Home/Growth/🔧 Plumbing/commercial plumbers, how do you market to big box stores without getting screwed on bids?
commercial plumbers, how do you market to big box stores without getting screwed on bids?
F
FlushMaster
·2mo·102 replies·99 participants
F
FlushMaster👑 LegendOP2mo
686
man, just landed a $15k gig re-piping a whole strip mall's drainage with Uponor PEX, but these corporate types are always lowballing with their 'preferred vendor' BS. spent $2k on targeted facebook ads last month and only got one callback from a Home Depot manager. feels like we're all just chasing scraps from the big chains.
P
PipeDreamer15🏆 Master2mo
166
don't bid against yourself, walk away if they push below your flat rate on cast iron replacements.
S
SpotlessSteve7🏆 Master2mo
148
had a good laugh when a Walmart rep asked for a 'quick fix' on their grease trap, ended up charging double for the emergency call out.
W
WireWhisperer5⭐ Expert2mo
134
that's the way, they think we're chumps until the sewer backs up during peak hours.
P
PitchPerfectPro⭐ Expert2mo
74
exactly, i always add a 25% rush fee for those 'urgent' corporate calls, keeps em honest.
P
PipeLord4204⭐ Expert2mo
102
fuck these big box assholes, they treat us like disposable.
A
AntAnnihilator👑 Legend2mo
182
same here, they promise volume work but pay like it's a favor.
S
SprayTanSteve🏆 Master2mo
154
yeah and then ghost you after you turn down their slave labor rates.
F
FrameFailFred🏆 Master2mo
159
we're all getting bent over by these chains, time to union up or something.
S
SparkJockey3👑 Legend2mo
17
union? in plumbing? good luck with that red tape nightmare.
S
SparkPlugGuy⭐ Expert2mo
74
nah, just start blacklisting the worst offenders in our local groups.
P
PickMaster🏆 Master2mo
149
corporate greed is killing the trade, one lowball bid at a time.
W
WireWizard9⭐ Expert2mo
120
i hate how they use our quotes to negotiate down with cheaper hacks.
V
VineyardVanguard⭐ Expert2mo
168
this is why i stick to small commercial, less BS with the mom and pops.
S
SpringSpecialist5🏆 Master2mo
123
big chains are the devil, always demanding net 60 payments while we front all the materials.
R
RustyNailBob5⭐ Expert2mo
145
net 60? try net 90, nearly bankrupted me last year on a Lowe's job.
P
PaintSplat👑 Legend2mo
93
yeah, filed a mechanics lien and still had to chase it in small claims.
A
ACAvenger3⭐ Expert2mo
74
we gotta stop undercutting each other to win these bids.
W
WattTheHeck2🏆 Master2mo
114
frustrated as hell, spent weeks on a Target proposal just to get undercut by some fly by night outfit.
B
BrushStrokePro5🏆 Master2mo
97
feels bad man, we're pros slinging Ridgid tools and they go with the lowest bidder.
O
OpenerOperator5🏆 Master2mo
273
same boat, quoted $20k for a full bathroom reno in a mall and they laughed.
N
NotAnElectrician22🏆 Master1mo
89
all of us bleeding out from these corporate vampires.
M
MulchMan⭐ Expert1mo
120
i feel your pain, brother, it's a race to the bottom.
F
FixItFelix3🏆 Master1mo
75
these chains are ruining it for everyone.
M
MoveItMuscle2⭐ Expert1mo
129
yep, they pit us against each other like gladiators.
N
NotAnElectrician29🏆 Master1mo
142
goddamn frustrating when your best work gets ignored for price.
C
ChillChampion2⭐ Expert1mo
116
we're getting royally screwed by this system.
H
HaulHound🏆 Master1mo
146
corporate bs has me ready to quit commercial altogether.
D
DrainDiver2⭐ Expert1mo
79
yeah man, it's exhausting fighting for every penny.
L
LawnLizard4⭐ Expert1mo
113
i hear ya, the big boys always win.
D
DustBunnyHunter5🏆 Master1mo
88
we all suffer from their cheap tactics.
G
GeneralGuru⭐ Expert1mo
119
sticking to residential where at least people appreciate the work.
F
FixItFelix12🏆 Master1mo
92
frustrated beyond belief with these bid wars.
G
GroundFaultGuru🏆 Master1mo
248
same here, feels like we're slaves to their schedules.
D
DoorJammer2⭐ Expert1mo
136
corporate overlords gonna corporate.
R
RoofRat884🏆 Master1mo
95
i get it, the lowball game sucks the life out.
B
BoltBoss2👑 Legend1mo
97
man, we're all in this crap together.
R
RefrigerantRanger⭐ Expert1mo
135
proud of sticking to my guns on rates, even if it means fewer jobs.
T
TidyTim🏆 Master1mo
113
big chains treat us like dirt, no respect.
P
PrunePrince⭐ Expert1mo
70
we're getting hosed left and right.
A
ACWizard🏆 Master1mo
217
i feel that frustration deep, been there too many times.
L
LockoutLila🏆 Master1mo
13
same struggle, how do you even compete?
R
RodentRidder👑 Legend1mo
152
proud i finally started saying no to their BS terms.
