Browse Forums General Discussion Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 2Jul 05, 2009 4:32 pm Im a little confused Did they do their original quote onsite? If so, why was the quote only an 'estimate'? Our quote will only change if the design changes, and to ensure that the customer knows what they are quoted is accurate at the time the quote is only valid for a certain amount of time to encounter for any future price increases etc (which is rare anyway, I cant remember the last time a quote has increased and it wasnt due to design).... otherwise, what's the point of the quote? Estimates are something you give if you're quoting off plans as things might change, I understand that... And whats this 'removing' you talking about? And installation is extra? Blimey, you seem to be in a pickle! Did you sign the contract based on the estimate? If the quote had exceeded the estimate extremely, surely this is grounds to back out of the contract? Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 4Jul 05, 2009 4:58 pm Alright, so let me see. They provided you with a quote on the cabinets only. Then gave you an estimate on the 'trades' part. The "trade" price includes installation, labour and ..... ? Thats the part which confused me I guess, we give a total price incl labour, intallation, cabinets etc Removal is the removal of your existing kitchen built in pantry, oven tower and bulkhead over the rangehood and a low wall brekky bar? They are charging you $1500 in removal. On top of this they want to charge extra for what i mentioned earlier? Now assuming I have this right.... Your assuming $1000 for this 'extra' bit. Does this 'extra' include replastering? If it does, I dont know how much replastering costs so I cant really say whether this is th replastering cost, or an attempt at some extra money. If you're already paying $1500 for removal.... How about you pay us significantly less and george will come do it for you?! Thats an absurd price! As for the trades price, cant really comment on this without being able to compare the cabinetry price, the kitchens dimensions, materials and what not. As they may make the cabinetry price very cheap, but then make up for it with trades price or something What does your contract actually say in regards to cabinetry price and trades price? They must have something written in there if they ask you to sign based on the cabinetry price without telling you trades price, as otherwise nothing would stop them from chraging you the Earth for it. A clause perhaps? A paragraph saying that its only valid if you're satisifed with the overall price? Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 5Jul 05, 2009 5:05 pm Any chance you can pull out of the contract due to finances??? I smell a rat and would not be going ahead with these builders! Why did you choose this company? Is there any other builders that you can get a "firm" quote from and possibly not have to sign a contract. I remember renovating our old house, it was a major renovation costing about $40k and there were not contracts, as we made ourselves clear right from the start to the builders that we would not sign a contract just for renovations. Anyway sorry about my ramblings, hope this has helped a little bit. Best of luck. Building Thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=13002 Site start: 8th July 2009 Handover: 11/12/2009! 5 months total build time. 40 sqs of luxuary...Bliss! Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 6Jul 05, 2009 5:06 pm Have you paid a deposit? Have they ordered any materials? Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 8Jul 05, 2009 5:21 pm We require a deposit too - its stated as a 'non refundable' deposit but thats only to cover ourselves incase we have ordered materials and what not and then they decide to pull out. Its never happened before however, and as far as Im concerned if they havent started your job then there is no reason that they should keep your deposit - they have no costs to recover. I would find out what they have actually started in terms of your job. The longer you leave it though, the more money you risk losing if there is a chance you can pull out. Read your contract carefully and get back to us But dont beat yourself up over it - you trusted them, they're the asses Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 11Jul 05, 2009 6:15 pm Man.... Alrighty then, so are you happy with what they have priced you for your kitchen cabinets installed? Because if you are, is another option finding your own tradies for plastering, plumbing etc? We offer recommendations for other trades if the customer asks, but dont have anything to do with them. We dont take money, we dont quote, we just say "Here's someone you can call". When the customer chooses their tradies, we then liase with them to get ti all happening. We do it this way mainly because our focus in on our work, not others. Makes it a lot simpler, although a lot of people prefer one company to handle everything, but then confusion can occur - especially if something goes wrong, warranties etc $8k is still quite a lot IMO for