charging for 5 mins return visit

[dean.diy]

Afternoon to the Forum. Appreciate other views. PIR security lights seem to
need 5 mins adjustment after the first night.How do other members think,
half hour for parts, hour to fit, then allocate another hour to drive over
after the customer's phonecall about didn't go off/ reflection from next
door's pond/ boiler flue etc. Thanks, Dean.

 

[Paul.M]

The set up of the sensor should be within the price you quote for intallation, even if that means doing it at the light level the customer wants it to go off at. End of the day the customer is paying for goods and services provided by you which imho equates to the sercurity light being fully functional to the customers requirements.

Little trick that an old sparky showed me. If you've got a pir sercurity light job booked in, on the night before take it out of the box and put a plug top flex to it in your back garden and set it up for the level of light you think is corret. Also set the timer to about one minuet. This can save you a load of time going up and down a ladder for what is a small proffit job. hope that helps.

 

[HandySparks]

Yes, outdoor PIR lights are a pain. You pretty much have to build the extra costs into the price. There's the call backs to sort out triggering issues and quite a significant chance that it'll fail within the first year and require replacement. If I'm supplying it, I'll often charge double the cost of the light as "materials".

 

[Spazz]

When I work on PIRs I always charge a price which includes going back at a specified time where the customer wants the light to start working and stop working. Normally done on the way or way back from a job mind.

Only takes 5 minuets to adjust a PIR. The timer is always set up as soon as the installation is completed, usually put some tape over the light sensor or a black bag.

 

[dean.diy]

A slight change of attitude on my part needed. Thanks Paul and HandySparks
for your replies. Good tip with the plug. Thanks, Dean.

 

[Paul.M]

I had this same problem last week and it got me thinking. If we can manufactor and supply a sola powered calculator for £1.99 in the shops, why cant they make a digital pir to replace what we have now?


Fare enough we may have to buy an extra peice of kit so we can plug into the light and set it up for lets say 60s and a lumin level of --- but whoever puts a product on the shelves like that, I would buy it.


And lets face it, its that time of year when people start thinking about o/s lights.

 

[dean.diy]

Nicholas, thanks for taking the trouble. Dean.

 

[KevinS]

One other way to do it is
specify at the time of giving the quote that you will install the light and do approximate setting up but the final adjustment is down to the customer, stipulate that this is the cheapest option, they normally go for it and it saves you going back and forth.

problem solved!

 

[Amp David]

This is why every quote I have given for external PIR lights I have never won.

My price always includes the costs for going back to adjust etc, but i'm always too expensive.

Now I know why other charge less. :tt1:

 

[dean.diy]

hello David, your and the other members' approach is the right one, not just for
PIRs but anything else that probably needs another visit for adjustment.With
more margin I don't mind going back.Thanks, Dean.