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AIBU?

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Original poster

Who's BU? Paying for a messed up order

161 replies

CalaBallas · 09/02/2021 08:54

We are purchasing a new build property and we sourced quotes for granite worktops in the kitchen and the utility. We decided against ordering for the utility due to cost and went ahead with just the kitchen.

I had an email from our sales rep this morning to say that the wrong quote was actioned, and granite for both the kitchen and utility has been delivered. Our original quote to add it on in the utility was for £875, and they've said as a good will gesture if we want the granite they will only ask to recoup £375 towards it.

I'm happy to pay, we did want it and just didn't want to pay out that much more for such a small room. £375 seems more reasonable for the size of our utility - might aswell?

Dh is insisting it's their error, we've ordered a specific granite that's useless to the developers and wants to fight to get it for free. I'm worried in doing so we'll sour our relationship with the developer and possibly get the granite in there at all.

Who's BU?

OP posts:
Dixiechickonhols · 09/02/2021 09:39

I think their deal fair and I’d go for it. Snagging etc will be easier than if you’ve been reasonable - they will remember on a small development. Having lived in several new builds there are always bits and bobs and a good relationship will mean they find the extra bit of skirting board you need to match etc

MRex · 09/02/2021 09:39

It's reasonable to compromise, I'd pay for it as you would have wanted it at the cheaper price. It's a tough time for many companies, builders included, I wouldn't be comfortable negotiating further when they've already been fair.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 09/02/2021 09:39

Put yourself in the developers’ shoes. Or tell you DH to do it.

If I were the developer I would be pissed off at my mistake. I’d offer it to you at a discount. I wouldn’t be out of pocket and it is the easiest way to get rid of it. I wouldn’t give it to you for free because I could either plan to use it in my next show home or put it on eBay or gumtree.

I’d consider negotiating but getting it for free is taking the piss.

Crosstrainer · 09/02/2021 09:39

@user195436581575

I think your husband is either foolish or blinded by greed.

The granite you wanted, at a massive discount that brings it within a price you would have happily paid if originally offered. Why would you reject that?

Ask for it for free and they'll flog it to someone else instead. Just because it won't go in this development doesn't mean they won't be able to find someone willing to pay similar to what they're offering it to you for.

This - absolutely. They have no obligation to sell it to you - they’re prepared to give you a good deal to save themselves a lot of hassle. Take it or don’t, but you won’t get it for free and by the sound of it will be cutting off your nose to spite your face.

The other thing your DH is forgetting is that builders are practical people, who know other practical people. My friend lets her house to a local builder. He is forever finding nearly new things on jobs and fitting them in her house (think kitchen units, garage doors here) because he can. I don’t doubt that they’ll find someone with the skills to alter the granite for themselves and pay them, say £100, for it. If you’re getting a good deal, you’re cutting off your nose to spite your face.

LadyCatStark · 09/02/2021 09:41

You haven’t lost anything or been disadvantaged by their error so it’s unreasonable to want compensation. You can either pay it or not. It’s up to you.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 09/02/2021 09:42

I’d pay it (or try to negotiate a small discount if you can afford it. Yes it’s their mistake but they don’t need to sell the extra to you.

M0rT · 09/02/2021 09:42

I'd go with the reduced rate, maybe ask for a bit more of a discount to please your DH.
I'm in a new build and we needed them back for little things umpteen times in the first year.
Keep a friendly relationship!

Triffid1 · 09/02/2021 09:42

He is BU. Basically, if he doesn't want to pay the £375, that's fine. But then the developer does not need to give it to you for free. They can choose to hold onto it in the hopes that someone else might buy it, or donate it or whatever. A mistake was made. They are not insisting that you pay for the mistake. They are trying to find a way to mitigate the cost of the mistake. You and your Dh are the obvious first choice solution. But not necessarily the only one.

NCGardener · 09/02/2021 09:43

Sounds like a fair compromise to me. I'd pay it

Lovelydovey · 09/02/2021 09:45

Well, if you don’t pay, they don’t have to fit it.

If you do, they will fit it at a reduced rate.

I don’t see where there is an option whereby they choose to fit it and you choose not to pay. Yes it seems odd because they will lose out whether they fit it or not, but they are under no obligation to fit it for you just because they have ordered it.

An0n0n0n · 09/02/2021 09:46

It's a gamble isn't it. If you dont take the discount you could get it free. But you might end up with mismatched worktops which you may have been fine with before, but knowing you could have had them for a very good price and lost the gamble would make me feel annoyed with DH.

