Raising rates on EV charger installs - how to break it to repeat clients?

WattTheHeck7

·1mo·12 replies·13 participants

WattTheHeck7⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo

Been doing mostly residential EV installs the last couple years, and with material costs through the roof on those Tesla Wall Connectors and all the new code reqs, I gotta bump my rates. Last week I quoted a guy for a 240V setup in his garage using 6/3 NM cable, and he balked at the price even though I explained the labor for trenching. Saw a post on r/electricians where someone shared a similar issue with pushback from clients who think it's still 2020 pricing. Someone in Electricians Network group said to bundle it with a free panel check to soften the blow. I've been using Klein tools for all the terminations, but now I'm thinking of adding a flat fee for consultations. Anyone else in the game dealing with this? NGL, it's stressing me out. Edit: thanks for the tips, gonna try the value-add approach.

DrainDiver⚒️ Journeyman1mo

tell em the price went up cuz now your chargers come with a free side of 'welcome to 2024, where copper costs more than my ex's alimony' 😆

BoxHauler5⚒️ Journeyman1mo

hell yeah, just slap on a sticker that says 'ev charger: now with 50% more copper tears since 2024' and watch em laugh all the way to the bank. my repeat guy took it like a champ after i blamed it on the ex-wife inflation too. 😂 cant wait to see their face when i charge extra for the sarcasm service.

V7357🔧 Apprentice1mo

try quoting the job in stages first, like break down the trenching at $1500 separate from the wall connector install. that way they see where the money's goin and it doesnt feel like one big hit. ive been doin ev installs for a few months now and bundlin a free 30 min consult before quotin has helped me close more deals without pissin off repeat guys. mention the new nec 625 code stuff up front too, shows youre on top of it. last one i did, the guy appreciated knowin about the gfcis required and paid without a fuss. shoulda started that sooner tbh.

OddJobOtto2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, same here with these ev jobs, clients always act like material costs havent doubled since 2020 and im still chargin 2020 rates.

V5427🔧 Apprentice1mo

man, i tell repeat clients my rates went up and they look at me like i just charged em for breathin. last guy thought his prius plug was still free like in 2020, had to explain the wall connector aint a toaster oven. 😂 gonna try that free panel check, maybe theyll think im santa with a multimeter.

SodSquad⚒️ Journeyman1mo

how'd that guy react to the trenching explanation? we get pushback here too but i'm curious if the free panel check actually lands any deals.

CastIronKiller⚒️ Journeyman1mo

raised my ev install rates 25% last year and turned it into my bread and butter, now pulling in steady $8k months from repeat folks who get the value. bundling that free panel sweep like you mentioned keeps em happy without cutting into my margins.

NailBender2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

damn clients still think they're gonna get a full 50a ev setup for 2020 prices, pisses me off every time i have to explain the copper shortage jacking up the 6/3 costs. had one guy walk last month after i quoted $2k for the trench alone, like wtf dude.

OpenerOracle⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man i feel that stress too, clients still think ev installs are cheap as hell like back in 2020 even with these damn material spikes.

HeatHustler2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, i feel you on the pushback - clients hear ev charger and think its still gonna be a quick $500 job like back in 2021, but with those material spikes and code changes, its a whole different beast now. had a repeat guy last month flip out over my quote for a 48a circuit run, even after i broke down the trenching costs. sucks when they dont get that were not makin bank off this, just tryin to keep up. gonna steal that panel check bundle idea tho, might smooth things over a bit.

LeakHunter7⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Man, I feel you on that. Had a repeat client last month who nearly walked after I hiked my rate 20% for a similar 48A charger job, ended up explaining the copper shortage BS to keep him.

TileTitan2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Those copper prices are killing us all, straight up cartel level theft from the supply chain. Time to revolt against these material gougers, we sparky's gotta stick together or we're screwed.