Page 5 | Who's BU? Paying for a messed up order

CalaBallas · 2021-02-09T08:54:47+00:00

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?

Original poster

CalaBallas · 09/02/2021 11:43

We paid just over £3k for the kitchen granite, upstands and splashback and a nice big under mounted sink etc, I know the £375 is a good price. They quoted us £875 and said that it's cheap because we've already paid templating with the kitchen order, but it didn't seem that cheap as the utility is one small and we only wanted a single bowl under mount sink in there and an upstand, no splashback. It just seemed a lot for a small room so we said no. Dh generally thinks I'm mad for wanting such expensive worktops anyway but it's the one thing I really wanted for the kitchen so he went for it, they definitely don't mean as much to him so I don't think he felt there was anything to lose. We've just sent the money over anyway so they are mine now

OP posts:

Scbchl · 09/02/2021 11:46

Your husbands being a dick. You had to settle with a second choice worktop as you couldnt afford your first choice. They are now offering you your first choice with £500 off within your budget you would of initially paid and hes acting as if this in an error that's inconvenient to try get it free when its actually very beneficial.

If I were the developer I'd suck up the cost and get you your second choice solely for the cheek of your husband.

GreenlandTheMovie · 09/02/2021 11:48

What relationship do you have with a large, remote national housebuilding company that you are so afraid of damaging? They are contractually obliged to deliver certain things to you. Your personal relationship with them wont affect that.

The contract is voidable due to error on their part, if you don't accept their compromise offer (which leaves you out of pocket) then they must bear the loss. This is more a disagreement between you and your husband now.

SixesAndEights · 09/02/2021 11:52

@GreenlandTheMovie

What relationship do you have with a large, remote national housebuilding company that you are so afraid of damaging? They are contractually obliged to deliver certain things to you. Your personal relationship with them wont affect that.

The contract is voidable due to error on their part, if you don't accept their compromise offer (which leaves you out of pocket) then they must bear the loss. This is more a disagreement between you and your husband now.

It's a small, local firm.

The contract was for cheaper, inferior worktops.

Are you suggesting the OP should have said no to having the granite worktops she really wanted at a fabulous discount price, and to take the free, but not really what she would have liked but chose because full price of what she did want was too expensive, worktops just because the firm had made a mistake and she wasn't "contractually obliged" to take them up on their offer?

Bonkers.

cozycat1 · 09/02/2021 12:05

Good move to accept it. That is a bargain and there would have been no guarantee you'd get it for free. People will buy off cuts.

nancywhitehead · 09/02/2021 12:15

I think your DH is being a bit petty and unpleasant.

Yes it was their mistake and he probably could argue with them and get it for free.

But why would you? You wanted it anyway and now you're getting it at a very reasonable price. Businesses aren't exactly rolling in it at the minute so why not cut them a bit of slack - you've got a good price for something you wanted, and their business hasn't lost all that money from an error. All good!

Northernlass99 · 09/02/2021 12:23

Accept the offer. Don't try and get one over on a small firm. Play fair.

sansou · 09/02/2021 12:30

Give and take.
Do you want them to prioritise your snagging issues going forward?
Goodwill goes both ways!

WaxOnFeckOff · 09/02/2021 12:41

In the grand scheme of buying a new house, it's not a big cost and I think if you went back and said £325 and you have a deal.it would be accepted and things like snagging will go so much more easily.

Someone made a mistake, it happens. If they've been otherwise good then I wouldn't make too much of an issue.

We had folk in doing our bathrooms and the electrician dropped and smashed a light fitting, it was bought in a sale for £40 but had originally been over £100. He offered to pay for the replacement but I managed to get another still in the sale so said not to worry. Next day when I got back from work, he'd done a few extra wee jobs and not added it to his bill.

What goes round comes around

Snugglepumpkin · 09/02/2021 12:46

Is it cost of whatever you were going to have installed + £375
or is it £375 total worktop cost instead of whatever you had picked?
Has he also ordered the other worktop & is still going to charge you for it?

theemmadilemma · 09/02/2021 12:47

I would happily pay that.

Partner would be the same as your Husband and likely get it free/further reduced in the end. Annoyingly although it goes against my judgement and sometimes sensibilities, it does most of the time work out in his favour.

SabrinaMorningstar · 09/02/2021 12:59

I'm glad you paid for it OP because your DH was wrong to think he'd get it for free. There is always a demand for granite worktops even small off-cuts. Developers and manufacturers sell them at auctions; in stores, etc.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 09/02/2021 13:00

I think you were right to go for what you wanted and right to accept the offer they made after their error.

We had a laminate worktop in our new house. I thought I could get to love it, but no. Now we have quartz, which I do love.

YoniAndGuy · 09/02/2021 13:02

I would pay. I honestly think you're getting a bargain and the goodwill of you not arguing the toss might pay off if there are future issues.

If I were the developer and you insisted on free or nothing, I'd tell you to jog on and sell it myself on ebay!

Cadent · 09/02/2021 13:03

I think you got a great deal. My mum's kitchen was only £5k from Wickes (excluding fitting), but adding granite worktops would have added £2k.

PatchworkElmer · 09/02/2021 13:07

Glad you’ve accepted the offer. I think you’ve got a bargain

CharityDingle · 09/02/2021 13:23

@CalaBallas

We paid just over £3k for the kitchen granite, upstands and splashback and a nice big under mounted sink etc, I know the £375 is a good price. They quoted us £875 and said that it's cheap because we've already paid templating with the kitchen order, but it didn't seem that cheap as the utility is one small and we only wanted a single bowl under mount sink in there and an upstand, no splashback. It just seemed a lot for a small room so we said no. Dh generally thinks I'm mad for wanting such expensive worktops anyway but it's the one thing I really wanted for the kitchen so he went for it, they definitely don't mean as much to him so I don't think he felt there was anything to lose. We've just sent the money over anyway so they are mine now

Good outcome, imo!

PegasusReturns · 09/02/2021 13:24

Good call.

DH is an architect and does a lot of work with his own and third party developers. Keeping them sweet is everything

viques · 09/02/2021 13:28

I am glad you have paid. I think if you had let it go it would have been a little pinprick of regret every time you walked into the utility room. If and when you sell the granite will still look good, the Formica would probably show its age within a couple of years.

bridgetreilly · 09/02/2021 13:32

They seem very reasonable to me: they've ordered it by mistake. Either you take it at the reduced price or you don't have to have it at all. I can't see ANY reason why you should get it for free.

Coffeeandaride · 09/02/2021 13:51

I think you are right and it's worked out well in the end, enjoy the granite.

LaurieFairyCake · 09/02/2021 13:54

It's just the nice thing to do to buy it

Who doesn't want to be 'nice' 🤷‍♀️

Eckhart · 09/02/2021 13:55

It's not for you to decide whether they have no other use for the material. You're not obliged to accept the offer, and they're not obliged to give you anything for free.

Cadent · 09/02/2021 14:01

It’s the smart move though. The developers will have no use for cut granite.

SheldonesqueIsUnwell · 09/02/2021 14:09

Good decision OP.

I’d have done the same.

Your dh needs to learn that there is a time and place for cferiness and this was not one of them.