sundance-communications.com Forums Telephone Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring national telcom providers do not have a clue in terms of cost to subcontractor

I do some work occasionally for a national outsource company. This is not some major telecom provider, just a agency that ask for bids from subcontractors to do smaller work, like hook up DSL or routers, or run cabeling, or troubleshoot a server. The bids they ask start really low.

What would you charge for something like this?

Vancouver IS one of the most expensive cities in the world. 50 dollars for a job like this is chump chance.


342985 NEW Routers - Vancouver V5Z 2M9 - DSL Modem/Wireless Access Point Install
Location: Vancouver, BC, V5Z 2M9
Date: 2011-07-11
Start Time: 09:00 AM
End Time: 10:00 AM
Est On Site Arrival Time:
Duration:
Pay: 50.00 PER Site
NO service fee will be deducted from this work order

Description:

DSL Modem Install with Test/Tone & Biscuit Jack Delivery to Coach Demarc.

Tech is needed for WAP/modem install at 9:00am
Equipment will be sent to the tech before our visit, valid shipping address is required.
Do not dispatch unless you have received the equipment.
Tech will need laptop, ethernet cable, toner and punch down tool
Job is not available Friday Saturday or Sunday

Setup of modem and Linksys Wireless Router.

Testing of Wireless Access Point at all points of the store after install.

Home Run required if the wireless signal does not reach the entire store.

Required Tools:

Call our Network Operations Center once on site to check in: 877-xxx-xxxx
Our call center will be with you on the phone to help trouble shoot while on site.

Tech will be released without payment if not accompanied
-Crimping tool
-Punch down tool
-Wire cutters
-Strippers
-Toner
-Butt set
-Cable tester
-Biscuit jack
-12ft Ladder
-200ft Cat5 cable
-Laptop Computer with WIRELESS capability
(you will be released without wireless)
Cell phone w/ charger and photo taking ability
Tech must email photos to "" BEFORE leaving site
Our customer requires these photos to be taken, if the required photos are not submitted you will not be paid

yep but I 'll bet the find someone to do it for that

the fact that they spell out what tools you need to complete the job is indicative of the quality of labor they are used to dealing with

hmm...toner required but no probe ?

(will all that fit in a trunk ? )

I was in Vancouver a while back and saw a van that had painted in large letters:

Handy Man
Painting
Renovations
Cabling
Telephone Systems
Plumbing
etc. The side of the van was basically plastered with everything you could think of, and a cell#. Apparently this guy is qualified to do absolutely anything and everything. That is the kind of person who would take a job like this. Seriously, they'll end up with someone who will look for something of value to pocket to make it worth their while.

I would suggest you not touch this with a 10 foot pole, or a 12 foot ladder for that matter. Even if you had nothing better to do than sit and twiddle your thumbs, this would still be a waste of your time. Factor in the cost of materials and the fuel you'd burn driving to the sites, and you might just be losing money.

Is that $50 per site, even if you have to make the 200' home run with Cat 5e cable? What if it's Plenum?

This is where you tell these people to find another chump.

Carl

Sorry, can't fit a 12ft ladder in my trunk. Guess I'll have to pass.

maybe you can get 3 ,4 footers in there and a couple of bags of tie wraps ...

You might be onto something, Skip. How about a 6' ladder and 4 6' pieces of channel. It would be like a ladder on stilts. That first step might be a bit hard to get to, but you'd be rolling!

Of course, my favorite picture was one of some guy with, like an Escort, that bought home improvement material in FL and put maybe 8 sheets of 4x8's on his roof, filled the trunk with ready mix concrete bags and other supplies in his back seat, etc. and the picture was taken in Georgia or the Carolinas of his roof caved in. He was on his way North somewhere. It's a riot.

probably heading home to Ohio , Carl .... :p

You guys are making a joke of this and that's fine

What would YOU guys charge for something like this?

This is the SECOND time this company email blasted me, and other techs with this job in two weeks. No one is taking it. The first time, they mentioned that the client was asking for liability insurance. This time, they are not asking for the insurance!

BTW, I have done jobs for them. But yes, 50 bucks is cheap and I have been paid more!
I like to transplant my outsource Project manager here for month and see how he can afford to live here and pay his rent

Just for fun, if you want to live in Vancouver, or the west end, and want to buy a 1960s rambler 1,400 sw foot home, take a look at this real-estate listing. My area, south of Vancouver is about half this price.

https://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=10832696&PidKey=-459737330

actual pricing isn't discussed in the open forums here, I would quote it based at what I would charge a regular customer and then add a" national surcharge "to it .

it is a joke

they will take whatever they can get , the thing is they are really screwing their customer by looking for the cheapest warm body to do the job and I'm sure they are billing the end user at a high rate. un-insured , un licensed , un - qualified they dont care just as long as they get em cheap