14 replies to this topic

[Switch Onto Digital TV]

Hi

Just reading the post were the customer was quoted $400 to $700 to install a masthead amp.

For me if a masthead amp is required I would charge approx $180, which includes replacing cable from antenna to splitter and replacing splitter.

I believe this is a fair price $50 for booster, $3 for splitter and $20 for cable and fittings, leaving $90 for labour and traveling after GST.

For $700 I could do 2 full installs with boosters.

I hate people being ripped off

What do other installer charge?

[M'bozo]

$60-00/hour. (May include travel time, depending how far I need to go)

12 month warranty on work done, manufacturer's warranty otherwise (if one applies).

No callout fee.

Parts used charged at cost x markup.

Free estimates over the phone.

Free quotes when I'm in the area.

I work because I choose to, not because I have to.   

As a matter of interest, the ATO is profiling occupations using small business benchmarks. It doesn't seem like antenna installers have come under their aegis yet, the closest would seem to be electrical services.

(imo what a business charges is like asking "why is a piece of string". I think a lot of it comes down to what an individual or organisation thinks the market will bear, rather than individual ethics.)

Edited by M'bozo, 14 September 2010 - 05:47 AM.

[debruis]

Switch Onto Digital TV, on Sep 13 2010, 06:39 AM, said:

Hi

Just reading the post were the customer was quoted $400 to $700 to install a masthead amp.

For me if a masthead amp is required I would charge approx $180, which includes replacing cable from antenna to splitter and replacing splitter.

I believe this is a fair price $50 for booster, $3 for splitter and $20 for cable and fittings, leaving $90 for labour and traveling after GST.

For $700 I could do 2 full installs with boosters.

I hate people being ripped off

What do other installer charge?

It must be the world's best mast head amplifier. $400-$700 is very expensive to change masthead amplifier.
The mast head amplifier I use I sell for $50-$90 depending on make & model
The splitter I use I sell for $7-$40 depending on how many ports are required
About the same as you for cables and fittings
Your pricing for the job is more than fair for the work + or - 10% not $400-$700
I charge $100+GST Call out which includes first 30 mins on site then $32.50+GST for every half hour or part of after that

[bellotv]

As we are talking of doing the right thing here,this is my take.

Personally I couldn't give a price for JUST rocking up and  fitting a mast head amp as I think that in nearly every case it is a band aid cure

The number one issue is usually that the antenna is not mounted in the optimum position for BER and EQUAL CHANNEL POWER. ( This may often be compounded by the wrong antenna type used as well
Unless this critical first step is taken then other issues are sure to follow which slapping up a booster won't fix.

So any labor content must at minimum contain time to carry out a basic site test and visual inspection to confirm that the present antenna system is optimum before any attempt to fit a masthead amp is factored in.As we all know ,mastheads should only befitted to overcome distribution loses and supply all outlets with around 60dBuv.

I also know we all like to here of a good rip off story but as this OP is about a third hand quote,we can not make any real  judgment about it.

We don't now "exactly" what the customer was told was involved in the job.Only that the word Booster ( or was it masthead) was  mentioned.
Perhaps the installer that turned up glanced at a  40 year old analog crudster  on the second story facing into an adjacent apartment in a known shitty area of town and then found out there were six outlets in the building and guesstimated  it accordingly. We don't know.

In this case apparently a re-termination of the socket "restored" operation but how far was the signal from the cliff after this ? Perhaps when the weather turns it will play up again.Often you can remove the straw but the camels is still broken.

Anyway back on topic
Me ,well I'm still $60 an hour (have been fore at least ten years and that's got to change ,think I mentioned elsewhere that my mechanic is charging me $70 an hour to keep my van on the road)

Sorry but $50 for a masthead amp (AND POWER INJECTOR I assume ) sound like a crappy product to me.
I only use Kingrays now  as I am sick of cheap stuff not lasting .
I sell MHU34F for $80,MHU24F for $70  and PSK06 for $30.My pricing based on RRP from my supplier Laceys.tv which I have used as a guide for years.

