We (now almost regrettably) decided to buy a newbuild off-plan earlier this year. We were asked to select all the specs around April/May which we did. We exchanged contracts around June. And after that, the problems started.
The nation-wide "brick shortage" kicked in (was the UK the only country to suffer this?!) and the completion date was extended by two months;
The kitchen we selected was then suddenly discontinued around July/August (Surely, any manufacturer knows when they are discontinuing things - it doesn't tend to be an overnight decision?). We chose another one that wasn't as nice, but oh well.
Tiles we have selected were discontinued. We selected another one. OK.
When we went back to select new tiles, they told us the wood flooring we selected was out of stock and will not be available until a month before completion (which they think is too late to complete on time).
The only other options they offered us for the flooring looks TERRIBLE. The reason we selected the flooring we chose was that it was wood flooring that actually looked like wood. What they offered us instead looks like plastic rather than wood. We may as well have opted for laminate.
I could literally order the flooring I want online (!!!) but DWH says they would not fit it.
I said I'd rather postpone legal completion than choose something I do not like, but they told me that "head office" would be unlikely to say yes.
The other option is we complete without the flooring in place, they would refund us for the floor, and we can then order the flooring we want ourselves and get people in to lay the floors. This would cost a little bit more as we will have to pay workers to do this for us.
And why is it that these marketing offices look up to "head office" so much? It seems that "head office" can't even get their head around logistics, e.g. there are things like "forward contracts" that ensures you have the right amount of stuff at the right amount of time.
Car manufacturers like Mercedes get components from suppliers, too. You don't go and pick up your car to be told… oh the engine you selected is unavailable, so pick one of these inferior ones. And by the way, the price remains the same.
What do you think should we do out of the options above?!