Can I cancel a contract w/ a flooring company?

[mugs]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Do you realize how hard storage is when you have your own business? We aren't talking the guys with 40,000 sq ft of warehouse space but a guy doing jobs on order at a low price...(the OP's price was low, however not knowing really what type of wood or cut you can't be sure).

A lot of woods no one wants, depending on the size of the job you may have too little (grains not matching then) or too much.....

It's never good when the consumer shops after the fact. You own your own business this is a daily occurance.

I've worked for a contractor who worked out of rented storage units, so yeah I understand the storage considerations. It's really difficult to say how much trouble this is going to cause for the contractor without knowing the details, but unless Megamorph is using an obscure style and ordered a ridiculous amount of wood, I doubt it'll be difficult for the contractor to store it and use it for a future job.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: alent1234

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Megamorph
I called the contractor this morning. I explained that I wanted to cancel the contract and asked if he would be interested in renegotiating the price. He claims he's doing the work as cheaply as he can and that he's barely making a dime on the job. He declined to lower the price and indicated there would be a 35% fee to cancel. I explained that I was within the 3-day right of recision period. He asked, "Has it only been 3 days?" I confirmed that it had and he said OK.

The contract is terminated. I am sending him a letter to confirm.

I feel bad for the contractor, not happy for you. He's going to be stuck with a huge load of wood flooring because you were stupid and didn't shop around.

Next time, don't use the law to correct your stupid mistakes.

EDIT: when you call the other places and they quote you $10/sq. ft. + $5 supplies/sq. ft., I'll just laugh.

how is the OP wrong? the law gives people 3 days to change their minds and the contractor shouldn't have ordered the materials until it was over.

I was thinking the exact same thing. I know I had a special order through Home Depot... they specifically stated at the time that "you have 3 days to legal cancel this special order. After that, you are bound to the purchase, unless what comes in is defective (wrong color or something like that). I want to make certain that you understand that you cannot return this if you change your mind on the color, or you measured the room wrong, or something else that's no fault of ours." Yes, I understand that. "Okay. Good then. What we do is hold on to your order for the three days before we place it with the manufacturer. So, it'll be going out on Thursday to them. "

I had to pay then for the purchase. Couldn't be more clear than that. And, HD is smart enough to not order any special materials during the period while I can cancel the contract. Hopefully, your former contractor learns a lesson.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: mugs

I've worked for a contractor who worked out of rented storage units, so yeah I understand the storage considerations. It's really difficult to say how much trouble this is going to cause for the contractor without knowing the details, but unless Megamorph is using an obscure style and ordered a ridiculous amount of wood, I doubt it'll be difficult for the contractor to store it and use it for a future job.

Seems like you have all the answers, but even with rented storage (common), you run out of room and there is not usually (at least in s.florida here) another unit always available...also at about $60-80 here for non-a/c 9x11x8 units that is a nice profit drainer. Not to mention possible warping and all that as it 'sits'.

The bigger the contractor then yeah, easier to use....a lot of these guys though are booked up so storage now overlaps the other jobs.

I am not trying to say 'it's impossible' I am saying one reason why they have large cancellation fees. Say he had $2000 in wood, he may be making 30% on the wholesale/retail difference. Maybe $500 or so on the non-labor stuff.

Now if he has to store that for 3-4 months at $60-80 a day, that kills most of his non-labor profit...not fair to him, charging the 35% gives him a chance to buffer himself a few months trying to unload the wood. I know very few small contractors with more than 1 or 2 units, mostly using a large truck for storage. The larger contractors start buying their own warehouse space...etc.

It's not about could have and would haves, it's about justifying the reasons why.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Megamorph
I called the contractor this morning. I explained that I wanted to cancel the contract and asked if he would be interested in renegotiating the price. He claims he's doing the work as cheaply as he can and that he's barely making a dime on the job. He declined to lower the price and indicated there would be a 35% fee to cancel. I explained that I was within the 3-day right of recision period. He asked, "Has it only been 3 days?" I confirmed that it had and he said OK.

The contract is terminated. I am sending him a letter to confirm.

I feel bad for the contractor, not happy for you. He's going to be stuck with a huge load of wood flooring because you were stupid and didn't shop around.

Next time, don't use the law to correct your stupid mistakes.

EDIT: when you call the other places and they quote you $10/sq. ft. + $5 supplies/sq. ft., I'll just laugh.

That's assuming that the contractor has already ordered the wood. Most contractors tend to take their sweet sweet time

 

[waggy]

hehe i really hope the OP gets hit with a biell thats $15+ sq ft.

he signed a contract and then got buyers remorse. I have no pity for him and will laugh if he finds out it will cost more

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: waggy
hehe i really hope the OP gets hit with a biell thats $15+ sq ft.

he signed a contract and then got buyers remorse. I have no pity for him and will laugh if he finds out it will cost more

Nice. We'll laugh at you when you're in a similar situation. I'm glad the OP was able to cancel his contract without any problems. I would NOT shell out thousands of dollars more to a company that's charging much more than the competition.

 

[UnklSnappy]

It usually isn't a good idea to go with the cheapest quote. Those companys usually are using low wage inexperienced labor or are cutting corners to get the job done quickly rather than doing the job right. You get what you pay for. Hardwood flooring is what I do for living and the company I work for is probably the most expensive in the area. Yet we never have any shortage of work while the other flooring companys do, especially in the winter. We don't have signed contracts except for commercial jobs, no cancelation fees and we stand behind our work 100%. We usually get 50% down when the job is started and the balance when finished and the customer is happy. If somebody decides to cancel for whatever reason no big deal the wood just goes back to the flooring distributer and the customer is only out $50 - $100 for the delivery charge.

Just my .02 on how we do buisness

 

[ManyBeers]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
sounds like you're screwed to me

No. it sounds like he is trying to screw the contractor. He did sign a contract you no.