| Author |
Message |
    
kharris
Citizen
Username: Kharris
Post Number: 23
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 4:27 pm: | 
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I recently hired Stacey Electric to run a 220 line to an oven in my home. I received the bill which had a flat fee of $300 for materials. I asked for an itemized bill and after doing research on prices from local electrial supplies, learned that Stacey marks up their electrical supplies 50%. Can anyone tell me if this is standard industry practice or am I being ripped off. |
ken (the other one)
Citizen
Username: Ken
Post Number: 414
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 4:48 pm: |
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It is common practice in the retail business to double the price of an item. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1795
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 6:27 pm: |
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I didn't know that, but there should be some kind of 'mark up' for their time in ordering, stocking, and generally being responsible for the materials (i.e. something is defective and they replace it, etc).
Having said all THAT... I can't tell if 50% is a reasonable markup or not. I'm very curious to see what the other posters have to say.
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SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 442
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 7:29 pm: |
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I had horrible and expensive experience with Stacey Electric. They damaged my electrical system, then refused to repair it in a timely fashion. I had to hire someone else to clean up their mess. I will never use them again and would never recommend them. |
Charlie
Citizen
Username: Cking27
Post Number: 13
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 9:45 pm: |
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Can you provide more info SOrising? In PL, if you want. Stacey Electric is the one who fixed some stuff on our new house (hired by seller) & certified that our electric is A-OK. Should I be worried? |
Fabulouswalls
Citizen
Username: Fabulouswalls
Post Number: 86
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 9:49 pm: |
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$300.00 is a reasonable price for the upgrade. We had ours done for about the same price 4 years ago. |
davidbuckley
Citizen
Username: Davidbuckley
Post Number: 659
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 10:22 pm: |
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Fab:
Seems this was the price for unspecified MATERIALS not for the job of running the 220.
KHarris, would you like to elaborate? eg, what was price of total job, how long did it take, etc..?
I want to consider Stacey and this would help me and others.
Contract well, all.
David |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4597
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 8:09 am: |
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How long was the copper wire run? The price of copper wire has doubled in the last few months.
The breaker would be $40.
The box and outlet would be $25.
The wire cost depends on the footage of the run.
Misc. stuff, $20. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11941
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 8:25 am: |
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Possibly they had to put in a sub-panel?
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melicious
Citizen
Username: Melicious
Post Number: 485
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 8:55 am: |
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I used Stacey Electric and they did a wonderful job for me.
They were out in a hurry, came in a little high on price (I'll give you that), but the inspectors had absolutely NOTHING but good things to say about their work.
I'll pay a little more for quality.
Sorry others didn't have as good an experience.
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Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 292
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 10:13 am: |
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There is actually a "Stacey". A very nice woman who lives here locally. They are excellent and stand by their work. |
Bklyngirl
Citizen
Username: Bklyngirl
Post Number: 140
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 2:27 pm: |
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I'm a little surprised to hear that about Stacey Electric. I almost hired them, because they were competitive and seemed capable. I didn't use them, because I simply got a better "feeling" about Adam Schipani from Mario Schipani Electrical, who did a great job for the same price.
Looks like I may have dodged a bullet.
bklyngirl
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Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 1560
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 2:30 pm: |
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Stacey Electric has done plenty of work for me over the years and they have always done an excellent job. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11948
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 3:07 pm: |
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We have used Stacey exclusively for just about ever. I don't think they are the cheapest, but all the work they have done for us has been first rate, they always show up on time and are neat and profesional.
All contractors mark up material. It is a fact of life and justified because of the costs of ordering, storing and lugging a ton of stuff around on their trucks. If 50% is the regular number or not is an open question.
This is the sort of thing that happens here much to often. Someone has a complaint about a contractor and they immediately become a pirahah. Conversely, someone gives a good rec to a snake oil salesman and they become the darling of MOL.
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Mozek
Citizen
Username: Mozek
Post Number: 84
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 5:07 pm: |
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We've used Stacey for several small jobs and always been very satisfied. They are prompt and courteous, and they stand by their work. When a front light timer they'd installed stopped working, they put a new one in for us at no charge. |
extuscan
Citizen
Username: Extuscan
Post Number: 655
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 10:43 pm: |
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You think 50% mark up on electrical is expensive, you should see how mechanics mark up their parts! Whats worse is some parts places will invoice at a really high price and then rebate it all back later. Customer balks, mechanic shows the invoice, customer shuts up, mechanic gets the rebate later.
That said, you checked out the price of copper cable lately? I ran a 220 line into my garage (quite a long run) for an air compressor and it was freakishly expensive. $100 for the wire alone I think!
-John |
Ibeme
Citizen
Username: Ibeme
Post Number: 40
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 12:11 am: |
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We used Stacey to upgrade a Federal Pacific 100 amp panel, which was in place when we bought our house to a 200 amp Cutler Hammer. They were very professional, clean, neat, etc. I couldn't say a bad thing about either team they sent out (we subsequently had them run a few new lines for windows a/c's).
