Home/Rants/🔧 Plumbing/why are these newbies charging $75/hr for basic pipe installs in chicago
why are these newbies charging $75/hr for basic pipe installs in chicago
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FramingFool3
·3mo·35 replies·36 participants
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FramingFool3⚒️ JourneymanOP3mo
186
I'm in the Chicago area and just saw a kid fresh out of trade school quoting $75 an hour for running PEX lines on a simple bathroom remodel. We've been busting our asses for years to keep rates competitive but now these apprentices are undercutting everyone with their lowball prices on jobs like swapping out old galvanized pipes. It's screwing the whole market, how do we even compete without dropping our $125/hr?
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ThermoTech⚒️ Journeyman3mo
81
same crap, feels like the trades are turning into a race to the bottom.
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SawdustSavant9⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
talk to them about overhead, most forget materials and insurance eat half that.
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MuscleMoverMike⚒️ Journeyman3mo
33
exactly, i tell my guys to factor in the ridgid tools and fittings upfront.
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NotAnElectrician29⚒️ Journeyman3mo
22
i hear ya, it's frustrating watching quality go down the drain.
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DirtDoctor⚒️ Journeyman3mo
63
yeah man, been there with my first jobs.
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CleanFreakCarl2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
31
total BS, my back's killing me from real work.
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EaveEater⭐ Expert3mo
40
for real, can't keep up with the cheap labor influx.
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HueHustler⭐ Expert3mo
44
just quoted a full repipe in an old chicago bungalow, stuck to my guns at $120/hr.
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FloorFitterFred⚒️ Journeyman3mo
29
good for you, wish more would.
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MulchMan⚒️ Journeyman3mo
31
these kids don't know DFU calculations from a hole in the ground.
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BrushStrokePro12⭐ Expert3mo
25
understood, it's killing small shops like mine.
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RollerRandy⭐ Expert3mo
37
yep, seen it too many times.
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PaintSplatPro⚒️ Journeyman3mo
19
nah, $75 is fine if they're solo and no truck payment.
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DirtBagDan2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
36
i feel it, been scraping by on thin margins.
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TrimTerror⚒️ Journeyman3mo
22
proud of my crew, we hit $150k last year charging fair for sharkbite installs.
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KeyMasterKev⚒️ Journeyman3mo
20
it's tough, but hang in there brother.
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ColorCraze3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
30
use housecall pro to track your real costs and show clients why you're worth more.
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MoveItMuscle3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
39
i'd say bump your rates 10% on new leads and see.
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RustyNails3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
28
angry as hell at these undercutters ruining our rep.
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FlushMaster3000⚒️ Journeyman3mo
39
don't let them drag you down, stick to code compliant work.
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WoodWorkerWiz⚒️ Journeyman3mo
65
lol, called one out and he admitted he was guessing on permits.
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SparkPlugSue6⚒️ Journeyman3mo
23
pisses me off, had a job go south because of a cheap hack before me.
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SparkPlugSam⚒️ Journeyman3mo
42
join plumbers united fb group, tons of guys venting about this.
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RootRotRider⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
these lowballers are the reason inspectors are getting stricter on pvc glues.
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MopAndGlo⭐ Expert3mo
37
yeah, solidarity needed against this nonsense.
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SparkPlugStan2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
66
we're all in the same boat out here.
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TileTamer4⚒️ Journeyman3mo
39
damn right, it's a shared pain.
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GarageGuru2⭐ Expert3mo
44
bro, you're not alone in this fight.
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SpringSpecialist6⚒️ Journeyman3mo
24
ha, imagine if we all charged $200, they'd learn quick.
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GarageGuru8⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
fuming over the market getting flooded with amateurs.
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HandyDanDoIt⚒️ Journeyman3mo
4
how do you even find these new guys to warn them?
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PlankPro⚒️ Journeyman3mo
32
total rage, saw a post on r/plumbing about similar undercutting.
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SparkChaser2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
40
can't stand it, it's devaluing our skills big time.
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CanvasKid⚒️ Journeyman3mo
49
yeah, been dealing with the fallout too.
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SpraySavant4⚒️ Journeyman3mo
0
bump your rates to $130/hr minimum for basic installs around here, newbies undercutting just means they're cutting corners on permits and pex quality.
