I’m with you on the 48-hour deadlines—unless there’s a real supply crunch, it feels more like a sales tactic than anything else. In storm work, I’ve seen suppliers extend quotes for weeks if you’re upfront about needing extra time, especially on big repairs or insurance jobs. Only time I’ve had to scramble was after a hurricane when shingle prices were jumping almost daily... but outside of that, a week or more is pretty standard. Doesn’t hurt to ask for an extension if you need it—most folks would rather keep the business than lose it over a day or two.
That’s been my experience too—unless there’s some crazy market volatility, most suppliers are pretty flexible if you communicate upfront. I’ve definitely had a few times where I needed an extra couple days to get board approval or finalize insurance paperwork, and the supplier was willing to work with me. Curious, has anyone ever had a quote pulled or changed last minute even after getting an extension? I always worry about that, especially when budgets are tight and timelines are unpredictable.
I actually had a quote change on me last month, even after the supplier gave me an extra week. They blamed “market adjustments,” but honestly, I think they just realized they could get a better price from someone else. It’s frustrating, especially when you’re trying to stick to a tight budget and you’ve already started planning around that number. I get that things fluctuate, but it makes me pretty cautious about trusting quotes for too long. Maybe I’m just a bit paranoid, but I always try to get everything in writing and move fast when possible.
Yeah, I’ve had that happen too—one minute you’re sure of the price, next thing you know, “market adjustments” show up outta nowhere. I get it, stuff changes, but it’s hard not to feel like you’re getting played sometimes. I’ve started asking for a written quote with an actual expiration date... even then, I still half-expect a surprise. Maybe I’m just jaded after too many last-minute price hikes, but it’s made me double-check everything before moving forward.
I’ve started asking for a written quote with an actual expiration date... even then, I still half-expect a surprise.
That’s honestly the only way I’ve found to keep things fair, too. In my line of work, I always give clients a written quote that’s good for 30 days—sometimes less if prices are really volatile. But even then, I’ve had folks come back after a month and expect the same rate, and it gets awkward. Have you ever had someone try to change the scope last minute and then act surprised when the price shifts? That’s happened to me more than once.
I get why people feel burned by “market adjustments,” but sometimes stuff really does change fast—like material costs or new regulations. Still, I think if you’re upfront about how long your quote is good for, and what could cause it to change, it helps everyone trust the process a bit more. Do you think there should be some kind of standard for how long quotes are valid, or is it just up to each business?
