Last week, he gave me a story about the how the vanity is $2200(cherry wood, for two sinks and the originally budget is $1600)and he asked the manufacture to lower the
price to $2000.
When I told to the lady from the vanity company about some detail, I accidently found out that the real price is $1600.
That is almost 20% makeup!
This unhappy experience let me start to wonder what he want us to order the faucets, tub and toilet from Fugerson.
And when I asked the price for the granite, his answer is ��the estimate price on the list��.

We signed the contract and paid some deposit already, there is no way that we can get out of this deal.
For the past 12 years that we lived in this house, we had hired many contractors to fixed here or there.
And I am sorry to said that none of them that I will feel good enough to recommend to my friend.
And I live in Tampa, Florida!
Thanks for reading!

But thanks for response

I don't agree with the way many contractors do business in that sense. The cost of the item is the cost the person who actually forked out the money to the actual supplier paid, not the retail cost they got a discount on IMO. The part about this difference covering the cost of the GC picking out the item and transporting-- BS-- you picked out the item and the supplier is going to deliver it to him most likely and as you found those fees are already built into the discounted price given. What you often hear is that the difference covers the cost of his warranty of the product for a year--so if your drain leaks & that new vanity is ruined that extra money will cover the cost of replacing the vanity, repairing any floor damage and fixing the leak.

I would go back to the GC and ask why the difference. It does sound like this is a variation of a cost-plus situation to some extent since he did outline the costs with his cut separate. (He will likely be seriously PO'd about the supplier telling you the actual price.)

If that meeting doesn't go the way you want, you can try these 2 things:

1) Get the discount price on whatever you're there to pick out from the supplier that you have been steered toward by the GC and insist on paying for it yourself right then and there from your pocket to knock the GC out of the loop. That ought to also get your point across.

2) Buy online or at other suppliers and supply the GC with the item.

In either scenario, you will need to make sure he credits you the allowance on your final bill. Do watch for him to mark up other areas to try and make that money back, though. Asking for a copy of all his invoices to verify the price he actually paid will not help--it's common practice for the supplier to make up 2 invoices--the end customer one & the actual one that reflects what the GC is paying. Also be aware that his warranty will likely not cover anything other than what actually fails.

Good luck!

I'd also let him think that you're willing to walk away from this deal and hire someone else to replace him (even if you're not). If he knows he's got you, then he has no reason to negotiate. I'd also double check any prices you are given online before placing a final order just to make sure you are not being snowed again. BTW--Ferguson tends to be on the high side.

Howere, the lady from the manufacture told me that the GC told them about the budget and asked them to work based on the budget.
So there is no retail price or discount.

When I mentioned this to the GC, he just said that he is sorry and the price should be $1600 not $2000,
then he changed the subject like this never happened.

Maybe I am too naive for this business, but I feel that I am dealing with a black hole.
And I do not know what I will get at the end.
As a consumer, this is kind of frustrating and tired.

I am going to order the faucets, sink, tub....online, even I have to figure out what to order piece by piece.
The otherthing needed to be worry is the Flameless Glass, he keep telling me how expensive it is and it sure will over my budget.

Renee

Arcy, hosenemesis,
The original quote is based on the estimate(allowance).
So if we pick something that is more expensive than the quote then we have to pay the difference.
On the other hand, if we pick something that is cheaper then we should be able to save some money.

And one stupid thing is that we believed since he "honestly" pointed out how much he is going to make((Builder margin and supervision!!)so he is not going to make money on the materials and we agree at the beginning that we will paid GC then he will paid the vendors.

Two years ago, one of my neighbor hired a GC to replace a expensive soft water machine.
At the end she found out that GC charged her almost double than the market price. When she questioned her(a female GC), the answer is "you have the money!".

Thanks for everyone's response.

When I write an estimate, or a customer asks how much is "this"?
I give them MY price. (not my cost, not my markup, not the shipping, not the day of the week). Simply..MY price.
THIS is how much it is if you buy it from me.
If you don't like that price, but it somewhere else. I'll still install it for the labor quoted.

NOW, if you buy it from me, and there is a problem? You call me and I'll take care of it. You don't need to call the people that made it, That's my problem.
Even if it's not "my" fault. It IS my responsibility.
IF, you buy it somewhere else, and simply have me intall it? I'll only warranty the initial labor to be done correctly.

