Interior designer wanting me to use FF&E supplier who costs more.

3 years ago

Hi, Not sure if this is an often asked question, so apologies in advance if the case!

I am doing a refresh of my home and my interior designer is subtly insistent that i should be using a retail store that she has a relationship with for supplying a number of items. Now, i don't have an issue with this in principle, but my issue is there is no discounting, and the pricing provided is higher than what i can find same items for at competing retailers just by visiting their websites - and let alone asking for further discounting. Her angle is she knows they will be there for ensuring stuff is supplied on time and will be quality etc etc, but these are high end items so any retailer offering them will be equally professional as the manufacturer would not just be listing such things with any ol' shop. I would have thought, if anything, that the pricing from the ID's preferred store be sharp to reflect the business she brings them ? Not full freight at the price any other person would get if they walked in off the street and pointed at an item and said 'i'll take that'. Or am i being unreasonable? I feel like i am being forced to pay more than I need to. The total variance between what i can buy elsewhere vs the IDs preferred store is substantial when added all up. In fact more than the ID's fee ! Advice appreciated.

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Double Chicken
Original Author

3 years ago

I want it to be a collaborative effort and stressed this from day one. I work from home so no issue taking deliveries and have the space to store it all whilst awaiting that stage of project to engage and install the pieces, and surely basic consumer rights would ensure if something turned up all smashed up then it gets sorted by seller, rather than me just taking it on the chin. Maybe I’m mistaken in thinking working with an ID would help ensure the pricing for buying a load of items would be better than if I just did it myself.

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Comments (10)

Jonathan
3 years ago
It depends on what you have contracted the interior designer to do.

If you are happy to take on the responsibility for procurement, you are prepared to wait in for deliveries from many couriers, if you can accept long lead times, if you are prepared to problem solve if an item turns up with damage or if it is incorrect then by all means source online..... just because it’s a high end brand does not mean you are assured of service if you buy online.
Double Chicken thanked Jonathan
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Sonia
3 years ago
I’m no expert but if she is doing all that for you, then surely you will have to pay for her time and input as well as the cost of the items?
Ricky Watkins
3 years ago
tell her you can find cheaper it's your money also she maybe on some kind of deal too with them %cut£
minnie101
3 years ago
I agree with Jonathan it depends what you’ve contracted her to do. It is very unlikely that she doesn’t get trade discounts with the store in question, it’s just she’s choosing not to pass them onto you. Some designers do, some don’t. Maybe her fee is cheaper to reflect that?
PRO
WeDesignSpaces
3 years ago
It'd be in your interest to keep costs down and your ID should have trade discounts that you're able to take advantage of. In agreement with Ricky, its your money, so we advise to push to use your supplier if your ID can't match the prices you have found.
PRO
Kay Moden
3 years ago
it's ok that the professionals (be it designers or contractors) get an incentive from the sales made through them, so nothing unfair there in my opinion, but you'd usually pay the same retail price as everywhere else. Also it's usually the trader who buys at discount not the end customer. The advantage of this route is obviously the direct contact of the trader to supplier, so yeah, it can improve the timeframe.

just general thoughts to help you make a decision
Jonathan
3 years ago
In answer to your second question- there is no reason to expect products bought from an Interior Designer would be cheaper than retail...... unless you have agreed a fee for design that includes discounts for goods procured.

It sounds like you don’t see the value in this specialists time and perhaps this is a lesson learned for the future.

But if you have had someone design a scheme, source pieces to achieve the look on your stated budget, if their service includes any of the following such as logistics, unpacking, disposing of packaging, assembling where necessary, arranging the room, liaising with contractors or problem solving should you be let down by trades or supply issues then you should be paying for this service somewhere and if it isn’t the design fee then perhaps it’s profit on goods they supply to you like any other retailer.
Laura
3 years ago
I would say it depends on your contract with the ID. If it’s not specified, I would be getting products in myself.

My partner is not a ID but does procure and supplies materials. This time is not covered by the fee for doing the work so if he gets discounts, he doesn’t not pass on the discount. That being said, he’s not getting a bad deal for his customers because they are not paying more than if they went in and bought themselves as customers. My partner is getting discounts for loyal custom. If his customers want to procure products themselves, they can, it saves my partner time to do other work for other people.
Double Chicken
Original Author
3 years ago
thanks all for comments. The fact is, I’m paying the ID a fee for design. She will give ideas as to what she thinks works for certain things and whilst most of them (thus far) come from a place she has existing relationship with, not all do. She is already coming in well in excess of my target budget- which I have mentioned to ID 2x now - and whilst I have some flex I also am going ’ok, I can get these items elsewhere for cheaper - not by even negotiating, but by just going onto other suppliers websites and it pops up with stuff like ‘10% off first order’‘ Now that adds up to thousands saved over the total project. We aren’t talking 50-60 quid. I’m not asking the ID supplier to beat that price - but just match. Which I don’t think is unreasonable given total spend , and the fact that other suppliers are without any negotiation happy to give 10% off, so I’m pretty sure the supplier will not be losing money on all this if they just matched the competition. It just leaves a bad taste in mouth that I’m the client of the ID, not the store that is the preferred supplier. It’s over budget. And I’m seeing considerable savings achieveable by going to another supplier(s). It makes me wonder who is working for who here, and I don’t know of many people who would be happy to pay more for an object from store x, when the store next door sells the very same thing for less.

Interior designer wanting me to use FF&E supplier who costs more.

Double Chicken
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Jonathan

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Interior designer wanting me to use FF&E supplier who costs more.

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