[aaron61]

How do you guys " sell " a customer on the paint you want to use. Since SW price increase I have been trying to push Color Wheel, local company, a little more but the customer sometimes don't seem too interested, or comfortable, in going with a product they're not familiar with. So instead I'll just propose SW.

 

[MAK-Deco]

If you sell them that you are comfortable using the product then they should be comfortable with you using the product. My jobs seems to be 50/50 some people want a specific and its usually BM and the other probably never realize what I show up with.

 

[vermontpainter]

I spent an hour and a half educating an architect this morning about paint for a rather high profile and large scale interior steel application. I have been sampling for over three weeks. The designer, project manager and architect have been unable to choose. The architect finally looked at me and said which one would you be most confident in? That should be the question that ultimately makes the decision on paint selection.

 

[bikerboy]

I just ask for the color(s) they want, and have it matched to whatever we want to use.

If they ask for a specific brand, it's your job to sell them the advantages of what you prefer to use. (Most of the time, telling them you use it and it works well is enough. YOU are the pro.)

Just imagine if all customers wanted Behr paint!!!!! What would you do then?

 

[aaron61]

In alot of posts many of you will state that you only use Aura or Regal or etc..... I was just curious how that can be acomplished

 

[tsunamicontract]

It has been real easy for me. I just explain why the paint I want to use is the best paint for their application. Pretty much ends at that.

 

[qdslse]

I agree with bikerboy. Just let them pick a color and use the paint you want!

 

[Tonyg]

I really dont understand how buying a cheaper paint can really make that much of a difference in cost. If I spend $5 a gal more for a better paint, or $5 less for a cheaper paint, we are looking at a 15% cost difference. With materials at 10%-15% of the job we are really looking at a minor increase/decrease - maybe a 2% cost difference. Now something like Aura, Mythic, American Pride, speacialty paits, etc. I will offer as an option at the additional cost but I will always insist on a premium product. If I am trying to sell myself as a premium craftsman it doesn't quite seem right to compromise by using a lower grade material.

 

[aaron61]

It's not that it's a cheaper paint. There Optima line is great, it's just my little way of protesting.

 

[aaron61]

I never said it was of lesser quality, I just asked how you sell the paint you want to use

 

[vermontpainter]

I really dont understand how buying a cheaper paint can really make that much of a difference in cost. If I spend $5 a gal more for a better paint, or $5 less for a cheaper paint, we are looking at a 15% cost difference. With materials at 10%-15% of the job we are really looking at a minor increase/decrease - maybe a 2% cost difference. Now something like Aura, Mythic, American Pride, speacialty paits, etc. I will offer as an option at the additional cost but I will always insist on a premium product. If I am trying to sell myself as a premium craftsman it doesn't quite seem right to compromise by using a lower grade material.

Thanks for saving a bunch of us some typing. Well explained.

 

[ProWallGuy]

99 times out of 100, they ask me what paint I use. I tell them Ben Moore. They say OK. YOU are the professional, YOU should spec the paint, period.
Do you tell your dentist what filling material to use, or the doctor which type of medicine you prefer?

 

[ewingpainting.net]

99 times out of 100, they ask me what paint I use. I tell them Ben Moore. They say OK. YOU are the professional, YOU should spec the paint, period.
Do you tell your dentist what filling material to use, or the doctor which type of medicine you prefer?

Just make sure you dont say you go to your local HD or Lowes PLEEEASSE. I think I have heard that hear in the last so many threads. The last time I was at a clients house the paint was failing, I asked the HO what bpaint the last painter used? the said "ohhh they went to Home Depot down the street, because it was close"
Or how bout this one? "bid the job without paint, I'll by the paint"

 

[aaron61]

Or how bout this one? "bid the job without paint, I'll by the paint"


I hear this one a couple of times a month

 

[greensboro84]

Everytime I do something for family or friends, they of course, have already bought the paint, and of course, it's Olympic or Behr. Matter of fact, I just painted my grandfather's porch with "high quality, top-notch, behr paint". I'll be painting it next summer with the same, I'm sure.

 

[Dave Mac]

$45 for a gallon of duration today, I have used this product for the last five years and love it. A lot of our houses require about 15 gallons thats $675 in materials, I know their are many exterior products out their some around 25 per gallon that would be $300 difference (from the above example), that to me is enough of a difference to loose some bids, I know Im going to be exploring some other products, SW is out of control imo

 

[Brian]

How do you guys " sell " a customer on the paint you want to use. Since SW price increase I have been trying to push Color Wheel, local company, a little more but the customer sometimes don't seem too interested, or comfortable, in going with a product they're not familiar with. So instead I'll just propose SW.

I tell them what I've used on my own home and why. I tell them of the thousands of houses we have painted, the materials we have used, and why. I tell them of my experiences using BM, P&L, SW, Behr, Devoe, Glidden, etc. If that's not good enough, then I'm probably not their contractor.

Brian Phillips

 

[aaron61]

I really dont understand how buying a cheaper paint can really make that much of a difference in cost. If I spend $5 a gal more for a better paint, or $5 less for a cheaper paint, we are looking at a 15% cost difference. With materials at 10%-15% of the job we are really looking at a minor increase/decrease - maybe a 2% cost difference. Now something like Aura, Mythic, American Pride, speacialty paits, etc. I will offer as an option at the additional cost but I will always insist on a premium product. If I am trying to sell myself as a premium craftsman it doesn't quite seem right to compromise by using a lower grade material.

$45 for a gallon of duration today, I have used this product for the last five years and love it. A lot of our houses require about 15 gallons thats $675 in materials, I know their are many exterior products out their some around 25 per gallon that would be $300 difference (from the above example), that to me is enough of a difference to loose some bids, I know Im going to be exploring some other products, SW is out of control imo

Two different takes on the same situation. I think I agree with the later.

On most exteriors we do the cost of materials is 25-30%. 30 gallons $10= $300. I'm sorry, I wish I had the luxury of saying $300 does not come into play on a $3,000 job but things are that tight down here!

 

[Pete's Painting]

$45 for a gallon of duration today, I have used this product for the last five years and love it. A lot of our houses require about 15 gallons thats $675 in materials, I know their are many exterior products out their some around 25 per gallon that would be $300 difference (from the above example), that to me is enough of a difference to loose some bids, I know Im going to be exploring some other products, SW is out of control imo

My local SW is way out of control, and their reps remind me of used car salesmen. They had a great sale on drops in the spring so I bought a bundle. I asked if they had any more and they said yes, out back. They slipped some in the pile that wouldn't block paint as well as a paper towel.
I give them a lid and say I need more of the same, they "accidentally" mix up their most expensive and try to make me eat it. Then they told 2 of my customers that I should be using grey primer for every color I use. Done with them.

 

[Brian]

On most exteriors we do the cost of materials is 25-30%. 30 gallons $10= $300. I'm sorry, I wish I had the luxury of saying $300 does not come into play on a $3,000 job but things are that tight down here!

I would say if your material costs are 25% to 30% of a job you are grossly under bidding the job. Which means, you aren't selling at the right price.

Our average material costs are less than 12%.

Brian Phillips