Quality Trellis, Screens & Fencing - Worth Your Reputation? - Forum

Are quality products worth investing in?

Do you buy the cheapest products for your landscaping projects?
If so, is saving a few pounds here and there worth damaging your reputation?

If you go to local high street or business park companies - mentioning no names - is it worth buying a orange trellis at £18 which will more than likely break or fall apart on the way to the till, let alone with stand wind, rain and plants climbing across them! Which ultimately will damage your reputation and repeat business.

Is it worth spending more on better quality products that will last longer in situ, for the job that is has been designed and purchased for?

We all can agree that not all jobs are priced on budget. So where the project is based on quality, purchase quality. However, where the project is based more on budget, or necessity, is it better still to think long term and reputation and purchase quality products?

Do you buy the cheapest products for your landscaping projects?

Yes, I buy the cheapest quality products to meet the specification of the project. A subtle difference but one that's important not only to the longevity of the installation (and ensuring it's FFP) but also for business reputation and customer pocket.

I think this debate centres around client communication from the outset. They may have in mind a retail park-sourced product and they know the cost per item. When visiting at quotation stage they tell you they've chosen X because it's 'what they can afford'. The chances of them understanding if it is FFP are nominal, they are going on cost alone.

You know that a) it's not FFP and b) you can source a quality product X for only slightly more. You take the time to explain this and recommend your product X as a viable alternative. You are able to give them a product cost there and then. The FFP issues are explained.

If they choose to stick with their own sourced product X after explanation I will very rarely ever proceed with the quote. It's not worth it because the chances are that, apart from deterioration and failure of the installation within a short time, they will continue to ignore the quality advice they have asked a professional tradesperson to give them when he first visited to quote.

Slippery slope time.

However, where the project is based more on budget, or necessity, is it better still to think long term and reputation and purchase quality products?

Yes, or stand aside and let someone 'better' than you take on the quote. Competitively priced quality fencing and trellis products are always of interest to this business. Three or four sales brochures to leave with clients are always useful here. PM me if you want full contact details.

Cheers, Eugene

(work curtailed - it's pouring down here!)

Replies

Eugene Baston October 16, 2013 at 11:57am

Do you buy the cheapest products for your landscaping projects?

Yes, I buy the cheapest quality products to meet the specification of the project. A subtle difference but one that's important not only to the longevity of the installation (and ensuring it's FFP) but also for business reputation and customer pocket.

I think this debate centres around client communication from the outset. They may have in mind a retail park-sourced product and they know the cost per item. When visiting at quotation stage they tell you they've chosen X because it's 'what they can afford'. The chances of them understanding if it is FFP are nominal, they are going on cost alone.

You know that a) it's not FFP and b) you can source a quality product X for only slightly more. You take the time to explain this and recommend your product X as a viable alternative. You are able to give them a product cost there and then. The FFP issues are explained.

If they choose to stick with their own sourced product X after explanation I will very rarely ever proceed with the quote. It's not worth it because the chances are that, apart from deterioration and failure of the installation within a short time, they will continue to ignore the quality advice they have asked a professional tradesperson to give them when he first visited to quote.

Slippery slope time.

However, where the project is based more on budget, or necessity, is it better still to think long term and reputation and purchase quality products?

Yes, or stand aside and let someone 'better' than you take on the quote. Competitively priced quality fencing and trellis products are always of interest to this business. Three or four sales brochures to leave with clients are always useful here. PM me if you want full contact details.

Cheers, Eugene

(work curtailed - it's pouring down here!)
Trellis Direct October 16, 2013 at 12:22pm

Excellent reply Eugene, very well presented.

I do agree with your reply and yes sourced products are required in some specifications and do need to be adhered to.

PS Pouring down here too!
Thermo October 16, 2013 at 1:08pm

I will always try to steer them to the better quality fencing or trellis. Very much the same with sheds. we try to steer clients to a decent quality shed, rather than some of the dross available. I can erect one of the decent ones from our supplier in well under an hour and I know it will last for years. I have had ones that clients have obtained and sprung on me asking to erect, where the quality is so low that it takes all morning to erect them and virtually re do the roof and framing as it is so poor and weak.