Hi,
So after deciding that DIY block paving was not for me I thought I'd start with what I thought would be the highest quote... but I didn't think how high that could go!
64m² for £13900. That's with next door having theirs done at the same time at their own additional cost, so over 100m². Madness.
When pushed for questions they only use a subcontractor anyway but he kept going back to the 10 year guarantee and their blocks that are better than other peoples...
So down south, near Portsmouth, what's the going rate around here? I'm obviously getting some other quotes in, but wouldn't mind knowing what the locals charge beforehand.
Cheers,
M
£217 per m² a new record? - Everest...
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dig dug dan
- Posts: 2504
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 10:20 pm
- Location: hemel hempstead,herts. 01442 212315
without seeing the site, hard to tell, but its best to get a quote from a small local firm, these big boys should stick to what they know and fish in their own pond
Dan the Crusher Man
01442 212315
www.crusherhire.co.uk
"a satisfied customer? we should have them stuffed!"
01442 212315
www.crusherhire.co.uk
"a satisfied customer? we should have them stuffed!"
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lutonlagerlout
- Site Admin
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- Location: bedfordshire
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Tony McC
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2004 7:27 pm
- Location: Warrington, People's Republic of South Lancashire
- Contact:
The reason that some customers go with these Big Name companies is they feel that they will not be ripped-off and will receive a higher level of service than they would from a small local contractor.
The truth is that almost none of the Big Names have directly employed, full-time, properly trained paving installers. They invariably rely on a reverse auction to see who they can find from a limited pool of local-ish names to take on the job at the lowest price, thereby maximising profit margin. They also tend to offer a very limited range of options. One Big Name gives you three blocks to choose from - when you think that I have over 1,200 blocks on my database, choosing from 3 seems a bit mean, but it allows the Big Name to arrange preferential prices from certain manufacturers and the publicity photies they use do actually show exactly the block and style the customer will get, even if they are unlikely to have been laid by the eventual installer.
But to be fair to most of the Big Names, they do stand by their guarantees and they do answer the phone when called with a complaint. They also do tend to rectify any issues, even relatively small problems, without too much fuss. Often, the rectification is passed back to the original installer so doesn't actually cost the Big Name very much, and with such a healthy margin, they can easily afford it.
And, in general, the customers who pay for these Big Names, know they are paying over the odds, and many of them have unrealistic expectations which leads to them becoming real PITA's. They are amongst the most fussy, finicky, micro-managing people I've ever met, so perhaps it's a good thing for us mere mortals that the Big Names remove them from the market and leave us to deal with the more reasonable, rational, realistic types!
The truth is that almost none of the Big Names have directly employed, full-time, properly trained paving installers. They invariably rely on a reverse auction to see who they can find from a limited pool of local-ish names to take on the job at the lowest price, thereby maximising profit margin. They also tend to offer a very limited range of options. One Big Name gives you three blocks to choose from - when you think that I have over 1,200 blocks on my database, choosing from 3 seems a bit mean, but it allows the Big Name to arrange preferential prices from certain manufacturers and the publicity photies they use do actually show exactly the block and style the customer will get, even if they are unlikely to have been laid by the eventual installer.
But to be fair to most of the Big Names, they do stand by their guarantees and they do answer the phone when called with a complaint. They also do tend to rectify any issues, even relatively small problems, without too much fuss. Often, the rectification is passed back to the original installer so doesn't actually cost the Big Name very much, and with such a healthy margin, they can easily afford it.
And, in general, the customers who pay for these Big Names, know they are paying over the odds, and many of them have unrealistic expectations which leads to them becoming real PITA's. They are amongst the most fussy, finicky, micro-managing people I've ever met, so perhaps it's a good thing for us mere mortals that the Big Names remove them from the market and leave us to deal with the more reasonable, rational, realistic types!
Site Agent - Pavingexpert