Customer supplied fixtures - Page 3 - Plumbing Zone

TheMaster · 02-18-2010, 12:10 PM

The trick to selling fixtures is having them in stock. I have found that most people are lazy and will give up picking from hundreds of faucets if you can bring them 4 or 5 to look at and let them pick from that without them having to leave home or go through the trouble of looking on the internet for somthing to order and wait on. I can bring the 4 or 5 out and let them pick and install it the same day. But sure I understand in new construction its not that simple but I do alot of repair and remodel. I'm talking about faucets for the most part here folks before i get jumped!

SummPlumb · 02-19-2010, 07:35 PM

I send the customers down to our local supplier so they can pick out what they want. I mark them up between 10 and 20 percent and install them with a warranty.

If they go to the box stores to buy their faucets, I will install them with NO warranty. If it leaks, they pay me to take it off and put the new back on. That is only fair.

I base the price on a new custom home by the fixture. If it is fairly easy ranch home, I will get 5-600 a fixture plus the water, sewer and gas.

If it is a 8 bath monster with Cast iron tubs, leg tubs, bidets, tankless water heaters, custom showers; I will base it on a 6-800 price plus handling charges on the tubs and custom showers.

Some of these new showers will cost you a day of labor and 100 feet of pipe if they have numerous body sprays.

The bigger the house, the more time you spend talking and prepping. If you are not drilling holes, and gluing pipe, you are not making money.

But that is here in GA. But new houses are like four leaf clovers right now.

We were averaging 4-5 houses a week in 2006. I did 3 houses in 2009.

jeffreyplumber · 02-21-2010, 04:01 PM

5 to 6 hundred a fixture is what I charged 20 years ago for custum home. that did not include fixtures, I counted a 50 gal w/h as 1 and included 50 ft sewer and water service late 80s and early 90s. I been out of that kind of work awhile but got a guy calling me too bid a mountain house in wrightwood ca. Kind of lost havent done a house in 7 years.

Bonafide · 02-24-2010, 01:33 PM

Personally I like to supply my customers fixtures, faucets, and what ever else they might need. Why? I feel my expertise is why they called in the first place.

My thoughts exactly!

I usually stick to "my" trusted brands like grohe, moen, kohler, sometimes delta but they're quality seems to be decreasing. And to avoid mishaps with the cheap cheap ones i'll get a low priced faucet built for commercial use. They arent as stylish but hey.

Just thinking about letting them buy the fixtures suck:

"washer vs washerless"
"modern vs classic"
"stainless vs chrome plated"
"brass housing vs zinc"

Thats alot of time explaining equalling wasted time AND how would you ever profit?

plumbpro · 03-09-2010, 10:07 PM

I'm new here just today, thought i would jump in on this one. We only supply fixtures on commercial jobs as probrably everyone here does. With a ho or builder we will supply tub and shower faucets by delta in chrome because we stock these, if they want something else then they bring it. I always recommend delta faucets because they are qaulity and parts are available even in my small town. I always recommend against Home Depot or Lowes branded faucets and am clear that our warranty does not cover the fixtures themselves, but only the installation-supply lines, stops, wax rings etc. If you are spending 100-200k on a house, the up front cost difference is miniscule for a quality toilet, lav faucet, or kitchen sink/faucet, but the long term benefit of not seeing me for 10 years is worth it.

Asparta · 03-20-2010, 01:44 AM

Supply your own fixtures, and if the HO wants to, put a disclaimer in the contract. Take responsibility out of your hands, and explain to them that you cannot warranty the product, only the pipes you ran to it. Most customers think that jsut becuase the toilet cost them $500, that it is the best one out there. Little do they know that they are paying for name and styling more than for the quality. Same goes for any other fixture. I tend to explain that I carry a certain product becuase it's proven itself as a good product. Customers trust you when you tell them that for the most part and will go with your decision providing it meets their personal tastes.

