TIL I was underpricing my rush jobs for 3 years straight

I had a client call me on a Sunday needing a fence gate fixed before a party Monday morning. I quoted my usual $150, same as any other day, and drove 45 minutes out to Renton. After I finished, the guy handed me $300 as a tip and said 'I would have paid double what you asked, you saved my weekend.' That moment hit me hard. I did the math later and realized I lost at least $8,000 over 3 years by not charging a premium for last-minute emergency work. Now I tack 50% on any rush job and nobody has blinked yet. How do you guys handle pricing for frantic customers? Do you ask what they would pay or just set your rates?

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3 Comments

nancygrant5mo ago

Read that same thing in an HVAC forum, guys charge double for weekends.

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christopher_wells45mo ago

You ever have one of those moments where you realize you basically volunteered for a charity when you thought you were running a business? I feel this in my bones man. I spent two years charging the same flat rate for emergency plumbing calls at 2am, just happy to get the work. Finally wised up after a guy paid me $500 cash for a 15 minute fix and said he was ready to pay $800. Now I just double the rate for anything after 8pm and somehow people still thank me.

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derek9945mo ago

Read a blog post that said "charge what you're worth, not what you're scared to lose.

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