Hello.
Our plumber referred us to the bathroom showroom, where we put together everything we needed.
Now, looking at the price list and searching online, we see huge price differences.
For example, the toilet with seat from the showroom costs about 700 euros, while on Amazon it’s roughly half that price.
So naturally, we wonder why we shouldn’t just order online, since the markup from the bathroom showroom seems quite extreme—twice the price just feels like too much?!?
What are your experiences with this?
Thank you.
Our plumber referred us to the bathroom showroom, where we put together everything we needed.
Now, looking at the price list and searching online, we see huge price differences.
For example, the toilet with seat from the showroom costs about 700 euros, while on Amazon it’s roughly half that price.
So naturally, we wonder why we shouldn’t just order online, since the markup from the bathroom showroom seems quite extreme—twice the price just feels like too much?!?
What are your experiences with this?
Thank you.
Maximum transparency, no confusing mixed calculations: that’s probably why choosing an architect-designed house is a good option.
However, you want the “convenience” of a general contractor (GC), and you sign the contract for work including the scope of the plumbing services.
Then the shell construction phase begins, less money is available, and you’re asked to choose from the specified plumbing product lines. Suddenly, the “convenience” doesn’t seem worth it anymore, because you get distracted by all the flashy extras and find those very expensive items available cheaper online.
If you believe you’ll get better products from Reuter or Amazon, feel free to do so, but don’t be surprised if there are drawbacks with the GC, such as minimal reimbursement.
Regarding the external tradespeople that Reuter and similar suppliers have in their database, I won’t comment. Anyone can sign up as a plumber just to fill empty order books.
However, you want the “convenience” of a general contractor (GC), and you sign the contract for work including the scope of the plumbing services.
Then the shell construction phase begins, less money is available, and you’re asked to choose from the specified plumbing product lines. Suddenly, the “convenience” doesn’t seem worth it anymore, because you get distracted by all the flashy extras and find those very expensive items available cheaper online.
If you believe you’ll get better products from Reuter or Amazon, feel free to do so, but don’t be surprised if there are drawbacks with the GC, such as minimal reimbursement.
Regarding the external tradespeople that Reuter and similar suppliers have in their database, I won’t comment. Anyone can sign up as a plumber just to fill empty order books.
H
HilfeHilfe16 Nov 2017 13:46I’m curious to see who will coordinate the plumbing from Reuter and the general contractor’s tiler. And if there’s a pipe leak, whether the pipe plumber or Reuter.de plumbing will take responsibility^^
Yes, it’s a risk, even though everyone says, “Oh no, it won’t happen.”
I already had water damage after 1.5 years.
Yes, it’s a risk, even though everyone says, “Oh no, it won’t happen.”
I already had water damage after 1.5 years.
Oh man.
If there’s a pipe burst, the person responsible has to take the blame.
If I have everything done by the plumber up to the shut-off valve, that’s the point where their responsibility ends.
If I then install the toilet myself and there’s a pipe burst inside the wall, where is the problem?
If a connection is leaking because I messed it up, what’s the issue?
In the first case, the plumber is liable under warranty; in the second case, it’s my own fault.
The great thing about piping systems is that their layout can be tracked very precisely, so a clear point of responsibility can be defined.
And it’s also obvious that no plumber or tiler is liable if I break the tile or drill into a pipe while installing the washbasin.
If there’s a pipe burst, the person responsible has to take the blame.
If I have everything done by the plumber up to the shut-off valve, that’s the point where their responsibility ends.
If I then install the toilet myself and there’s a pipe burst inside the wall, where is the problem?
If a connection is leaking because I messed it up, what’s the issue?
In the first case, the plumber is liable under warranty; in the second case, it’s my own fault.
The great thing about piping systems is that their layout can be tracked very precisely, so a clear point of responsibility can be defined.
And it’s also obvious that no plumber or tiler is liable if I break the tile or drill into a pipe while installing the washbasin.
HilfeHilfe schrieb:
So now I’m curious who will take care of coordinating the sanitary installations from Reuter and the general contractor’s tiler. And if there’s ever a burst pipe, will the plumbing subcontractor or Reuter.de plumbing take responsibility?^^
Yes, it’s a risk, even though everyone says, “Nah.”
I already had water damage after 1.5 years I can well believe that general contractors tend to make things difficult when it comes to subcontracting. But perhaps you should ask the general contractor why that is and how architects manage to build houses with bathrooms AND tiles... because realistically, it wouldn’t be possible to coordinate that if the general contractor isn’t directly involved...
It seems you haven’t really addressed the counterarguments, because why should Reuter be liable if the plumber you hired does a poor job? Why should the plumber who installed the basin be held responsible if a pipe breaks inside the wall? Seriously, why?
