Your merchants supplier and how they can help you?

Today i wanted to talk about your merchants suppliers and how they can help you in a number of ways.

I've stated before that your merchant wants your business and there's no getting around that fact but it runs a little deeper than you think, the order you place with your merchant (unless they manufacture the product your buying) comes from there supplier, there maybe a few middle men from the manufacturer to your merchant but the bulk supplier you can rely on them for help for many different things, some examples:-

Kitchens:- Most occasions your merchant will have someone that comes out and does the measuring and design for you, you can request what you want and they will give you what your customer desires, a simple one really and hardly a secret.

Stairs:- Some of the big guys actually offer an online service where you can drag and drop what you want, get your customer to do the same and it will give you the list price with the components you need to build the staircase and the codes for each item, take this into your merchant and they can price it up, in some instances where the ground and first floor are a little more unconventional your merchants supplier will come out and measure for you.

Metal Lintels:- Every metal lintel company i have come across offer the service that will work out what lintels you need. If you send your architects drawings off to the lintel company they will come back with what lintels you need and where they need to be used, this really does go into great detail from load bearings to size and description, try this one out and you will be very impressed. Your drawings can be sent across by e-mail also.

Bricks:- Brick matching is offered by all merchants, if it doesn't offer this service then it isn't a merchant but if you send a picture to the brick companies they will come back with there nearest equivalent, they can send samples direct and if they don't offer this service they will send it to your nearest stockist.

Drainage:- All big suppliers for underground drainage offer a service where they will work out what you need for your job and give you detailed drawings, you will have a list of all the items but it will also come with a list price attached, don't pay any attention to this as your merchant will then discount it accordingly.

Trusses:- Another simple one, i would advise your merchant to organise this one, If you require measurements to be taken and your not comfortable then the truss supplier will send someone out to measure for you, once this is done they will work out the price and any further components you require (ladders, treatment, braces...etc).

Insulation:- All insulation suppliers will help when your trying to achieve a certain 'U' Value, all you need is what your trying to achieve the materials your using and the specifications of said materials, if your having trouble and need the spec for the materials ask your merchant, they have data sheets for all of this.

Roof tiles:- It's something that your merchant should be able to work out but don't hold it against them if there not really a supplier of tiles, contact one of the big suppliers once again and give them the pitch of the roof, the width and height and they will work it out for you, again like the brick companies if you need to match a particular tile send a picture and they will come back with an exact match or there equivalent.

To summarise the list really is endless, your business is more important than ever and customer service is being offered in abundance, suppliers and merchants will basically do everything aside from build your project, it's fine getting advice from others but manufactures are the best to get the advice from because they become liable if the advice you take goes wrong.

Sometimes when drawings are involved for instance Block & Beam flooring or trusses you may have to sign the drawings just to confirm your happy with what's been worked out, always check everything, your signature puts the blame on you if there wrong, it's a rare occasion when it does happen but it does happen.

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