plaster, plumber and electrician but then again it does depend on the extent of work. I agree that the pantry/wall oven etc shouldnt have been an unforeseen extra. Unless ofcourse the person who came to you was a sales rep and not a cabinet maker. A cabinet maker should have picked up on it as they look beyond only design elements and measurements to the technical aspets of the job. Removal costs should cover the whole kitchen. Since when is a pantry etc not part of the kitchen? If they quoted you on a new design which included this space to be used, then obviously it needs to be removed. And just so you know, we usually dont do removal from site either. Typically most customers take advantage of the opportunity of needing to hire a skip and do a general throw out. Especially if things like plaster and what not are getting removed too. Otherwise removal could end up in the whole truck being used for random junk which we have to sort through or decline and then there are chances of upset customers.... who knows! But then again, we dont charge $500 for removal either.... Have you got documentation or something which shows that you werent informed of rejection of finance til after the 10day period? Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 12Jul 05, 2009 6:18 pm _kelly_ Just further info on the contract there is a section titled "Acceptance" which says that it is agreed this is a Contract Sales Agreement pursuant to Section 52 of the Fair Trading Act 1999. Here's s52 Quote: Circumstances in which a refund may be reduced: If, under a compulsory recall notice, a person chooses to refund the price of goods and a period of 12 months has elapsed since the goods were supplied, the amount of the refund may be reduced by an amount attributable to the use which any person has had of the goods, being an amount calculated in a manner specified in the notice. Please explain If the company recalls the kitchen after 12 months has elapsed, but you still want a refund, they will give you a refund on the value that they think the kitchen is now worth considering how long it has been in use for (so basically, given its wear and tear) Not really relevant I dont know why you would recall a kitchen Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 14Jul 05, 2009 6:53 pm I doubt my head hurts anywhere near as much as yours You only have a 'standard' sized kitchen, so your cabinetry quote should be quite decent depending on materials etc Let's say you plumbing is costing about half of the kitchen price with overhead cabinets, pantry etc round-abouts.. This $8k in trades - $3.7k in plumbing, whats the rest? Ring up some more trades and get your own price. Forget the one you've been waiting two weeks for, thats ridiculous Could the credit people put something in writing saying they advised the company on the same day ir was declined? Could the department of fair trading help you out possibly? Ring your kitchen people and ask them to put your order on hold until you work out what you want to do. Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 16Jul 05, 2009 7:03 pm Not a problem, I really hope it all works out for you in the end And the fact they havent started anything is a plus for you at the moment! Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 18Jul 05, 2009 9:22 pm The part in capitals confuses me From what I see it says that your kitchen company can either choose to follow the contract or not.... If Im reading it correctly, then its probably a mistake, hence why they crossed it out. The second clause works in your favour though (except for possibly the expected growth margin part). Man, their contract would have put me off! Has long and complicated is it?! Are you going with a large kitchen place like Impala or whatnot? Perhaps you should try your luck with a smaller place - they rely a lot more heavily on positive customer feedback and are generally less likely to screw you around Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: What do you do when the goalposts keep being moved...? 19Jul 06, 2009 12:42 pm 'scuse me if I mention the obvious, but can't you just say that thanks to decline of finance you don't have the money and need a refund? Did the contract say anywhere it was conditional on finance? Unfortunately if you've paid them a deposit I think that can be taken as acceptance of the contract. But you could always argue the opposite and make them prove it... I'd be doing my best to get out of the whole thing, they sound very ******* and I reckon if you keep going then the prices aren't going to be the end of your troubles Also I'd be doing the removal myself. with a nice big sledgehammer My garage door has started playing up recently. Sometimes (and getting more frequent) when I press the button to open it, it wont. The motor is an ATA GD0-6V3. Red and… 0 2664 Being an owner builder is no walk in the park. It’s a challenging endeavour that requires dedication and hard… 0 9993 Joe, it depends on your certifier but we are noticing the ones we deal with are really cracking down. So i would recommend you follow your approved landscaping plans to… 4 10961 |