Tradesman question - Q

[puddlesurfer]

I would have thought that if you fitted it correctly the first time you contract is fulfilled - the warranty is on the item not the fitting - you are within your rights to charge again, but it depends on the goodwill/recommendations thing.

[blackpoolsparks]

I come across this regularly
Replace the item for free if you want recommendations/ repeat work.
If you dont, then make sure your costs are agreed before you go back.

I guarantee all materials that I supply for a period of 12 months, and replace them free of charge.
Its good customer service. (and you build it into the price of the job)

If I get a particular item that fails frequently, then I change manufacturers.

[mr.rosco]

Hi, I know I'm a bit late on this one but being a fully qualified self employed electrician this is kind of my area.

Firstly I fully understand everyone elses point of view and I agree that it is good customer services to replace and install foc.

However I would add that it is not quite that simple with electrics. When we complete an installation we issue an electrical installation certificate, accompanied with a schedule of inspections and a schedule of test result, this also has our recomended date of next inpection, which for domestic (for example) is normally ten years or change of ocuppancy. What this means is that we are confident that our wiring, switching etc is unlikly to deteriorate to the point where it will cause 'harm to humans, livestock or property' with in this time. Now comes the fun and games, If I have choosen and designed all the equipment myself then quite simply I am responible for everything, agreed.

Now ask yourself this, how many times have you had a tradesman in your home and said the following ' Please can you install x, y and z, you choose everything and what ever you want to do is fine.' In reality it doesn't work like that, 9 times out of 10, people have seen something in a magazine or catalogue, they want you to supply it but they have chosen the fitting. Now isn't this starting to sound a bit more like Tony's experience with the knackered Ebay engine. So if you have choosen the fitting wouldn't being soft only be charging half the intalling fee?????

Let me ask you another question, if a painter and decotator paints a garage door with a paint you have requested which has a 10 year colour fade guarantee and the colour fades after 6 months is that the painter and dectorators fault? Should he come out and paint the garage door again for free?

In summary, most of the time we do favour the customer and sort everything for free, however you do get dificult customers who will shout, threaten and swear etc. Now if Tony's knacked ebay engine customer had been like this and had said that it was Tony's fault as the engine was fine and it was Tony who had messed it up and demanded that he fixed it for free.

What would you do?