Yeah, I've been seeing the same short quoting windows lately with siding and lumber too. Seems like suppliers are hedging their bets because of how volatile things have been—probably more about market uncertainty than intentional price hikes. I had one supplier flat-out tell me they couldn't promise pricing beyond three days...crazy times. Hopefully it's temporary, but for now, guess we just gotta roll with it and keep an eye on trends week by week.
Yeah, three days is nuts...I thought my contractor was joking when he said the window quote was only good for 48 hours. Felt like I was buying concert tickets or something, not windows. 😂 Honestly though, it makes sense with how things are right now. I wonder if suppliers will start offering some kind of price-lock option if you pay a deposit upfront? I'd probably jump on that if it meant avoiding surprise price hikes down the line. Has anyone seen suppliers doing something like that yet, or are we all just stuck playing the waiting game and crossing our fingers?
I've seen a few suppliers try the deposit-for-price-lock thing, but honestly, it didn't always pan out smoothly. One buddy of mine locked in a price with a deposit, then the supplier ran into delays and shortages anyway. Ended up waiting months longer than promised, which kinda defeated the purpose of locking in early. Maybe it's not just about locking prices, but also about finding suppliers who can realistically deliver on their timelines?
Yeah, I've seen that happen too. A neighbor of mine put down a deposit to lock in lumber prices for his deck, thinking he'd save big. But then the supplier hit delays, and by the time the wood arrived, prices had actually dropped elsewhere—talk about bad luck. I think you're right; locking in a price is great, but reliability matters just as much. I'd rather pay a little extra upfront if it means avoiding months of headaches later...
How long was your neighbor's quote good for, anyway? Usually, suppliers I deal with set a clear expiration—30 or 60 days is pretty common. Did he have something in writing about delivery timelines or penalties for delays? I've found that having those terms clearly spelled out can save a lot of headaches later on.
Honestly, locking in prices can be a gamble either way. I've seen folks rush to lock in after storms, thinking prices will skyrocket, only to see them stabilize or even drop once the initial panic settles down. But reliability and communication from the supplier are key—did your neighbor at least get regular updates on the delays?
In my experience, it's worth asking upfront: what's the policy if prices drop significantly before delivery? Some suppliers might be willing to renegotiate or at least meet you halfway. Doesn't hurt to ask...