A
AirFlowAce2🏆 Master1mo
135
that cat knocked over my coffee while quoting a septic install, nearly lost the deal laughing.
S
SpringBreaker⭐ Expert1mo
163
we're all feeling the squeeze from these giants.
W
WireWizard88🏆 Master1mo
303
i feel ya, commercial marketing is a joke.
H
HardwoodHero5🏆 Master1mo
16
how you handling the follow-ups after bids?
M
MopMasterMax🏆 Master1mo
147
we all know the pain of ghosted proposals.
F
FrameFreak3🏆 Master1mo
95
big box stores are the worst clients ever.
S
SpringBreaker2🏆 Master1mo
76
sticking to my rates paid off big last quarter.
C
CleanFreakFred⭐ Expert1mo
124
corporate greed is out of control.
B
BeamBender2⭐ Expert1mo
83
i get the commiseration, it's tough out there.
V
VoltVampire2⭐ Expert1mo
32
how do you track your ad ROI on these?
S
SolderSavant🏆 Master1mo
73
laughed when a manager tried to haggle my SharkBite quote down to nothing.
L
LaminateLad🏆 Master1mo
242
we're all pissed at how they undervalue us.
S
SewerSurfer🏆 Master1mo
166
i feel that, brother.
N
NotAnElectrician4⭐ Expert1mo
131
frustrated with the endless bidding cycle.
D
DrainDragon2🏆 Master1mo
119
stuck to my $125/hr and walked away proud.
H
HueHustler3⭐ Expert1mo
83
big chains suck the soul out of plumbing.
T
TenYearVet9👑 Legend1mo
298
we're enduring the same corporate nightmare.
P
PipeDreamer14⭐ Expert29d
11
how you qualifying leads before wasting time?
W
WrenchWally2⭐ Expert28d
129
proud of turning down a toxic Home Depot contract.
G
GarageGateGuy⭐ Expert28d
123
had the crew in stitches over a ridiculous bid request from Target.
A
AmpedUp2👑 Legend27d
124
try Jobber for tracking those ad spends, saved me headaches.
P
PackRatPaul🏆 Master26d
115
we all hate their payment delays.
S
SewerSurfer2⭐ Expert26d
73
corporate vampires draining us dry.
W
WireWizardWalt👑 Legend25d
90
use Angi leads? or avoid like plague?
G
GateOpenerGuru⭐ Expert24d
119
i feel your pain on the lowballs.
A
ACWizard🏆 Master23d
168
we're getting screwed by the system.
L
LiftAndHaulHarry⭐ Expert23d
170
proud i hit 6 figures without chasing chains.
S
ShingleShark11🏆 Master22d
114
frustrated as hell with their tactics.
T
TileTitan⭐ Expert21d
162
we all share this burden.
R
RustyWrench⭐ Expert20d
178
guy in Plumbers United said the same, skip the big boxes.
C
CastIronHater👑 Legend20d
163
watched a Tommy Mello vid on commercial scaling, eye opener.
P
PipeLord42011🏆 Master19d
165
laughed my ass off at a botched corporate install pic on r/Plumbing.
P
PanelPusher🏆 Master18d
144
we're all fed up with the BS.
G
GutterGuard⭐ Expert17d
90
corporate lowballs are killing margins.
S
SparkChaser⭐ Expert17d
130
i feel ya, tough market.
S
SolderSavant2⭐ Expert16d
122
we all in the trenches together.
P
PipeLord42015⭐ Expert15d
103
try networking in The Contractor Fight group, got a solid lead there.
P
PipeDreamer10🏆 Master15d
171
big chains gonna big chain.
T
TarpTitan3⭐ Expert14d
87
proud of my referral system over ads.
S
SparkPlugSam🏆 Master13d
73
frustrated but pushing through.
N
NotAnElectrician17👑 Legend12d
10
how's your google business profile setup for commercial?
E
EaveExpert2⭐ Expert12d
98
we're enduring the corporate grind.
C
ChillOutTech🏆 Master11d
200
same old story with these clients.
P
PipeLord42011🏆 Master11d
166
don't chase, let them come to you with fair rates.
N
NotAnElectrician17👑 Legend10d
77
we all feel the rage.
N
NailBiterCarp🏆 Master9d
71
watched Roger Wakefield on commercial pitfalls, spot on.
W
WireWizard88🏆 Master8d
137
corporate greed unites us in misery.
B
BugHunterPro⭐ Expert7d
130
i get it, man.
N
NotAnElectrician12🏆 Master7d
80
try cold emailing property managers, worked for me once.
R
RoofRat99⭐ Expert6d
174
we're all battling the same beast.
D
DustBunnyHunter4⭐ Expert5d
92
big box marketing is a scam.
D
DoorJammer4⭐ Expert5d
22
how you dealing with their RFPs?
W
WrenchWarrior2🏆 Master4d
127
we share the frustration.
B
BrushStrokePro9🏆 Master3d
105
frustrated with the endless lowballs.
T
TileTerror3⭐ Expert2d
139
proud i finally landed one without bending.
N
NailGunNinja9🏆 Master1d
115
we're getting hosed by chains.
B
BrushStrokePro13⭐ Expert1d
163
saw a post on r/Plumbing about ditching commercial, tempting.