BASICALLY: I'm going to price you that vanity at $2k. If you say okay? I'm going to do my best to find one for $100 dollars. IF I can't do that, and wind up having to pay $3k for one? So be it. (either way, your cost remains $2k).

I don't care if you find the same item for a cheaper price somewhere else. If you buy it and bring it to me, I'll install it for labor charge; but I won't warranty the item.

It's like any DIY job. You can always find the items & parts cheaper than if you paid a contractor to do the entire thing.

This.

And do not expect me to pick it up.

Every minute spent going to a store or warehouse is work time.
Or having someone wait around for a delivery, or searching for a vendor.

And if the product is late, you get to pay for another trip to the job site for installation.

I have a few vendors i prefer, since they have consistently had items in stock every time.
they are NOT the lowest price place many times, but making ONE trip to pick up everything is worth it for both you and the tradesman.

Remember all the jokes about

"How many trips to HD are needed to finish a job?"

"One more."

Having everything on hand and available the first time is part of the cost of hiring the work out.

in this instant informational age... people will/may pay for something - then get home and look in up on the net and be like, durn could've/would've bought it elsewhere for cheaper.....

the issue i see here is the way the GC approached the pricing of the item --- giving the homeowner the idea that they were getting a "deal"--- when in reality they were probably just paying retail for the vanity -- just not from a retail store - retail from the GC.

i understand there is a difference in quality of materials - but sometimes people can just be hard headed - and they have the right to be.

didnt intend to stray too much

Now, there are as many levels of retail pricing as there are contractors. Some are low, some high and most are average. Ditto with quality and service.

This is simply not a transaction that can be spread sheeted, decision treed, best practiced to a favorable outcome with the lowest price anymore than a heart transplant or transmission exchange.

There will always be an amount of risk and uncertainty as well as the potential for finding a lower cost during or after the experience.

Brickeye - you are missing a nice payday and a vehicle to promote goodwill by not picking up customer's purchases. "Every minute spent going to a store or warehouse is work time. " Correct - and if you are working for wages and not a contract price - you INVOICE for every minute or fraction of an hour spent working on the project, no matter how trivial or mundane.

If my attorney picks me up from the airport he is billing for that time in addition to the mileage and any tolls and fees. Bills if he talks to me on the phone for 5 minutes too.

Slowdown- that is sometimes true (hard headed customers). In my experience it's about as often as times a contractor has no real clue about product's quality, value or if there even is an alternative. He'll simply use it because it's convenient, or he's dealt with Bobby down at Snorts for decades, or he likes the fishing trip Yellawood takes him on every year, or

My clients would have a fit if I billed them that time.

I might send a worker out to pick something up, but he in on the clock and miles driven.

I renovate old houses mostly, but have a customer base that keeps things rolling along.

Strictly word of mouth high quality work.

New customers interview me, and I am interviewing them.
We do not 'mesh' all the time.

I probably turn down about as many as turn me down.

Not really related, but, I'd make sure you, as the final user, is fully aware of who to call when something isn't right. Tomorrow, next week, five years from now. You need to know WHO is going to take care of problems that arise down the road. AND, you need to know before you pay a dime to anybody.

we have interviewed several GC (whole house turn key) over the past year and one in particular was selling us on the fact that in a couple of years - if something goes wrong, all we have to do is pick up the phone and call them. I wasnt being rude, but i said, if i have a plumbing issue, I will call a plumber, and if I have a HVAC issue I will call the heating and air company...(pretty much the subs that worked on the house)... after the first year the GC in my opinion is out of the picture.

that may be pretty crude - but unless the problem is structural related, that is the way i feel.

Then, like you say: they are welcome to pick their purchases up themselves.

I mean within 90 days, 6months, 1 year...or whatever time period you feel is fair, or that your GC feels is fair.

Example: You buy a fridge and a kitchen faucet at your local Appliance Store. They come install the stuff.
30 days later, faucet starts leaking. You call them, and they say call the manufacturer.
That's not right.
For a certain time period, (I like 1 yr). You call the people you paid, they come fix it, and they can deal with the manufacturer of the products they carry...if they want to.
Just too many places are pushing the premise of "we are just the middleman, we didn't make the faucet, not our problem".
I just don't like that thinking.