• That_Devil_Girl@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    5 months ago

    I’m a welder, and the general public doesn’t seem to understand why we charge so much for our services. Like, 80% of my work is fit-up, alignment, math, measurements, and work area prep.

    All the public sees is “durr, me hot glue metal! All done!” That’s exactly what you get with Jim Bob who owns a welder yet has never trained for it. He’s cheap, his welds are ugly, and they’re likely to fail in the near future.

    • weeeeum@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      Also do trades. People seem to have no perception that quality varies. They assume it’s busy work, it’s either done or not done, works or don’t work. All as if you flip a couple magical switches and everything’s finished.

      Always frustrating to explain how the electrician that’s 15$ an hour is gonna get you killed, and that wiring isn’t just snaking cords through a conduit.

    • fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      5 months ago

      Just show them some of my work as an amateur just sticking metal together and surely they’ll pay for your work.

      Like I try to at least measure, do some math, clean it up, and be steady but anybody looking at can know its my day job lol

    • DJDarren@thelemmy.club
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      5 months ago

      A huge, HUGE amount of a welder’s value - nay, almost any skilled worker’s value - is in the years you’ve spent gettin’ good.