Emails for Quotes Unanswered

[Diggin It]

After hearing nothing for a few days, I sent another inquiry yesterday and I finally got two back today. Now I have to review them and see how they were figured because they're so much different from each other. Hopefully the third will come tomorrow.

 

[JK22]

Yea... I agree this is frustrating. I work the same hours that “vendors” do. I don’t have time to talk and explain on the phone. But my quote requests often go unanswered.

 

[Howling]

I went through it last year getting roofs done. Some don't even return the initial (or second) phone call or email. Some come look but never send the quote.

Most of the roofing companies are run by a roofer running his own crews. The business side is a secondary skill to them. Assistant/wife in the office to help keep scheduled and organized. Outside marketing companies providing website, 800 numbers, etc. One was a marketing guy getting jobs and outsourcing to roofing crews. His coupons and marketing turned me off ($1000 discount if deposit in 2 days).

Roofing, like other trades, is seeing a lack of new workers. The younger generation want to go in to technology and computers, not physical work. Heading towards a sellers market where the roofer gets to pick the jobs they want to do.

 

[Diggin It]

I'm doing the work. No roofers involved. These were all large, long term companies- two lumberyards and one supplier to contractors. Due to the differences, I now have to go visit each one of them in person to find out why they quoted how they did. Plus, I now have to check a fourth company a bit father away that rolls their own metal roofing to customer order to see what their current pricing is.


Quotes are running close to $2.50 per linear foot for standard 5 rib metal. Not too long ago, I was paying more like $1.80 or so.

And why would the same piece, a W valley 10'6" long run $23.25, $21.48 and $34.70? The first two are close to what I expected, so why is the third so much higher?

 

[3gunr]

look at menards.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I keep thinking that half the people don't work and the other half are over-worked!

Called the Guy a month ago that did the Steel Shake Roof on my house a couple of years ago. Great guy, great helper and great job. Said he would come by the next week to give me a quote on my garage roof. Have heard nothing of him.

NO big deal. I understand. It's NOT EASY actually having to WORK (And I mean the four letter work) for a living. Many people don't have to, it seems. I will call him again.

Also, having been a contractor for thirty years, it's sometimes valuable to see how peoples attitudes can change, when they don't immediately get what they want, and you can get rid of them before even bothering to quote. Leave the irritation for the important stuff.

 

[Gator6x4]

I'm doing the work. No roofers involved. These were all large, long term companies- two lumberyards and one supplier to contractors. Due to the differences, I now have to go visit each one of them in person to find out why they quoted how they did. Plus, I now have to check a fourth company a bit father away that rolls their own metal roofing to customer order to see what their current pricing is.


Quotes are running close to $2.50 per linear foot for standard 5 rib metal. Not too long ago, I was paying more like $1.80 or so.

And why would the same piece, a W valley 10'6" long run $23.25, $21.48 and $34.70? The first two are close to what I expected, so why is the third so much higher?

If you provided the same metal specs to each why visit each one? Why not just purchase the item from the vendor that gave you the $21.48 quote. Sale done and over with.

 

[EddieWalker]

When I first started out as a contractor I had a webpage, email address and ads out in several different newspapers. I quickly learned that the people that are serious are the ones that call you on the phone, talk to you about what they want and schedule an appointment to come out to their place and see what they want.

If somebody sends me an email, I might respond by asking where the house is and when would be a good time to meet and look at it. I NEVER trust a clients description of what they want, or how easy thing think it will be for me, or what somebody told them it would take to do the job. I only bid a job after I've seen it first hand.

Time is limited and if a contractor wants to last, he has to learn to avoid the tire kickers and those that are more curious then serious. Nothing says that you are serious more then a phone call. Emails that do not respond to my invite to call me will never get another look. I also do not call clients, they call me. This is to eliminates time wasters.

If you send a contractor an email, and he doesn't respond, it's because he's not interested. If he says one thing on the phone and still doesn't respond, he's still not interested. I decline half of the jobs that people call me about just from the call. Then when looking at a job, I probably turn down another half. I have a 3 to 6 month waiting list. If somebody is willing to take a job that everyone else is declining, you gotta wonder why? Then you have to ask why are they not wanting to respond? Is it the job, is it the client? or is it just not worth the effort to get paid doing it?

 

[Diggin It]

I NEVER trust a clients description of what they want, or how easy thing think it will be for me, or what somebody told them it would take to do the job. I only bid a job after I've seen it first hand.

This wasn't 'I want this done this way, what will it cost?' This was a specific list of parts, dimensions and colors using their own part names:

10'6" Residential 'W' Valley Forest Green, Qty 3
10'6" Eave Trim in Forest Green, Qty 4
12'8" 5 Rib Roof Panel in Forest Green, Qty 8

And so on.


Would have taken them 15 minutes at most to price and reply. Same time it did with me standing at the counter waiting for them to do it after they didn't reply by email.


I always get at least 3 quotes, even if I know what the prices should be. I don't single source most things.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's not the way the world works anymore. People call me from time to time and want to know what a security system costs. Ask me why I don't have a WEB Site, becaue that should have told them what it would cost. I just usually tell them, oh , thousands! I don't do lick and stick systems.

Or they want cameras! I thought they wanted a SECURITY system! If you have security guards on site, YES cameras would be a good idea.