Re: Stucco Paint

RicodJour wrote:

On Sep 20, 11:22 pm, "SteveBell" <resp...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Rudy wrote:
they asked me if I had an account..I told them the name of the
painter XX Co.that I had spoken to but advised I was going to
be doing it myself. The clerk said WTH, I'll give you the XX
Co. price (cash) and I got all the product for $ 50-55 per 5
gal pail

"Do you have an account with us?"
"Farmer Fred Painting does but I'm going to be doing the painting."

You were attempting to capitalize on the painter's name and account
status, and you did. Lucky for you it didn't cost you anything.

I find it interesting that you think it's okay to use the name of
a contractor - who by definition is in the business to make money
- to secure a little deal without approval nor compensation to the
contractor. That does create a big benefit - for you. Most
people settle for the free estimate and free information the
contractor provides.

Read the above slowly..The store staff ASKED the question, I
didn't say I was with the company but that I was doing it myself
and that the painter had mentioned the name of their
store/product. If they were content with offering me a discount
as part of their sale, (which turned out to be 120 gallons) I
think it would have been pretty stupid to say: "No thanks, I'd
rather pay retail". While building that home, I ended up with
several "accounts" at the 'trade price' through various suppliers
that didn't have a problem offering me the 'big benefit' and I
certainly didn't turn any of them down.

Sherwin Williams gives me a professional discount of 30% on most
products. They told me to tell my clients to mention my name when
they buy paint so my clients can get the discount. I specifically
asked whether I could just have my friends and family get the
discount that way, and the store manager said that was great.

Family, friends, clients - all of them have your permission to use
your company name to get a discount when they go to SW. Would you
have the same opinion if someone got an estimate from you, kicked the
tires, told you your price was too high, then went to your paint
supplier and used your name and relationship with the paint store to
get a discount?

I tell people to whom I give estimates that I can get them a good
discount on paint at Sherwin Williams (SW). Most of them hire me; a few
don't. Those that don't usually call back later.

I'm guessing that 70% of something is better than 100% of nothing.

Better for the store, not for the not-hired contractor. The store is
getting 70% or whatever, the contractor is getting nothing.

It's no skin off my nose. If they don't hire me, I don't care if they
save some cash. If they *do* hire me, it's for my labor and skill and
their convenience, not to save $12 on a gallon of paint.

One oddity: Each SW store has to add my company to their local
database. They can copy it from the original store, but it's always a
hassle for them to find it in the corporate database. If I've never
bought from that store, the person will have trouble getting a discount
there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My first experience with this kind of discount was when I had to buy
matching paint for a client from an local-brand paint store. The code
on the can was obscured, so the clerk figured out who the builder was
based on the address of the house, then looked up the trim color he
always used. (He just kinda' knew who built in that subdivision.) He
then told me I could have the very large discount that the builder got.
I pointed out that I wasn't working for the builder, but he said he
didn't care.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Stucco Paint
    ... They told me to tell my clients to mention my name when they ... buy paint so my clients can get the discount. ... That seemed to be the way that KM paint looked at it too Steve. ... contractor - who by definition is in the business to make money - to ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Stucco Paint
    ... contractor - who by definition is in the business to make money - to ... the painter had mentioned the name of their store/product. ... Sherwin Williams gives me a professional discount of 30% on most ... and the store manager said that was great. ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Stucco Paint
    ... Better for the store, not for the not-hired contractor. ... conversation so, never having tried their paint before, I looked up their ... get/gain anything) the painting contractor. ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Brook Mays Chapter 11
    ... carry a good selection of high-end doodads, as a long time retailer, I ... dollar units might sell 3 or 4 at a better per unit profit. ... walk into a store and find what you want on the shelf. ... you get a deeper discount. ...
    (alt.guitar.bass)
  • Re: TSWLTH -- on my bad list
    ... The store closest to my house burned down a few weeks ago, so I went a bit further to the other one which is also a zillion time larger, brighter and cleaner. ... She looked and said I wouldn't buy it for a discount either. ... The checker was confused, turned to the asst. ... manager said "You never should have ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.quilting)