I did feel they were a little expensive at $125(?) an hour, but when you consider you're getting two guys for that rate, it works out ok. They get the job done in half the time it would take one guy to do. |
Barbara
Citizen
Username: Blh
Post Number: 659
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 5:09 am: |
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Stacey has always done high quality work for us - at competitive prices. And yes, Stacey is a wonderful person, as is her hubby! |
swato
Citizen
Username: Swato
Post Number: 179
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 8:15 am: |
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Wire prices have gone thru the roof. I quoted a price for a fire & burglar alarm system about two months ago and by the time we received the order the wire we quoted for the job went up by $218.00. I had already given them a price I was not about to change it. Our cable supplier said the price may be going up again.
I would rather pay a little more and go with Stacey Electric a reliable contractor who has a great reputation in town to do work than to go with a low ball price and get crappy service.
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Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 9997
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 9:32 am: |
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Joel Janney
Citizen
Username: Joel_janney
Post Number: 71
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 1:41 pm: |
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Another endorsement of Stacey here and I expect to use them again in the near future. Bklyngirl, all it takes is one negative post to make you think you dodged a bullet? |
Bklyngirl
Citizen
Username: Bklyngirl
Post Number: 141
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 1:56 pm: |
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No, not in this particular instance, because I don't think the original poster's inquiry was negative necessarily. He/she isn't complaining about Stacey's work or work ethic, which is what ultimately matters to me.
I wrote in my post that my interview with them went very well and that I was surprised to read anything negative. For whatever reason, my gut told me to use Adam Schipani, instead, so I did. Then, I wrote that I "may" have dodged a bullet. I was referring to high costs.
As a general matter, however, yes. One negative post about someone's work or work ethic raises a red flag for me.
bklyngirl |
Handygirl
Citizen
Username: Handygirl
Post Number: 723
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 2:43 pm: |
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I've also used Stacey Electric for years and have always felt that their work was excellent. The electricians have always been pleasant, professional and extremely capable. I would hire them again in a second (even though they are, arguably not the cheapest) - except that my brother (a licensed electrician) has recently moved to NJ and has become my new official electrician  I love the family "discount".
That being said, I've heard of materials marked up anywhere from 20% to 60%. |
paola
Citizen
Username: Paola
Post Number: 35
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 9:20 pm: |
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i've used stacey electric in the past for several projects but no more because of their practice of billing for 1/2 hour extra as "travel and truck loading" time if your project takes the whole day (8 hours). i don't think this is industry standard since no other electricians charge me this extra 1/2 hour. |
mbb
Citizen
Username: Mbb
Post Number: 20
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 10:41 pm: |
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I think 50% markup on materials is too high. 10 to 20% is the most I have encountered. I have heard of electricians wanting to charge 1/2 an hour's fee for coming out, but I don't hire such people.
It all comes down to supply and demand. As long as a tradesman is upfront about his charges, it is up to the customer to decide whether or not to hire him. You should have been told of the 50% markup in advance, and should have received an itemized bill for materials.
My personal experience with Stacey has not been good. I once asked them for someone to give me an estimate for electrical work I was considering. The person that was sent over was not allowed to give estimates. He did no work at my home, either. Afterwards, Stacey sent me a bill of $100 for the call, which I found rather objectionable. |
Dennis J O'Neill
Citizen
Username: Plungy
Post Number: 49
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 11:32 pm: |
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I am not going to comment as to whether a 50% markup is appropriate. I am just curious as to why many consumers feel that unlike any other business, contractors are expected to be completely transparent as to how they arrive at thier pricing. Including disclosing markup, profit margins ect.
What, for example do you think MacDonalds or Mercedes or Starbucks would tell you if you demanded to know these numbers?
Personally I think that the blame lies with the contractors themselves. Often in the interest of appearing open and honest to the customer they allow themselves to be brow beaten into disclosing information which in any other business would be considered and accepted as confidential.
Try asking your jeweler for example how much he paid for the bracelet you are interested in buying.
Am I totally off base here? In the interest of running my own business more effectively while still maintaining positive customer relations, at a time when costs are spiraling out of control I would like to hear what people think.
Believe me, and I think I can speak for a lot of other guys out there, These issues keep us awake at night. Most of us do not make a practice of just flippantly finding ways to overcharge people.
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swato
Citizen
Username: Swato
Post Number: 181
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 8:32 am: |
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It’s easy for people who do not run a business to say X amount is too much of a mark up or that most trades people over charge. When you look at all the expenses involve in running a business things like liability insurance, workers comp, commercial vehicle insurance, advertising, business telephone service, office expenses etc. It’s very expensive to run a business and if you don't mark up parts you may not make it. If you get a quote from a trade’s person and you believe it’s to high go on to the next one. But remember trades people are trying to earn a living. |
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