Do you hide your Porsche or fancy car...

[recycled sixtie]

when you have a contractor come over to give you an estimate on work you want done at your house? Conversely if you are a business owner do you give a higher estimate to somebody that has a Porsche or fancy car?

I must admit I do hide my P car to get a better deal. And you?

[Dantilla]

Nice thing about an old 944- No prestige.

I do volunteer construction work for a couple non-profit agencies, and have no problem pulling up to a low-income home with the 944. It's nothing special.

[rusnak]

I don't hide anything. But I do ask a lot of questions after thinking everything through. Usually I've thought a lot about what I want to hire someone for, so I have a very clear picture of what they'll be doing for me beforehand. And I am very thorough.

[Noporscheform]

I do not hide, but have contractor friends who will admit that the price is higher for the same type of work, when they are working in a more " prestigious" neighborhood. A part of this is because the potential for re-work is much higher, generally clients with money are more demanding because they are "special".

[Zeke]

I have given 1000's of quotes and I've always tried to be consistent. While I might have been tempted to pack the price because of the neighborhood, the house or the cars, you never know who they know. I gave a price a few times to people who told me later that I had worked for their friend or relative. Since a lot of products I installed were basically the same, charging a higher price in a better neighborhood would have been embarrassing and I wouldn't have gotten the job.

What's more, is that roughly 50% of my business was referral, so the word travels. And the worst is working in tracts of similar homes or condos where you better have the same price for the same work.

[Baz]

I go out of my way.....to drive one of my Porsches when meeting a client - especially for the first time.

It's my way of saying......this landscape and irrigation contractor prefers superior engineering.



EDIT - oops - misunderstood the question.

I typically don't hire anyone to do anything at my home - I do most of the stuff myself. But - no I wouldn't hide any of my Porsches - hell they are like works of art!

[lonewolf]

Years ago I was charged double what any other person paid for the same job.
When I came back after getting and showing 5 quotes from other shops the owner said to me ." you come in here with a car like that and expect a deal?"

I told her I just expect to pay what everyone else pays.

Owned a 911 for 30 years now . I have learned .Don't ever expect anything cheap if they see your car. Always hide it when getting a quote .

[johnco]

I've done pools everywhere from mansions to mobile homes. everyone gets the same price no matter where they live or what they drive. other dealers around here won't give prices over the phone and need to check out the place first. I've seen them give the same price for a large size liner change in the country as they do for one 1/2 the size in a wealthy subdivision. just because you have a nice car doesn't mean you have big piles of money. hell I've had 5 porsches and a 380sl mb and I've got no money

[HardDrive]

I drive my 997S around the block, and park my F-150 work truck in the driveway.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

when you have a contractor come over to give you an estimate on work you want done at your house? Conversely if you are a business owner do you give a higher estimate to somebody that has a Porsche or fancy car?

I must admit I do hide my P car to get a better deal. And you?

It wouldn't make a difference if they drove a Rolls Royce or a Kia. My number is still the same. the only difference between the high end projects are the materials and some of the installation methods use are a bit more complex or beyond normal and that it takes lots of time and extra effort so the billable hours adjust accordingly.

I showed up one day to see a project up in the Hollywood hills after I picked up my 930 from my wrench (just right down the hill). The owner made a comment, "Wow, you drive one of those cars, you make too much money as a contractor". We were hired for the job after talking to them several times.

[mikesride]

I own an 82 SC...... not much to hide!!! lol

[look 171]

Just keep in mind, if you have a poc in the driveway, they might low ball just to get the job and do second rate work. It can work against you. We all know someone who got a substandard job. Contractors (not the one who do custom end jobs) bit jobs low enough to they can get the work and perform accordingly (I like to think or hope is up to a certain standard).

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by lonewolf

I have learned .Don't ever expect anything cheap if they see your car. Always hide it when getting a quote .

