ᐅ Pricing of Sanitary Fixtures, Partial Self-Installation, Purchase of Additional Items
Created on: 8 Aug 2013 21:54
B
BluebyteHello everyone,
we are currently in the early phase of building our new house. The walls are mostly finished, and tomorrow the ring beam will be poured. We are having (almost) everything done by a general contractor (GC). However, we removed a few items because it was simply cheaper that way, for example plumbing.
Since we personally know the company’s site manager, he recommended someone to handle that. This is not about questioning the competence of that company. It’s more about the following. We received a lump-sum offer including heating, ventilation, and plumbing. The plumbing fixtures included were okay but not really to our taste. So we picked new fixtures at the two wholesalers that supply that company... I can only say, wow, the prices are steep. You might be familiar with this, but we are not, since we usually bought at DIY stores. We want to do as little as possible ourselves (very limited time), but that doesn’t mean I am not capable of this (I actually have a trade background).
I stupidly asked why these fixtures are about 50% cheaper online than through him. That adds up to nearly 2000 € (about 2200 USD). That got the ball rolling. No, it’s clear to us that we won’t buy online and have him install it. No contractor would agree to that. But asking is allowed, right? The prices for ceramic fixtures are fine, and we can live with that. However, the faucets cost between 250 and 400 € (around 275 to 440 USD) at the wholesaler, and I cannot see the qualitative difference. The same with a rainfall shower head at 1150 € (about 1260 USD). He says that if we want to do it right, everything must be purchased through him due to acceptance and approval of the fixtures. He cannot install mass-market or DIY store products because he could be held liable in the worst case (e.g., bacterial growth).
My question is simply this:
Can I insist that he provides something more affordable for the faucets, the rainfall shower, etc.? I don’t mind if it’s DIY store quality. Am I being unreasonable or talked into something here? The wholesaler is simply not our first choice. Shouldn’t he accommodate my preferences rather than the other way around? I just think he only uses this one wholesaler because the terms are best for him. But I don’t care about that. We’re talking about a total sum of over 30,000 € (about 33,000 USD).
This is not about saving money at the wrong end. We don’t want cheap junk, but some prices just don’t make sense to me. A rainfall shower for 1150 € (about 1260 USD) has to be available cheaper somewhere, but apparently not through him...
If he is not willing to compromise, can I simply say I will buy some items myself and also install them? How would that affect the warranty?
Best regards
Stephan
we are currently in the early phase of building our new house. The walls are mostly finished, and tomorrow the ring beam will be poured. We are having (almost) everything done by a general contractor (GC). However, we removed a few items because it was simply cheaper that way, for example plumbing.
Since we personally know the company’s site manager, he recommended someone to handle that. This is not about questioning the competence of that company. It’s more about the following. We received a lump-sum offer including heating, ventilation, and plumbing. The plumbing fixtures included were okay but not really to our taste. So we picked new fixtures at the two wholesalers that supply that company... I can only say, wow, the prices are steep. You might be familiar with this, but we are not, since we usually bought at DIY stores. We want to do as little as possible ourselves (very limited time), but that doesn’t mean I am not capable of this (I actually have a trade background).
I stupidly asked why these fixtures are about 50% cheaper online than through him. That adds up to nearly 2000 € (about 2200 USD). That got the ball rolling. No, it’s clear to us that we won’t buy online and have him install it. No contractor would agree to that. But asking is allowed, right? The prices for ceramic fixtures are fine, and we can live with that. However, the faucets cost between 250 and 400 € (around 275 to 440 USD) at the wholesaler, and I cannot see the qualitative difference. The same with a rainfall shower head at 1150 € (about 1260 USD). He says that if we want to do it right, everything must be purchased through him due to acceptance and approval of the fixtures. He cannot install mass-market or DIY store products because he could be held liable in the worst case (e.g., bacterial growth).
My question is simply this:
Can I insist that he provides something more affordable for the faucets, the rainfall shower, etc.? I don’t mind if it’s DIY store quality. Am I being unreasonable or talked into something here? The wholesaler is simply not our first choice. Shouldn’t he accommodate my preferences rather than the other way around? I just think he only uses this one wholesaler because the terms are best for him. But I don’t care about that. We’re talking about a total sum of over 30,000 € (about 33,000 USD).
This is not about saving money at the wrong end. We don’t want cheap junk, but some prices just don’t make sense to me. A rainfall shower for 1150 € (about 1260 USD) has to be available cheaper somewhere, but apparently not through him...
If he is not willing to compromise, can I simply say I will buy some items myself and also install them? How would that affect the warranty?
Best regards
Stephan
B
Bauexperte8 Aug 2013 22:54Hello Stephan,
Regards, Bauexperte
Bluebyte schrieb:Then you should know better than anyone the difference between products from a hardware store and those from a building materials supplier 😕
(I am actually a tradesperson by profession).
Bluebyte schrieb:Try handling them yourself, then you will notice the difference. Also, you are paying for the brand name of each manufacturer.
But the faucets cost between 250 and 400 euros wholesale, and I don’t see the quality difference.
Bluebyte schrieb:You can only choose from his range; you cannot force him to buy from a hardware store.
My question is simply:
Can I ask him to get cheaper faucets, rain showers, etc.? Even hardware store quality, if necessary.
Bluebyte schrieb:Within his product range, he should do that. However, he is not obliged to switch to cheap hardware store products.
The wholesaler is simply not our first choice. He should actually accommodate my wishes, not me his.
Bluebyte schrieb:You can; the liability for the electrical installation parts no longer applies, but the manufacturer’s warranty for the sanitary fittings remains valid. The question then is what happens with the package price 😕
Can I simply say, if he is not willing to compromise, that I will buy and install parts myself? What about the warranty then?
Regards, Bauexperte
Similar topics