Tradesmen and the Merc on the drive

[johnmc]

I'm getting a lot of work done just now at the house, driveway, extension and more. I've had some fun with the tradesmen and tried a little experiment. Got quotes with and without the Merc on the drive, sometimes parked at the neighbours. Even got two different salesmen from the same driveway firm around to quote. The "Merc on the drive factor" seems to be built into their quoting tools. 200sqm of driveway price varied from a reasonble 7Grand with the car hidden, to 14Grand with it on..! Same for every other job I've quoted.

I challenged a couple of them, one admitted that the car he sees did weight his quotes highly. Anyone else had it tried on them? Being a mad Scot I always buy low and know the cost of everything..!

John

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

100% mark-up.....nice. I have a roofer coming round tonight, I think I'll hide the car

 

[angus falconer]

Well it just shows that the cartoon I once saw was true.

It had a builder talking to a prospective customer and he said "Before I give you a quote I just need to ask a few questions"

(1) What's your job?
(2) What car do you drive
(3) How much would you say your house was worth?........

 

[television]

This works two ways. When I bought my first decent car, I was washing it outside my shop. The neighbour from the left walked by and in a loud voice said, Hurr, look at all the money he is making from us. When the neighbour from the right walked by he said, Well he must be very good, look at the nice car he has bought.


Malcolm

 

[Dragon Down South]

I agree with Malcolm, It can work two ways.

I went looking at caravans last month and saw the dealers eyes light up with the thought of "list-price" . I promptly explained that I couldn't afford his listed prices as I was still paying for the car:lol: :lol: :lol: .

Dragon

 

[RichHammond]

Ive experienced this myself, If I'm buying something I always hide the Merc. I went to work in mine the other day ( ML270) and someone came up and said " Im going to report you to the tax man". I think what alot of non Merc owners dont realise it you can get a good second hand 2-3 year old merc now for the price of a new Mondeo ( yuck) and I know what I would rather have.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

to be honest it is very difficult keeping a straight face and saying you are on a budget when you have 55reg AMG parked on the drive.

It can work for you tho, When the Dolphin Bathrooms man came round and quote £5k for the downstairs bathroom, I was able to point at the car, inform him of what i thought and asked to reconsider just how much i would be willing to pay. I infered that I may have some knowlege of negotiation and that if I was able to buy this car, then I wasnt going to be take for a mug. £3.5k was the next quote.

Local guy did it including tiles for just under £2k.

not as difficult when its in the garage however. and as the other car is a bag of bolts held together by rust, they take pity and try to to a better deal.

Its a pity it makes a difference but it does. some people still have hang ups about people who spend their own money on something they want, rather than something they need. if you see what i mean.

I even go to the dealers in scruffy clothes just to make sure i dont deal with Mr Snob salesman. Cant stand them types. I did giggle a bit when i went to pick up this car tho, I was in the usual jeans and trainers with the offensive wordy t-shirt on, and the whole dealership came to watch the handover! they liked the car and wanted to know who had bought it. I lowered their expectations immediatley. I think I made a refreshing change.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

People do seem to have this weird perception that if you own a Mercedes then you must be loaded. I guess that may be true for some people, but there are many out there that are just earning a regular wage but have a Mercedes too.

When we got our Mercedes one of our neighbours came over and said 'Oh you've gone up in the world', whilst another one chose to stop talking to us. Now we've only got a Golf people have gone back to treating us as before.

 

[Richard Moakes]

It's all a sad reflection of the celebrity obsessed, extremely jealous society we live in these days.

Nobody celebrates success these days, there always has to be a reason to kick someone who succeeds.

I am too old now, but my one regret was not leaving this country when I had the opportunity ten years ago.

Having put my head above the parapet, I will now slide back into obscurity and fear, just like 99% of the population....

Richard

 

[davidsl500]

I am too old now, but my one regret was not leaving this country when I had the opportunity ten years ago.

Richard

We can have a whip round if it helps Richard ! (LOL)

It is true that in this country (generally speaking) that if you do well and have nice things then some people almost take offence at it ! Hence the "jealousy marks" on nice cars etc. In the USA people that do well seem to get the "pop star" treatment and are congratulated for their entrepreneurial skills or just good fortune (maybe thats changed over there as well now?)

