What price for an aerial installation?
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV In responses to the guideline I posted about how much having a new aerial fitted should cost, Ian Grice posted: "£40-£50? Every aerial fitter I contacted wants at least £150+VAT considering you can get a class 3 aerial for under £10 and a class 2 for under £15 and cable is 40p a metre why are they charging so much for 30 minutes work?"
OK, for some places putting up a TV aerial is hard work, such as multi-story properties. As many people will simply be exchanging a Group A, B, C/D, E or K aerial for a wideband type, often without changing the supporting pole or cable, a high price cannot be justified.
I am concerned that some companies will exploit vulnerable groups (such as the elderly).
So, I what prices have you been quoted for aerial installations? What price have you paid for installation?
Do you know of any companies to avoid? Do you know of any companies that are good value for money?
Or do you work for a great aerial installation company?
Help with TV/radio stations?
Saturday, 4 May 2013
S
steve h3:05 PM
the main thing the public need to understand when getting quotes for aerial work is that a " starting from" price, often given by the big national aerial firms to get their foot in the door can often double or treble. a local installer will normally be able to give you a more accurate and realistic price
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Monday, 6 May 2013
Hi
This trade has always been riddled with under cutting of supply and installation charges.
If your a well established business that has a good reputation I suggest you keep things as they are and don't get bullied into trading standards like allot of the big boys and or cow boys of this world, otherwise it wont be long till you are out of business.
Just keep in mind these boys are desperate for work and the public in general are not stupid, its the oldest tale in the book that you don't get anything for nothing unless your extremely lucky.
If when quoting a customer over the phone give them a bold part figure and explain if its going to be anymore you will tell them before work commences,If less when job is finalized then happy days for everyone, If they are trying to chop your prices before you even look at the job then you have to decide whether you want the job in the first place, I personally would be reluctant because it would mean cutting corners before you even start the job, luckily they are far and few but it does happen.
Customers who ring around are often just wanting the job done as quick as possible, which is understandable, my only warning to them is a business that can do your job by the drop of a hat obviously has no work, so you should be asking your selfs why?
Regards
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Saturday, 18 May 2013
I
Ian9:10 AM
***** Good post Dave. *****
Anybody who wants something done at the drop of a hat is leaving themselves open to being swindled.
Most of these big firms with 0800 numbers and we have installers in your area daily advertising pay their fitters a minimal wage, they make their money up by overselling on things like High Gain Aerials when a standard 10 or 18 element benchmarked aerial will suffice, and charging way over the odds for extras.
Take a bit of time and research the company you are looking at, an hour spent on Google might just save you a fortune in the long term.
I have a friend who I use to work with 30 years ago who works for the 0800 crowd. Hes on £360 per week plus commission. That commission kicks in at 10% after he has cleared £1,200.00 So for the first couple of days each week he is overselling to reach the £1,200 target, then he is on 10% of EVERYTHING he takes.
They dont tell you that in their adverts do they?
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Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Hi Ian I didn't know that but not at all surprised
Something else that customers should be aware of is if theres problems with the job thats been done they will never get them back, its like sold as seen.
I had a job come in not so long ago where the customer was wanting advise regarding Mendip reception, the advise I gave them was to steer clear of it due to there location and although I could get it for them with the appropriate equipment it wouldn't be a reliable signal.
So the options advised were either the local relay group (A) combined with Mendip group (E) or Freesat/freeview combined.
Anyway to cut along story short he had been convinced by one of his friends that knew a guy who could get him mendip no problem at all so went ahead and had it done and parted with the princely sum of £350.00.
The customer phoned me up the day before yesterday asking me when is the transmitter was going to be on full power as the engineer had explained to him things will be working correctly once the transmitter is sorted out.
The first thing that comes to mind is I told you so, but in reality both me and the customer lost out because he has already parted with his money and the customer didnt get what he wanted.
The only real winner was the part time rigger who took his money who doesn't want to know the job anymore.
Regards
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N
nick12:06 PM
i was charged £650 for a class A band aerial /DAB aerial and loft amp to supply the signal to the bedrooms in a new house
in total 2 hours work by the leading installer of 40 years for Sussex
The owner after 2 years of me complaining gave me £100 back as he felt that i had been ripped off but that was only after the trade body got involved
The bottom line is to be careful as the people i used were my friends so i thought having used them many times in the past
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Thursday, 23 May 2013
S
Steve P12:33 AM
nick did you not get a quote in advance?
and why did you pay such a ludicrous sum?
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By the sounds of it he has got mixed up and charged you for 2 days Labour instead of two hours, In that case you should of got £350-£400 back depending on his charges.
The only jobs that normally run up around the £650 mark are systems using Triax Multi switchers which include Satellite-Terrestrial combined feeding all rooms with two feeds each, main room three feeds which run into triplex outlets, which gives the customer options of Sky+/Freesat+ and Radio in all rooms.
Regards
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nick10:27 AM
hi Steve/ Dave
because I've used them many times in the past 40 years i thought they were my friends so to speak and trusted them
the only thing different on this install was that the co owner of the business had just retired leaving someone who i hadn't met before to do the install
i still have the invoice to prove the case but the lessons here are that no matter who you are in life you have to tread careful as their will always be those that exploit the smallest of vulnerability in others and rip them off
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nick10:46 AM
and as for getting the trade body to investigate a complete waste of time and all they did was sympathise and try to make out that i had a superb job done much better then anyone else hence the much higher charge
well as it has turned out since it was installed it has now all been removed as it was not the best install by a long shot and was the main cause why Samsung tv's wouldn't work in the house owing to picture glitch
the system i have now from my local dealer cost just £250 and that includes amp and top of the range A band aerial for London plus freesat. Main aerial situated in the loft giving a ten for picture quality across all the top TV's
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Saturday, 25 May 2013
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Ian5:38 AM
Nick, obviously the trade body was the CAI, who claim to 'double guarantee' their members work, yet we are still to hear from any customer who has actually been 'paid out'.
The member company I guess may have been '* & *'
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