Do you let the customer buy the adhesive and grout?

[Dan]

I keep reading that sometimes it's the customer that's supplying the adhesive and grout, and some of those times the tiler doesn't even know the brand.

Do you let your customer buy the gear, if so do you tell them the brand you use?

Some issues regarding loosing a bit of cash yourself, the customer paying more for it, getting the wrong amount or type, causing you to spend longer on the job because of it?

I never used to allow it. Always use to make on it. Always use to save the customer still. Always. I couldn't have messed around with something I wasn't used to - need those meters down! Can't be reading the bag and testing and trying to get used to how it works etc.

 

[enduro]

Customer got porcelain tiles from fired earth, 450x450 and got tub adhesive from them as well, tut tut fired earth.:yes: Always try and supply adhesive and grout myself, then i know they will stick

 

[floydyboy]

down here 90% of the time i go to price a job the customer has already bought everything, but when posible i will try to get them to go to a tile stockist that do supply a good brand like bal from topps but a lot will not go or pay:mad2:

 

[DHTiling]

I get my customers to buy tiles and materials from my local CTD but if i turn up and they got the tiles somewhere else then i usually get the materials....

 

[Gazzer]

If i go and quote and they tell me they have adhesive and grout i will see what they have got. Most of the time i tell them to take it back and get money back, I will only guarrantee if i supply adhesive/grout or if i agree its acceptable stuff.

 

[Fekin]

Always tell my customers that I will get the materials.

That way I get the propper gear to work with, they pay less for it and I make a bit on it, everybody wins, and I know the brand will work.

 

[tysfoot]

same as, its a double win, tha get decent gear at discount rate and you can make a couple of quid on the quote

 

[CLAYS TILES]

i guarantee my work if i buy & use mats i brought myself!
the other day went to do a quote & she said i've bought the mats to do the job would u like to see? TUBBED gear for floor:huh2: told her its the wrong stuff,she doesn't believe me as B&Q said its the right stuff!!!
i grinned & walked out!!!:mad2:

 

[grumpygrouter]

i guarantee my work if i buy & use mats i brought myself!
the other day went to do a quote & she said i've bought the mats to do the job would u like to see? TUBBED gear for floor:huh2: told her its the wrong stuff,she doesn't believe me as B&Q said its the right stuff!!!
i grinned & walked out!!!:mad2:

Lady I know went to B&Q for grout for porcelain tiles, the "manager" told her that grout for porcelain tiles was only good for porcelain tiles and it could not be used on normal ceramics!:whatchutalkingabout

Grump

 

[DHTiling]

don't get me started on bloody B&Q staff..........:mad2:

 

[grumpygrouter]

don't get me started on bloody B&Q staff..........:mad2:

Why would that be Dave??

Grumps

 

[DHTiling]

Job yesterday and t/day...B&Q staff supplied customer with tiles.....ok you think..........but when i got there....6 different batch codes FFS.....:furious3: ....
B&Q said it would be ok....

Used what i could on the first shower then customer changed the rest this morn for all the same.....customer has had the tiles for months ..just as well the still stocked them.....

 

[davy_G]

Most of my clients buy their own but i either guide them to 'my local' tiles shop and stipulate what to get or they already have it from said shop. They always supply the right gear as they know their stuff.

B & Q gear, poor at best. They say its for DIYers but i pity a first timer trying to use that muck!

 

[IvegotsTILE]

I always get mats usually,if they say they already have them I'll make sure there ok,if not i'll tell them to take back.If they insisted on using them I wouldn't do the job.

 

[Raja]

I have always supplied and fitted BAL products

Be it the customer gets materials or myself

Once tiled a bathroom with a brand called webber

The tiles kept falling off and i am not kidding learnt a valuable leeson that day

 

[Pawelzik]

Same here Dan, and it goes like this:
If the customer had bought the adhesive
1. and it is not known to the tiler or a not reliable brand, he normally refuses the job,
2. and it is a reliable brand but not known to the tiler he works with it but does not guarantee,
3. and it is a reliable brand and known to the tiler he works with it.
Normally our tilers insist on using the adhesive they always work with.
Martin

 

[Fekin]

That's the problem with any shop that sell tiles, the customer will generally always believe anything the staff say, after all, they sell the tiles, the must know what they are talking about :yawn:

 

[chille]

I always supply or send the customer to a place where I have an account so they get proper gear, I wont fix with addy thats not known to me.

Lol @ the B&Q staff thing. I was in their getting some Silicon eater the other day and listened to a member of staff showing a customer which adhesive they needed for some floor tiles. . . fair play they reccomended rapid set for standard ceramics on concrete base, then went on to say "just mix it with water and put a blob in each corner then push onto the floor" :huh2:

 

[LOFTHOUSE]

When I began my career as a Tiler, about 3 years ago.....the customer was very welcome to purchase the setting materials, grout, caulk, tile, even spacers!

However, over these few years I've learned to sing a different tune....
90% of the time, I specify and provide exactly what is necessary. I'm not always loyal to just one brand of products. I'll use the best for each step of the job. In the states we have Custom Building Products, and projects built with this brand are "Eligible for a Lifetime Warranty"....however, Mapei is the other major brand, and they have a very nice mortar that is "Dust Free" (less dust).....I love the initial grip & consistency.