Agreed. Plus, who knows of the contractor is casing your place? Wouldn't be the first time it's happened in my neighborhood.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by mikesride

I own an 82 SC...... not much to hide!!! lol

I crack up when people are like "Wow, you have a Porsche!" Then I tell them yeah, but its actually the least valuble out of all the vehicles I own!

[stomachmonkey]

I don't go out of the way to hide them but I don't let anyone see them. I do worry that it might affect the quote.

Extending my patio this spring, need another 235 sq ft area done.

1st quote, $1,500. Guy is doing work at 2 houses across the street, another friends down the block and one around the corner. Does a ton of work in my community. Highly recommended.

2nd quote, $1,500. Two young guys, early 20's, very polite, doing well growing their business.

3rd quote, $1,500. Has done work for neighbors, also highly recommended but his English is terrible and communication is difficult.

Trevor, 2nd quote, explained that the minimum load on a truck is 300 sg ft then said, "We'll only do the 235 if you want but why don't we figure out how to do this so you use the whole 300, maybe a pad for a shed around the side of the house or extend by your outdoor kitchen, you are paying for it so might as well use it."

Quote 1 never mentioned it and in the last couple of weeks has had at least 3 separate loads delivered, no offer to co-ordinate the work so I'm not paying for more than I use.

Quote 3, when I heard the number I said "minimum load right?" he said yes. When I suggested we find the other 65 sq ft his english got worse.

Job is going to the honest young guys. I don't get the feeling that what's in my garage makes a difference to them.

[look 171]

come on I am disappointed to hear that from you Noah. Not all of us are criminals. I really don't think the girl who goes in for a pair of bolt ons are getting charge twice because of the cars she drives. Of course around this town, pricing varies a lot and everyone compares our price to all the illegals who own a hammer and live in the back of their trucks.

[rusnak]

Well has anyone tried a chalk outline on the driveway? When they ask, say that was the last contractor that gave a highball bid. Works for me.

[KNS]

Since I've had my garage burglarized in the past, I don't like anyone to see what's in there. Of course it can't be helped when driving in or out of the garage.

[VINMAN]

When I give an estimate to a customer, my pricing is the same regardless if you live in a mansion, or a shack. If anything I will try to give a liitle break to someone who is obviously tight on funds, but I will never jack my price up because somone appears to be "well off"

[look 171]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I don't go out of the way to hide them but I don't let anyone see them. I do worry that it might affect the quote.

Extending my patio this spring, need another 235 sq ft area done.

1st quote, $1,500. Guy is doing work at 2 houses across the street, another friends down the block and one around the corner. Does a ton of work in my community. Highly recommended.

2nd quote, $1,500. Two young guys, early 20's, very polite, doing well growing their business.

3rd quote, $1,500. Has done work for neighbors, also highly recommended but his English is terrible and communication is difficult.

Trevor, 2nd quote, explained that the minimum load on a truck is 300 sg ft then said, "We'll only do the 235 if you want but why don't we figure out how to do this so you use the whole 300, maybe a pad for a shed around the side of the house or extend by your outdoor kitchen, you are paying for it so might as well use it."

Quote 1 never mentioned it and in the last couple of weeks has had at least 3 separate loads delivered, no offer to co-ordinate the work so I'm not paying for more than I use.

Quote 3, when I heard the number I said "minimum load right?" he said yes. When I suggested we find the other 65 sq ft his english got worse.

Job is going to the honest young guys. I don't get the feeling that what's in my garage makes a difference to them.

He's not being honest, he's giving you more then you sign up for. (it is cheap and very effect advertisement. We do it all the time)The others are not dishonest. They have to pay the short load charge. You, them, someone has to pay for it. The money isn't in the concrete, but in the work to finish the pad. It is a lot more involve then a couple of hours of work to pour the little pad. Digging, compaction, and form lumber. This is not including finishing the additional concrete. Yeah, I say it a good deal. SAme as if you have someone paint your car, but they are using the extra paint to paint your motorcycle. Still, they have to prep the motorcycle which it was never part of the deal. I like helping young and hardworking guys because I was one of them. Too bad I don't come across too many of them.