Patio design and the internet: Your experience

GyroJustAsking

If any of you greenfingered moneysavers have recently had a patio installed professionally or are considering it, I'd be really interested in hearing about how the internet did or didn't help you choose your patio design.

I'm from an advertising agency and I'm trying to understand how the internet can be used by a hard landscaping brand to better support its customers.

Which websites did you visit for patio ideas?
Which websites did you find most useful?
Is there something that would have made planning your project easier?

Is there anything else relating to the internet and getting a patio installed that you'd like to share?

CFC

I really cant be bothered to answer your questions, but I can tell you one thing right off the bat - if you don't give ballpark figures somewhere, I'm not interested in having you come round to quote. Everyone knows of the 'hard sell' that can be employed once you have someone in your house eyeballing you, and if you are wary you won't expose yourself to that until you have some idea of prices, even if it is the most basic example on a good flat area.

Also, I won't have any garden work quoted for by people who do not supply a postal or office address and a landline.

lostinrates

MSE require you ask them before making posts of this sort of nature. Have you asked them OP?

GyroJustAsking

Thanks CFC, I appreciate you replying and sharing your opinion about the ball park figures and lack of geographic contact details.

GyroJustAsking

Apologies lostinrates. I didn't ask permission. I hope I'm being sufficiently open about who I am and why I'm asking? Where should I ask for permission?

lostinrates

I would email the forum team or ask in site feedback.

I have no personal issue with your openess, fwiw.