Verbal quotes from plumbers

littlemiss19

Hi everyone,
I'm trying to get a bath installed in the bathroom downstairs. We have met three plumbers who have been recommendations from our neighbours. Issue is only one of them will quote using email, the others tell me their 'worst case scenario' pricing and that they don't like to do formal quotes. The one who has quoted on email has included VAT but has not mentioned a VAT registration number in their invoice. 

All are suggesting we purchase the bath, panel, screen and taps ourselves to save money. We have no clue on which supplier to use, some of which have similar names such as Victorian Plumbing and Victoria Plum. One plumber suggested we go to a local plumbing supplies showroom in a local trading estate. So, are B&Q/Wickes not great quality? We budgeted 500 GBP for the supplies. Not sure what to do really.

Thanks,
Littlemiss

fenwick458

I would steer clear of the ones that are unwilling to provide a written quote.
as for buying the materials yourself, it's quote common but normally the trades will offer advice as to what to buy and where from

nofoollikeold

1. If they won't quote in "writing" don't use them.  You have no certainty what they are going to do, to what standard and are completely open to being messed around.  
2. If you buy the appliances, you will have no come back on the installer if there are problems.  You might save a little money up front, but could lose a lot further down the line.  Say the bath develops a fault, the supplier will replace it, but you will have to pay to have the replacement installed.  
3. Why don't you do the research and specify what you want by make, model and size.  Then go to potential installers and say " I want this, this and this (supplied and?)  installed, connected up and commissioned all in accordance with industry best practice and to conform with all legal requirements".  Go for supply and install if you can
4. For baths, look at Bette or Kaldewei for steel, and Carron for acrylic.  There are others.  Similar process for shower, screen and panel.  Your budget is a bit skimpy, you need to consider at least 50% more or even doubling it for reasonably quality items.  
5. None of the "sheds" tend to be top quality.  Find a decent plumbers merchants / bathroom supplier locally and use them to source the items you have already chosen.

Le_Kirk

A verbal quote is worth the paper it is printed on!

welshmoneylover

What’s the difference between a written quote, estimate or a written invoice?

TELLIT01

If you do have to get the bathroom suite yourself, pay by credit card.  So many companies are going bust at the moment you need to have the maximum protection possible.

David713

welshmoneylover said:

What’s the difference between a written quote, estimate or a written invoice?

A quote is a fixed amount for a job and this figure shouldn't change without the agreement of all parties involved.
An estimate is an approximate amount that the job and the actual amount due can change from the original estimate.
An invoice is a bill for work already carried out or goods supplied.

twopenny

I've still not got a plumber but the one bit of info from several is don't use Victoria Plum. Seems they are cheap and subject to being damaged etc,

Victoria Plumbing ok, City Plumbing, Travis Perkins (builders supplies) can supply and I've friend that have used B&Q happily.

Not in writing you have nothing to say when they will come, what they will do or what they will charge. I did have one offer to do it Saturday mornings on and off. Nooooooo.

Persever. They are all very busy. I'm on Number 8 and so far only got 1 quote for a straightforward job. It's exasperating.

Mystic_CT

Why do tradesmen who refuse to give a written estimate let alone a written quote even bother to look at a job? 

Had one guy over last week to price up a new shower room installation. Promised me an itemised estimate/quote would be in the post within a week. No letter arrived. Texted him. He rocked up later that day unannounced. Gave me a ridiculous price after consulting his tatty notebook full of scribbled nonsense. Unbelievable.

Doozergirl

Mystic_CT said:

Why do tradesmen who refuse to give a written estimate let alone a written quote even bother to look at a job? 

Had one guy over last week to price up a new shower room installation. Promised me an itemised estimate/quote would be in the post within a week. No letter arrived. Texted him. He rocked up later that day unannounced. Gave me a ridiculous price after consulting his tatty notebook full of scribbled nonsense. Unbelievable.

Because a lot of them aren't all academically educated very well or had undiagnosed learning difficulties and fell into the trades (that for decades now have had nothing much in the way of training investment) and ALL of them just want to do the job they're paid for, not admin.   

I have to self-invoice for virtually every subcontractor I use.  It's not a sign that someone is bad at their job.  Those signs are elsewhere.  There's that much work available and a shortage of tradespeople that they get away with it.  

fenwick458

nofoollikeold said:

2. If you buy the appliances, you will have no come back on the installer if there are problems.  You might save a little money up front, but could lose a lot further down the line.  Say the bath develops a fault, the supplier will replace it, but you will have to pay to have the replacement installed.  

Just to clear this up
If the customer buys a bath, and the tradesman simply fits it, it's the customer that has to deal with any problems that come up later. an example I can think of is the finish peeling off the bath a year down the line, not something like the bath being installed out of level and with gaps around the sides...
so if a tradesman is expected to supply and fit the bath, deal with any problems like this, (most manufacturers won't pay any labour costs, some do but it's generally on really high value items) then they are obviously going to just build this into the cost of the original bath, and then you're basically paying for it to be replaced once as soon as you buy it!
another option for the tradesman if they are having to supply the bath, simply buy the most expensive bath they can find, from the supplier who is known to be really easy to deal with regarding returns and warranty issues (probably the most expensive) and this will in turn reduce the risk of having to go back and fix any problems.
anyone who thinks this is unfair, and the tradesman should just supply the lowest cost items from discount stores and apply no markup on it and warranty it for life is dreaming!