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
·12d·34 replies·35 participants
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FramingFool3🏆 MasterOP12d
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⭐ Expert11d
81
same crap, feels like the trades are turning into a race to the bottom.
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SawdustSavant9⭐ Expert11d
25
talk to them about overhead, most forget materials and insurance eat half that.
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MuscleMoverMike⭐ Expert10d
33
exactly, i tell my guys to factor in the ridgid tools and fittings upfront.
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NotAnElectrician29🏆 Master10d
22
i hear ya, it's frustrating watching quality go down the drain.
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DirtDoctor⭐ Expert10d
63
yeah man, been there with my first jobs.
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CleanFreakCarl2🏆 Master9d
31
total BS, my back's killing me from real work.
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EaveEater🏆 Master9d
40
for real, can't keep up with the cheap labor influx.
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HueHustler🏆 Master9d
44
just quoted a full repipe in an old chicago bungalow, stuck to my guns at $120/hr.
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FloorFitterFred⭐ Expert9d
29
good for you, wish more would.
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MulchMan⭐ Expert8d
31
these kids don't know DFU calculations from a hole in the ground.
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BrushStrokePro12👑 Legend8d
25
understood, it's killing small shops like mine.
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RollerRandy👑 Legend8d
37
yep, seen it too many times.
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PaintSplatPro⭐ Expert7d
19
nah, $75 is fine if they're solo and no truck payment.
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DirtBagDan2🏆 Master7d
36
i feel it, been scraping by on thin margins.
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TrimTerror🏆 Master6d
22
proud of my crew, we hit $150k last year charging fair for sharkbite installs.
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KeyMasterKev🏆 Master6d
20
it's tough, but hang in there brother.
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ColorCraze3⭐ Expert6d
30
use housecall pro to track your real costs and show clients why you're worth more.
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MoveItMuscle3⭐ Expert5d
39
i'd say bump your rates 10% on new leads and see.
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RustyNails3⭐ Expert5d
28
angry as hell at these undercutters ruining our rep.
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FlushMaster3000⭐ Expert5d
39
don't let them drag you down, stick to code compliant work.
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WoodWorkerWiz⭐ Expert4d
65
lol, called one out and he admitted he was guessing on permits.
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SparkPlugSue6🏆 Master4d
23
pisses me off, had a job go south because of a cheap hack before me.
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SparkPlugSam🏆 Master4d
42
join plumbers united fb group, tons of guys venting about this.
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RootRotRider🏆 Master3d
25
these lowballers are the reason inspectors are getting stricter on pvc glues.
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MopAndGlo🏆 Master3d
37
yeah, solidarity needed against this nonsense.
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SparkPlugStan2⭐ Expert3d
66
we're all in the same boat out here.
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TileTamer4⭐ Expert2d
39
damn right, it's a shared pain.
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GarageGuru2🏆 Master2d
44
bro, you're not alone in this fight.
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SpringSpecialist6🏆 Master2d
24
ha, imagine if we all charged $200, they'd learn quick.
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GarageGuru8⭐ Expert1d
25
fuming over the market getting flooded with amateurs.
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HandyDanDoIt⭐ Expert1d
4
how do you even find these new guys to warn them?
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PlankPro⭐ Expert1d
32
total rage, saw a post on r/plumbing about similar undercutting.
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SparkChaser2⭐ Expert21h
38
can't stand it, it's devaluing our skills big time.
