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Fallon1982

Plumbers Arms member
Plumber
May 7, 2015
243
75
28
Evening guys - Haven't posted for a long time (hope you will have me back lol :smiley2: )

Having a little run in with a customer I did a bathroom refurb for last November. She bought a cheap bathroom suite from Victoria Plum - Needless to say the cistern parts were cheap and nasty.

The flush valve has gone wrong three times now - 10 months later. I have changed the flush twice - Each time ordering replacements from VP.

What I wondered is how long would you guarantee your work as a sole trader for? I mean its not my fault the part keeps going wrong is it? Should I have to keep going back and each time it costing me time/money. There is nothing wrong with the way I have installed the valve or my workmanship. Just cheap parts.

Maybe I should have just installed an alternative the first time it went wrong or from the start - Needless to say I won't be sitting there guff parts again.

Welcome your thoughts.
 
Evening guys - Haven't posted for a long time (hope you will have me back lol :smiley2: )

Having a little run in with a customer I did a bathroom refurb for last November. She bought a cheap bathroom suite from Victoria Plum - Needless to say the cistern parts were cheap and nasty.

The flush valve has gone wrong three times now - 10 months later. I have changed the flush twice - Each time ordering replacements from VP.

What I wondered is how long would you guarantee your work as a sole trader for? I mean its not my fault the part keeps going wrong is it? Should I have to keep going back and each time it costing me time/money. There is nothing wrong with the way I have installed the valve or my workmanship. Just cheap parts.

Maybe I should have just installed an alternative the first time it went wrong or from the start - Needless to say I won't be sitting there guff parts again.

Welcome your thoughts.
Not your issue to sort anything,she was gullible enough to buy from VP they sell utter crap,everyone knows that and have as much support in the event of a problem as a spider with one leg,you need to tell her strait mate,she supplied,you charge for replacing said crap,BTW welcome back
 
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Hi Shaun - We are talking a cistern flush valve - If I buy a fluidmaster for £10-£15 the manufacturer gives a years warranty right. If it goes wrong you aint going to replace it for free unless its a fault from your workmanship right?

Cheers gas man - You guys have answered my question - Exactly what I thought.

Solution = Change customers phone number to "DO NOT ANSWER"
 
Hi Shaun - We are talking a cistern flush valve - If I buy a fluidmaster for £10-£15 the manufacturer gives a years warranty right. If it goes wrong you aint going to replace it for free unless its a fault from your workmanship right?

Cheers gas man - You guys have answered my question - Exactly what I thought.

Solution = Change customers phone number to "DO NOT ANSWER"

yes but then depending whats wrong (eg water main been opened and grit in it ) then i would charge
 
Surprised you said you are "having a little run in" with your customer that you have been going back to 3 times for free to replace her flush valve she supplied?
What has she said about this, as a matter of interest?
I would tell her you need some money to cover your final call out and if she had bother in the future, she should claim from VP for your costs.
 
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I should have mentioned that if I supplied the materials I would replace the faulty part, doing the labour for free at least on first time. You have to expect sometimes you will get a faulty part and just take the loss in time. Different if a major job needed - like a faulty cylinder days work where you need manufacturer to pay for time
 
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If I supply and install materials, then they are warranted by me, parts and labour for twelve months.
Somethings, like boilers for e.g. Have a 5/7/10 year on them. During that time,
I'd go and check things over to make sure it's the boiler at fault, then pass it onto manufacturers engineers.

My answer to customers with " I'll get the stuff ", is no, sorry, I only supply and install, I don't do labour only.

On the very rare occasion where they have provided ' stuff'

It's made crystal clear before I fit it, not to ring me if it goes wrong !
Ring the person you bought it off.

I don't think it's fair of your customer to allow you to keep coming back. You're obviously a fair minded person but I think you've done enough now and you should politely point that out
 
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Hi Shaun - We are talking a cistern flush valve - If I buy a fluidmaster for £10-£15 the manufacturer gives a years warranty right. If it goes wrong you aint going to replace it for free unless its a fault from your workmanship right?

Cheers gas man - You guys have answered my question - Exactly what I thought.

Solution = Change customers phone number to "DO NOT ANSWER"

I never go down the D.N.A route; if your are in the right you can simply refuse to carry out work on parts not supplied by you, especially if your have made every effort to fix so far.
 
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Thanks gents.

I do try to be fair with my customers. After all thats what brings in repeat custom. But I am going to stand firm on this one. I will actually give her a quote to fit a better part instead. Then I know it should be ok for at least a year.

These things are sent to try us. Appreciate your comments.
 
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