Yikes. Canada may have different laws, but the first thing I thought of when I saw that schedule was this article:
http://www.umaine.edu/set/svt/articles/PriceFixing.pdf
yeah i thought it was kinda strange too
A bunch of surveyors in Florida got charged with price fixing for allegedly agreeing to a standard minimum rate, or something similar, at a chapter meeting. I want to say that was in the 70s or 80s ....
> A bunch of surveyors in Florida got charged with price fixing for allegedly agreeing to a standard minimum rate, or something similar, at a chapter meeting. I want to say that was in the 70s or 80s ....
I never heard anything about the folks in FL getting in hot water. But am very familiar with the NW Chapter of the Arkansas Society issue. I talked to one of the officers of the Chapter when all this went down. He said the chapter never discussed prices. A small number of guys got together and sent out a letter on behalf of the chapter. No vote, no discussion, no meeting, nothing.
As you might imagine, they are still very sensitive to the issue and I do not blame them.
Larry P
did the state baord disipline them?
oops, board
The notion that we price our service based on our cost to provide that service is very wrong. We need to get away from pricing based on cost and move toward pricing based on the value we create for our clients.
Larry P
> did the state board discipline them?
I do not believe the state board took action. The Feds took action and the NW Chapter agreed to settle the case for $60,000. Read the pdf file Newtons Apple linked. Very interesting reading.
Larry P
It isn't clear to me that the Arkansas case involved interstate commerce, since the surveyors were all in the state and offering services to owners of property in the state.
It's a little surprising that the case came to the attention of the Feds.
It's also interesting that no one has done anything about the fact that gasoline prices in my small city, while jumping 5 and 10 cents/gallon, always are within 1 cent at every station in town. Seems kinda suspicious.
You have the problem here that work is so scarce, and competition so fierce, among even very reputable and competent surveyors, that prices are being driven through the floor. Currently as a buyer, you can have it all, cheap....price, speed, and quality.
That's not exactly right. There was a meeting and a lot of discussion.
:good: :good:
Mr. Clemens, I work with a guy that used to work for you, he is licensed now. We bid a job in Chattanooga, lot survey, plat from 1926, winning bid, $400. That's cheap considering the winner will get to survey the entire block!
Larry
Larry,
Here's one link to it, looks like I was off on my dates, it started in the early 90s.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-11-08/business/9411080338_1_surveyors-warfield-suit
I guess perhaps a key difference is that "price fixing" sets a minimum price (and apparently this group of surveyors tried to enforce this minimum), while stating "recommended prices" is just a suggestion.
Larry
> Larry,
>
> Here's one link to it, looks like I was off on my dates, it started in the early 90s.
>
>> http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-06-10/business/9306100630_1_surveyors-land-surveying-surveying-and-mapping
>
>> http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-11-08/business/9411080338_1_surveyors-warfield-suit
>
> I guess perhaps a key difference is that "price fixing" sets a minimum price (and apparently this group of surveyors tried to enforce this minimum), while stating "recommended prices" is just a suggestion.
Thanks for the links. Very interesting. First I've heard of this situation. Might be interesting to find out how everything was resolved.
Larry P
Larry
The second link gives a little info on how it was resolved.
The state has reached $133,500 in out-of-court settlements with all defendants in the case. State officials plan to reimburse $83,000 to consumers who paid excessive survey fees.
But that second link is mostly about another surveyor in the area (who refused to be a part of it, and apparently turned the others in) who also filed suit claiming that the price-fixing scam ruined his business. Not sure how that worked out.
Hi,
It is the same thing here in Quebec
We also have a suggested price list.
It does not prevent you from charging higher or lower. It is a guide, nothing more.
It should be seen as suggested price, say of a car. All the manufacturers have their suggested price list.The retaillers may sell higher or less. Why landsurveyor couldn't have one...
Here are the links to the board web site, but it's all in french!
http://www.oagq.qc.ca/index.php?id=15
Here is the same link from the google translation tool, not shure it's going to work :
Larry
> The state has reached $133,500 in out-of-court settlements with all defendants in the case. State officials plan to reimburse $83,000 to consumers who paid excessive survey fees.
>
Wow....and how are they going to figure out what "excessive" is? Maybe ask a realtor's association?
I'm sorry, but it seems ridiculous how realtors, lawyers, and other "para" surveyors can tell clients what they should be paying for a survey. How can they "price-fix" our profession and surveyors can't? (Okay,that's a rhetorical question don't "fix", "suggest").
What about gas prices, and realtor's charges, etc.?