OT You would think I would get better service??

Lloyd In South Carolina · Oct 17, 2011

So, my foundation has been done a few weeks now for my new workshop. Now I move to framing. Going to do this work myself, standard stick framing,metal roof with metal sides. Family is all coming over for 4-5 days and we are going to have and "Ole Fashioned Barn Raising. We start the 27th, pictures will be coming.

Anyway, 2 bad customer experiences......

#1st, 2 metal distributors in our area, visited both, provided my plans and requested a quote, both said they would get back to me the next day. 4 days later I call one, they tell me rather shortly don't bother them, they will call me when ready. The other apologizes, says will call me back before end of day, and does. $5,000 plus order, wouldn't you think given this economy they would be more interested? Still haven't heard from the other. They are out....

#2 Did the same with my materials list a Home Depot and Lowes. They both said 2 business days, end of 3rd day not news. I call Home Depot this am, said, "Oh, he went on VAC, we will try and find your request for pricing and call you back". Lowes says, he don't work today, but I found your request and here's your price. Please come in and pay and we will place the order. $7,000 plus list price order.

MY POINT... The economy is bad right, few are building, many are out of work. Should I have to work this hard to get good service on orders this size. I don't expect much special, but call backs and living up to what you commit to would be expected? I guess tomorrow I order from Lowes.

Lloyd

millman52 · Oct 17, 2011

Lowes eapecially is pretty much a self serve store anymore. It's hard to even get anyone to help you when in the store.

The size of your building just how many of those blue carts would you have to fill & cart out!!

On larger construction orders like you need. They'll load all the cull stuff that others have picked over too. Order extra & be ready to return cull materials.

If you were buying from me you'd get a prompt quote & then be asked when it would be convienient to deliver.

I'm not in the lumber business but do run a machine shop/ fabrication shop. Service is what sells in my business.

Lloyd In South Carolina · Oct 17, 2011

I didn't mention, but I gave the local small business lumber yard a shot at it as well. He responded very quickly, was very helpfull and gave great service. However his price was 21% higher, and on this large an order that is a lot of money I cannot aford to give in the name of good service.

Maybe I'm getting what I'm paying for?

L

Billy NY · Oct 17, 2011

That is strange, material suppliers around here, always want to give quotes and do get back to you in a timely fashion. Big box retailers, depends on the people, get a former building supply house guy that took a job there, usually get a timely response, but a young kid or someone with no experience, which sounds like what you got, don't surprise me.

We have a lumber and building supply outfit that has regional stores in this state that you could request a quote from for all those materials, they are 5 minutes from our farm, they would get back to you by the end of the day if you submitted it in the morning, no matter who you are, contractor or not. Their trucks are delivering 30 miles south from that main branch to where I live on a daily basis, retail stores may give em some competition, but it is good to see those trucks rolling every day.

No decent material salesperson would sidestep an estimate/quote, that is ridiculous, I worked 4 years for a lumber yard, that kind of service would have put them out of business, even in those days.

Gun guru · Oct 17, 2011

Yes you get what you pay for.
How big is your shop going to be?

Your story reminds me of a sign I saw in an electrical supply company once. It says: Contractors are waited on first even if you were first in line. Simply put---You are small potatoes to them.

I built both my front and back deck with a local lumber yard. I got great service, total amount was $4500 in materials. The guy even called me the day after the lumber was dropped to make sure the whole order was there.

Lloyd In South Carolina · Oct 17, 2011

50' x 42', monitor building. Order I requested a quote on was list price $7,200.00. Included lumber, windows, doors, and trusses.

It is going to be 3 rooms, a shed for equiptment, a workshop, and a "clean room" for my collectables.

L.

Ray · Oct 17, 2011

I think that's the way it is everywhere.I've been waiting all summer to have a 12000 dollar roof put on my house.The last time frame he gave me was september.My wife was going to buy a new car for cash.Sales people won't even return are calls.

cole in mo. · Oct 17, 2011

when I built my pole barn a few years ago, I checked at sutherlands, asked about a discount for buying a large amount of lumber, reply, price is as quoated. Went to the local lumber shed with my list of what I needed, the manager said we've got a huge order to get out today, can you stop in tomorrow afternoon, sure no problem. Stopped in next day, he under cut sutherlands by over 300. dollars, told him to get it bundled and call me when it was ready, he also knocked off another 100. for hauling it myself. And all the lumber was good quality, didn't have to take anything back for exchange.

tlak · Oct 17, 2011

A lot of companies sell lumber and metal, if you go somewhere else you're just paying for a few extra miles.

barnE · Oct 17, 2011

84 Lumber the big boys, ask for Maggie. Dave

barnE · Oct 17, 2011

84 Lumber the big boys, ask for Maggie. Dave

504 · Oct 17, 2011

I called a guy this morning for a quote on steel siding and he called back in 30min., it will be here Friday at the latest.(box stores said 10 to 17 days)

Leroy · Oct 17, 2011

Is 84 lumber still in existance anyplace? All here in Ohio closed several years ago. Figured the company went completely out of bussiness.

