clipped

A professional tile contractor's head is full of knowledge
and ideas. It is a shame when people don't access this
opportunity to get some fresh ideas and perspective.

It isn't about "sales". It isn't about "making money". Any
contractor who has this as their goal does a disservice to
their customers. What it's "about" is the customer. They
are paying a lot of money for the work and tile. They have
to live with the result for years as the installer moves on
to other things. The goal is to lead the customer to that
perfect selection that will fit their needs, then perform
an installation that will make their project a success.
Customers have friends and family. They want these people
to come over and say "hey that looks great". They want to
remain satisfied for many years. Contractors and installers
who have this customer-first attitude will have no problem
getting work, or making money, and will be a blessing to
many people.

Should the customer purchace materials before consulting
with the contractor/installer? I don't think so.

thetiler


All the points you make are important. Most of my experience with
contractors has been over the past 10 years, both privately and in
regard to projects our condo association undertook. I believe the most
common reasons for problems boil down to two: customers who do not
research projects/products in advance so they understand what is at
stake, and customers who focus only on lowest cost. Cheap does not
equal economical. A customer can't begin to communicate effectively
with a contractor until the customer knows the important issues.
Neither a customer nor a contractor will know "everything", regardless
of experience.

For a DIYer, a tile job can be a huge mistake, done wrong. Ripping down
bad drywall would be easier and much less costly than tearing up a
failed tile job.

If I buy a car, I don't buy what the salesman thinks is best for me,
although he knows the product better than I. I don't buy any big-ticket
item, sight unseen. I don't believe I would order a shipment of any
product from a distant source if it cannot be returned with relative
ease, especially if breakage or defects are likely AND the product is
available locally. I will pay a bit for peace of mind.

We had a really bad re-roof job done on our condo, before I lived here.
Partly bad installation, partly very poor choice of product. Nobody
here did their homework, either before or after. They bought the
cheapest job they could find and have paid dearly.

Hubby and I interviewed contractors when our condo assn. was ready to
paint the building. A couple of owners - the very least talented - had
already volunteered to do it themselves. Arghhh..... The contractor we
ultimately hired was "no nonsense". His VP and assistant reminded me of
Erin Bracovich ) I had a gut feeling, after about two minutes, that
he was "the one". When he came in with the low bid, it got really
scary. He got hired, did a fantastic job, was great to deal with. He
accepted a bid with less than his ideal rec's for the job, but I think
he would have turned it down if he thought it would turn out bad.
Customers who let contractors/sellers do their thinking for them will
get the shaft. An intelligent plan and a good product make for a good
deal, regardless of who sells what.