what would you do?

[penno]

I quoted a job up the other day for a 20 sqm kitchen floor. Bloke said tiles are 600 x 300 marble, ooo i said, will cost a few quid to fit them m8. He replied "no no, not marble, a marble effect tile"

"so ceramic 600 x 300 marble look, that correct?"

"yes yes, ceramic with marble look"

nps, priced him up £450 inc mats, dead simple room, freshly ashphalted and bare.

"Thats great" he said, "when can you do it?"

"gonna be at least 2 weeks, lemme check diary"

"no no it has to be done before Monday, kitchen fitter is in first thing Monday"

"mmm, i was going to have this weekend off but if you want it doing that soon call it £550 cash and we have a deal"

"nps £550 it is"

(some crazy reason he wants the tiles under the units, not just under the kickboard, not arguing its more cash)

"i am going to Topps tomorrow to buy the tiles i have seen"

"ok, when you go in give my name and the lad will give you a discount on them"

TODAY:

Went into Topps today:

"hi mate did a bloke come in and use my name and buy about 22sqm of tiles?"

"did he!, right pain in the arse. Tiles came to £1400 but said he would pay no more than a grand, offered them for £1200 but still said no, says he knows another place that will do them for a grand"

"ahh ok, HANG ON! £1400!!!! what ****ing ceramics was he after?"

"didn't want ceramics, he wanted marble, he came in with a marble tile and asked do we stock the same one, which we do"


So basically this bloke has said he is getting ceramics that i have priced him on but it seems he knows full well the tiles are real marble.

I phoned him after i left Topps and asked did he get the tiles today, said "yeah but didn't get them from Topps got them from another place"

"np mate will be there Saturday morning".

Now i didn't mention the tiles as i will wait until i get there (will be too late for him to get another tiler as they need to be down before Monday) and give him a

"waiiiiiitttt a minute, these are not ceramic, lets re talk cash"

Now im wondering if i should just say halfway through Saturday that i want the cash first thing Sunday before i continue with the job. Or you think i should just wait until its completed?

(sorry it is long but wanted to explain)

 

[DHTiling]

He sounds a bit of a sly fox mat.........make sure he pays for materials up front then if he does argue the toss then its only labour you are fighting for..if you see what i mean......too late to get another tiler as you say...so you have a big bargaining tool as they say........

 

[Holohana]

id bring it up before you start mate otherwise you might just be wasting your saturday!

 

[penno]

id bring it up before you start mate otherwise you might just be wasting your saturday!

Not really a waste cause i could have fun on the Sunday ripping it back up
(and i will)

 

[daj5451]

Sounds a dodgy bloke to me mate.Get your cash for materials first thing then get your labour costs agreed before starting but who`s to say he will not pay you the agreed price when complete.sunday could be an entertaiing day for you .:59:

Dunc

 

[Fekin]

I'd re-write out an estimate and get it signed for fitting marble, and get a decent deposit before starting work as it's on a weekend.

 

[GazTech]

The man has already lied to you....alarm bells ringing for me....Gaz

 

[tysfoot]

is there a big differentce in time scale and hardness of the job between ceramic and marble

 

[penno]

is there a big differentce in time scale and hardness of the job between ceramic and marble

Yes, lots of washing and all wet cuts

 

[Gazzer]

I am with Gaz, obviously cant be trusted.
I would requote bringing up the matter about the tiles.

 

[enduro]

I would walk away from this job, something not right. I tile for a couple of kitchen companies and they always get me to tile the complete floor before fitting.

 

[penno]

The man has already lied to you....alarm bells ringing for me....Gaz

Know what you mean Gaz but can't just say im not doing it, need to take the chance, its nice money.

 

[davy_G]

I would check the tiles as normal whit any job and your keen eye will pick up they are marble. Approach the client straight away and remind him your quote was for ceramic. If he wants these laid tell him your pice. If he argues, id walk. Saying that it would be a profitable day if all the cuts are straight, finished by 5 with £900 in the back burner!
Good luck

 

[guy1976]

20m2 of marble in 2 days,wet cutting and back buttering and sealing plus they will probably want a 1mm joint i couldnt do it in 2 days, sounds like your customer has champagne taste but lemonade pockets i would get cash up front as he sounds like hes trying to pull a fast 1

 

[frogeye]

Cash up front - he sounds like trouble

or do the old mats will be £xx and if I don't get paid I will have my mats back

frogeye

 

[GazTech]

You must speak to your customer Matt and agree terms before commencing work.....Gaz

 

[Perry]

penno do u advertise for these customers ? if not u better move :lol:

 

[TheWrightTiler]

ffs mate

rethink the price and get him to pay up front for the work, if not walk away as a**eholes like these think they can p*** us about, id prob bang my toolbox into his car on the way out 2 lol, by accident of course

andy

 

[frogeye]

ffs mate

rethink the price and get him to pay up front for the work, if not walk away as a**eholes like these think they can p*** us about, id prob bang my toolbox into his car on the way out 2 lol, by accident of course

andy

Just thought I'd quote this - good anglo saxon phrases - tells it how it is - well done :yes:

frogeye

 

[penno]

well turned up yesterday "what!!! they are marble"
bit of a discussion and customer happily agreed to pay the extra cost. Pulled the cash out and paid up front no probs. I turned up with a grey adhesive knowing full well i couldnt use it so told him i will need to change adhesives. "no problem mate, you keep hold of that adhesive and i will go down and grab 5 bags of what you need while you are setting out what you need, i will also pay for it as a small aplogy"
So has worked out great, also wants a lot more work doing over the next few months.

(marble looks stunning layed btw)

 

[Holohana]

Nice one, well played. Every cloud n all that.

 

[penno]

Well what looked dodgy at first has turned out great. Got a call off the same bloke yesterday for some more work he wants doing. Got there he wants a :

Large en suite tiling
Wet room tiling
Kitchen splashback tiling
Hallway tiling
Porch tiling.

Before i even worked out a price he was asking when i could start.

"not even worked price out yet m8"
"thats no problem, you charge fair prices"

Sat down worked out cost (came to alot) "thats good price when can you start?"

"Mat this is my brother and he also wants work doing"

(followed them to the brothers house in my Van"

Large Kitchen floor (just under 27 sqm) laying same marble as i did in brothers house.

Might even be able to afford a holiday at this rate

 

[faithhealer]

Nice one Penno,

 

[MICK the Tiler]

I've been following this thread and what at first seemed to be all grey skies and shifty dealings has in fact turned out as sweet as peaches and cream.

Nice one Penno M8

 

[cam_low]

well done penno lad, get some pictures up.

 

[monty]

Nice one penno....upload some pics...

 

[CJ]

Chuckle all the way to the bank Penno

Glad it turned out ok.

Reading this from the start...........I would have walked away. Glad you did'nt

 

[Grace'sDad]

I like a happy ending.

well done for sticking it out!

 

[alastair68]

with a guy like that there is no such thing as "nice money" try "nice lost weekend" followed by starting another working week stressed out!!

 

[hrgj3270]

hi mate,

this bloke sounds like he is pulling the wool and trying to take u for a C**T. if it was me i would requote and get him to sign and make sure i had a hammer with me so if he dosent pay i would smash a tile at a time until he paid. if he dosent he has now got a very expensive mosaic floor that he didnt want. so he is out of pocket as well as u.

thats my standing on it mate

H