Bathroom quote query?

[Iamchamps]

I have had a bathroom quote by a local quite respected bathroom fitter if listening to feedback is to believed.

Looking at work he has done I am impressed but the thing that really has got me is the prices for items in his quote.

I was led to believe by quite a few people that trades people get discounts and have been advised in the past don't buy it yourself I will get it cheaper so the overall price will be cheaper. The breakdown on this quote has got every single item listed and the price to give the overall price, the labour price I am happy with but the items some are charging me more than double than I can buy them straight from the shop for.

Is this him trying to pull a fast one? Is this general practice to increase profit? I am a bit disappointed and will be suggesting I source all items myself and he just fit. I am talking like for like exactly the same item he has quoted I can buy myself for a lot cheaper.

 

[Phill Peck]

You will generally buy at retail price and he will buy at trade. But has to Guarantee this items.

I had a customer ask me this recently and I'll say the same here.
The price at the bottom is the relevant part, some will quite low labour/high materials, some will quote true labour/trade price materials.
I quote a figure. With no breakdown.
What I pay for an item is irrelevant.
You are buying a "package" how ever it is written down I will make what I want on a job or won't do it.

The guy quoting will know his costs and what he wants to make. He has written his quote in a way that gives you a labour price you are "happy with".

Is the overall price within your budget?

He is not trying to pull a fast one that is how most people will give quotes, if they give u a breakdown.

You have seen other examples of his work and he comes recommended. If you suggest buying the materials cheaper and him working for his quoted labour costs, he won't make what he wants on the job and won't take it on.

Hope that helps.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Do you expect tesco to sell bread for the same price they buy it for?

 

[motorbiking]

You are far better sourcing the items directly and agreeing a labour fee for the work.
- tradespeople a pretty crap at sourcing good prices and often don't have the time to shop around. Preferring whoever looks after them gives them the best cashback/terms
- You want your warranty and consumer rights against someone who'd be worth suing, not some bloke and his dog who can walk away from any faults.

I get that they have to make a living, so be upfront about it and allow them to revise the quote a bit for the loss of profit.

The only downside is you taking responsibility for supply, so you could just agree the main items and let them source the fittings.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Is that an expert opinion?

 

[motorbiking]

Point 2 - its fact, no need for expertise or qualifications - though I have both.

If Mr plumb, buys from xyz bathrooms, and sells on to you, you have no claim against xyz bathrooms, unless xyz bathrooms have provided you with such a warranty.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Good job you don't charge for it then .

 

[rules&rulers]

There are so many internet shops selling the same stuff at different prices but remember these are usually the same main company with different trading names. These are often imports from china but they dont tell you that.
They may hide the correct prices by hiding the extras that will be required to complete the installation, a bathroom fitter will know what to order,they will have a working relationship with their chosen merchants and get discounts as they are regular customers and spend a lot of cash with same merchants. . A lot of installers are prepared to install customer purchased items some offer an hourly rate some offer a fixed price. Excluding pipe fittings/sundries the customer will be responsible to source all the materials and deal with missing parts,,delivery/collection charges,damaged,defective,wrong items,late/early delivery,storage,disposal of old equipment and the installer will not deal with any future equipment warranty claim.

So the choice is yours.

 

[motorbiking]

Its better for the plumber too, particularly if they earn under the VAT registration threshold.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Twaddle

 

[rules&rulers]

If Mr plumb, buys from xyz bathrooms, and sells on to you, you have no claim against xyz bathrooms, unless xyz bathrooms have provided you with such a warranty.

There is a very easy way around that but its a trade secret.

 

[rules&rulers]

Its better for the plumber too, particularly if they earn under the VAT registration threshold

vat registration also has its advantages.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Everyone should be VAT registered IMHO - eliminates boolox posts like motorbiking's. Would also help with a revenue raising without overly penalising people at the same time as bringing all the small and medium sized firms onto an even keel.

Its not as if everything suddenly becomes 20% more expensive anyway. Just eliminates perceptions of such like MB above.

 

[FiremanT]

VAT
20% or not
Mark up
Warranty
Tesco/supermarkets

Here we go
I reckon 15 pages?

 

[Phill Peck]

You are far better sourcing the items directly and agreeing a labour fee for the work.
- tradespeople a pretty crap at sourcing good prices and often don't have the time to shop around. Preferring whoever looks after them gives them the best cashback/terms
- You want your warranty and consumer rights against someone who'd be worth suing, not some bloke and his dog who can walk away from any faults.

I get that they have to make a living, so be upfront about it and allow them to revise the quote a bit for the loss of profit.

The only downside is you taking responsibility for supply, so you could just agree the main items and let them source the fittings.

Depends on who's doing the job.

You wanna supply everything, find someone else to fit it.

You are not considering wasted time due to faulty or incorrect materials.

Majority of the time people will supply cheap products of internet which will be badly made and take longer to install.

Bottom line is as I've already explained. His price is his price.
Doesn't matter how it's made up, the difference between materials and total price is what he wants to be paid to do that job.
You will pay the same however you go about it.

If the price is not within budget.
You have 2 options.
1 buy cheaper suite/tiles/etc which you will regret.
2 use cheaper labour
Which you will regret