Giles
Well-known member
Travis cost me hundreds a few years ago-
Needed about 600 9 inch hollows for a retaining wall, got a price from my usual place, acceptable enough compared to my quote for the job. Asked if there was artic access to get them delivered straight to site, yep, fine.
Guy who was actually building the wall for me said 'let me see what Travis will do on my account '. Reluctantly I agreed, surprisingly they were several hundreds cheaper.
Blocks were duly ordered, I arranged for me and a couple of lads to be onsite to move them as they landed.
Rigid Lorry turns up, unloads, only about 1/3 of the order- where's the rest of it?? Oh this is all we've got, the rest will be here another day!!
Ended up getting them in dribs and drabs, even had to pick 2 trailer loads up from another branch who took a lot of persuasion to meet the price given
Any savings were long gone in lost time and labour
Then to add insult to injury a few weeks later they tried to bill us for all the pallets (long gone) to the tune of about 300 quid!!
Nothing on the delivery notes, no word from the driver on delivery etc. No chance, not paying that in a million years!
Lesson very much learned, back to only using them when needs must!
We get direct loads from block plant for big jobs but it’s a full wagon, communication and good relationship is the key. I use a smaller merchant where I know all the staff and drivers and drivers have my number get priority delivery and good rates
Used jewson for my extension though as nearer but they only run 8 wheel big trucks where small merchant have 4 wheel 18 ton that can back on drive and stack materials much better.
