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How they cheat in hardware stores: 6 life examples
Summer is not only a vacation time, but also a period of renovation in an apartment. The key to success in this matter is the choice of quality materials. And here it is important not to fall for the dubious shares of unscrupulous sellers. Here are the main ones.
July 18 2021
Our consultant, the head of the construction team, Andrey Kopyrin, spoke about the tricks that buyers may encounter in specialized stores.
If you find it cheaper, we will refund the difference
This slogan can often be seen on Internet sites.—shops. The catch is that you will not get dropped the price – in stores it is fixed. If you provide a check from another supermarket with a better value (this is necessary to confirm your words), the seller will contact the manufacturer and accuse the competitor of dumping. It is prohibited under the terms of the dealer agreement, which is concluded between the manufacturer and the trading platform. You will be refused to return the difference, stating that in order to receive a discount, you need to buy a large batch of goods, say, from 100 sq. m of laminate.
It is often promised to buyers of parquet, furniture or other items. Sounds convincing, but with a caveat: we are talking about goods that, if they have to be restored, then every 25 years. Agree, the life cycle of the trading platform itself may be shorter.
This is the fault of the sellers of laminate and parquet, but rarely does anyone not change the floor covering every 10-15 years. If we talk about a guarantee in general, then in order to receive compensation for poor-quality material, it will be necessary to prove that its installation and operation were in accordance with the standards. This is difficult to do. In addition, many trading platforms add a clause stating that the warranty applies only to goods purchased with delivery and unloading, because the disadvantages may be associated with improper transportation. So the seller practically does not risk anything. However, such conditions are a way to increase the price.
In this case, cheap does not mean good. Let’s say you spent money on solid Italian tiles, but you chose the mixture for the floor screed cheaper, because it will not be visible. These savings will translate into serious costs. For example, a bag of sand concrete can be found for both 70 rubles and 200 rubles. However, in the first version, there will most likely be little cement, and a lot of sand. What is the threat? Poor floor screed. All work will have to be redone. This does not mean that you have to buy the most expensive materials, it is important to choose goods that meet GOST. And they are not cheap, because the manufacturer is obliged to maintain the proportions of the components.
Not every store has its own warehouse.The storage room for the staff’s belongings does not count. Therefore, most of the goods are stored by the manufacturer and transported immediately to the buyer. By purchasing building materials on such conditions, you can save money: after all, the seller benefits from such a scheme. But agreeing to this option, you buy a pig in a poke – they can deliver materials from different parties (this is especially important when buying wallpaper, laminate, parquet boards). Wallpaper is easy to check, floor coverings have so many icons on the label that it will be difficult to quickly accept the goods. There is also a minus – the delivery time may be delayed, in the end it will be necessary to either postpone the repair, or abandon the deal. In the case of prepayment, difficulties often arise: they do not want to return it.
Let’s say you buy wallpaper, tiles or laminate. You are promised a free package of glue or underlay for flooring. Surely the price of the bonus product is already included in the cost of the main material. Another disadvantage is that the gift will most likely be the cheapest, and the quality will suffer accordingly.
There are other points to pay attention to:
Re-grading. It is often found at construction sites where timber is traded. For example, linden lining can be replaced with aspen. It is difficult for an ordinary person to notice a deception from a wood pattern; only a specialist can cope with the task. Meanwhile, linden is noticeably more expensive than aspen, and only it is good for finishing wet rooms. Conclusion: for this product you need to go to the store with a professional.
Features of storage… Many goods spoil if they are left on the street or in a damp warehouse. Let’s say you come for a bar and see that it lies in the yard of the building base. The moisture content of the wood will go off scale. This means that when it dries, the lumber is deformed. A similar story with ceramic tiles. If it lay in a damp hangar for a long time, it means that it has absorbed moisture. When cutting, the tiles will begin to crumble.
Shelf life… First of all, it is important to check it for paints and varnishes and bulk mixtures.