03-09-2010, 10:07 PM	#25
plumbpro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NE Arakansas Posts: 1,162 My Photos	I'm new here just today, thought i would jump in on this one. We only supply fixtures on commercial jobs as probrably everyone here does. With a ho or builder we will supply tub and shower faucets by delta in chrome because we stock these, if they want something else then they bring it. I always recommend delta faucets because they are qaulity and parts are available even in my small town. I always recommend against Home Depot or Lowes branded faucets and am clear that our warranty does not cover the fixtures themselves, but only the installation-supply lines, stops, wax rings etc. If you are spending 100-200k on a house, the up front cost difference is miniscule for a quality toilet, lav faucet, or kitchen sink/faucet, but the long term benefit of not seeing me for 10 years is worth it. Last edited by plumbpro; 03-09-2010 at 10:07 PM.. Reason: spelling

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
using fixtures as toilets	Bollinger plumber	General Plumbing Discussion	46	02-21-2010 07:23 PM
The Customer Wants...	PLUMBER_BILL	General Plumbing Discussion	1	02-03-2010 01:33 PM
Renting Fixtures?	rocksteady	General Plumbing Discussion	11	01-08-2010 10:50 AM
Extra fixtures on the truck?	gear junkie	General Plumbing Discussion	25	01-04-2010 02:07 PM
Is every Customer a Repeat Customer?	DUNBAR PLUMBING	General Plumbing Discussion	20	11-27-2009 10:49 PM

02-18-2010, 12:10 PM	#21
TheMaster Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6,437 My Photos	The trick to selling fixtures is having them in stock. I have found that most people are lazy and will give up picking from hundreds of faucets if you can bring them 4 or 5 to look at and let them pick from that without them having to leave home or go through the trouble of looking on the internet for somthing to order and wait on. I can bring the 4 or 5 out and let them pick and install it the same day. But sure I understand in new construction its not that simple but I do alot of repair and remodel. I'm talking about faucets for the most part here folks before i get jumped!

02-19-2010, 07:35 PM	#22
SummPlumb Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 145 My Photos	I send the customers down to our local supplier so they can pick out what they want. I mark them up between 10 and 20 percent and install them with a warranty. If they go to the box stores to buy their faucets, I will install them with NO warranty. If it leaks, they pay me to take it off and put the new back on. That is only fair. I base the price on a new custom home by the fixture. If it is fairly easy ranch home, I will get 5-600 a fixture plus the water, sewer and gas. If it is a 8 bath monster with Cast iron tubs, leg tubs, bidets, tankless water heaters, custom showers; I will base it on a 6-800 price plus handling charges on the tubs and custom showers. Some of these new showers will cost you a day of labor and 100 feet of pipe if they have numerous body sprays. The bigger the house, the more time you spend talking and prepping. If you are not drilling holes, and gluing pipe, you are not making money. But that is here in GA. But new houses are like four leaf clovers right now. We were averaging 4-5 houses a week in 2006. I did 3 houses in 2009.

02-21-2010, 04:01 PM	#23
jeffreyplumber Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: highland ca Posts: 237 My Photos	5 to 6 hundred a fixture is what I charged 20 years ago for custum home. that did not include fixtures, I counted a 50 gal w/h as 1 and included 50 ft sewer and water service late 80s and early 90s. I been out of that kind of work awhile but got a guy calling me too bid a mountain house in wrightwood ca. Kind of lost havent done a house in 7 years.

02-24-2010, 01:33 PM	#24
Bonafide Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Beantown Posts: 70 My Photos	Personally I like to supply my customers fixtures, faucets, and what ever else they might need. Why? I feel my expertise is why they called in the first place. My thoughts exactly! I usually stick to "my" trusted brands like grohe, moen, kohler, sometimes delta but they're quality seems to be decreasing. And to avoid mishaps with the cheap cheap ones i'll get a low priced faucet built for commercial use. They arent as stylish but hey. Just thinking about letting them buy the fixtures suck: "washer vs washerless" "modern vs classic" "stainless vs chrome plated" "brass housing vs zinc" Thats alot of time explaining equalling wasted time AND how would you ever profit?

03-20-2010, 01:44 AM	#26
Asparta Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Drayton Valley, Alberta, CANADA Posts: 38 My Photos	Supply your own fixtures, and if the HO wants to, put a disclaimer in the contract. Take responsibility out of your hands, and explain to them that you cannot warranty the product, only the pipes you ran to it. Most customers think that jsut becuase the toilet cost them $500, that it is the best one out there. Little do they know that they are paying for name and styling more than for the quality. Same goes for any other fixture. I tend to explain that I carry a certain product becuase it's proven itself as a good product. Customers trust you when you tell them that for the most part and will go with your decision providing it meets their personal tastes.