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Topic:
Hourly rate
This thread has 22 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Wednesday November 27, 2002 at 21:49
Bill
Founding Member
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June 2001
39
Just curious for a basic job of hooking up DVD player, TV, and AV receiver with 5 speakers and sub. What would some of you charge per hour??
I have a coworker who has this gear and would like me to do the wiring for him. He will help with some of the fishing through walls, but otherwise all me. I'm not really sure what to charge per hour??, regardless that I know him from work what's a 'normal' rate for something like this..
thanks
Post 2 made on Wednesday November 27, 2002 at 22:00
vts1134
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February 2002
305
We charge $40 a man hour which is pretty low.
Post 3 made on Wednesday November 27, 2002 at 23:30
McNasty
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January 2002
1,322
$40 a man hour is low...We charge $65 an that is low as well. But when it comes to a friend you should hook him up. I've done a lot for friends for free. People that I consider friends, but not really close and personal friends, I charge about $25 per hour to wire a house up. But for a basic hook up of what you said....If he is helping you I would tell him to supply you with a case of beer and call it even...Sounds like it's a pretty simlpe job, and if he's a good friend then hook him up
Post 4 made on Wednesday November 27, 2002 at 23:44
Jay In Chicago
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Take your average hourly wage, and cut it in half, because that's about what an untrained installer is worth on any job. Even if you know what your doing very well, you can never be nearly as good as a well equipped install vehicle which should amount to a shop on wheels. Also, while you fail to account for overhead etc. If you do work on the side it's less than what a shop would charge, so you can't draw a parallel their either. We constantly take on the work of cleaning up installations and hook up of people that otherwise have good intentions, but can't maintain their value, not meet their full expected obligation.

Not trying to sound bigger and better, but while I'm a very proficient craftsman in many trades, I would never try and draw a parallel between my self and the rates a carpenter would charge for instance.

As always, if you think it's expensive to hire a professional. Just wait and see what it costs to hire an amateur. And certainly I'm not trying to apply this thinking to a 2-4 hour hook up as you are likely describing, but often times people under estimate the complexity of a professional install. They can regularly fall in the 10-30 hour range for a decent surround system trim out.

If you want to do work for a friend from work, do it as a favor with him buying the food and beer, and don't pact it in right away. If he's not a friend, do it for a fixed amount that he can agree on ahead of time. One decent rule some trades people must often stick to avoid getting taken advantage of is "I can't do work for friends and family, but I can recommend somebody excellent to you." And no. You must still do work for Mom and Dad.
Jet Rack ... It's what's for breakfast
Post 5 made on Thursday November 28, 2002 at 09:47
bob griffiths
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1,252
cost me a fortune all those free jobs for mates and family but got most of it back in free advertising from them ( never turn down free booze).Jay is spot on apart from the lowish estimate part of how long it would take i have never fitted 3 pieces of equipment and a full speaker package in 2 hrs it takes that long to get them out of there boxes !! no seriously he's dead right it often takes far longer than you think.
Post 6 made on Friday November 29, 2002 at 09:03
Greg C
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October 2002
2,585
We charge $75 for a lead tech, and $50 for additional help for the 1st hour. Then it's $50 and $30. Good luck with the fishing. Hope you don't "catch" a surprise in the walls!
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OP | Post 7 made on Friday November 29, 2002 at 17:10
Bill
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39
Thanks for the info everyone..
Post 8 made on Saturday November 30, 2002 at 21:13
Thon
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November 2001
726
We charge $65/hr to do the job
$75/hr if you want to watch and
$95/hr if you want to "help"

Just joking, but we usually do better without the "help".
How hard can this be?
Post 9 made on Monday December 2, 2002 at 03:50
ItsColdInMN
Long Time Member
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June 2002
461
Just be careful....you don't want to catch the blame when he blows a speaker, changes a setting and gets no sound...then expects you to come back for free and "Make it work"
Post 10 made on Monday December 2, 2002 at 08:32
vts1134
Founding Member
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February 2002
305
Just wondering what does every one else here charge for labor and what part of the country are you from??
Near Pittsburgh and $40 a man hour here.

Oh and if you program ccf based touch screens how about that to. We are in the proccess of deciding how much to charge for that service. Right now we charge $399 for a pronto w/charger fully programed.
Post 11 made on Monday December 2, 2002 at 12:26
Brijaws
Long Time Member
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November 2002
265
We charge 78$ a hour, and we dont have helpers. Every employee is considered a TECH.

No one has ever bitched about our priceing.

We also charge about 400 for a TSU2000 programed. Nothing crazy thou, simple macros and custom butons.
Post 12 made on Wednesday December 4, 2002 at 16:10
Malachi
Long Time Member
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December 2002
15
Wow,
We charge $75 an hour for installation and $100 for programming. Our "Pronto's" ( we actually sell and install CHAD's) sell for $1500, with charger base, fully programmed and customized for an average media system. I would not do one personally for less than $300 for just the programming...
Post 13 made on Wednesday December 4, 2002 at 22:42
vts1134
Founding Member
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February 2002
305
You guys are forgeting to tell us where you are from. Prices may seem low in one place and be redicullusly high in another place.
Post 14 made on Thursday December 5, 2002 at 09:44
Brijaws
Long Time Member
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November 2002
265
Malachi - thanks brother, i figured i was under chargeing...

Post 15 made on Thursday December 5, 2002 at 12:20
Malachi
Long Time Member
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December 2002
15
Sorry,
We are near Aspen, CO. I had that info in my Profile but forgot to include it in the post...
=)
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