Help me, please. Need an Iron worker and not the Artistic Vinny of Vinny's Italian Art Iron works
Ok, here is my story. Once upon a time, like 6 weeks ago I had a clogged and cracked sewer pipe. Intreped sewer guys unclogged the line and the wonderful John Hlad replaced the sewer pipe. The part in between is pretty disgusting and involved a flood of lovely sewer water which killed my washing…
Ok, here is my story. Once upon a time, like 6 weeks ago I had a clogged and cracked sewer pipe. Intreped sewer guys unclogged the line and the wonderful John Hlad replaced the sewer pipe. The part in between is pretty disgusting and involved a flood of lovely sewer water which killed my washing machine. And because my old house staircase to the basement is too skinny to accomodate a washing machine, I have to lower it through the steel trap doors which go from the street into the basement. AND the space is still too narrow to accomodate the machine, so I need an iron worker to take off the doors to accomodate the machine and to put the doors back when the machine is in the basement. Vinny wants 400 bucks!!!!!!! Hello? This is a 5 minute job taking them off and a 5 minute job putting them back on. Does anyone have another recommendation??? Thank you, Brownstoners.
So what does that have to do with an iron worker, you ask? Because nothing is simple, I need to buy a new washing machine
Ok, it appears that Bari’s phone number has been temporarily disconnected, never a good sign, but I called Ricardo who courteous, working on my block and who is coming over to look at the job. So far sounds good. And in these bad times, the arrogant fools who think that they can jerk around solid citizen / non-rich people struggling to keep their brownstones from ruin — they will be the ones who suffer. Tradespeople who have gotten fat like ticks off the big investment bank bonuses need to adjust their approach because there just ain’t the same kind of money around anymore. That is a fact. And it is the Ricardos of the world who will become the favored tradespeople with a loyal following. And it is the big mouths of the world, like me, who will sing their praises from the rooftops and on Brownstoner.
Ricardo (718) 499-1153
Thanks for the recommendation on Brani. Re your comments vanburenproud, sure all that makes sense, except that I have spent a nice piece of change with this guy, and I own a brownstone that needs more iron work. AND when moving into this place when I was desperate I actually paid him an insane amount of money to do the same thing. And thanks for the insider tips on contractors, but I have worked through these concepts, having done an extensive renovation myself. I have a big mouth, as do many of the brownstoners here, and I make a big, big deal about guys who have helped me. I also remember swaggering jackasses.
Oh, just to make sure I am being clear:
I am definitely not saying that you should go with Vinny, even tough I think his pricing strategy is probably at least soundish, what with the overhead that comes with a shop full of employees and the nature of small jobs.
His price may be fair, but it is far too high to actually pay.
My point is that it may or may not be a “less than $100” job, and it probably will not take the ten minutes you think it’s going to take.
Ah… in my circle of friends, this is known as the “$50 welding job,” and is to be avoided like the freaking plague! I feel for Vinny. Go to any BBQ with skilled tradespeople and you will hear at least 45 minutes of stories about jobs exactly like this that turned into real money losing nightmares.
This kind of job is great if you are young and eager to get new clients and build a reputation, but it can really blow up in your face if you are already busy, because nothing is ever as simple as it looks. The masonry holding your hatch could crumble so that there’s nowhere to re-attach the hatch. Some hidden part of the hatch could be rusted out need remaking in order to get it back on. Lifting the hatch off could break it. The variations on this game are endless, and it’s usually not one bummer thing that happens. Old buildings are old and fall apart. It’s more likely that a cascade of dumb clock-gobbling problems will befall the person who does this job.
Of course the solution is to hire someone who’s more eager than Vinny–he doesn’t want the job. But don’t assume that he’s in the wrong, or that his bid is outrageous. I have made this calculation for similarly simple-sounding jobs, and have come up with equally outrageous-sounding prices that are much more fair than they initially sound.
I think it’s important to remember that when any tradesperson takes a job, they take responsibility for a whole world of unknowns. I know it seems like he’s charging you an outrageous price, but really he’s charging you how much it could cost him at the outside if everything bad happens and he has to pay a certified welder to spend 2.5 days tending to your hatch, given his overhead, the potential materials cost if there’s a problem, etc.
There is an Iron Works off Grand St. in PH. They came for a small repair job, were prompt, reasonably priced and pleasant. The person I spoke to was Anse. The number is 917-709- 0357. In regards to Vinny: His long winded explanation as to why he didn’t want the job was related to to the high cost of gasoline. It didn’t pay to send the truck etc, etc. I wouldn’t have minded paying the extra cost of gasoline. But, we never got a far as discussing the price, “Because I can’t make money on such a small job.” In tougher economic times, then I will grant Vinny’s wish, least he over charge me.”
Try Bari Ironworks. They’re nicer and cheaper. They used to be in Carroll Gardens but now they’re in Red Hook.
You are right, Slopefarm, he is cracked. Too bad I don’t have those guys names. Vinnie did some over to do something wildly overpriced at my place once before and I did notice that his guys seemed pretty entrepreneurial. Without cruising around overthere to stalk the ironworkers, it looks like I am going to try to find somebody that will do it for close to what it is worth, which is under 100 bucks.
I am hoping that someone will have a name for me……
Yeah, you are definately right about that. Too bad I don’t have those guys names. Vinnie did some over to do something wildly overpriced at my place once before and I did notice that his guys seemed pretty entrepreneurial. Without cruising around to stalk them it looks like I am going to try to find somebody that will just do it for what it is work, which is under 100 bucks.
I am hoping that someone will have a name for me…… You are right, Slopefarm, he is cracked.