Bellotv

[M'bozo]

bellotv, on Sep 13 2010, 10:12 PM, said:

I only use Kingrays now  as I am sick of cheap stuff not lasting .

Yep.

Designed & made in Australia with a 3 year warranty



(just come back from one of their trade shows where I won a MDA20L - don't know what I'll use it for......

but I'll think of something)

[Switch Onto Digital TV]

I mostly use Hills Q amp, fully adjustable, low noise and never had one fail.
I don't go out and whack up a booster, I was just using  this because it was in the above post.
If an installer gives a quote of $700 to install a masthead amp and never mentions antenna
replacement and relocation I must assume that quote is to just fit the amp.
I've been in business on the Gold Coast for over 6 years and most work is through referrals.
I have seen quotes to install an antenna on a new house prewired with rg6, line of sight to the transmitter of $500.
So with a quote of $500, an antenna Hills TMX16 approx. $50, tripod mount $25, cable & fittings $20, 4 way splitter $5
so with these prices this installer is charging $400 labour.
This job on a new house in a new estate with perfect signal should not cost more than $200 and take an hour and a bit.

[M'bozo]

Switch Onto Digital TV, on Sep 14 2010, 06:48 AM, said:

This job on a new house in a new estate with perfect signal should not cost more than $200 and take an hour and a bit.

I'll see your $200 and raise you $50, providing the initial survey takes 5 minutes or so, and the customer does not require training in the use of their equipment.



With all due respect, I am  not able to purchase high quality 4 way splitters (ie fully shielded with a soldered back, not glued, and constructed from alloy that doesn't break down after a couple of years due to zinc pest) for less than $10.

[Switch Onto Digital TV]

I use Hills splitters, 4 way costs about $3, never had a problem with them.

[M'bozo]

Switch Onto Digital TV, on Sep 15 2010, 06:47 AM, said:

I use Hills splitters, 4 way costs about $3,

Interesting.

The cheapest Hills 4 way splitter I can source here (BC15470BP) is around $13-00 (ex GST) (trade) for single items.

Haven't bought any for a couple of years admittedly, so they have either come down in price or the local supplier is on a good earner  

[beeblebrox]

Switch Onto Digital TV, on Sep 15 2010, 06:47 AM, said:

I use Hills splitters, 4 way costs about $3, never had a problem with them.

$3, is it an f connected hills 4 way splitter? surely that must be a saddle and screw?

I don't buy much from hills any more, the last time I bought 4 way F splitters from them they where $8.14 inc gst

Switch Onto Digital TV, on Sep 15 2010, 06:47 AM, said:

This job on a new house in a new estate with perfect signal should not cost more than $200 and take an hour and a bit.

Really do you think? Everyone makes a choice of what they margin will sell stuff for, what hardware  they are happy to use and what price they put on their expertise.

Sure there are cowboys out there ripping people off but if you want to use quality products and provide good service with considered expertise then that typically can't be done at bargain basement cheapest price dollars.  Typically those guys aren't around very long.  Also what insurance cover do they have, what  OH&S practices do they follow the list goes on as to why someone may charge  more.

I'm never the  cheapest,  If the first question someone asks when they call up is how much, then I'm not even in the ballpark.  Why, because I use quality componentry and I value my time (like Marc I choose to do this because I want to, not because I have to).

That being said $700 just to install a masthead amp without doing anything else would seem excessive.

[mtv]

Too many variables to but an exact figure on it.

As per other reputable installers, I use all quality components.

It's quite common for just the mounting hardware to cost $100 (eg: mast, base-plate, guys, stays, etc)

Particular attention is made locating the best-possible antenna mounting position, in some cases, this can take several hours.... others, just a few minutes.

I use a $10K spectrum analyser.

Like several others, I'm not in the 'cheap' league.

Quality antennas, components and hardware, complimented with high-level instrumentation, together with many years of experience, knowledge and qualifications, provides excellent results, reliable installations and happy customers.

