Customers purchacing their own material (long)

thetiler · 2007-01-16T05:02:42+00:00

In another thread this issue was brought up.Is it OK for a customer to buy their own material(in my case tile), and expect a professional contractorto install it?It's a good question, and one I've faced probably afew hundred times over many years. My opinion isthat customers who purchace materials first, withoutconsulting a professional do so blindly and manysuffer for years for a bad decision.The first thought people have about this is that thecustomer is "cutting out the contractor" from makinga markup on materials. Generally this is where thediscussion centers on. I think it's the wrong discussion.As I've mentioned, there are two kinds of customers whobuy their own materials...(1) the person who does so innocently, just thinking it is the right thing to do, and:(2) the person who deliberately is trying to save money and cut out the markup from the contractor.Person (2) is often trying to be cheap and probably wantsa cheap price on installation too. I quickly try to get outof dealing with person (2), and as far as I'm concernedif they want to go cheap, go ahead. I'm not interested.Save some money on the tile, save money on theinstallation- and get what you pay for.What about the innocent person though? Is it wiseto buy materials first, then hire a contractor install it?Adjusting the price is possible with the decent customer whowants a good installation and is willing to pay for it.They will agree to pay a little more to the contractor, knowingnow that they innocently cut into his profit. That, though,the least of the potention problems caused by people buyingtheir own material.Some people buy such crappy material that I don't want to beassociated with it. Others will buy the wrong amount but swearit's more than enough. Some will buy "close out" tile and notbe aware it's 4 different shades, dye lots, bad sizing etc.Some will bring the material home and stack it wrong (horizontally),cracking dozens of them. The problem with cracking is that...

Jan 16, 2007 24 Replies

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the sagacious dolt 19 years ago

finally you admit your incompetence the 1st step to recovery it admitting you have a problem. only 11 more steps to go.

get off your knees and ...............wipe that chin.

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thetiler 19 years ago

What a childish little man. How did you figure out how to post on a newgroup?

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the sagacious dolt 19 years ago

6ft 3in is far from little..............son

How did you figure out how to post | on a newgroup? | POSTING IS THE EASY PART just like pissing off morons like you. get a real job and stop pretending to be a tiler or let me illiterate for you stop pretending to be "thetiler"

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thetiler 19 years ago

You've failed to give an ounce of evidence as to why I'm not a tiler. If you doubt anything I post, feel free to counterpost and let's debate the advice I give.

Actually you can't because I am an expert, and you're a wee little phoney poster.

thetiler

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kellyj00 19 years ago

Spoken like a true professional. Keep up the good work Mr. Tiler

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