From: "Matthew S. Whiting" 
Newsgroups: alt.building.construction alt.home.repair misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Weird thing about roof material price quotes:
Date: Mon, 05 Apr 2004 23:44:20 GMT

Charles H. Buchholtz wrote:
> It could be that the discount is not for contractors, the discount is
> for people who know the item numbers and all the details of their
> order, and don't require "customer service".  When you called and
> asked a lot of questions, and needed to be educated about what you
> needed and how to place an order, you got one price.  When you called
> and "were in a hurry", had all your info ready to go, and were able to
> place your order in a professional manner, you got a different price.
> Seems straightforward to me.

Well, I think a 30% difference in price is WAY too much to charge for 
taking 5 minutes to help someone order the right product.


> You see this in a lot of businesses.  For instance, go to an
> automobile dealer, ask lots of questions about different models, ask
> for a test drive, ask more questions about financing, ask questions
> about options, test drive a different model, and see what price you
> get.

I get very good prices because I won't buy until I get a good price.  To 
me a good price is from invoice up to maybe $500 over invoice.  With all 
of the "under the table money" these days, the dealer's still make a 
good profit even when they sell at "dealer cost."


> Now, fax a dealer and give them the model and all the options listed
> by item number, so all they have to do is type the order in for you,
> and see what price you get.

I'd probably pay more this way.


> (Better yet, tell them what price you want ($200 over wholesale), and
> say, "Will you type in the order for me?"  $200 to type in an order
> isn't bad.)

I agree and this is roughly how I buy cars.


> Personally, I think it's un-ethical to go to one dealer and get all
> the customer service, and then place your order at another dealer to
> get a better price.  But many people do it.  Just like many people
> will go to a "real" hardware store to ask questions about what they
> are trying to do, and then buy the materials at a big-box or on the
> web.

I agree again.  This is a real scumbag approach in my book.


Matt