Issue with window supplier
Discussion
Window Company A (who we have contacted in the past for quotes) rings up, says they have a big sale, do you have any need of new windows? As it happens, we are looking to replace a big window with busted seals and old knackered frame.
Dude comes round, does some measurements, calculates some prices, applies some discounts, rings HQ twice to confirm, offers us a decent price. As a sweetener he says they have a Black Friday deal on; finite pot of cash to be used as a sweetner, once its gone, its gone. If we waited the discount may not be as large or gone completely.
We go for it and he rings up and gets a further £400 odd off. On that basis, we go for it.
FFWD to today, the surveyor has been round to check it all out before Christmas and we receive a letter saying, in short:
"Hi yeah, unfortunately we've underpriced this by £550. We'd rather not do the job, than do it for that price and cut corners so can you pay £300 extra so we can do a proper job? cheers"
Now my view on this is that it could still be a decent quote. However it very likely puts them in direct competition with Company B, who we have used before and they've done great work. So given A, B and a similar price. We'd go B. OH wants me to push A to do it for their quoted price.
We'd only go A if they stick to their discounted price. But I don't really want to force them on that because it sounds like they'll cut corners to do it.
There is a clause in the contract that gives us a right to change the design and specifications and also one that gives them a right to make amendments to the design and specifications. Neither mentions about changing prices (though one would expect our right to change design items to incur costs). Does their clause give them the right to hike up the price after the fact?
IMO they've f
ked it up, they should just suck it up. Its not like the young sales lad didn't make every effort to ensure he did the quote right; he was on the phone to his superiors numerous times to double check. They're a big company, I am sure £550 can be absorbed.
Best way to resolve?
Dude comes round, does some measurements, calculates some prices, applies some discounts, rings HQ twice to confirm, offers us a decent price. As a sweetener he says they have a Black Friday deal on; finite pot of cash to be used as a sweetner, once its gone, its gone. If we waited the discount may not be as large or gone completely.
We go for it and he rings up and gets a further £400 odd off. On that basis, we go for it.
FFWD to today, the surveyor has been round to check it all out before Christmas and we receive a letter saying, in short:
"Hi yeah, unfortunately we've underpriced this by £550. We'd rather not do the job, than do it for that price and cut corners so can you pay £300 extra so we can do a proper job? cheers"
Now my view on this is that it could still be a decent quote. However it very likely puts them in direct competition with Company B, who we have used before and they've done great work. So given A, B and a similar price. We'd go B. OH wants me to push A to do it for their quoted price.
We'd only go A if they stick to their discounted price. But I don't really want to force them on that because it sounds like they'll cut corners to do it.
There is a clause in the contract that gives us a right to change the design and specifications and also one that gives them a right to make amendments to the design and specifications. Neither mentions about changing prices (though one would expect our right to change design items to incur costs). Does their clause give them the right to hike up the price after the fact?
IMO they've f
ked it up, they should just suck it up. Its not like the young sales lad didn't make every effort to ensure he did the quote right; he was on the phone to his superiors numerous times to double check. They're a big company, I am sure £550 can be absorbed. Best way to resolve?
Gav147 said:
darronwall said:
This is one window right?
Sounds like your having your pants pulled down,put a pic up and I'll tell you exactly what you should be paying.
^^ This, just how big is the window exactly??? One window and they underpriced it by £550??? I dread to think what the actual quote wasSounds like your having your pants pulled down,put a pic up and I'll tell you exactly what you should be paying.
Before they took the extra pot of gold off (about £430). The price was nearly £1600 and they arrived at that price after applying some heavy sales discounts. Yeah, should have been ringing alarm bells!!
I have since sent company A a letter telling them to get lost and have gotten company B in, who did the last big bit of work of this type on our house and did a really good job, to quote.
Company B say the same as A, has to be 3 frames. But their first quote came out at 1400. So about 100 less than A when you add at least the 300. I could ask a few more to come quote, but last time company B still came out cheapest of the local suppliers so I have no reason to believe they won't be the cheapest again. And as I said, they've done work before and done it superbly.
Will be ringing company A today as I haven't heard from them.
Out of interest, how much should a window that large cost? I wasn't expecting it to be under a grand to be honest. But £1400 is still a lot.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Wednesday 25th January 10:56
Gav147 said:
So just 3 single pane windows @ 1100mm wide x ~2000 - 2100mm high. Assuming they are fixed panes and not opening windows at 2m high?
I would say at the absolute top £200-250 per window, so £600-750 for all three (probably less..), leaves a lot for fitting, fixing and jointing them which should take two people at the most half a day.
Get a smaller local window company or good builder/joiner to come and quote you, pretty sure you will be pleasantly surprised
I forgot...openers in two of the windows. Middle window is just plain. I would say at the absolute top £200-250 per window, so £600-750 for all three (probably less..), leaves a lot for fitting, fixing and jointing them which should take two people at the most half a day.
Get a smaller local window company or good builder/joiner to come and quote you, pretty sure you will be pleasantly surprised
I have gotten a smaller local company (their office is only open 3 days a week as well, not enough time to staff it and do the jobs).... they quoted £1400! and the others didn't answer the phone or my messages. Yes he is expecting it will take them a half day (but is essentially hoping his lads can then get two more jobs in the afternoon). I overheard the conversation with is supplier and it sounded like the supplier wanted £1100-1200 ish for the units. So he's added about £250-300 ish for a half days fitting.
Its fine. I think they lost out last time they did work for me because it took them a good day longer than they expected and they had re-order a few bits to correct things (some queer angles and levels going on in our house). This should be more straightforward being a flat window.
You got me re-thinking the opening windows now. Nice to have because the window does catch the sun in the summer and the living room becomes a greenhouse. But they do look ugly from the outside. How much is it usually for a standard opening bit (just at the top, think they're like 20-30 cm deep?)
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Wednesday 25th January 23:32
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