Bathroom quote query?

[Twenty Four]

Original installer at least seems to have dodged a bullet.

Yes, and a well deserved one too for being incompetent enough to highlight his lack of versatility by writing out a full quote. He might well do a cracking job but gut feeling is the bloke is oblivious to all other elements that reflect a well rounded individual you feel like placing trust in.

 

[Doggit]

Exactly, this post isn't really about the OP trying to do the installer, it's really about how the installer needs to put himself across. I did a sales course years ago, and the tutor was telling us how to maximise the sale. You give the punter a price, and if he doesn't blink, you then tell him it's also xx for installation, and if he still doesn't blink, you keep adding until he does, and then you tell him you'd really like his business, so you're prepared to give him a discount if he commits to buy now. The reasoning behind the process, was that you'd found the limit that he was prepared to pay, and then made him feel good with the discount, and perception of a good deal, makes us all feel warm and cosy. Phill's worked out the best way to handle clients, but the OPs installer hasn't, but I'll guarantee that Phill's canny enough to check what sales people offer him.

 

[motorbiking]

Was the sales course run by a door to door double glazing firm? Seems very old school. I guess it could work on stupid people.

When I buy a new car, I always take the mrs and give her one instruction. When it looks like I'm about to agree the deal having squeezed as much as I can. She is to chip in with "it seems a lot more than we planned to spend, I think we should go away and think about it". Works every time. Salesman having usually invested an afternoon with you then released what he had left to release. Some have the balls to let you out the door, but most will call you within a few hours.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I can't abide tyre kickers.

 

[Iamchamps]

I think you've missed the point of what some or at least I am saying.

He won't get cheaper, the Internet shops put a stop to that.
He will be able to buy at a similar(possibly more expensive) price than you can find online.
But he will sell to you at retail.
It's how most businesses do it.

I nett every cost back and add on what I want for the job. Hourly rate/ day rate whatever is irrelevant. Your quote is made up of 2 elements, labour and materials, it doesn't matter what they add up to.

Would you have rather he had given you the nett price for the materials but his "labour" costs were £1000 dearer?

I would of preferred a better price for materials and for him to add what he actually wants to make on to his labour cost yes.

The guy who will actually be doing the job now who is charging £500 less in labour and advised me to source all materials myself has obviously got with the times. If you can't beat the internet join it and go with the flow. He is so busy I have struggled to get him booked for when I need him, having to change holidays booked with work.

I did consider doing most of the work myself with the bits that require a specialist (electrician for instance) coming in to do small parts but I can't dedicate enough time to get it done and would prefer someone to do it who can spend a much shorter period of time than me to complete.

There are so many people competing for work I will always get my way. If someone refused me a quote breakdown with individual prices I would tell him to jog on. You guys are like flies buzzing around poo so many to choose from

I am not trying to be insulting I am offering advice you either need to refuse to quote people like me or adapt.

On the flip side I am an excellent customer if I pay you to do work with me, I provide all the tea and coffee you want, a nice bacon sandwich or equilivant everyday you are here, help with anything you need moving stuff etc, overlooking unfortunate mistakes that I can rectify (marks on walls, dirty carpets0 and always a drink on completion for quality of work.

 

[Phill Peck]

I'd suggest you tell the other guy why you didn't like his quote.

It's only polite to let someone know you won't be accepting the quote and why (if there is a reason) he way have put a lot of time into arranging your quote.

He might learn from it and change how he quotes next time.

 

[Phill Peck]

Was the sales course run by a door to door double glazing firm? Seems very old school. I guess it could work on stupid people.

When I buy a new car, I always take the mrs and give her one instruction. When it looks like I'm about to agree the deal having squeezed as much as I can. She is to chip in with "it seems a lot more than we planned to spend, I think we should go away and think about it". Works every time. Salesman having usually invested an afternoon with you then released what he had left to release. Some have the balls to let you out the door, but most will call you within a few hours.

2nd hand car sales is very different to a bathroom quote.

 

[Phill Peck]

I recently had people in to quote for various things.

One job the driveway I was quoted £2k £1.6k and £1k

The guy that wanted £2k phoned me chasing the quote and said he could do it the in a couple of days due to a cancellation
I told him I'd been quoted £1k and he said he could do it for £1k
"So u were planning to rip me off essentially"
The guy who got the job was the £1600 he suggested a couple of things that were good ideas that showed he knew his job.

He also got the job to do the groundwork for the extension, without getting other quotes because he showed me he knew what he was doing, wanted to make a descent wage for doing a descent job but didn't want to rip me off.
Cheap isn't best.

The guy who knows what he's doing is the best guy for the job.

In the OPs case he initially said that he was happy with the guys work and the price(I think) just didn't like how he had priced the quote.

A phone call to ask may have got you what you wanted by the original installer.
He felt u would rather not pay "high" "labour" charges. So he did his quote in a way that reflected that.
You say you've now saved £2k I'd be worried about someone doing a job £2k cheaper for the same job

 

[Iamchamps]

I'd suggest you tell the other guy why you didn't like his quote.

It's only polite to let someone know you won't be accepting the quote and why (if there is a reason) he way have put a lot of time into arranging your quote.

He might learn from it and change how he quotes next time.

Phil I will do that as like you say it is polite. Thanks

The person doing the job is someone I used for work previously in my ensuite not a full rip out and replace but a good amount of work. he is the one now doing the job for £500 cheaper in labour costs and I source everything myself. He wants payment on completion when I am happy, the person who's quote I didn't like wanted a majority of the money before he had even started work (a week before I think it said on his quote)

 

[Doggit]

Seems very old school

It was 30 years go, and it was a general sales course for IT equipment etc. In those days, it was a specialised install, so not many people doing it; but it showed how people are susceptible to gentle persuasion techniques, and just want to feel good about what they are purchasing.

In the end, I learnt it was what I knew, and how much I was prepared to help that got the sale.

 

[motorbiking]

The guy who got the job was the £1600 he suggested a couple of things that were good ideas that showed he knew his job.

He also got the job to do the groundwork for the extension, without getting other quotes because he showed me he knew what he was doing, wanted to make a descent wage for doing a descent job but didn't want to rip me off.
Cheap isn't best.

The guy who knows what he's doing is the best guy for the job.

Tbh I'd probably have done the same, but might have tapped him up to meet me half way if he could.

Selling is really about the 3 Rs. relevance (am I selling what they need), reliability (have I given them the impression I'll look after them and stand by my work) relationship (did I actually like the person/company).

few people will spend money with someone they dislike and most will spend more with someone they like and who shows he cares about the outcome.

In my experience this applies on purchases of a few £100 to 10M