Dont You Love It (ORDERING CUSTOM STUFF)

I love these guys, i am ordering some windows and doors, i draw up the order list, sizes, swings, pictures, the works and send it to my supplier. A few days later a printout from the manufacturer comes back to me for review and sign off. I give it the once over, everything looks good. 5 weeks later the order gets delivered, i begin the install and notice the exterior french door is 6'6'' in height instead of the 6' 8'' that i was expecting. I check my notes my original paper work clearly notes 6'8'', i look at the manufacturers printout, they are calling for a 80'' R.O ht. which translates to a 6'6'' door. I call my supplier, tell him the problem, he pauses and says "this may be a problem" we will see what he has to say tommorrow. The bottom line, i checked over, and signed off on the paperwork, it NEVER occured to me they would spec a 6'6'' door ht---WTF. I assumed, unless requested for a specific reason most of the planet deals with 6'8'' door heights.... G

Yea, try ordering stuff like that multiple times per week, 90% of the time there is an error on proof copy that I have to correct, eagle eyes eagle eyes

Yup. Ordered two Jeld Wen doors 10,000 total. Salesman ordered the wrong stain color, but never got the ticket signed before submitting. I photographed the original copy of the specs for the doors. Salesman ate a 10,000 dollar lunch.

OUCH!!!

I think this one is yours to eat GeneCarp.

FYI, I never sign contracts from my suppliers, I only sign MY order to them, then I know it is right or have no problem eating it.

Thats a good idea.

There is nothing worse than waiting weeks for an item and have it arrive not being what you expected.

OK, here is the deal, tell me what you think please---the salesman is not disputing the fact that i wrote 6'0 x 6'8''. He is saying that if you order a 6'8'' you should realize that the 6'8'' represents the overall unit height and not the slab dimension. I have been ordering doors for 30 years, if i call out for a 6'0x6'8'' i am expecting the doors to be 3' each in width, and both doors to be 6'8''in height . Have i been wrong all these years? ....

Not the way I see it

You are not wrong,the supplier made a mistake. Following the salesman"s logic, the width should have been less also.

What handyman jim said, you order a slab size, not the unit size.

You're in a bit of a messy one, because you did sign off on the incorrect size. Maybe see if they would split it with you? But, if I were you, I would expect to eat it.

Can i please get a bit more feedback, i want a few more opinions before i deal with him again, thanks, G

I have ordered several thousand doors as a commercial CM and as a home builder. If I order a 3/0 x 6/8 I am ordering a door slab that dimension.



I would be in big trouble if I ordered 3/0 x 6/8 and made the RO that dimension.

The salesman is saying the example of overall unit dimension versus slab dimension applies only to the ordering lingo of HURD, ANDERSON, AND OTHER EXTERIOR DOOR SYSTEMS.

Man i feel blessed where I order my doors

door slab height and width.

frame height and width

jamb width and trim/brick mold dimension or with or with out trim/bickmold

That sounds like a nightmare. Sorry Gene

Tough spot I would say.
You signed off and that is (from the salesman's opinion) the final check before placing.

I have done a lot of volume through the years with my suppliers and would offer to split the cost of the right unit- "We both f'd up".

I would take pointed issue with what appears to be the salesman's lame cop-out on his bad take off. He is a salesman not a monkey to copy paperwork- you ordered on thing properly and he put in another.

Put the one you have in supply or maybe dump it half price on craigslist.

Do you do a lot of business with these guys? If so, they should be bending over backwards to make it right instead of giving you BS excuses. Maybe it's time for a new & better supplier?

I agree here. I have severed ties with supplier and subs who BS'd me over peanut money.

If you give someone $100,000 in business repeatedly year after year and they try to hassle you over a few hundred dollars or even a thousand, find someone who will value your business.

Slab dimensions all the way.

I have vendors who I've worked with for years and I still am sure to check every order over and over again to ensure things are right. Even if it's a mistake on them, it still costs you time. And, as the saying goes, time is $$$---as well as an unhappy client.

I'd say it's on the salesman to verify with you what you want when you specify 6-8. It's a cop out to say that's the way the manuf. calls it out--especially if you used dimensional nomenclature on your order to them, instead of listing the manufacturers model number.

I vote slab as well.

Oh, and can you talk to the sale's boss?

Yes, you proofed it, but he changed the spec and didn't seem to know how to order a door (or is lazy & lying).
Either way, three's a lot of salesmen out there looking for work...

~Matt

Thanks guys i will keep you posted, G