Parking Curbs, Speed Bumps or Speed Humps
How to Spot an Accurate Quote
When researching pricing for traffic calming devices, it can get a little overwhelming trying to remember who you’ve talked to, what prices were quoted, and what that price included. That’s why it’s always best to get a formal, written quote when possible.
But even with a written quote, how can you tell what is included so you can compare one quote to the next? Here are a few tips to determining who is offering the most accurate quote. Once you know that, it’s much easier to make a decision about where to purchase from.
- Presentation – What does the quote look like? Is it scribbled on a piece of scrap paper, or typed in a well designed form? If it’s a quick, handwritten quote, there’s a good chance this is the only copy. So if you have any questions about it, there’s nothing to refer to. And, unless it’s detailed, there’s also nothing to indicate what exactly was included in the quote. So who knows if you’ll actually receive the same materials & service that you originally asked for. On the other hand, a typed quote shows a bit more care for the work they’re doing. It means that they’ve taken the time to interpret what they’ve quoted, and put it into a legible form. Plus, there’s a good chance it was done on a computer, which means there’s
probably a saved copy, and most likely notes to accompany the quote. - Content – What is shown on the quote could mean everything. Is there a line item for each piece of material involved as well as for any labor? If you’re quoted with just a lump sum for the total of the entire job, it’s difficult to tell what exactly you’re being charged for. Are you paying for 8 pieces of an item, or 1? Are you being charged a reasonable labor rate? How many hours is it going to take to finish? Plus, if something is “missed” later on, there’s no way to prove if it was included in the original quote or not. An organized, line by line quote however, shows that you’re working with an honest company that wants to be up front with what they’re charging their customer. There are no questions what it takes to complete the job, and what you’ll be paying for it.
- Detail – Even if there is a line item for each thing, are there details about that line item included? Are there dimensions and measurements that you can use to compare with other quotes? Is there a detailed description of the product or just a generic term used? Without detail, you may think you’re being quoted for what you want, but might be getting a substitution instead.
- Expiration Date – Every quote is valid for a certain amount of time. The question is, how much time? If there’s no
expiration date noted on your quote, pricing could change at any moment. That means that a job quoted today could be a lot more expensive by tomorrow. While this is also true for a quote with an expiration date, most companies will honor the pricing that was provided on the quote as long as it is redeemed prior to the expiration. In today’s economy, that could save you hundreds of dollars.
These are only a few ways to determine if you’ve received an accurate quote. But using common sense, and trusting your instincts are your most effective tools. If something doesn’t feel right about the quote, or if there are lingering questions that you just can’t seem to get answered, there’s a good chance that it’s just not for you. Remember to always ask questions and never settle for less than you were quoted.