In article hkcki.475$Y_3.470@trnddc04,
says...
dpb wrote:
RicodJour wrote:

On Jul 8, 9:51 am, dpb wrote:

RicodJour wrote:

On Jul 8, 9:27 am, dpb wrote:

RicodJour wrote:
...

That's something that's always ****ed me off. The big box stores do
an end run around the contracting licensing laws because of some
stupid contention that they are not contractors, but suppliers.
Well,
when someone supplies material and labor under one contract, that
makes them a contractor. When they sub out the work, that makes them
a general contractor.
The big box stores don't participate in restitution funds, obey the
maximum deposit regulations, etc., etc. It's just wrong.

So don't use them...if you could convince enough others (just like in
the argument against cheap/inferior/import/whatever merchandise
threads)
they would either change their ways or quit offering the service...

People would always use them. They know the name, they have low
prices and high exposure. ...

Then they must be doing something right for their business model.

Who you want to be complaining to is either your legislature or
enforcement depending on whether there isn't appropriate/adequate
legislation in your opinion or there is lax enforcement of existing
regulation. Same fundamental truth -- get enough widespread support and
raise enough clamor and you can be the effector of change. Otherwise,
your way to vote is by your own choice.

(And to be clear, not a personal attack intended, simply a pov on how/to
whom/where to complain/bitch/protest...)


Well, in one way, they're good for my business. Horror stories tend
to loosen up the pocketbooks, and god knows there are enough big box
installer horror stories.

Going up against Home Depot would need to be a crusade, and I have
enough of them at the moment, but your point is well taken.


Amen to both!

But, imo there are two general classes that choose the box store as
installer for a project -- the incurably cheap and the incurably
naive/uneducated/uninformed. Neither is what you want as a client,
either, until they have at least had an eduction.

I think that a lot of the customers for HD and Lowes
installation are people that use credit for everything. A lot
of these people could never afford to dish out the money for a
project, so they use the plastic and not only pay in advance,
but with interest alot more than they would if they paid cash.

I use HD's credit to buy now and use their money for a year, free.
Works out quite well (have $4K worth of carpeting on credit now).
I've done it with a half a dozen appliance and furniture stores too.
I even bought my wife a laptop and used their money. I like the free
use of money. ;-)

As I've pointed out in previous threads on the topic, in present US
consumer circles there seems to be an endless supply of people wanting
the lowest initial cost whatever it is and more of whatever "it" is
currently. As long as this mentality reigns predominant, the trend to
such behavior by the retailers will also continue to follow the market,
however much those who prefer small/independent/high(er) quality/etc.,
decry it. So far, there seems to be at least a survivable niche for
most independent remodelers, etc. The folks really getting squeezed out
are the small retailers, etc., that can't compete on the "bread and
butter" items that formerly allowed them to be able to stock the
lower-volume products.

--

We small, quality contractors will always be around, because
there are a lot of quality minded consumers still around. I
cannot do all the work that I am asked to do, yet I never
advertise, nor am I in the yellow pages. I just do good work.
I am constantly amazed when a person calls out of the blue and
we go over who knew who and who recommended me. (And I always
get a deposit up front, or at the least, when the materials
are delivered. But I never start work without a little money
in my pocket.)

Good for you! I like to hear success stories. OTOH, it's difficult
to get someone, such as yourself, to give us the time of day here.
When they do honor us by agreeing to give an estimate they usually
don't show and *NEVER* call. Tradesmen generally *suck* around here.
I do my own work, when possible.

--
Keith