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TileWise Cartoons
The Problem with Low Bids
About The Problem with Low Bids
Low bids have put a lot of contractors out of business. Consumers have also paid the price in accepting low bids since these types of jobs often result in unwanted and costly problems later on down the road.
Typically it’s the unqualified or inexperienced installers that offer unrealistic (low) bids to get a job. The items they overlook and the corners they cut in putting forth a low bid is ultimately at the owner’s expense, since it’s the owner who’ll have to deal with the resulting problems. Some examples of “cutting corners” could be that the installer uses inferior products, leaves out important installation steps, or uses unqualified labor as a means to rush through a job to save what money they can since they bid the job so low. Skimping on suitable products, methods or labor can result in a visually unacceptable installation with concealed defects leading to problems or limiting performance. This is bad advertising for our industry!
Some installers that know their way around architectural specifications look for ambiguities commonly found in these documents and base their bid on the lowest price and cheapest products. Then, after they get the job, they send in change orders (asking for more money) for the more appropriate products and methods, which were likely intended in the first place, but weren’t properly specified by the architect. So it’s important for installers to provide qualified bids and to point out any ambiguities to the general contractors or owners so they don’t become a disadvantage to the installer, and the owners don’t get stuck with added expenses.
Architects should write clear specifications (i.e. without ambiguities) and owners should qualify bids, and installers should make sure they know and use the appropriate industry standards for a given application.
About the Tilewise Cartoons
TileWise cartoons were developed under Donato Pompo's leadership for Club '84 (Ceramic Tile Action Group). Club '84 was a non-profit organization of accomplished individuals from all segments of the ceramic tile industry. The group's mission was to develop and distribute educational aids to educate, train and bring quality awareness to the distributors, specifiers, installers, and consumers of Ceramic Tile.
The TileWise cartoons were created to communicate issuses and concerns in the business of using ceramic tile for all segments of the industry. The objective was to educate to promote the quality use of ceramic tile. In each cartoon the screen exaggerates what you shouldn't do or emphasizes an issue or concern, then George the Bucket (named after CTI founder George Lavenberg) says what is correct. The cartoons ran for twelve years in each issue of the Tile Industry News, a major industry publication, published by the Ceramic Tile Institute until 1999 when it ceased.
Use these cartoons to educate your customers and employees to help avoid potential problems, and to promote a positive image of your company through newsletters, posters or mailings.
We hope you can put these cartoons to good use to help your industry and your business, and we know you will certainly benefit from them if you do. Good Luck!
The TileWise Cartoons will be displayed and available for your use. Restricted to limited single use. Randy’s cherished wife, Suzanne, is working hard to care for their precious sons, Rudie and Remie. Randy’s sudden illness left them with limited resources. If you can benefit from the use of the TileWise Cartoons, and if you can afford it, a donation to Randy's family would be very much appreciated. Please see form below to pledge whatever amount you would like to donate.
Right click the cartoon of your choice (Restricted to limited single use) and do a "Save Picture As..." to your hardrive.
(over 50 TileWise cartoons for your pleasure, and to use to educate your customers and employees)
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