I didn't ask for a quote....

[petery]

I didn\'t ask for a quote....

There was a 30" by 12" space above the engine compartment of my Vancouver 27 and I thought it would be useful to have a draw ( that's a box without a lid!) made so that I could store my pots and pans. The boatyard where I moor don't allow me to bring any sub-contractors on site and my machine tools were scattered all over the surrounding countryside so I asked them to make one - without getting them to quote.

The invoice for this 30" by 30" by 12" lidless box made out of marine ply with simple lap joints and only a first coat of thinned varnish to raise the grain was £629. The box did not need to be a precison fit.

This was 'reduced on appeal' to £500 - with explanations of 3 1/2 hours design time, 4 hours to make ply templates etc etc!

Has anyone out their any experience or advice on how you contest this kind of rip off. Problem is I moor at their yard and other moorings are dificult to find.

ps - the yard isn't Northshore!

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[mikewilkes]

Re: I didn\'t ask for a quote....

My first thought would be to tell them to Foxtrot Oscar - but you did not ask for a price - so you need to do some fast talking to get a sensible figure.



<hr width=100% size=1>Mike
Ready for going back home to my mistress and SWMBO of course !!!

 

[Guest]

NEVER NEVER ever ...

Never do anything Marine and Yard connected without a quote first.

Now you know why ......

For the sake of finding your tools - you are now sitting looking at something that you probably could have done better and still have 99% in your pocket .....

Sorry - but I'm ripped off as well for something else - so know the feeling well .... and mine was quoted before - verbally though !! So GET IT IN WRITING



<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/searider/

 

[BustinAround]

Re: I didn\'t ask for a quote....

Don't take the drawer and don't pay. Simple!

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[jimboaw]

Re: I didn\'t ask for a quote....

1, find another mooring.
2, Pay them 200 quid and tell them to sue for the rest.
3, Name and shame.

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[Koeketiene]

Re: I didn\'t ask for a quote....

No help, but same thing happened to me 2 years ago (when I was still young & very naive).

Argued a lot, price came down somewhat.

At the start of the next season, by now I was an older, wiser & more vindictive kind op person, I voted with my feet and got myself another mooring.

Had the gal to say: we're sorry to see you go!

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[Bergman]

Re: I didn\'t ask for a quote....

Depends how you feel about the mooring.

That aside you pay what you feel to be a fair price explaining how price is derived, and let them bring civil action for more money if they have the nerve.

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[AndrewB]

Agree.

Certainly with 1 and 2. Suggest an independent valuation of the box, or that they take it back, should they quibble.

 

[Sailfree]

Re: Agree.

A verbal contract is not worth the paper it is written on. Did they not record that you said at the end "providing it won't cost more than £200 will it". My first rule is always be fair. My second rule is fairness is best achieved from a position of power. Good Luck.

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[abraxus]

Re: I didn\'t ask for a quote....

I'd go along with what others say and tell them that you don't want it at that price. It's unreasonable of them to take advantage just because you didn't ask for a price upfront. If they don't like it tell them to take you to court.

If however you've already paid, I'd break the damn thing and demand my money back under warranty, saying it fell apart.

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[domlee]

Re: I didn\'t ask for a quote....

...and don't forget, a quote and an estimate are two different things. Estimates have a habit of changing - usually uwards, a quote is a firm price for a specified job...

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[PeteMcK]

Absolutely agree

I've had bills totalling nearly 3 grand from four or five different sources in the past year for work/services never so much as delivered:-

Two months summer berthing in a marina the boat has never entered in its 25 years, £600 (all I had asked for was a quote);

Bill for winter electricity, same marina 9 months later, still have never entered said marina;

Repair yard bill for tidying up a few scuffs on the topsides (asked for quote, not provided, billed £400, boat untouched);

Same yard, double billed me on two occasions, one for £200, the other £400, for specified elements of a much larger insurance job which had been paid in full as much as a year earlier;

Plus a few others much closer to home which I trust were genuine mistakes and I'd rather not mention in case the perpetrators are looking in.

Is it just me, or is sloppy billing the norm (it was the computer...), or is there a lot of sharp, near fraudulent, practice out there?

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