Don Blameuser, post: 335576, member: 30 wrote: There is something very not right about what you just said. Where is that extra 10% coming from? Oh sure, it's all la la la, more bucks, who gives a ****.
Architects and Engineers usually have some fluff in their contracts, and surveying is only a small percentage of the whole. If using one surveyor over another helps them to the finish line, they will be willing to pay more for a survey.
I've run into the same issue as of late, we are a company of around 30 people, 3 crews. I'm getting people say that company B is cheaper than we are. Company B is a one man operation, it's hard for us to compete with someone with very little overhead.
Howard Surveyor, post: 335620, member: 8835 wrote: the other surveyor ... had her elevations on the wrong datum and the structure located in a V zone (Coastal) when it is located about 125 miles from the beach
Did you contact him, and if he didn't make it right tell her to report him to the board?
He should pay you for your time, issue a corrected certificate, and if it cost her more for insurance than it should have then make that up to her also.
Norman Oklahoma, post: 335517, member: 9981 wrote: One of Dan Beardslee's maxims was that there can only be one lowest cost provider in any market. Everyone else has to compete on some other basis.
When someone tells you that you have been outbid I think that it is OK to ask by who, and by how much. Call it market research. I don't think it's OK to then match the low bidders price.
I KNOW it is not OK to match a price. It is a major violation of Alabama BOR regulations.
"When someone tells you that you have been outbid "
They are lying to you........
I let them know that if they are putting it up for bids, that in Texas it is against the law to seek bids and/or to bid on land surveying fees.
B-)
I'm not a surveyor but I work as an electrician. No matter what field you work in there will always be someone willing to work cheaper. There will also be that one customer that wants to beat you over the head with a lower price. But it's your job to get them to feel confident enough to spend the extra money to get the job done right. There is such a thing as being too busy being broke. Knowing this I never ask anyone to take less money when I am looking to have something done for me. If after finding someone that I feel comfortable in hiring but can't afford I just politely as possible tell them that I don't have enough money right now and thank them for their time. Because sometimes you don't know if you can afford something until you ask how much.
Don Blameuser, post: 335576, member: 30 wrote: There is something very not right about what you just said. Where is that extra 10% coming from? Oh sure, it's all la la la, more bucks, who gives a ****.
You're a 1% er Fleming.
And Brad?
You gotta stop liking all this random ********, man.
I had to stop following you 'cause you like any damn thing that comes along.Don
Ahem...Brad ain't hurting anyone. Be nice. Please?
Angel, post: 335750, member: 100 wrote: Ahem...Brad ain't hurting anyone. Be nice. Please?
Brad is my favorite person on this board. I thought I was being funny and I wasn't very funny at all. I' ve had good friends throw me out of a bar because I can be such an ass when I'm drunk.
I apologize to everyone I offended by that stupidity. I have been too embarrassed to show my face since then.
I'm sorry,
Don
Hi John,
Changing topics on you, I was curious how your making out with your new GNSS gear. Hope its been a pleasant experience so far.
Angel, post: 335750, member: 100 wrote: Ahem...Brad ain't hurting anyone. Be nice. Please?
Hi Angel, nice to see you posting again.
Wanted to say again, condolences on the passing of your mom's.
Bob LeMoine, post: 341811, member: 10375 wrote: Hi Angel, nice to see you posting again.
Wanted to say again, condolences on the passing of your mom's.
I post once in a while... B-)
After things calm down I'll be around more to harass you guys like I use to. 😀
spledeus, post: 335522, member: 3579 wrote: When they call back you can always offer to fix it if the low bidder does not perform as expected.
We had one - 12 lot subdivision with Conservation and Planning. $5k per lot or $60k for retracement (or original survey), preliminary, definitive, road design, construction layout, asbuilting. The other firm was $5k for all of it. The client called and we advised he get an iron-clad contract and go with the lower number. He did not get an iron-clad contract and called us when the change work orders had him up to $80k or $90k with the question of how much it would be for us to fix it.
$60k.
I might have said $90K...
eshorebrewer, post: 335627, member: 8864 wrote: I've run into the same issue as of late, we are a company of around 30 people, 3 crews. I'm getting people say that company B is cheaper than we are. Company B is a one man operation, it's hard for us to compete with someone with very little overhead.
And probably very little insurance...
With things slowing down for the winter did you ever think about maybe these calls are really from other surveyors trying to check out your prices ????
Jim in AZ, post: 341851, member: 249 wrote: And probably very little insurance...
You are probably correct. I was working on a proposal with my new position at a larger firm, and I had the same coverages as a solo operator that they have as a mid size firm in a major metro area doing government work.
Now I know why I was not getting smaller jobs, and able to get more lucrative jobs as a solo guy. The low ballers couldn't get the better jobs because of the insurance requirements, but the better jobs didn't come around quite as often.
Don Blameuser, post: 341807, member: 30 wrote: Brad is my favorite person on this board. I thought I was being funny and I wasn't very funny at all. I' ve had good friends throw me out of a bar because I can be such an ass when I'm drunk.
I apologize to everyone I offended by that stupidity. I have been too embarrassed to show my face since then.
I'm sorry,
Don
Well, let's try being a little funnier now wouldja? Geez. (By the way, I got it. I thought it was obviously funny and not meant as some kind of putdown). Maybe you need to start explaining your jokes, (but I hate it when you have to explain your jokes). Oh, well...I don't think I'm any help at all.
Welcome back my old friend. I call one of my favorite bowling buddies "a*****e" on a regular basis. He is actually a good friend.
Don, you and I, we are good my man.
Norman Oklahoma, post: 335517, member: 9981 wrote: One of Dan Beardslee's maxims was that there can only be one lowest cost provider in any market. Everyone else has to compete on some other basis.
When someone tells you that you have been outbid I think that it is OK to ask by who, and by how much. Call it market research. I don't think it's OK to then match the low bidders price.
I also think it would be alright to call up the non-client a few weeks later to find out how things went.
Good advice. You may find that people aren't satisfied with the bargain basement surveying they've received.
Angel, post: 341824, member: 100 wrote: I post once in a while... B-)
After things calm down I'll be around more to harass you guys like I use to. 😀
Angel, on my back home from a breakfast meeting with a colleague in Newark, NJ today; I stopped by Pease Road Cemetery to visit my Mom's grave, its been awhile. Mom passed in July 2009, loosing her battle with cancer. This cemetery is quiet and peaceful. Visiting mom recharges my soul, its comforting to visit and chat with her. Each and every person grieves differently and along their own time table...
Thank you, Brad.
I looked but I couldn't find a smiley face that conveyed "humble idiot" which is exactly how I feel, so I just have to say it: that's who I am.