ᐅ Are bathroom showrooms generally very expensive?

ruppsn schrieb:
Why with you? I can only speak from my own experience, which is what the statement referred to: General contractor (GC) here in Franconia, three plumbing lines that didn’t suit us. The reasons shouldn’t matter, but I’ll mention them anyway so it’s not dismissed as "bling bling" or "naive designer bathroom." We prefer, matching our house style, more cubic shapes, which simply weren’t available as offered. So I agreed ON THE FRONT END with the GC and selected what I have in my rental apartment. Duravit Starck 3. Certainly nothing flashy and hardly what would seriously be called a "designer" bathroom, even though Philippe Starck is a designer. Faucets by VuB (Just). One master bathroom and one guest bathroom. Price according to selection (Giener+Funk) 16,000 EUR (about $17,200)!!! Asked the GC about the surcharge. Answer: 16,000 EUR (about $17,200)!!! Asked why nothing was offset since a standard set was included in the house price. Answer: that’s just the price from the plumber… So, just for fun, I put exactly the same items including all the small parts into the shopping cart at Reuter: about 9,000 EUR (about $9,700)…. Now tell me, isn’t that a huge markup for (upscale) standard ceramics—or is that perfectly normal?

For the price difference, the local plumber I hired myself, who is not tied to the GC, can charge an average of 300 EUR (about $320) per project for installation. Then he benefits, I support the local small business with its employees instead of some squeezed subcontractor who, due to low margins, has to outsource the job to potentially less qualified "tradespeople" from overseas and has to struggle with the customer’s special requests.

Furthermore, with about 10 projects, that adds up to 3,000 EUR (about $3,200) and even in the worst case, if a toilet bowl had a hairline crack or cracked during tightening and Reuter or whoever didn’t replace it, I could easily buy the material again and still be cheaper.

I’m just quoting this part. It contains a point that is not fully explained. 16,000 versus 9,000 EUR (about $17,200 vs. $9,700) is a huge difference. But who actually installed it and for what price? You don’t say.

My son-in-law, who built a house 200 meters (about 220 yards) from us, was similarly frustrated by the plumbing surcharge. He also wanted to supply the materials himself. The plumbing company said: I only install if you buy from me. No ifs, no buts. No explanation, no apology, no excuse. I don’t do it. Period.

Workaround: Our kids accepted the standard package, moved in in January, and then replaced it in October, installed by a part-time handyman paid in cash. — Again: it’s not about how you would want it. But about what options are actually available now. Karsten

Nordlys schrieb:
I’m just quoting this part. It contains a statement but it’s left unfinished. 16,000 versus 9,000, that’s a huge difference. So who actually installed what and for how much? You don’t say. My son-in-law built about 200 meters (yards) from us and was just as upset about the extra sanitary costs as you were. He also wanted to provide the materials himself. The plumbing company said: I only install if you buy from me. No ifs, no buts. No explanations, no apologies, no excuses. I simply don’t do it. Period. Solution: the kids took the standard option, moved in January, then replaced it in October. It was installed by a handyman in the evening who charged cash rates. – Again: it doesn’t matter what you would like. It’s about what options exist given the current situation. Karsten

Hmm, but what if within the next 5 years the toilet starts backing up dirty water and it gets replaced quickly so the blame falls on the plumber? Or does the evening handyman who worked off the books have insurance that covers this?

I don’t believe that....you’re not serious, are you?

Nordlys schrieb:
I don’t believe that... you’re not serious, are you.

Actually, I am completely serious. I’m experiencing it right now with the contractor who is arguing and with the neighbor who also had the idea to remove something.

Best case for the insurance (which stays quiet) and the legal protection insurance (which initially doesn’t pay).

But if you can do it yourself, by all means.

I find it strange when someone builds a new house for 400,000 (currency) including water, electricity, and interior, and then botches something for 500 and ends up causing trouble later.

Call the general contractor in 4.5 years with the words, "My toilet is clogged!" If you’re lucky, you’ll get a proper answer; if not, you’ll just hear loud laughter.

Joedreck schrieb:
Try calling the general contractor in 4.5 years with the words "my toilet is clogged!" Hopefully, you'll get a proper answer; if not, you might just hear loud laughter.

It’s not clogged, but the pipe inside the wall is broken, and sewage is spilling everywhere.

You guys are getting excited over a small, figurative example.