Last month I did a quote for a person in a nearby city, baseboard, crown and casing.
I worked up a price, sent it to him via email.
He doesn't address the contract at all, but he doe's want me to go to the lumber yard and pick up all of his trim, and deliver it to his house so that he can paint it before I arrive to install.
I didn't do that. I did however send him an email saying that: delivery is not included in my contract. It would also be illegal for me to pick up goods that I did not own and deliver them to his house. I did not pay for this trim, but I would have if he had given me the $ to do that. So at that point I did not own the trim.
However, I don't know about that- it might be perfectly legal to pick up materials that I did not technically own and deliver it to the job site. I did not want to do it -free! and my cost's would be two toll charges on the bridge (3.50 each way) and gas/time. Probably lose 1/2 a day's work to that.
As an aside, I ended up declining the contract. Unfortunately he turned out to be one of those reno-tv folks, who think that they can squeeze anyone they hire price wise.
It started with the "free delivery" thing, then he wanted to pay all cash to avoid the taxes(I will NOT risk an audit and fines to save you a few hundred) then it was "caulking and filling included" nope, not in the contract, but I can do it for $$.
Then it was "toss in those two bedrooms and we got a deal" ah..... no.
I cancelled the contract, and wrote a new one that included all of the things they wanted (not the delivery though) doubled the quote and added an up front %80 deposit, the %20 due before the crown was to go in.
They scrambled like mad to go back to the original contract, but by then they'd shown their cards.
I told them no, no trust, no contract, out of time. I was mad!!! I know you can't get mad in business, but all the signs were there to get screwed.
Anyway long story! I get one of those about every 4 years or so.
Do you deliver goods "free"? I wonder if it's legal if I had actually paid for the trim, then it would belong to me.
Edit: I carry artisan insurance on my pickup. Cost's me extra every year, but it makes it legal for me to use the truck in my business.