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          Action Electric - Fully licensed, liability insured, WCB. ***** We do electrical work in Winnipeg "city wide." Owner/manager: Manuel Correia - 28 years self employed working electrician. 38 years trade experience. Canadian Interprovince Red Seal Certificate No. I - 15...(inquire. Journeyman & Electrical Contractor's lic. (City of Winnipeg) (no. 91....inquire) Other licenses as per the City of Winnipeg local bylaws. 

What to expect from Action Electric

FREE UP FRONT PRICING for Service Upgrades · and major Baseboard Heat installations - EXACT FINAL COST (quotation) as per 'description of work' for your project - no guessing - not just an estimate!

We provide a description of work for exactly what is being done and an itemized price for each item.  

When we do a SERVICE UPGRADE the power for heating, lighting etc. will be kept on at all times while the service is being upgraded. We work to fit your schedule including Saturdays. Our prices are very competitive. MB. Hydro financing is available - from $39.00/mo. on your Hydro bill.

 (We are known by the Hydro Financing approval department for over 20 years) We look after all required paper work (no extra charges). In this case, no down payment is required.) 

We also apply, when requested, for a property tax rebate from the City. When required, we notify your insurance, in writing, stating that the electrical work has been completed and approved as per their request. 

We accept payments by cheque, money order, cash or through Manitoba Hydro financing. A 10% prepayment for permit fees and job set up fees +10% down payment (=20% total) will be required when a contract is accepted by both parties, usually 2- 6 days before the work is scheduled to begin. Once the work has been started, work progress payments may apply soon after, however; that all depends on the size of the job and no one will be paying for a specific value of work which is not yet completed.}  

SERVICE UPGRADES is a special type of work which requires patience on small details to make such installation safe and to last over 100 years. ALL work is performed only by fully QUALIFIED LICENSED JOURNEY/PERSON ELECTRICIANS - no helpers or apprentices or sub-contractors or anything the like is involved in our work. Furthermore; we work DIRECTLY for the HOME or BUILDING OWNER and not for any GENERAL CONTRACTOR. Therefore, the owner is not paying an extra cost usually 20% - 40% or more for their mark up prices. 

SCOPE OF THE WORK: When we are called to give you an estimate, we will explain fully what is to be done and will design the work to match your budget or/and for the most economical price. It will also become easier for you to understand the scope of the work involved. Most important for you is to insure that everyone (usually 3 contractors) estimating the cost of the work is doing exactly the same thing. This comparison is important. It can change the price by hundreds of dollars . Most older homes and buildings are usually in dire need overdue improvements (overdue for at least 40 years ) to the electrical installation to some extent. One just has to look around more carefully. Make the project worthwhile for you and the electrician. It becomes much more economical to have more work done at the same time.

ADDITIONAL CIRCUITS: From experience; usually when a SERVICE UPGRADE is being done in an older home, at least one or two additional circuits are required in the kitchen one in the laundry area and one for outdoors. (extra charges may apply) Also when we do a panel or service upgrade usually we are able to separate some of the existing single circuits into two or more to reduce some obvious existing overloads. (extra charges may apply) Any additional extra electrical work which was not included in the original 'contract' may only be booked for approximately 3 - 4 weeks later, but not sooner. This is to insure that the next customer's work will begin on schedule. When having the work estimated, check the area further, for any other possible repairs required etc. so that all work can be done at the same time, included on the same permit - basically on the same initial contract order.

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A point about some very unusual people I have met over the years!

Usually in about 1% of work I am called to estimate (about once or twice a year) the customer does not fit any common profile of a decent average human being but most of the time very rude, disrespectful, obnoxious or another type who usually is doing a lot of fishing as if I did not notice it! Some keep getting people to come over so that they get enough information to be able to do the work themselves. However, this method of exploitation of one's time and design information is more common to certain world geographic regions. Such types begin first by being extremely over friendly and unusual courteous. In such cases many contractors ( I am one of them) are well versed in giving conflicting information and can make it quite confusing for them.

Recently (October 16 - 2008) I met a customer who qualified as quite unusual. Did not sound quite right in the telephone, however it fooled me. Such customer made 12 grave errors all in about 10 minutes span. It was amazing and seemed even auditioned. (I could not act in such a manner even If I was paid for it a lot) All had to do with all the suggestions, smart remarks and general behavior. For a free estimate the customer showed completely disregard for any of my opinions, very demanding almost in an authoritive tone - telling me exactly how the work should be performed! My extra cool reaction kicked in right away, which I am very proud of. It seemed to interfere with the expectations of what the customer may had expected from me. I kept explaining the work even more methodically how the work should be performed being the best logical way under very difficult building structures and wall alignments and inaccessible areas. It had no affect whatsoever, no appreciation at all! In such cases I rarely show any adverse emotion and will leave quietly after looking at the job even longer than necessary even knowing that I will not be submitting any estimate at all.

I think such strange behaviors, at times, might be the result of such customers calling unusually 5 - 7 contractors for a free estimate however, in this trade, some contractors don't take back much customer's input or downgrade any customers ability to understand electrical work, or may not be a very patient type themselves including being total ignorant!
I am talking about construction workers who may had worked all their life's in very rough environments. I met quite a few myself. Some may have a very short fuse, some are complete butchers when doing electrical work, others never done much residential work except when close to retirement when no one else wants them! Most don't have good communication skills either. Then when the 7th guy comes along, perhaps me, the customer may think we are all alike and perhaps goes on the defensive! At times I am completely lost as to the meaning of such behaviour.
Over the years (28 in self employed and 38 in all my different electrical construction fields) I have learned not to readily show such outbursts of emotions or such reactions (if any). Once I am in contact with an unusual customer I behave quite the opposite of what should be expected leaving the customer confused but hopefully in a friendly mood.
Such customer never really gets to know much about me or what has happened when there is no estimate ever in the mail or by telephone or no response whatsoever!
Rare, but more often I get people who act quite defensive in a way as if I am trying to exploit them. In such cases, I would rather forget about the job. I only like to work for people who trust and have some faith in me! That is also the reason why I ask everyone to get another estimate, I feel more competitive and proud of my work.
In other very rare situations, with some other type of people, there is a mutual SILENT understanding communication between both of us that such job will not ever be getting done by Action Electric. If I took notes I just chuck them when getting into my vehicle. I don't call back, as expected the customer does not call me back either and all is well! This type of silent communication is very rare and a bit strange or alien to me - I can not quite grasp it or explain it but it has worked extremely well for me over the years!

I have not yet begged for a job in 40 years and I don't think I would start now! I do choose my customers well. However, these psychological challenges and especially the fact that I meet hundreds of wonderful people every year really 'makes my day' - my life!'

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A Warning to 'fly by night contractors' and people speculating in getting cheap, trashed but hidden, unapproved electrical work