme case. We find that most owner builders are the opposite of your customer in that they are very appreciative of the extra help they need and some come back to buy a second hearth product, BBQs, Spas or Patio Furniture because we helped them out. These owner builders also say good things about us to their neighbors. You can't beat that kind of advertising that comes from developing a positive relationship with a customer in need. An old saying comes to mind: Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
(back) Subject: Re: Owner Builders From: [email protected] Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 14:22:09 -0500 In regards to owner-builders. Stop giving them the same discount as the guy who buys a lot of fireplaces from you. I tell them that they get one discount for the first fireplace and a better discount for the second. Since they usualy only buy one. You've made enough money to pay for some of the added trips. Greg Hopkins A Cozy Fireplace Hickory Hills, IL.
(back) Subject: IMac and Retail Stores From: Craig Issod <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 17:57:28 -0500 Delivered-To: [email protected] X-From_: [email protected] Thu Aug 6 17:23:20 1998 Date: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 13:32:43 +0000 From: Roger Sanders <[email protected]> MIME-Version: 1.0 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Computers Sender: <[email protected]> Precedence: Bulk List-Software: LetterRip Pro 3.0.1 by Fog City Software, Inc. Subject:Computers and Apple seeds From: Roger Sanders Fireside Spa & Patio Bend, OR Craig, How about some more computer stuff to stir things up a little. As you know, I haven't been a Apple fan because Apple has done very little for small business owners in the last few years and Apple has completely lost the OS wars and the price wars. It looks like an Apple seed has finally sprouted. The new Apple iMAC that you recently wrote about is the perfect computer to use in retail stores because of it's it's compact size, big, fast, powerful features, high speed networking built in, 15 built-in monitor and its great price. Its ideal to put on a small table or limited space counter. We'll begin adding iMACs to our Ethernet network of Pentiums, AMDK6s, PowerMacs, 68040 MACs and a Power Computing server running HearthPro with FilemakerPro server software. The new iMacs will finally give us enough compact work stations to handle the peak information demands that come from a store full of customers and the phones ringing off the hook. I had planned on buying only Pentiums and AMDs as our budget allowed, but the iMAC has certainly changed things! Craig, excluding that demo, obsolete Mac/Performa you bought at a give away price, who would have ever thought that Macs would be better buys than Pentium clones? It would be nice if Apple can prosper on these obviously thin iMAC margins. Lets hope that they do.