Customer Insists On Providing Paint... Now What?

Richard

I'll drink to that....

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Rich

Murphy

Using B*** to paint a bunch of apartments.
You will be using a lot of it and often.
Why not just have the guy drop a sledge on your foot over and over again. That is what it will feel like everytime you have to walk into another apt and use that sh*t.

It would be like telling a carpenter to go ahead and install the crown but I don't want to use the electricity for a power miter so here is a sharp saw and a miter box.
Diff results Diff time to do job.
Dont do it.
Convince him you can get the paint for the same price. JMHO

copusbuilder

If the guy wants Behr let him buy Behr. Just tell him to buy enough....I do not think sundries are even addressed in the original post so multiple trips to the store should not be an issue.

He has a lot of work and arrogance is not going to one of the components he will be looking for in this relationship?
If you have alll the work you want tell him to stick it. If (like you) mentioned you want the work use the damned paint.

I agree with shunks asessment of being in business. After all who is working for who

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AkA Richard Cranium

MAC2PAINTING

I got so tired of doing the shopping for customers, I turned over a new policy a couple of years ago. They pick the colors they buy the paint, I expect it to be on the job at the start date, and it should not be any bargain basement specials... it has worked great.. and what a releif!!

paint slinger

Bid a job today and got it.....but home owner wants to use wal mart paint....tried to convince her to spend the extra money and get SW OR BM paint. This is an older but very nice home 4000 sq feet. She wasnt interested in it so i just let it go because she said i all ready had the job. I dont understand it.

slickshift

That's why you bid the job with good product
Let's call that project X and a bid of $2000 which covers all materials and sundries

They say "Can't you use this cheapo paint?"
"Well, now" you say, "if you want to provide the materials and spec the paint, that's now project Y (it's not the same project) and that'll be $3000"

If they want to know why, tell them straight up and with confidence
"It'll take me longer, be more work, and more coats to make this room look good"
or
"the paint is an unknown factor (never used it), and I can't base a bid with such a large unknown factor"
also
"I spec these materials because I know they work, how they work, what they can and can't do and have confidence enough in them to provide a warranty on my work with them.
Those other paints, I don't"

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Signature Quote

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

George Z

We sell the service.
Manufacturers sell the paint.
As long as its ok paint we 'll use it.
They want to supply it, fine.
They need to do their own measuring, have enough,
or it will cost them $45 per manhour for us waiting.
It has to be ok quality and it voids our warranty.

As far as quality goes, there is a junk line within every manufacturer.
Benjamin Moore 4th line is not as good as ICI 2nd line.
For that reason, I will never be a cheerleader for B. Moore or S.W
or ICI, or PPG or anyone else.

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copusbuilder

Perhaps this is one of the hardest parts of being in business. When someone hires a professional and then they want to call the shots. Some even try to tell workers how to do things and then complain if it doesn't work and try the "you should have known better line"!

Tough bunch to figure out....

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AkA Richard Cranium

Richard

With all do respect....I dont understand it either. When you bid jobs, dont you have a set quality paint in mind and a price you charge customers for paint?

For instance, when I bid a job, "I" determine what paint is used(unless the HO suggests another quality, top brand paint)~then, if I am using(SW) duration, ALL the paint needed on the job is bid at $50/gal. If the does not get duration, the job is bid at $40/gal. This leaves some flexibility and also takes up the slack if I need an extra gallon or something.

You need to remember, If you arent used to the paint the HO wants to provide, how can you feel confident to bid and offer any type of warranty? You really cant, that is why a lot of painters specialize(prefer) 1 brand. They know it and they're good at selling it.

Congrats on the job though! Move fast, cause you'll need a lot more time for extra coats. I would also tell the HO flat out that you cant warranty any work using paint from walmart (except zinsser) and see what they say~this might convince them

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Rich

DelW

When I'm doing an estimate and the HO indicates they want to get the paint I explain that I can get a better product for the same and in many cases less money. In addition I try to get them to understand that within the scope of the job the paint is the least expensive part of the whole thing. Once I get them to understand that all is well and more times than not I'll get the job.

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Flawless Finish

This is the same thing I do and it seems to work pretty well. I think customers want to supply the paint because they are afraid we're going to buy the cheapest stuff to make the most profit. I noticed that when I was bidding the job I'm on now. The home owner used to live in Florida and she bought some plain white Duration. She was out of town when the work was being done. It appeared they had returned the Duration and used some cheap paint that had already started to chalk. They never even showed up to collect the final payment.

paint slinger

The home owner had a gal of wal mart sitting on her counter and said she wanted that paint....I gave her the SW and BM speel about being a much better grade of paint and how she would be happier with the out come...she was not interested. I decided to do the job, but explained i would not quarantee it. In the future I will take the above mentioned advise bid the job with quality paint included in the bid price and if customer wont except the use of these brands i will increase the bid.

pitterpat

Nooooooooo, increase it or keep it the same! You'll be doing more work!

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