What Did I Miss With Duration Home Pricing??

Megabass

So I am not a high volume painter and have not done a whole lot of painting the last year. Last time I bought duration home in Matte it was about 32.00 and that was May 2008. I went in to pick up 8 gallons today and they whacked me about 39.00. Now I know I am not going to get the best price on this product because of low volume which is fine, but a freaking 7.00 increase in a year is just unthinkable. Has anybody else had this happen? Is this a "normal" price increase? I have not seen that % increase in their other products and the duration exterior has gone down a bit. I am not looking to compare my prices with the members here, I'm just asking to see if this kind of increase has happened to others. I told the manager to call the DM and do something about it and am waiting the results. I would just think that since I started using it about 3 years ago when my cost was 27.50, they would not raise is 11.50 in 3 years. Thanks.

Alton

nEighter

nope. I just priced Fortis. I have been strictly interior for 2 yrs now, going back to everything and it has gone up about 5.00/gal. SO yep. That sounds about right.

4thGeneration

Just treat it as every business does. They are not going to eat the price increase. Pass it to the homeowner and give the number to the SW rep to make their complaints. If they want to use the cheaper paint requote them on the product, but do not reduce the labor. Labor on cheaper paint takes longer due to how bad it works.

__________________
House Painting and Roof Cleaning by Sutton provides
House Painting Services in Berks county PA for all Interior and Exterior Projects

484-334-3999

sparehair

Sherwin followed the advice of some of the members on here. Volume/demand is down so the price goes up to compensate. They know if you're buying paint then you can afford the $7.00. If you can't; you're not going to buy paint at any price.

RCPainting

Somebody has to pay for all the marketing ti the HOs they are doing!
You can get a coupon in the paper for SW and Duration is on sale for $45 to a HO!

__________________
Painting Southern Utah one house at a time!
Cedar City, Utah Painting Company
Linkedin
The Blogging Painters

Dave Mac

SW does about 4 price increases a year, and unless you watch them and bitch to the manager your gonna be hit, It really puts a bad taste in my mouth.

Last week they had a sale on Durations exterior for the H/O and it was cheaper then what I buy it for $$. And I buy a lot of i

NAV

Yea, SW likes to increase pricing often. you can probably get the store to credit your account the difference by telling them you are switching to a competitor.

Why do you use that expensive paint anyway? sure it is easy to apply and is washable but how often does the HO wash their walls unless its a kitchen?

We Fix Houses

I tell my customers that good quality paint is $40 - $50 gal. That's what I price out with my mark up in my estimates.

I got a bit of a shock last August on a job. BM $35.50 - 3 days later $41....I guess because of gas and the rest ?

Dave Mac

Gas my A$$, thats what sw told me their reason was for their last increase, well gas is down but their price is the same.

Dave Mac

Typical GC cut corners, and raise price attitude, really if you have to ask a question like that, makes me wonder, people like to be able to wipe the walls with out paint comming off on the rag.

NAV

sure if you try to wipe off a flat paint you may pull some color but who actually wipes their walls? you are better off asking your customer how often they wipe down their walls and when they say never sell them the Pro-Mar 200 eggshell or flat. then you can repaint their house every 5 years and keep business coming in - repeat business. Don't gouge your customer because SW sold you on $40 per gallon material that is nice but not necessary.

I would sell them flat PM 200 because it touches up easily when the walls get dirty or gouged. try to touchup your duration and see if it flashes. you can't wipe off a gouge.

Unless its a Kitchen, Bath or Trim - then use the good stuff

DeanV

You also forget how much more dirt transfers to cheaper paint. Walk through a house with a high quality matte vs. a pro-mar 200 level paint, and even if they do not wash the walls, there tends to be a lot more smudges on the walls with the cheaper paint.

nEighter

for shoots and ladders I JUST priced duration and was told mid $40's for exterior So I would say you are doing okay.

vandyandsons

If you don't like a price, talk to the manager or the rep, they'll work with you.

They tried to "adjust" my pricing 3 times last year.

The squeeky wheel get's greased. The economy is too badright now. They won't risk loosing your business over a few bucks a gallon.

ClosetPro

I know paying too much sucks but we are talking about $56.00 here for the OP. Gosh I hope bids are not cut that close that $56.00 is going to break the bank.

vandyandsons

you're right, a few bucks shouldn't break the bank, but the fact is the less you spend on paint/ material the more you can make on the labor end.

for example, work is slow for you and you get a call from a customer that says "I need my living room painted and the budget is $500"

you're slow so you are going to take the job, and the less you spend on paint the more goes to you.

Megabass

Well the verdict is in and they lowered my price to about 35 bucks. Still a decent increase but I can live with that. It was nice for the manager to step up and at least do something about it even though I made no threats. I just told her I was shocked and if she could do something about it. The homeowner is a good customer of mine and is very particular about his home. This man will clean the walls every year or so and specifically wanted this product. I painted the exterior of his home about 5 years ago with duration satin and there are ZERO signs of failure anywhere. I did do one heck of a prep job but even still, there are usually SOME signs of even minor failure with regular paints after 5 or so years. The house was pre painted wood and asbestos shingle. He wanted the same durability inside his home as outside. And yes, he understands the difference between interior and exterior durability.

Alton

4thGeneration

I wonder if the Duration will encapsulate the asbetos shingle from any releasing agents because that siding is known to have cancer causing properties.

__________________
House Painting and Roof Cleaning by Sutton provides
House Painting Services in Berks county PA for all Interior and Exterior Projects

484-334-3999

StefanC

Whats up Alton!!

Prices jumped way up last summer. $35 is a decent price on Duration.

__________________
www.sccustompainting.com

WisePainter

SW raises their prices just about every 6 months.

__________________
My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.