“I usually try to get suppliers to agree to a 30- or 60-day window for quotes, just to keep everyone honest.”
That’s smart, but honestly, I’ve seen some suppliers try to wiggle out of even a 30-day quote if prices spike. It’s tough when you’re stuck between a client expecting the original price and a supplier suddenly bumping up costs. Has anyone actually had luck locking in prices for longer than 60 days lately? Or is that just wishful thinking with how fast materials jump around now?
I’ve been running into the same issue with my kitchen reno—thought I had the cabinet quote locked in for 45 days, but the supplier called me at day 28 saying their costs jumped and they couldn’t honor it. Super frustrating, especially when you’re budgeting every line item and suddenly you’re over by a few hundred bucks. I tried shopping around, but even the places that said “60 days” had all these little asterisks about “market volatility” or “subject to change.”
Has anyone tried asking for a written clause or penalty if they back out early? I’m wondering if that actually works, or if it just scares suppliers off. Or maybe there’s a trick to timing—like getting quotes right after a price drop, not during a spike? I feel like I’m playing the stock market just trying to buy plywood...
- Been there, felt that pain—had a flooring quote “locked” for 30 days, then the supplier called me at week three with the classic “market volatility” excuse.
- Tried asking for a penalty clause once. The guy just laughed and said, “Not in this economy.” Didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
- I’ve noticed prices seem to jump right after long weekends or holidays... maybe suppliers get bored and raise rates?
- Anyone ever had luck with smaller local shops sticking to their word better than the big chains? Or is it all just a gamble these days?
I actually had the opposite experience with a local shop versus a chain, so I’m not sure it’s as simple as “small = more reliable.” The big box store stuck to their quote for the full 30 days, no drama. The local guy, on the other hand, bumped my estimate up after two weeks—said his supplier raised prices. I get that costs can change, but if you’re going to offer a price lock, it should mean something.
I do think some of these price jumps are legit—materials really have been all over the place lately—but sometimes it just feels like an excuse. I started asking for written quotes with clear expiration dates and any exceptions spelled out. Not everyone loves that level of detail, but at least it gives me something to point to if things go sideways.
Honestly, whether it’s a chain or a small shop, I’ve found it’s less about size and more about how upfront they are about their process. If they’re cagey from the start, that’s usually a red flag for me.
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually don’t mind when a shop is upfront about a shorter quote window, as long as they’re clear. I’ve had a couple places tell me straight up, “This price is good for 10 days because our supplier changes rates weekly.” At least then I know what I’m dealing with. I’d rather have a realistic, shorter lock than a 30-day promise that gets broken halfway through. It’s frustrating, but I guess with how wild material costs have been, I can’t blame them for covering themselves. Still, if they’re vague or change the story, that’s when I walk.
