If both have good recs and the cheaper one is preferred by GC this is a no brainier, save your $!

Mark up!

I found granite pricing to be a shell game. I think you ought to seriously consider the cheaper option.

Thank you. I was just wondering if maybe one had something included that I wasn't thinking about? Most people I've spoken with have used the more expensive place and they come very highly recommended. First place I haven't heard anything negative about, but they are not as well known. No need to make fun of me.

Did you factor in the edges and sink, other holes? Anything thrown in - many say "free sink" which didn't matter to me as we were getting better sinks. Do they charge delivery? Separate installation? The difference in price seems considerable for that granite and only 80 sf. Doesnt make sense really. Maybe I am wrong about your granite type, but around here that is around $50-55/sf installed.

Someone is going out of business and doesn't know it yet. Maybe you'll get your tops before the train comes off the track.

You can't run a business by not knowing your costs. It doesn't matter what the competition charges. If you can't cover your costs, make a profit, and sell jobs that reflect that, you're done too.

JC - are you implying the lower bid is not covering costs? How do you know that based on the limited information provided? We only know the spread. Perhaps the GC is passing a discount to the OP. My GC did that for our granite and tile. zero mark up.

Let's say you run a successful fabrication business. Bubby, your lead man, thinks you're making a fortune, quits and takes Jimmy and Tommy with him. They start up a competitive operation. They've got mouths to feed and mortgages to pay and are going to get work even if they have to buy it from you with unsustainable pricing. This kind of thing happens to reputable fabricators all the time. Ex-employees have the technical skills and none of the sales skills.

Years ago, I quit bidding commercial work for similar reasons. I'd get results back and shake my head "You guys are out of your minds. It can't be done for that." I've been called a lot of things, some deserved and some not, but unprofitable ain't one of 'em. Ever.

JC - how do we know the difference comes at the fabricator's expense? My first thought was the GC is passing on his cost to the customer and the the KD is marking up from their cost. Maybe I missed something from the OP's post. And, even if it is the fabricator is charging less, perhaps the stone is one they are trying to move out because it isn't a whole slab or something. Or, maybe they owe the GC a favor...

I've got one Brazillian fabricator (family business) who imports direct. I've got another who uses a national consortium for buying power. The difference between the two on NVG is around $15 a square. Neither is starving, unprofitable, or lacking in business. Each has their niche where they shine.

If you want full service, as in removing old counters, hooking up plumbing and installing counter supports, then you want the more expensive guy. If you want the minimum of services, such as just removing the old counters and putting the new down, then you want the less expensive guy. Both have laser templating and CNC equipment and provide good fabrication.

You just can't mistake one's service for the other.

One was $4500 the other about $6500. I believe the 2nd one had some up charge for the large island being one slab, and needing more guys to lift it. GC already removed all of the old kitchen and will do the supports and hook ups. I'm going to meet with the first place tomorrow. Anything I should ask other than how they finish the bottom of the overhang? That other thread has me a bit nervous.

I've seen enough granite "problem" threads to come to the conclusion that all granite fabricators/installers are not created equal. Have you actually seen the work of either fabricator?

I use one place only for granite and sell at the same price they sell to the public. There are cheaper places (some by a lot) around. No matter who I use there is very little profit in counters for me. My only interest is NO problems and superb service. It doesn't bother me a bit if someone wants to use a less expensive source. They are on their own though. I will supply a drawing for bidding but nothing else.

In contrast I know at least one kitchen dealer who insists on marking counters up above what retail would be.

Worth noting that around here a lot of GC's tend to favor cheap counter suppliers.

No way to know which situation you are facing.

I have a good friend who used this GC and "his" granite place and was very happy. There are 3 main suppliers in town. I have asked around a lot. Most people use the $$$ one, but anyone I've talked to that used the $ one has also been happy. (I interviewed another GC that only used them as well.) The third place I heard doesn't fix their problems so GCs won't use them, so I didn't look into that.

They type of granite you are going with seems very uniform. But it might be an idea to go to the yards of both places and check out the actual slabs. Just to make sure there are no surprises there.

If you want full service, then you need to ask ahead what's included. The cheaper guy could very well be full service too. More expensive doesn't always mean you're getting more.

Who's to say the expensive guy didn't just buy a new waterjet so he's charging more to pay for the fabricating equipment? Or maybe the cheaper guy knows how to handle money better and his lot and machine are paid off, so he can charge less?? WHO'S TO SAY? We don't know. You cannot assume expensive means better.

I got 7 bids on granite, YES 7.... It was a chore but I ended up going with the cheapest guy, and it turned out fine. His bid included everything, removing old counters, hooking up sink, etc. BUT.... he did go out of business... So with what Joe said, in my case, this was true, cheapest guy went out of business. I only know he went under because I called him years later to see about stone for my bathroom.

I would get a third bid, see where it comes in and then think things over. Just because someone is cheaper doesn't mean their quality is less. You need to do your own research and come up with your own opinion. If you can get good reviews from the cheaper guy then I wouldn't hesitate to go with him.

I think I have about 65 sq ft in the kitchen. I got bids from 3000-6000 depending on the stone. Cheapest guy came in at 2500, But I fell in love with a mid grade stone, so I paid $3000. I know I saved at least $800-$1000 going with the cheaper guy over the next lowest bid.

