Tired of Flat Rate Pricing Eating Into My Electrical Profits?
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SparkPlugSue5
·7h·1 reply·2 participants
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SparkPlugSue5⚒️ JourneymanOP7h
21
Been doing electrical work out here in Arizona the past 10 years, and flat rate pricing on panel upgrades is starting to feel like a trap. I quoted a 200A service change last week using that standard book, figured it'd cover the 2 hours of trenching for the conduit run, but material costs for the Square D QO breakers shot up 15% since last season, leaving me with peanuts after the job. Customers love the upfront number, but when I hit snags like old aluminum wiring that needs remediation per NEC 110.14, I'm the one sweating the overrun. Switched a couple jobs to T&M at $95 an hour plus materials, and damn if it didn't net me 30% more without the haggling. Anyone else ditching flat rate for residential service calls? Feels like the only way to stay sane in this heat.
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FridgeFixer⚒️ Journeyman7h
3
Flat rate screwed me on a similar panel swap last month, ended up eating $400 in unexpected grounding electrode costs just to pass inspection. Switched everything to T&M now and never looking back.