Granite Countertop
10/28/2012 at 11:31:53 AM
We paid a deposit to the kitchen fabricators for a complete kitchen reno. The third day we told them that we don't like the quartz countertop that we picked so they sent us to the suppliers where they buy ceasar stone and tiles from. There I decided that I want to go for granite countertop because the next day they came to our house and discovered a heating pipe in the pantry and said we have to pay $750 extra to move it to other side. So we had to reduce our budget somewhere else. When I picked a granite from where they sent me, they said they dont purchase granite from there and they cannot purchase that slab because it is expensive. I went other places that carried the same granite that I picked and they all quoted me a much lower rate. It was a difference of $800.
I told them you can provide us with the granite and we will deduct the difference, they would not agree and they said we have to pay $350 penelty for not buying it from them and on top of that we cannot even deduct the price with tax, they are only allowing us to deduct the net price so we are paying $350 plus the 13% tax on full price for the quartz. I do not think it is fair.
We gave them all the business worth $18250, they could not provide us with the granite that we liked so that is why we said we will purchase it from somewhere else.
Please advise. I would appreciate your comments.
10/29/2012 at 7:53:23 AM
First off read your contract that you signed with the kitchen company. All of these details should have been worked out before you commited to this company and there price. If you can get out of it, do it. It doesn't sound like you will have a good experiance with them anyway.
Legally they can not charge you HST on the portion of the price they are refunding. What they are doing is giving you a partial refund for the counter and hiding it with the excuse of keep the HST.
10/29/2012 at 2:31:51 PM
Actually we have not paid them yet for the granite, we had just paid a deposit for the cabinets.
So I am wondering that even though they did not purchase the Granite for us, do we still have to pay them
a fee just because we want to buy it from somewhere else?
We had signed a contract for a complete kitchen reno but have made partial payment only. It does not say anywhere that there is a penelty for making some changes to the invoice.
10/31/2012 at 4:15:00 PM
If they can't supply the product you like. You should buy it from any suplier you like. Now I don't know all of the details, such as...was the installation included in your quote from the contractor and if so, is there any cost associated for them. If it is clean, and by that, I mean the new suplier can install as would the contractors granite guy. And when it fits the job sites timing and plans.
If the contractor bears no costs from your change in any of these ways, then not allowing you to purchase from who you want is unfair.
10/31/2012 at 5:08:50 PM
DONT pay deposits ...Dont pay deposits ...Dont pay deposits to any one for any thing!..This contractor has you over a barrel and is clearly taking advantage of you with his tactics. There is nothing illegal about what he is doing, however it demonstrates his lack of cooperation.
If he cant afford to finance an $18,000.00 project he should take on jobs that he can finance. Only pay for completed work that you approve of.
Many people get lured into a contract by low prices and your scenario is not uncommon when this happens.
Paul Justice ...Justice Construction
11/1/2012 at 10:03:42 AM
Thank you all for you comments. It helped a lot.
11/3/2012 at 9:18:30 AM
Paul,
Your comment about not taking deposits is asinine, a deposit should be viewed as a "good faith" gesture from the client that they are going to and are able to pay for the renovation. Most companies, except banks, are not in the "finance" industry. Don't know if you ever bought a special order product from anyone, but usually they ask for full payment or 50% just to place the order.
The issue here is not taking a deposit, the issue is the kitchen contractor is being unreasonable and uncooperative. It should not be an issue for the client to get a counter top from anyone they choose. He should be reasonable and deduct the price of counter top from his initial quote, no penalty, and move on and build and install the cabinets.
Too many contractors are too greedy and want all the work. Be cooperative with your clients and maybe you leave with less money but a happy client that is willing to recommend you to their friends.
Cheers
Lionel
11/3/2012 at 3:37:50 PM
Thank you Lionel for your response.
This is exactly my point, if they had said that's okay we will deduct that amount, I would have been very happy and would have recommended them to other people, but now no way.
They are charging us $350 for nothing, we told them same day that I dont like the granite, they sent me some places but they did not have something that I liked.
They never purchased any granite for us.
Thank you all for taking the time to comment on my post. I appreciate it.
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