I was speaking about my two specific fabricators. The inexpensive guy doesn't offer any other services at all other than counter removal.

Sorry about that live_wire_oak. I edited my org post.

"I got 7 bids on granite, YES 7...."

I would never, ever, have been the 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th bidder. I would throw my tools off the Sunshine Skyway bridge and follow them in before doing so. Those guys were idiots and deserved to have their time wasted.

When I got bids for quartzite, they ranged from 11k-18k. I used the 2nd cheapest that I had used before and they did a good job. I got 4 bids.

I would use the cheaper one if your gc has used them. Markup at some places is ridiculous. Just make sure it includes sink cutouts, edge design you want, and anything else so you are getting a true price.

Unfortunately, price isn't always directly related to quality. I asked a builder friend why some estimates I got were so disparate, e.g., by more than a factor of 2. His answer: Depends on zip code of customer, how busy a certain company is at a time, whether they have sales people and a large staff, and also where they are located.

Joe- They didn't know how many bids I got previously. It's not like I went parading around boasting about my many bids. Instead I just worked with each one like they were the first or second bid. That was my granite search.

I certainly don't recommend getting 7 bids. 2-3 is plenty in my opinion.

When I went with quartz for my bathroom I only got two quotes. By that time I knew what I was dealing with after going through the granite bids.

I got 2 bids on Taj Mahal quartzite. One was $6500 and the other was $15,000. I am now having the first place bid on Calacatta Gold marble. The second place doesn't carry it, because it is too expensive for anyone to purchase. (Ya think?)

"Joe- They didn't know how many bids I got previously. It's not like I went parading around boasting about my many bids. Instead I just worked with each one like they were the first or second bid. That was my granite search."

Thanks for proving my earlier point about fabricators not having sales skills. I am going to find out how many other bids you've gotten in our initial conversation or there won't be another conversation.

And Joe, I love ya, but I would lie to ya. Wouldn't consider it your business.

The difference could well be a substantial kickback to the KD. The actual fabricator bids might well be identical, no way to know.

We went to multiple stone yards because we were looking for slabs with color and pattern we were excited about. We ended up with a fairly large number of "bids" because the places wouldn't let us leave without one, even if they didn't have slabs we were interested in buying. (Obviously a different marketing model than Joe uses!) The bids took no more than 10-15 min to prepare, so not really a huge cost on their part.

In the end we got the slabs we liked from a yard that seemed to do nice work at a price that appeared to be somewhere near the middle of the pack. We ended up choosing slabs they had on site even though they sent us off to the two big regional wholesalers to look at a really big variety of material. We're very happy with the outcome.

There was definitely weird stuff going on though. Several yards had what appeared to be slabs from the same lot of stone but with different names and prices that varied by 4X. They were all really pushing it, even though it was not something we were interested in.

Joe, I didn't want to waste anyone's time during my granite bids. The problem I ran into was so many companies had gimmick prices just to get you through the door. Out of the 7 bids, only 2 were what they claimed to be from the beginning. The others had hidden prices everywhere. Had the companies been upfront and honest to begin with, well then I probably would have only gotten 2 or 3 bids.

I don't deal with people or companies that have to lie upfront to get your attention. The bid process was a lesson and I learned a lot about how companies do business, both good and bad.

I can appreciate that you don't want to deal with someone who got 7 bids. But at the same time, I'm the customer and I want to deal with someone who is honest and does good work, and if it takes 7 bids to find that, well then - so be it!

OK, here's an example: I wanted a specific carpet installed, specific pad, etc. I got an estimate, called a second place, was quoted double the price. I nicely said, no thanks, I'll go with another place that quoted me half the price. The guy I talked to quickly answered that they could do it for the same price.

Now, do you really think I would ever go with someone like that?

I'm with MrsShayne on that one.

Every company has different pricing models. One may charge for just the square footage used, while another charges for the number of slabs. One may give different free edges, while another may not give any free edges at all. One may charge $30 a square foot and $900 for an undermount. sink cutout. Another may charge $40 a square do the same stone and only charge $100 for an undermount cutout. They buy from different stone distributors, who have different prices for the raw materials too. And they have different overheads. So, it isn't surprising that you would get 7 different totals from 7 different sources.

It is not fair to call anyone's business practice "deceptive" just because they don't run it how you would do it. JC Penny's predicament with "everyday low pricing" proved that customers like paying "sale" prices, even if they are artificial sale prices and actually more expensive than the everyday pricing that they tried.

What is missing from the story is the examination of 7 different references, insurance cards, and examples of their work. That should be first on the list. Before price. The stone industry that I know wouldn't have had but maybe 2-3 finalists at that point. There are a lot of back yard hacks with a garage and a bridge saw and a half drunk brother in law assistant. :-/

I was told by one dealer they purchased a particular slab in bulk and could discount it because they got a better price on it. Also it had a little pock here and there.....imperfect. The sales lady said I should run my hand over the stone and they'd fill any imperfections.

"The sales lady said I should run my hand over the stone and they'd fill any imperfections."

Ha. I get this complaint on occasion. Maybe a little CA on the big pits, but that's all you're getting.