When a company's rep tells me I need to place a custom color speaker order two weeks in advance. So I place order two weeks in advance of install date, and then get an email from the company telling me I need to pay 50% deposit upon order and remainder on SHIPPING. I have a signed contract with customer, got paint codes, got order in, have discussed order with rep repeatedly, NO ONE ever mentioned pre-paying, I have 5 figure credit line with this company. Now I'm two weeks from install date and they want the $$$$$ up front? Deposit, sure, but a last-minute, "Oh, BTW, you need to pay the entire invoice UP FRONT"? Seriously?
OK, THIS pisses me off.
- Thread starter Matt Lillie
- Start date
Re: OK, THIS pisses me off.
Perhaps related to the special color that makes the now custom product less merchantable.
JR
Perhaps related to the special color that makes the now custom product less merchantable.
JR
Re: OK, THIS pisses me off.
Certainly. Do you think anyone might have mentioned this, perhaps, at some point? Rather than after the order is placed? I could have planned for it. Now it's going to be either:
A) I get some different speakers.
B) Get these in a standard color.
C) Bite the bullet, put the cash out and deal with the bad taste.
It's not even that much $ in the big picture, it's more the, "Surprise!! Pay $200, go directly to jail, don't pass go", or whatever. Bad taste.
Certainly. Do you think anyone might have mentioned this, perhaps, at some point? Rather than after the order is placed? I could have planned for it. Now it's going to be either:
A) I get some different speakers.
B) Get these in a standard color.
C) Bite the bullet, put the cash out and deal with the bad taste.
It's not even that much $ in the big picture, it's more the, "Surprise!! Pay $200, go directly to jail, don't pass go", or whatever. Bad taste.
Re: OK, THIS pisses me off.
Just call the rep and tell them that they are getting subbed for their most hated competitor. I bet it will take less then a second for them to ask "why?" I had a commercial AV manufacturer rep do some stuff like that to me, thinking that they were the only game in town. That was until I convinced the consultant to remove the spec for that companies equipment and go with another vendor.
Some careful words about "vendor is insensitive to client timelines" can change someones mind really fast.
Just call the rep and tell them that they are getting subbed for their most hated competitor. I bet it will take less then a second for them to ask "why?" I had a commercial AV manufacturer rep do some stuff like that to me, thinking that they were the only game in town. That was until I convinced the consultant to remove the spec for that companies equipment and go with another vendor.
Some careful words about "vendor is insensitive to client timelines" can change someones mind really fast.
Re: OK, THIS pisses me off.
Perhaps the people you were speaking with did not have experience with such special orders, or thought you did.
If it's not that much money why all the drama..? If you feel you were mistreated talk to your rep, that's his job.
I can see the company's point of view regarding custom color orders. While this should be a standard policy and not special just for guys from NH this week.
JR
Perhaps the people you were speaking with did not have experience with such special orders, or thought you did.
If it's not that much money why all the drama..? If you feel you were mistreated talk to your rep, that's his job.
I can see the company's point of view regarding custom color orders. While this should be a standard policy and not special just for guys from NH this week.
JR
Craig Hauber
Sophomore
Re: OK, THIS pisses me off.
I've been there too.
I think he's upset that he went out of his way to get all his ducks in a row long beforehand only to have them supply needed-info long after the cut-off deadline to get everything in time for the install. It's not always just an equipment-cost issue but the crew, scaffolding, holdback-on-the -other-trades that may end up costing more than the gear is actually worth if it's not there on time.
I think that many people in manufacturers organizations don't understand the necessary "choreography" behind large installs. Things have to be put into play months ahead of time so everything is ready for the exact hour you're permitted to install it.
It's also frustrating at how we are at the mercy of shipping companies so we plan even farther out to accomodate their worst-case situation only to find a pallet has been sitting unprepared in a vendor's warehouse so long that it eats up that extra time allocated for worry-free shipping.
I've also long ago learned get product painted by my own paint-booth vendor locally or on the jobsite itself as the "custom color" claims of many manufacturers are just way to uncertain as to their timing.
I've been there too.
I think he's upset that he went out of his way to get all his ducks in a row long beforehand only to have them supply needed-info long after the cut-off deadline to get everything in time for the install. It's not always just an equipment-cost issue but the crew, scaffolding, holdback-on-the -other-trades that may end up costing more than the gear is actually worth if it's not there on time.
I think that many people in manufacturers organizations don't understand the necessary "choreography" behind large installs. Things have to be put into play months ahead of time so everything is ready for the exact hour you're permitted to install it.
It's also frustrating at how we are at the mercy of shipping companies so we plan even farther out to accomodate their worst-case situation only to find a pallet has been sitting unprepared in a vendor's warehouse so long that it eats up that extra time allocated for worry-free shipping.
I've also long ago learned get product painted by my own paint-booth vendor locally or on the jobsite itself as the "custom color" claims of many manufacturers are just way to uncertain as to their timing.
Re: OK, THIS pisses me off.
I agree with the above frustrations, however, I typically plan for two weeks additional lead time for custom color on top of whatever the original lead time was. For the type of speakers I order that is now in the range of 6 to 8 weeks.
I agree with the above frustrations, however, I typically plan for two weeks additional lead time for custom color on top of whatever the original lead time was. For the type of speakers I order that is now in the range of 6 to 8 weeks.
Re: OK, THIS pisses me off.
Thank you, Craig. You, as a guy "in the trenches", get it. Armchair warriors don't.
Thank you, Craig. You, as a guy "in the trenches", get it. Armchair warriors don't.
Re: OK, THIS pisses me off.
This armchair warrior "thinks" he understands the install business model of not getting paid until after the entire job is finished, but I can't know your exact personal situation.
Thank you for sharing as this may help another businessman to avoid a similar time-line failure.
The problem with life lessons is we get the test first and then the answers.
JR
This armchair warrior "thinks" he understands the install business model of not getting paid until after the entire job is finished, but I can't know your exact personal situation.
Thank you for sharing as this may help another businessman to avoid a similar time-line failure.
The problem with life lessons is we get the test first and then the answers.
JR
All's well that ends well.
Manufacturer did the right thing, took 50% deposit and put balance on acct. Got the color right, and delivered within one day of target date. Excellent.
Manufacturer did the right thing, took 50% deposit and put balance on acct. Got the color right, and delivered within one day of target date. Excellent.