Plus, while they are there to make a profit, they aren't going to beg him to have a freebie. They'd have to actually lose money to do that. It wouldn't make sense for them. So I think he will lose the gamble.

Dulcinae · 09/02/2021 09:46

I'd pay it and be pleased that I'd got a massive discount. Something you thought you couldn't afford has now become affordable! Yay!

An0n0n0n · 09/02/2021 09:48

If I was the developer and he refused it for a good price I wouldn't come back saying please take it for free. I'd fit the one that i presume he actually wants.

For him to have a freebie they have to actually lose money which is a bit of a crap way for DH to win a free counter

lottiegarbanzo · 09/02/2021 09:48

That's a decent offer. Is 375 more or less than you were going to pay for a cheaper worktop? I'd be very happy to pay the same or less and get a better quality product.

Remember that fitting isn't free, it costs them.

They have no obligation to give it to you, can probably use or sell it on and probably won't give it for free on principle anyway.

Your DH is showing them who he is, which will destroy your relationship with the developer. You might find a good relationship useful in future, if you need to contact them about anything to do with the house.

user1497787065 · 09/02/2021 09:49

I would pay the £375 and consider it a bargain my DH would try and barter it down a little more. He buys and sells vehicles so is used to bartering. No one considers that they should pay the asking price in his world.

thesugarbumfairy · 09/02/2021 09:49

I would pay. That's a great discount for something you would have bought if it was that price in the first place.

If its a small development, then you risking your good relations with the developer. Since there's a high chance you will be repeatedly in touch with them for snagging issues over the next couple of years, its not worth getting their backs up. The sales person who made the mistake is probably already in the shit for messing up the order in the first place. As others have said, they are under no obligation to sell it to you, but they will probably just dump it if you don't buy it.

If your husband is adamant, maybe you could ask to pay a smaller amount. £250 perhaps. They can only say no.

Original poster
CalaBallas · 09/02/2021 09:49

Thanks all, have emailed and accepted their offer Smile

OP posts:
AhNowTed · 09/02/2021 09:50

In the builders shoes I'd rather scrap it than give in to the DH, when the builder has made a perfectly reasonable offer.

user1471522343 · 09/02/2021 09:51

They’ve made a tempting offer. How much was the cheaper option - if it was, say £200- then I might try and negotiate them down to £200 so you’re husband isn’t out of pocket. That said if I wanted it I’d probably just pay it.

Somethingkindaoooo · 09/02/2021 09:51

Your DH is being soooooo greedy.

Just pay.

It's worth it.

Be gracious- do you both never make a mistake at work?

Greedy and mean

user1493494961 · 09/02/2021 09:52

The developer is bound to know someone to sell it on to, I would say it's quite unlikely you'll be given it for free.

thebestnamehere · 09/02/2021 09:56

@CalaBallas

We are purchasing a new build property and we sourced quotes for granite worktops in the kitchen and the utility. We decided against ordering for the utility due to cost and went ahead with just the kitchen.

I had an email from our sales rep this morning to say that the wrong quote was actioned, and granite for both the kitchen and utility has been delivered. Our original quote to add it on in the utility was for £875, and they've said as a good will gesture if we want the granite they will only ask to recoup £375 towards it.

I'm happy to pay, we did want it and just didn't want to pay out that much more for such a small room. £375 seems more reasonable for the size of our utility - might aswell?

Dh is insisting it's their error, we've ordered a specific granite that's useless to the developers and wants to fight to get it for free. I'm worried in doing so we'll sour our relationship with the developer and possibly get the granite in there at all.

Who's BU?

If its a new build and I assume there are other houses, someone else could have it. If you want it and it is cheaper, have it!
AryaStarkWolf · 09/02/2021 10:01

Agree with most here, your DH is BU, if he won't pay, they can just say fine and keep it and you'll have missed out, they're doing you a fantastic deal. He sounds very unfair and grabby

AndAllOurYesterdays · 09/02/2021 10:01

Good decision OP. You will enjoy that matching worktop. Life is too short for haggling.

Confusedandshaken · 09/02/2021 10:03

Why not compromise? Tell the developers that at £375 it's still out of your budget but could manage £250. That way your husband will feel he has 'won' and you get what you really wanted.

Of course if the developers stand firm and £375 as low as they'll go then you will have to rethink but I bet they won't.

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