Would like to know do you prefer to supply hot water heaters and other products, or have home owner to supply. Do not mean fitting. I like to but with all the faucets it hard to pick the one the ho has in mind. Thank you. My office wife and I are betting. I am hopping I win.:laughing:
I prefer to let the customer get thier stuff. If something is scratched,dented or it leaks its not my problem. I like being labor and warrant just the labor. I know there is money in sales but i just dont want that part of the business.
I want to supply the material. That way i know when i get there i have the right stuff plus i don't buy junk. I explain to them if their supply it and it leaks then they can deal with getting replacement parts from the company and pay be the labor to fix it, If I supply and it leaks I will take care of it all.
While I wouldn't mind getting the mark up on whatever it is that I'm installing I sure don't mind customer supplied either.
Something about changing out a water heater and it's already sitting next to the dead one appeals to me...
Something about just guaranteeing that I installed it properly appeals to me... Lets see a callback on that!:thumbup:
Not long ago I had a customer hand me an Am. Std. lav faucet to install...
It was defective...
I handed it back to them showed them the defect and they returned it and got another one while I did some other work...
I did give them a 2nd job discount on installing the replacement...:thumbup:
Not my problem...
I like that!:yes:
When I supply a water heater it is a Bradford White....
I provide Bradford White water heaters, imo the best water heater made and endorsed by the PHCC for a reason. I used Rheem too until I found out there is no reset on the gas heaters as there is with the Bradfords. I also like that they have a "hydro jet" system instead of just a plain fill tube and Standard 6 year tank AND parts warranty.
I could care less what I install as long as the warranty is covered if I supply it or the homeowner understands that he is responsible if he supplies it. As far as water heater go, again, there are heaters I would prefer in my own home but if the HO wants to buy crap than that's fine with me also.
I explain to the home owners they can supply me with the faucets, pumps or even water heaters, I just do not warranty customer supplied parts. If they want quality parts that I will honor the warranty, they have to buy it from me.
We will install HO supplied materials, but we offer no warranty on them.
However, we prefer to supply our own materials for two reasons.
1. Customer supplied materials usually take longer to install - especially when dealing with plastic parts / pieces. We lose money when we give a price upfront. The install always appears easy enough until you start working with a defective, cheaply constructed faucet. All put together, clean up, one last check, and then drip . drip.
2. When we get call backs, customers have a hard time believing it is what they supplied. They think somehow you installed it wrong. The faucet will work for two months and then drip . drip . drip
Depending on the customer, we have gone back and tightened for no charge. At some point, we will draw a line in the sand and either refuse to install junk or refuse to go back for free.
We will install HO supplied materials, but we offer no warranty on them.
However, we prefer to supply our own materials for two reasons.
1. Customer supplied materials usually take longer to install - especially when dealing with plastic parts / pieces. We lose money when we give a price upfront. The install always appears easy enough until you start working with a defective, cheaply constructed faucet. All put together, clean up, one last check, and then drip . drip.
2. When we get call backs, customers have a hard time believing it is what they supplied. They think somehow you installed it wrong. The faucet will work for two months and then drip . drip . drip
Depending on the customer, we have gone back and tightened for no charge. At some point, we will draw a line in the sand and either refuse to install junk or refuse to go back for free.
Once in a while, I will hand back a plumbing part to the homeowner and tell them that I refuse to install it.
I prefer to supply material, but I have prices for homeowner-supplied parts.
As with everyone else, no warranty on customer-supplied parts.
Many of these "hardware store" parts are simply worthless.
Even if I do install their parts, I will offer warnings - such as stainless kitchen sinks that are too thin to protect against dents or too shallow and how much they'd appreciate a deeper sink.
Thanks to every one. I like to supply also, my wife likes when ho supply because we don't have to go pick up.this has open her eyes for us to supply. Again thank for the help.
For you guys that do new construction and supply everything, how does that work? Do you just pick whatever at a certain price range, does the builder, the ho?
For you guys that do new construction and supply everything, how does that work? Do you just pick whatever at a certain price range, does the builder, the ho?
Quotes based on standard fixtures. Changes at a percentage higher.
The unpredictability of the ho parts, such as there on time, rough ins changed, bad quality, liability during installation, difficulty to get repair pieces, and the overall perception that its new and the plumber must be the problem puts a plumber at a huge disadvantage-blame, extra trips,extra time ( which no one wants to believe because its to their advan. to think it should take the same time )and the GC is out to keep the customer happy always looking for concessions from the subs. Its the way things are now and one of the reasons Im letting res. new work go.
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