Do you let the customer buy the adhesive and grout? - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

**Dan** · 11-03-2008

I keep reading that sometimes it's the customer that's supplying the adhesive and grout, and some of those times the tiler doesn't even know the brand.

Do you let your customer buy the gear, if so do you tell them the brand you use?

Some issues regarding loosing a bit of cash yourself, the customer paying more for it, getting the wrong amount or type, causing you to spend longer on the job because of it?

I never used to allow it. Always use to make on it. Always use to save the customer still. Always. I couldn't have messed around with something I wasn't used to - need those meters down! Can't be reading the bag and testing and trying to get used to how it works etc.

**enduro** · 11-03-2008

Customer got porcelain tiles from fired earth, 450x450 and got tub adhesive from them as well, tut tut fired earth.

Always try and supply adhesive and grout myself, then i know they will stick

floydyboy · 11-03-2008

down here 90% of the time i go to price a job the customer has already bought everything, but when posible i will try to get them to go to a tile stockist that do supply a good brand like bal from topps but a lot will not go or pay

**Dave** · 11-03-2008

I get my customers to buy tiles and materials from my local CTD but if i turn up and they got the tiles somewhere else then i usually get the materials....

**Sir Ramic** · 11-03-2008

If i go and quote and they tell me they have adhesive and grout i will see what they have got. Most of the time i tell them to take it back and get money back, I will only guarrantee if i supply adhesive/grout or if i agree its acceptable stuff.

**Fekin** · 11-03-2008

Always tell my customers that I will get the materials.

That way I get the propper gear to work with, they pay less for it and I make a bit on it, everybody wins, and I know the brand will work.

tysfoot · 11-03-2008

same as, its a double win, tha get decent gear at discount rate and you can make a couple of quid on the quote

**CLAYS TILES** · 11-03-2008

i guarantee my work if i buy & use mats i brought myself!
the other day went to do a quote & she said i've bought the mats to do the job would u like to see? TUBBED gear for floor

told her its the wrong stuff,she doesn't believe me as B&Q said its the right stuff!!!
i grinned & walked out!!!

**grumpygrouter** · 11-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLAYS TILES

i guarantee my work if i buy & use mats i brought myself!
the other day went to do a quote & she said i've bought the mats to do the job would u like to see? TUBBED gear for floor told her its the wrong stuff,she doesn't believe me as B&Q said its the right stuff!!!
i grinned & walked out!!!

Lady I know went to B&Q for grout for porcelain tiles, the "manager" told her that grout for porcelain tiles was only good for porcelain tiles and it could not be used on normal ceramics!

Grump

**Dave** · 11-03-2008

don't get me started on bloody B&Q staff..........

**grumpygrouter** · 11-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

don't get me started on bloody B&Q staff..........

Why would that be Dave??

Grumps

**Dave** · 11-03-2008

Job yesterday and t/day...B&Q staff supplied customer with tiles.....ok you think..........but when i got there....6 different batch codes FFS.....

....
B&Q said it would be ok....

Used what i could on the first shower then customer changed the rest this morn for all the same.....customer has had the tiles for months ..just as well the still stocked them.....