Bob Bancroft · Oct 17, 2011

Get what you're paying for?
Would you consider going back to the small local guy and seeing if you could get a better offer?

buickanddeere · Oct 17, 2011

It looks to be the beginning of a pretty nice shop and hide out from the women. But..........building material suppliers don't see it like they would a three story 320'X 96' chicken barn.

Vito · Oct 17, 2011

After reading this thread I wouldn't place a order with Lowes for that amount.Their wood in my opinion sits around to long and you will probably get the pretzels.Try the local yard again and see what he can shave off his original bid.

JMHO

Vito

JML755 · Oct 17, 2011

Maybe it's a regional thing. I ordered some steel roofing a while back. Had the description, quantities, trim part numbers from the website, etc. all ready. Called the distributor (Carter Lumber). He took the info over the phone, called back with a price in a couple of hours, said it would take a week ARO to get the stuff. Gave him a CC #, week later picked it up.

At Home Depot, I call them and if I don't have the sku #'s, they give me to a lumber guy who writes down what I want, calls me back within the hour with the sku #'s. I then give the order to someone on the Pro Desk (or Customer Service Desk on the weekend) along with a cc #. They say when will you be here? (They like to have an hour to pull the material, little more on the weekend). It's waiting at the front door when I pull up and someone offers to help me load it. Can't complain about the service.

Same goes for tires. Got pricing on the tire store's website for Michelins. Called them up, asked a few questions about differences in 2 models. They made a recommendation which I accepted. They said they had them in stock, made an appt for 8:00 AM the next morning, got there at 8 when they opened,the tires were waiting in the bay to be mounted. Just gave them a cc #, pulled the car in and they had 2-3 guys working on it.

There's nothing magic about this stuff but a lot of companies (or stores within companies) seem to do it better than others.

evilboweivel · Oct 17, 2011

one 1/2 mile from house
Lancaster, Ohio

showcrop · Oct 17, 2011

(quoted from post at 13:36:59 10/17/11) I didn't mention, but I gave the local small business lumber yard a shot at it as well. He responded very quickly, was very helpfull and gave great service. However his price was 21% higher, and on this large an order that is a lot of money I cannot aford to give in the name of good service.

Maybe I'm getting what I'm paying for?

L

I would urge you to talk to the local guy some more.

Ryan - WI · Oct 17, 2011

I'm with everyone else who says to call the local guy (or a few) up tomorrow. I worked alongside my father in construction for 10 years. We always got our material from the local yards. The quality was better, the delivery drivers were better and the guys you talk to actually know what you are talking about. We hardly ever sent anything back.

We usually got about a 10% discount off the list if we paid the monthly bill within 14 days. Ask your local guy if he can do something similar for you.

Also, keep in mind that lumberyards will deliver stuff a lot further than you would think. We would get dimensionals delivered from 20-25 miles away sometime.

ShadetreeRet · Oct 17, 2011

Some years ago, my sister and BIL sub-contracted their own house. Ordered framing from Lowes, It was so warped and twisted he sent half the load back for them to replace.

MSD · Oct 17, 2011

If you can haul the lumber yourself go get it. I do that all the time with Lowe's or Menard's. Lowe's can have pretty nice lumber if you get a new bunk to go through. I have them bring the whole thing out to my trailer and then pick through it as I load it. I usually need the better part of a unit at a time anyway. I have more bad stuff from the local lumber yard so I quit getting the long stuff from them. Sheathing is usually cheaper there also and not to hard to haul.

oldtanker · Oct 18, 2011

Don't have a Lowes handy but Menards and Home Depot are with 30 miles. Don't do any business with Menards, people in store I think would faint if you told em they sold lumber. H D the help is great but their framing lumber is pre curved for boat hulls. Local lumber yard is sky high on prices but sells good lumber (while they are helping load they check to see if it's str8) and has good service.

Rick

36 Coupe · Oct 19, 2011

Few independent lumber yards left here.I build picnic tables and can use lumber that would drive a carpenter nuts.I still need decent looking lumber.Tried to buy from a yard 12 miles away but they will load junk even after you tell them what you need.I go to Lowes or HD 25 miles away.Their lumber quality varies but I can select my own lumber.A lift that has just been opened has the best choice.I see a lot of lumber marked #2 that wouldnt make #3 in past years.I doubt anyone even grades the lumber, just passes under a roller stamp.I used to buy lumber from a small yard where the yard men were very helpful.The manager came out with me,Told me he didnt have time to select lumber,I said I didnt have time to to buy his junk lumber.Never went back.The counter man used to give me back issues of Fine Woodworking magazine when I bought lumber.That yard went out of business.

Leroy · Oct 19, 2011

Would not even know where to go for an independant yard any more.

OT You would think I would get better service??

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