Regardless, you are operating in a highly speculative area. At least that’s how I understand it—you’re guessing what might happen if your current situation were with, say, Reuter. But that gets you nowhere... because first, you don’t have a contract with Reuter, but with the local plumber. It’s no different than replacing your bathroom fixtures 10 years from now. Or will you call the general contractor and ask for the plumber who did the installation 10 years earlier?!
You built with a general contractor yourself and now have water damage after 1.5 years, right? So what has choosing the general contractor’s plumber achieved in terms of preventing that damage?
Could it be that some people are reflexively criticizing something they don’t really know?! Just so you know, Reuter.de, for example, also has a store and showroom in Düsseldorf—and it’s not a small one...
Why is no one addressing the electrician analogy and the two or three specific questions about the exact problem with installing standardized parts? Maybe because there are no arguments to make?
@Nordlys, @ypg, who said anything about “being cheap is cool”? No one—quite the opposite. The plumber’s work should be properly and fairly paid for; nobody has denied that.
If for you the convenience and service of getting plumbing and everything from a single source (which, personally, I don’t see or need) is worth an extra cost, that’s fine. But I find it concerning when people who aren’t willing to pay for that—because they don’t need it—are accused of having a “cheap is cool” mentality. And inventing hypothetical scenarios of sloppy work that supposedly only happens with other (cheaper) plumbers, just to justify paying more afterward or convince themselves there’s no alternative, is quite something.
You see added value for yourselves and are willing to pay extra. Others, including myself, either don’t see that added value and/or are not willing to pay for it. And now that’s wrong? I don’t get it...
Well, that’s what happens. Software developers, business administrators, and so on try to act smart... and when the general contractor or their subcontractors get fed up, they just slow down the work or sometimes stop entirely. There are better clients who aren’t so difficult. On the first of the month, Mr. Smarty needs to move out of his old house or rental apartment, and scopes of work are flexible, legal processes are slow, letters go back and forth with deadlines, otherwise there’s a retention – but he doesn’t care about that. Then the move falls through and the move-out happens quickly to the next expensive vacation rental... We have neighbors like that. The general contractor once showed them who’s boss by simply not delivering the heating system. The 15% retention doesn’t bother him at all. No heating was delivered, but the move couldn’t be postponed, so the nearest plumbing and heating company nearby made a quick, profitable side job. By then, there’s no time left for thorough comparisons, just: “Can you come next week? Pretty please!” Yes, we’re no monsters, I’ll squeeze you in, but my price is XYZ.
Saved 100 euros on the toilet bowl... Karsten
Saved 100 euros on the toilet bowl... Karsten
Karsten, I usually enjoy reading your posts and often agree with you. But here, I think you have gone too far.
First of all, nobody has talked about the heating system here, only about sanitary installations, and even then, only about the fixtures.
Secondly, you don’t have to automatically approve everything just because it has always been done that way.
Why should I simply accept such exorbitant markups, which are common in the sanitary industry, without anyone involved explaining why this is the case?
I pay my sanitary installer nearly 40,000€ (about 43,000 USD) for heating, ventilation, and sanitation. The delivery limit is either the exposed connection (showers), the toilet cistern, or the angle valves.
I also have him do the heating and ventilation completely.
The bathtub will be fully installed as well.
What is the problem? I cannot work with mixed calculations and do not accept that as an argument.
That said, I agree that it is not very fair to secure the convenience with a general contractor (GC) upon signing, but then refuse to pay for it.
That is why, from the very beginning, building with an architect was the only option for me, whether for electrical work or sanitary installations. I could never have managed that with a GC.
However, I also spent many hours informing myself and learning so that I wouldn’t look like a fool when the installer asks how I want something done.
First of all, nobody has talked about the heating system here, only about sanitary installations, and even then, only about the fixtures.
Secondly, you don’t have to automatically approve everything just because it has always been done that way.
Why should I simply accept such exorbitant markups, which are common in the sanitary industry, without anyone involved explaining why this is the case?
I pay my sanitary installer nearly 40,000€ (about 43,000 USD) for heating, ventilation, and sanitation. The delivery limit is either the exposed connection (showers), the toilet cistern, or the angle valves.
I also have him do the heating and ventilation completely.
The bathtub will be fully installed as well.
What is the problem? I cannot work with mixed calculations and do not accept that as an argument.
That said, I agree that it is not very fair to secure the convenience with a general contractor (GC) upon signing, but then refuse to pay for it.
That is why, from the very beginning, building with an architect was the only option for me, whether for electrical work or sanitary installations. I could never have managed that with a GC.
However, I also spent many hours informing myself and learning so that I wouldn’t look like a fool when the installer asks how I want something done.
Similar topics