WARNING! Unprofessional Attitude.

[Greynomad]

I am seeking quotes to have a gable-roofed carport built for GIRT, our Winnie Explorer.
Because of its size, I have specific height & clearance requirements.

After seeing a TV ad for Fair Dinkum Sheds, I requested a quote from their local agent in the Albury/Wodonga region, Tony McGlynn at ASDA Sheds & Garages cnr Hovell & Huon Sts, Wodonga. The price was more than twice what I envisaged: $6500 for a (requested) 9m x 4.8m structure. It also ended up 5.5m wide and half garage, rather than just a gabled roof on sturdy legs.

As any businessman should be aware, quoting on a job does not guarantee that it will be accepted. I declined the quote.

Here is the response from ASDA:
===========================
Ray,
Thank you your reply. I wish you well in your future as an engineer ,conversant in AS 4600, 3600, 1170.1 & 2 & AS 2870. However you will need good wishes ,as if you were conversant in these Australian standards you would not think “I thought that would be sufficient bracing when combined with an enclosed gable on one end ”. Maybe you should just buy some steel & whack it up ( light & cheap is the go). One thing I will take from this waste of time, is that my gut feelings are right & I should listen to them more often. I would go through in detail & explain why all the dimensions are as you specified for the best design/cost result. But I think you summed it up to start with.


Handle every stressful situation like a dog:
If you can't eat it or play with it,
Pee on it and walk away.

Regards,


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From: Apple MacPro
Sent: Wednesday, 12 March 2014 2:55 PM
To: Sales
Subject: Re: Quote request

Tony,

Thanks for your quote, and I appreciate the time you have taken on it.
However, your proposal is far heavier than I envisaged.
For a start, the slab is only 5m wide (I think I mentioned that) so your design is too wide.(any narrower & there would be insufficient clearance as required)
Secondly, you have allowed four metres clearance across the full width, when I need only 3.5m overall, with 4m only for 1 metre at the centre. (any narrower & there would be insufficient clearance as required)
Thirdly, I do not want a fully-enclosed shed-type end as your drawing suggests. I want it as light and open as possible. (Make it out of titanium)
This is why I suggested the ‘curtain' of sheet metal around three sides: I thought that would be sufficient bracing when combined with an enclosed gable on one end. (Wrong)
Your quote is also about twice what I had notionally budgeted for the job. I presume this is because of the bracing engineered into the structure. No it’s not the bracing. It’s the extra time I have to pay for , so I can supply silly quotes.
Again, my thanks for your efforts, but I will pass on this one. (Me too)

Regards,

Ray Nolan

--
Some of my most trusted friends have more than two legs...
===================================

You have been warned...

[BruceS]

Ray I feel for you but unfortunately in Australia the extra costs of EVERYTHING all add up.
I suggest workers entitlements (& bonuses) all along the food chain all add up.
In my case I had an old, standard height double garage with 2 sliding doors.
I knew it would cost as much or more to just build a new one rather than extend mine higher & change the doors.
I DID get 2 quotes & also got replies like yours.
I priced the job by doing in myself.......... buy "C"-section legs, "C"-section purlins, etc etc. Threw all the old galv sheeting away & replaced with new colourbond, flashing, gutters etc............ one roller door & rewired it.
Ended up half the cheapest quote I had got!!!
I had to draw up some rough plans for the building inspector which he approved on the spot.
I'm not sure of building requirements in your shire? Check it out. Most are receptive to "owner builders".
Have you investigated going down this route?
My friend made an extra gable truss in no time. (He's looking for odd jobs!)
I do suggest you should have wind braces but they can be removable & installed if ever onother mini-tornado ever heads your way.
Continual movement will elongate fixture holes through the sheets of 'iron'.
Sorry for rambling on .........

[T1 Terry]

What a charming reply, no doubt you will be forwarding this to the head office. Is there a builder in Rutherglen? Might be a better idea to get a quote from there, the franchise mobs have to pay a percentage back to the parent company as well as buy through them so there isn't a lot of wriggle room for them in a lot of cases, plus they need to make up the min mthly $$ to keep the doors open, so if it's been quiet then the price goes up
The hieght of shed will be a structural issue as the area has previously been subject to wild wind gusts so everyone would be looking to cover their butt and build it much stronger than generally required, at your cost of course.

[dapope]

Just get a frame made and cover with shade cloth. FWIW we just had a 7x4 patio done. Was 10000, but a top job done by a friend. The professionals wanted the same sort of money with half the bracing and quality. We now have neighbours with patio envy.

[Dot]

Damm rude for a start. How dare people speak like that to anyone? (except me) I would be sending that letter to the major newspapers as well as the company CEO.

[Shirley]

Best idea is not to be home long enough to need a M.H. port, just get on the road & travel.

[generdawg]

Best idea is not to be home long enough to need a M.H. port,...

The only thing I can think of better than that is not even having a termite trap. Good one Shirley.

dawg (I know you told me not to call you surly, but I just can't help myself. )

[Kelvin12]

That's pretty typical of business these days, rude arrogant and couldn't give a shit. Can't tell you how many request for price emails I have sent out or asking for further information rather than waste their time answering a phone when they are busy. NOT one reply not even a "well get back to you". So my business mostly goes Ebay overseas or just overseas. Most of the time its way cheaper anyhow even with the freight costs.

Dirk

[Wilbor]

That's pretty typical of business these days, rude arrogant and couldn't give a shit. Can't tell you how many request for price emails I have sent out or asking for further information rather than waste their time answering a phone when they are busy. NOT one reply not even a "well get back to you". So my business mostly goes Ebay overseas or just overseas. Most of the time its way cheaper anyhow even with the freight costs.

Dirk

Normally I would agree, but over the past two weeks I have been requesting some information/prices on a water to air intercooler for Wilbor from 2 suppliers in the USA. One has come back with the info I requested and a freight cost and now I have asked him for a custom invoice/quote for an intercooler kit with a different intercooler I have had no response at all despite 3 follow-up emails. Their website clearly states the following

IMPORTANT: Our kits are fully customizable! Feel free to swap out the intercooler or a radiator for a different one! Just email us or call us and let us know what you want to swap out, and we will get a custom invoice and quote sent directly to you

So the search continues

[generdawg]

You see time and time again where people or organisations have a change of heart when shows like a Current Affair get involved. Soooo, it would seem that business would want to be very careful of anything put in writing and/or any verbals and facts that are documented or can be substantiated. Hence, a quote like, "wonder what my chums on the forum will think of this attitude?", should make any sensible person sit up and take notice.

dawg