Fellas, this is a very complex subject, and I often quiz myself on whether I'm losing or winning while supplying everything "turnkey".

The internal vote is in for LOFTHOUSE, "You always win when supplying materials, just make sure the customer does specify grout color/sanded/un-sanded."

This way, you do make a profit from delivery, sales, plus you get to keep most of the left over materials for the next job. I keep a covered box in the van for open bags of powdered materials, and always rotate stock to prevent waste. In my opinion, mixing 5 lbs of one thinset with 50 of another is a-okay. (TileSetter/Pharmacist.....same difference)

Another thing,

If I waited for my customer to come up with anything, I'd be about 2 days behind on everything (typical)

The Suppliers see you at their place of business more often when you are purchasing, it's good marketing....being able to walk into a Hardware/Dealer with your company shirt on, dried mortar on you britches, van in the lot. You'd be surpirsed how much business is generated when you are in the public's eye often.

Keep a tidy appearance on the Van/Truck also, it tells them a bit about your performance in their home.

Sale, Sell, Sail....... Make Money, Feed Your Family,

Randy Lofthouse

 

[pt44]

It always amazes me how trades of all types don't understand how they make money. Same thing happened in photography. Photographers made money from processing film and selling it to their clients. If film cost £4 to buy and £4 to process - £8 total, we would charge it out at anything from £10, £15 to £25 for some. As photographers are freelance - same as most tilers - there are no rules. You charged what your market would pay - and how ever much you thought you could get away with. Or if you were stupid - you charged £8 per roll. Trouble is, charging £8 per roll is all good and honest (well done you) but it does not take into account such things as your time taken to get those materials, your credit in buying them and charging them out a few weeks later. It includes no profit margin whatsoever, let alone covering your own costs. I used to charge about £16. A fair compromise. I made a little extra on film - but that generally made up for the fact that the clients were always trying to screw you on the fee.

As for tiling/building. I find it really interesting. Depending on the item, I will either get my client to buy it direct, or buy if for them and charge them. However, if I buy it for them, I either charge them approx 15% on top, to cover my costs - petrol for example, getting it. Or, if I have a trade account, and receive a trade discount of around 10%, then I will either charge them the retail price - and pocket the trade discount (to cover my costs again). OR - if its a large trade discount, such as 25% for tiles etc. Then I will usually give the client a 10% discount - saving them - and take the extra 15% discount for myself. Covering costs - and making a supplement to my fee. As far as I can see, that is a win win situation. The client gains - as do I .

Totally agree about getting known in your local trade shops as well. Always helpful if you can call up for things - and they know who the hell you are. You get much better service.

I am always suprised by how traders of all types never get taught marking up their goods. Seems so obvious to teach them. But generally it seems to be something people learn by themselves. Unfortunately, those who don't mark up stuff - screw the rest of us. They think they are honest people, because they are not ripping their clients off - however, generally they are fools, who are not even covering their own running costs. Especially in today's climate with fuel costing what it does - you REALLY need to cover any costs you expend a job. That's on top of your fees.

Paul

 

[cornish_crofter]

Like most, the customer chooses the tiles, this time they're from Focus, and I choose the adhesive and grout.

I'll be charging the customer a bit under retail for the materials, but I'll be making some 😉

 

[White Room]

I like to use what I know and trust, Mapei, Bal and Sovereign porcel flex

 

[brian c]

I supply the adhesives and grouts to my customers,as some just get cheap and nasty stuff.

 

[BDS]

I use what i consider the best on the market BAL or if i have to use any other its going to be MAPEI i`ve used lots of different addy`s and even used stuff customer has provided against my wishes,i`ve even told them that i would guarantee my work but not adhesive and 9 times out of 10 they take it back and let me provide it all or if i go and give quotes i tell them its all in with the quote and that i provide my own and tell them what i use and why and they are always very happy and it also gives them a bit of confidence in you and the job been done properly,i let them have a bit of discount aswell which also seems to seal the deal

 

[Dumbo]

i always get my own adhesive and grout customer usually supplies poor quality and wrong spec for the job. Used to use bal but have have moved over to mapei like their ultracolour plus grout range.

ted

 

[larmar]

:mad2:I only let them get the materials if they go to a certain shop I know the owner and he always keeps them right , If they have already bought the mats and its crap I tell them so and they take it back and i either supply or tell them whats requierd

 

[Tomtiler]

always try supply my own materials often let theclient use my disount anyone else do the same ?

 

[diamondtiling]

My discount is for me and only me. I might use it as bargaining tool but very rarely.

:smilewinkgrin:

 

[Tomtiler]

My discount is for me and only me. I might use it as bargaining tool but very rarely.

:smilewinkgrin:

always helps win a job when u metion discount especially the bigger jobs with more material more discount

 

[mikethetile]

ive been passing on discount for a while now

i charge for the fixing

if they want to supply their own materials i give them my business card and send them in

suppliers happy

customers happy

and i get the work

its a win win situation

 

[Deeky Boy]

I mostly supply the adhesive, grout, sealer etc . I have started buying in bulk so its in my best interest to sell my own.

Even if they have bought the B&Q stuff etc... i will advise them i would prefer to use my own products, almost all the time they are happy with that and just take the adhesive etc back to the shop for a refund.

At least that way i will guarantee the work, they save some money and i make a bit more profit for just supplying the products, win win all round.