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I feel bad for pitting competitors against each other

B

BlahBlahYouToo

Lifer
recently, we purchase a car and emailed a handful of dealers to give us their best price.
one of the salesman was really nice and did he best to get me the best deal he could, but ultimately was not able to beat the other guy's price.
I really wanted to give him the sale but ultimately, our loyalty is to our wallet.

we're about to remodel the kitchen, so we have a couple of contractors coming over to give us free estimates.
i'm going to feel even worse this time around because we're going to meet these guys in person, so it's a little more personal.

🙁
 
I feel the same, both personally and professionally, but in the end it's business. Still sucks, though, especially when you genuinely like one of them. My problem is exacerbated by the fact that I like just about everyone. 🙂
 
Never feel sorry for the car salesman.

We have two Toyota dealers here and when I was purchasing my car a year ago you bet I worked them really hard against each other.
 
I don't feel the same. It is business. It isn't personal. Its just money. I for one, LOVE this because usually the claws come out and one guy is gonna bend over backwards and give me his wife to bang or some other ridiculous concession.
 
Keep in mind that buying a car,you're purchasing a "finished product," but your remodeling project, you're purchasing labor and skills. In this, low price doesn't always equal a win for you.

If possible, get a list of customers from all who are "bidding" on the job. Contact each previous customer and ask questions...and if possible, ask to see the contractor's work. (not all will allow you to do so)

Bubba might be more expensive than Jimmy Joe, but he might actually do better quality work.
 
When dealing with contractors, you shouldn't place your loyalty with your wallet.

Contractors will just underbid and walk away if you don't pay them more. Even if the entire project is in the contract they will still walk away and you will be more or less SOL with the courts.
 
BoomerD said:
Keep in mind that buying a car,you're purchasing a "finished product," but your remodeling project, you're purchasing labor and skills. In this, low price doesn't always equal a win for you.

If possible, get a list of customers from all who are "bidding" on the job. Contact each previous customer and ask questions...and if possible, ask to see the contractor's work. (not all will allow you to do so)

Bubba might be more expensive than Jimmy Joe, but he might actually do better quality work.
Click to expand...


+1000

Also, the low price up front may not always be the low price at the end. Ask the customers how many contractor-driven changes they paid.
 
Don't feel bad about trying to get a good price. Do you think a contractor would feel bad for charging you twice the market value for a job because you didn't shop the job around?
 
OILFIELDTRASH said:
Why would you feel bad? The car salesman would put you in a gimp suit and sell your ass to the highest bidder if he could.
Click to expand...

Pretty much this. But, like others have said, quality is something to take into account for the contractors.

I will admit, I have a harder time with this face to face than I do by email or phone
 
I don't feel bad for them. I enjoy watching them jump through hoops for me. They sure aren't going to be doing it AFTER they get the sale/contract. Have fun while it lasts.
 
jme5343 said:
but in the end it's business.
Click to expand...

Yea,,, but there is more to it then just the lowest price. To me, service after the sale is probably more important then the price.

When I buy something, I will usually pay a few dollars more through a company that I know will provide service after the sale. As compared to buying from the cheapest reseller, and that company not even answering emails for a return.

Lets say that I'am looking for a new truck, and the dodge is cheaper then a toyota, I will still buy toyota. Because toyota is a quality product and their service after the sale is outstanding - at least from my experience anyway
 
masterxfob said:
in contracting, the cheapest bid usually end up being the most expensive.
Click to expand...

If only the State of California could figure that out...

The last construction job I worked on was originally bid at $484 million. Final cost ended up somewhere between $800 million and $1.1 billion. (numbers vary depending on what is included in the total cost...different contracts lumped into the main cost...some not bid, just given to the prime contractor)

The contractor has a long history of underbidding projects then driving up costs with change orders.
 
It just means the salesperson is doing a good job if they can guilt you into going with them knowing you're not getting the best deal. Don't feel bad, it's their job.
 
Patranus said:
When dealing with contractors, you shouldn't place your loyalty with your wallet.

Contractors will just underbid and walk away if you don't pay them more. Even if the entire project is in the contract they will still walk away and you will be more or less SOL with the courts.
Click to expand...

why out of luck w/the courts?
 
I agree with others that home contracting should not always be a race to the bottom. I've heard some horror stories...
 
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