Up Next: The Electrician 👏

Oh wow!! Yesterday was Democracy Day!!! Hope you enjoyed the break? I've missed writing. Something happened some days ago and I just thought about sharing it. In as much as I would like to complain about artisans, I'll just change the story to be from my POV, if it sounds like a complaint, so be it.

J is someone I love. J needed bulbs changed. The electrician came, looked around, and quoted ₦3,500 naira for a single bulb, 21,000 Nigerian Naira for bulbs and ₦9000 for workmanship, bringing it to a total of ₦30,000. J agreed, and told the electrician that he will call him back.

Three weeks later, out of curiosity, J walked into a shop, and asked for the price of a bulb, and he was told ₦1500. He stood there and did the math in his head. Bought everything himself. Spent around ₦10,000 naira total. Can you imagine that?

Sorry, how did the electrician arrive at ₦3,500 a bulb? From ₦30,000 to ₦10,000? Oh wow! And you know what, according to J, the bulbs previously acquired by the electrician some stopped working after some days.

To be honest, I don't have issues with overcharging sometimes, hear me out. Good work deserves good money. It is better I'm getting quality product for a high amount that getting fake for a high amount. Let your charges be worth it. And also, it says a lot about the person one is. Charge for your time, your expertise and all, but ensure when your clients look at your work, the value of what they are getting is worth it. This makes your clients call you back and also tell their friends.

If you are in any kind of service business, this is worth sitting with. You can get away with overcharging once. Maybe twice if the client is busy or conflict-averse. But you are not actually getting away with anything. You are spending trust you have not earned, and trust, unlike money, does not come back when you apologise.

Oh yes! J fixed the bulbs himself and they are working fine.

P/s: What are your thoughts? And what will you like me to write about next? Thank you so much for reading, I do appreciate.