Clients often think they can cut costs by sourcing parts themselves, but it usually leads to chaos.
Now their wrong order is sidelining the project, and I’m left to deal with the fallout.
Ever feel like you’re caught in the middle of their mistakes?
Yeah happens all the time and somehow always our problem.
Been there. Restaurant owner bought ‘the same’ ventilation fan from some discount site to save 200 bucks. Wrong CFM, wrong brackets, wrong everything.
Now I put it in writing - any delays from client-supplied parts are on them. I also charge a restocking fee if I have to return parts I already ordered because they went rogue.
Most clients stick with my sourcing after I explain my suppliers take returns and I know what fits. The few who insist on buying their own usually learn the hard way.
I used to let clients buy their own parts. Had some problems, so now I handle everything and add my markup to materials.
Makes things way simpler and prevents headaches down the road.
This exact thing happened to me last month. Client bought cabinet hardware online thinking they’d save $50. The holes didn’t line up with anything standard.
Here’s what I do now:
- Charge a flat fee for dealing with their parts
- Make them sign that delays aren’t my problem
- Bill extra time for troubleshooting their stuff
The signature is key. They initial a line saying “delays from wrong parts aren’t the contractor’s responsibility.”
Some clients still buy their own stuff after I explain this. Fine by me, but they’re paying when it goes sideways.
Funny thing is they usually spend more than my markup would’ve cost anyway.
Yeah, I tell them upfront my warranty only covers parts I supply. Saves headaches down the road.
I stopped doing this years ago. My contracts now say I only install parts I buy. Want to source your own stuff? Find another contractor.
Too many jobs got wrecked by clients buying cheap knockoffs or screwing up measurements. The delays always cost more than they thought they’d save.
Here’s why customer-supplied parts are a nightmare:
My markup covers the time I spend researching, ordering, and handling returns when stuff doesn’t work. Good clients get this and don’t mind paying for it.
Had a lady order a dishwasher pump from some random site. Wrong model year, wrong everything. Cost her double in the end.