Hi,
last week I called whole sellers for lumber to find out the prices difference between two company. The first one was about 2 dollars more expensive than the second one. “I asked them about 3 products” On friday I went to the office of first company, and asked them to give me complete quote. Today I picked up the quote, and found out that the prices were not what I was given. I asked, and the seller asked me if I was quoted on SYP because what he gave me was spruce. I wasnt sure since i didnt ask about the detail when I was calling. Is it normal for this much price difference. Should I go with SYP since it is cheaper? The sales person said my framer wont like SYP!! This is in Raleigh NC.
Replies
It's been my experience that due to a very low margin in lumber, that suppliers are forced to buy what is cheapest to stay competitive. But don't worry. They make it back on hardware. It gets so competitive that there are companies in Canada that will take advantage of this and run low grade lumber through a regrading station. They will break open lifts, pick out the best stuff aand call it #1. Then they will plane off the grade stamps, restamp and ship to the USA. I'm sure you've lumber with plane marks on them.
Now a days, you don't what your getting anymore. I remember back in 1988 the d-grade lumber was as good as #1 and #2 premium is today.
Chances are that if your not a builder, you weren't getting their best price anyway. Having worked in the business, estimators don't have much time for your average Joe Blow building a house. They are more interested in the builder that builds multiple homes per year.
Dave
I dont even know why they have sales people, why not just post the prices. The could have different once for builder etc.
1 dude,
you have sales people for a varity of reasons.. First an experianced sales person knows how to jingle your purse without you knowing it..
Second it's easy if the prices were posted to bid a penny under and wind up winning bids by tiny amounts
Third a great sales person deveops relations with customers that is often worth more than the price differance..
Fourth suggestion selling, maybe the bid calls for a garage but no doors.. a good salesman knows to look for the missed items or sell up if they can get away with it..
"I've got some 3/4 plywood here with Basswood surface instead of pine but it will cost you an additional,.... but wow does it impress clients..
Fifth a great salesman also knows where to cut costs to get the bid.. Hey, I've got some of these year old gluelams for that addition and since they will all be buried anyway you can save,....
Hi,I dont really have problem with GOOD salesman, but you know they are very few around.
not all that many good anythings around that I can see. Just trying to get by another day.
1Dude,
You've got that right.. it seems like such an easy job from the outside, however when your boss is on you to increase sales when fewer people are calling it's a tough bind to be in.. not really knowing how to sell all sorts of foolish "tricks" are tried and most just wind up Pizzzing off folks rather than resulting in more and better sales..
I'm in Chapel hill NC. We use 2x10's and up in SYP but less than that it is too twisty to be much fun to work with. It's also a little heavier and a lot stronger than spruce. Have the yards quote the entire list. In Raleigh I'd quote Stock against Builders First Source. I like Stock for framing but their delivery is slow and they sometimes send incomplete orders and don't mention that the order is in-complete.
For good service Talbots would be a good choice, see if their prices are anywhere near competitive. Probably would save a few hundred bucks to go with Stock and a little aggravation.
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Have the framer make a loist of what he needs, then get the written list quoted in writing - check to be sure they are quoting what you asked for, then decide.
What all you have written is confusing as heck to me, so I wouldn't be suprised if you have confused the salesmen too.
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I am waiting for Stock to give me their quote. I did receive one from Roper, and might get one from yard as well.
Thanks
Piffin
Here in Connecticut the majority of framers say its not their job to do material lists. They would rather bitch when the loads come up short.
Greg in Connecticut