Its all too easy to judge a book by its cover. I have a mate that drives round in an old Subaru pickup most of the day in his tatty jeans but has just put his house on the market for £1.2 Million and another that has a brand new XKR with all the trimmings, dresses smart, gold fillings and lives in a council house ! So how do you judge them ? How you spend your money is up to you and people shouldnt judge you on that or price jobs according to what you do or dont own ! Of course it goes on where the price can be "variable" like the tradespeople - but the strange thing is that if you find out where they live, alot of them have Merc's parked up on their drives too !

 

[Myros]

well we've just bought our third

and all three combined cost less than a new Golf or Audi A4. I'd rather have a car for every season than a car for all seasons.

 

[television]

The Swedes have a big problem with Swedish envey, they even make films on the subject.
My next door neighbour there never spoke to me, one day when I was bending down cleaning the wheels, his friend call on him and asked who he had for a neighbour, "****** Englishman, his everyday car is a MB and he's got a Rolls Royce in the garage" Such is life.

Malcolm

 

[Richard Moakes]

The Swedes have a big problem with Swedish envey, they even make films on the subject.
My next door neighbour there never spoke to me, one day when I was bending down cleaning the wheels, his friend call on him and asked who he had for a neighbour, "****** Englishman, his everyday car is a MB and he's got a Rolls Royce in the garage" Such is life.

Malcolm

You surprise me Malcolm, I spent many happy months in Denmark and never noticed that kind of attitude.

Mind you, I did notice the Danes didn't have all that high a regard for the Swedes ;-)

Richard

 

[television]

You surprise me Malcolm, I spent many happy months in Denmark and never noticed that kind of attitude.

Mind you, I did notice the Danes didn't have all that high a regard for the Swedes ;-)

Richard

You are right, the Danes are much more like us in that respect, ,its something in their culture,it mainly effects the over 60's. You must never show how clever you are, or talk badly of anyone, no matter what they have done. I am taking the SL to Sweden next week, my ex did not want me to take it as it might upset the neighbours. After much arguing and me explaining that it is not the latest model and their V70's cost more,that the situation was resolved. I too loved working over there, many parts of their life style suited me.

Malcolm

 

[robertjrt]

Mercedes and money

Having read the above, I can now see why MB Chelsea are playing "hardball" with me, they think I cannot match them £1 for £1 in the courts.

That will teach me to take my dear old mum to the garage by bus!

If you really want to see a change at the MB dealers, go in and ask about a van, or worse, drive up in an old Vito.


A Vito will cost more than a C class, but guess which vehicle will get you a cup of coffee!

Robertjrt

 

[Richard Moakes]

You are right, the Danes are much more like us in that respect, ,its something in their culture,it mainly effects the over 60's. You must never show how clever you are, or talk badly of anyone, no matter what they have done. I am taking the SL to Sweden next week, my ex did not want me to take it as it might upset the neighbours. After much arguing and me explaining that it is not the latest model and their V70's cost more,that the situation was resolved. I too loved working over there, many parts of their life style suited me.

Malcolm

Jante law, it certainly seems to help in keeping a harmonious society, from my perspective as a visitor, it sure did.

Richard

 

[veedweeb]

It is true that in this country (generally speaking) that if you do well and have nice things then some people almost take offence at it ! Hence the "jealousy marks" on nice cars etc.

A friend of mine is a retired (successful) businessman. He worked hard and is now a millionaire enjoying the fruits of his labours. He's got several cars.

One is a 1987 Rolls Royce Silver something-or-other, and another is a brand spanking new BMW X5. The roller cost less than £10,000 while the BMW cost over £45,000.

He can't drive the roller anywhere without someone shouting obscenities or even spitting at it, but no one even looks at him in the BMW.

It's a sorry state when it's easier to be jealous and spiteful than it is to be hard working and successful.

 

[Helmet Vonthrob]

It seems to be a very British thing...

In America people are likely to tell others how successful the guy down the street is... in Britain we do too.. we just follow it with f****** or similar.