[debruis]

mtv, on Sep 15 2010, 03:11 PM, said:

Too many variables to but an exact figure on it.

As per other reputable installers, I use all quality components.

It's quite common for just the mounting hardware to cost $100 (eg: mast, base-plate, guys, stays, etc)

Particular attention is made locating the best-possible antenna mounting position, in some cases, this can take several hours.... others, just a few minutes.

I use a $10K spectrum analyser.

Like several others, I'm not in the 'cheap' league.

Quality antennas, components and hardware, complimented with high-level instrumentation, together with many years of experience, knowledge and qualifications, provides excellent results, reliable installations and happy customers.

Well said Col. I can not see the point of using cheap gear. I use Matchmaster,Kingray,Johansson & Televes. I have found their products reliable.

Edited by debruis, 15 September 2010 - 03:50 PM.

[Biggs]

Switch Onto Digital TV, on Sep 13 2010, 06:39 AM, said:

Hi

I believe this is a fair price $50 for booster, $3 for splitter and $20 for cable and fittings, leaving $90 for labour and traveling after GST.

I hate people being ripped off

What do other installer charge?

Your the reason the Gold Coast is full of $150 dollar new installs. I'm over customers ringing to say hey I can buy a $50 booster from so and so. I tell them tandy charge $65, go buy them. 50bucks for a "booster" when it cost's you more to go and buy it, both in product, in fuel and time. 3 dollars for the splitter? when you pay 3 dollars?? Your nuts.  And 20 bucks for cable that bunnings charges 1 buck a meter for lessor grade. Then you jack you labour bill up to justify the giving away of parts.

Oh and why you using QAMPS on the coast? they amplify VHF? You selling them brisbane VHF with your trusty 12element uhf antenna???? You charge 90 bucks for that advice introducing unwanted amplification in the wrong band?

Mate -Just cause you buy cheap doesn't mean you have to sell cheap. Sorry end of rant over giveaway installers. I go to work to make money, not for love. I don't rip people off though. I charge them RRP on the quality product they get. I doubt hills RPP on the splitter is 3 bucks.

M'bozo, on Sep 14 2010, 07:27 AM, said:

With all due respect, I am  not able to purchase high quality 4 way splitters (ie fully shielded with a soldered back, not glued, and constructed from alloy that doesn't break down after a couple of years due to zinc pest) for less than $10.

Yeh some do the glue back ones at that price - I bought them on special for 50c (not from hills) - I  give them away to DIY people who annoy me like love jobby neighbours. Then when they stuff it up, they can pay me to install without the love, do it right, with no call backs, at the right price. ;-)

Otherwise it's solder all the way with 100>db screening for my own jobs. I buy them under $5 with bonus of plastic MATV click backs http://adigitalife.c...mp;resultpage=1

[beeblebrox]

never cease to be amazed by what somepeople will offer.... on a google ad on this very forum at the moment there's a
TV Antenna Special $350 Digital TV Antenna + 3 Points +Amp Installed With A 10 Year Warranty

I find it hard to believe you can do a quality job with quality components of antenna and 3 points and amp for that money.

[scorpio]

Well ppl, there are plenty of 130 bucks installs plus pensioners discount in the local papers.

How they can do it, how many installs they have to make to break even, only God knows.
As beeblebrox said, I'm not cheap, I charge one of the highest rates, but regardless, people are asking for more ... I had a phone call the other day of the customer from 9 years ago, asking more and recommending me to two of his neighbors.
In my carreer I had 7 callbacks of which TWO of them were my fault.
I expect only two kinds of calls after the job:
1. I want more
2. I have the relo/friend that wants the same

I NEVER charge less than $85/hr, and my basic installation is 300+ which usually turns to 400+.
I NEVER looked back, and lost only a few quotes of which all of them were for FREE.
I ALWAYS CHARGE for quote.

Good luck to everyone doing 130bucks installs.

Cheers

scorpio