Just out of curiosity, when it comes to tile jobs, why are you guys not specing every material in the assembly? Why do contractors who are 100% responsible for their work allowing anyone else to dictate how said work is performed and what materials are used to do it?
Every single component of a tile job I'm putting a warranty on is going to be one I approve of and prefer to use. The homeowner, GC, retailer, construction supervisor, etc. can all go pound sand when it comes to that. Homeowners don't even get options for things like grout or waterproofing. I bid the job to my specs and it's take it or leave it.
I'll be damned if I'm going to compromise my job to cut their financial corners. Take for instance cbu. If someone just insists on cbu, my labor rate goes up to cover the added time and sweat incurred by doing it their antiquated way.
When I explain that I can carry the average jobs underlayment in by myself in one trip and cut it with a utility knife while inhaling no dust, it makes perfect sense that my labor just tripled.
You guys need to start realizing that you are in more control of your business than you think, if you'd only learn how to go about it.
I don't give options. When a cheap retailer wants to order pallets of thin set that they use on every job no matter the format, material, or substrate I let them know I'll be using what I feel comfortable with and leaving their $9 bags of crap in the warehouse.
I'm not an employee. Neither are you. If you act like one though, don't be surprised if you get treated like it