Member Comments

Bev Frederickson's reply to Owen Smith's request for trade rates defies belief. How would you know if you don't try an email survey? Are there no other ways of ascertaining current trade rates?. Come on -this is not good enough. It's is why we pay the sub.

I also came here to look for an update on the 2007 rates that I have kept a copy of.They will have changed by now.

Further to Owen Smith's comment, I came here looking for actual dollar numbers. Even 2007 would have been better than nothing, but I can't find any rates, just generalities.

Help - Should I have to Pay for a Quote

I just moved into a house and the Water pressure in the shower is terrible. So I called a Plumbing Company this morning and said that the water pressure was AWFUL and could they send someone to come and give me options. I also asked if I agreed to one of them when could they do the work, to which he said straight away, awesome again!
To their credit they had someone over at the house within 30 minutes.

The Plumber came over and had a look at the 2 showers and under the house and advised me of 3 options to which I asked pricing. He had to call the head office for pricing, which he did.

Head office then called me with the quotes. All were quite expensive and because of this I needed to check with a couple of people as the house is jointly owned. The Plumber was there for about 20 minutes all up including conversation etc.

After I advised the Plumbing Company that I needed to check with others, it was then that I was advised by the Plumbing Company that if I did not go with his quote that we would charge me a call out fee. I said so you will charge me for doing nothing? He then checked with the person who took the message about what exactly we had discussed. the guy confirmed that I had asked for a quote and then if he could do it. The guy in the head office still wants to charge me, saying if he had of knowing that I wouldn't get it done that he would have come not sent a plumber.

So my question is should I have to pay the $115.00 for this service?
Thanks.

Just joined as a new member and planning some building work. extremely disappointed to find that trade rate survey was last taken in 2007. Come on consumer, this is well overdue for a review

I have found an excess charge on materials, but to be fair it wasn't extreme.

I previously presumed that, given that tradespeople get cheaper prices on materials than normal retail, that that would be passed on. This is clearly not the case.

In many cases I can get cheaper (in some cases much cheaper) materials buying retail.

Mastertrade et. al. apparently give 2 prices, and tradespeople (understandably) pay one and charge their customers the other.

Something to think about next time you get someone in to do some work!

I found that trade rates comparison is flawed as many trade people from Builders, plumbers to electrician charges a hefty material cost above the market. Indirectly hiding the true cost of the service. I worked out that from a recent experience that the cost of materials at retail is only 10% of how much they charged me on the bill. This indirectly implies their hourly rate at $125 per hour! The trade industry is rot to its core!