Back when I used to take verbal estimates over the phone...

I do fencing installs, and about 8 years ago I learned a hard lesson about quoting over the phone. A guy calls me up, says he needs 200 feet of chain link for his backyard in Phoenix, I give him a ballpark of $1,200 over the phone. No site visit, no measurements, just his word. Well I show up and his property is basically a cliff... had to use these special concrete footings that cost me an extra $300 in materials and 2 full days of labor. He refused to pay more than the phone quote, and I ate the loss. Now I always say, "Let me come take a look first" before giving any number at all. Has anyone else had clients hold you to a rough estimate like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_felix12d ago

Seventy bucks, you're right. I used to give rough quotes too but that cliff job changed my mind.

skyler_johnson3212d ago

Seventy bucks. Lady held me to a phone quote on a gate hinge repair. Cost me double. Never again.

river_thompson12d ago

Seventy bucks for a phone quote sounds about right for getting nickel and dimed over nothing. Next time I'd ask for a written estimate or just hang up if they won't give one without a fee. That hinge repair probably took her fifteen minutes tops, then she hit you with the "labor and materials" line after the fact. Classic bait and switch.