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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that tradesmen take the piss with their rates?

412 replies

Pomegranatecarnage · 07/01/2025 00:25

Just that really. I have had a few repairs needed and some DIY recently. I paid £130 to have a leaking toilet valve fixed (it took 45 mins), £75 to have a pull string light replaced (10 mins) and then £270 labour for 6 hours work putting up some shelves, a small area of tiling and replacing skirting boards. He arrived at 10, left at 12 for lunch, back at 2 then was finished by 4pm. I can’t help wondering why I spent 5 years at University to get paid far less per hour as a teacher.

OP posts:
saltinesandcoffeecups · 07/01/2025 00:35

That’s a great question OP, make sure you remember this before beating the drum that the only path to success is university

HeddaGarbled · 07/01/2025 00:35

That’s the supply and demand economy for you.

Randomontheinternet25 · 07/01/2025 00:34

You could have gone on YouTube for guides for the smaller jobs.

XenoBitch · 07/01/2025 00:33

You paid £75 to have a pull string light replaced. They saw you coming. Fucking hell.

TempestTost · 07/01/2025 00:31

I think we are entering an era when university as a vocational choice is going to start to be questionable unless you are doing very specific professional programs, or intend to be an academic.

I will not be surprised that within the next 40 years we see many jobs will start to consider more carefully whether they really need to ask for university degrees for their employees, or can train them in other ways, as they were in the past.

MartinCrieffsLemon · 07/01/2025 00:31

It's not just "10 minutes" anyway is it?
There's Admin time in arranging and booking the job in as well as invoicing. Then the travel time to the job.
Then insurance for the business, for the tools, for the work vehicle, professional insurance...
Then parts and upkeep of tools (which wear out a lot faster than you expect. A drill, for example, needs new bits fairly often)

Leafy74 · 07/01/2025 00:30

Seems like the going rates to me.

I think many children would be far better off training for these jobs rather than going to university.

EmeraldRoulette · 07/01/2025 00:30

You are paying for their skills

nothing stopping you doing the tasks yourself ... or is there... 🤔

also, like most of us, the skills will vary in price depending on market conditions

XenoBitch · 07/01/2025 00:30

Why on earth did you pay to have a pull string light replaced?
Or even any of the rest of the work you had done. You paid more because you didn't want to do it yourself. If you wanted it done for cheap, then get a mate to do it. Or do it yourself.

nonbinaryfinery · 07/01/2025 00:29

They're perfectly reasonable rates.

Randomontheinternet25 · 07/01/2025 00:28

You get paid for your skill, they get paid for theirs.
Retrain then .
What's your hourly pay?

MartinCrieffsLemon · 07/01/2025 00:28

Go and retrain as a tradie then....