BE AWARE! FULL PAYMENT IS REQUIRED UPFRONT *BEFORE* COMPLETION
I found generally positive online reviews of my local stone supplier Marble 2 Marvel, so approached them for a quotation to replace my laminate kitchen countertops with quartz. Receptionist Grace was extremely helpful in explaining my options and guiding me through samples. (My one-star review in no way reflects on the service I received from her, but on the firm's practice as detailed below.)
The sticking point came with terms and conditions. She told me terms of payment are half on commission, the other half BEFORE final installation. I commented this was a highly unusual request. She repeated it was part of the t&c.
Under the very best of circumstances, I would regard this as a demand too far, and highly risky for any customer paying for any substantial building job. I have never agreed, nor been asked to agree, to such terms for any such job in the past.
On top of which, the less favourable reviews show that customers of Marble 2 Marvel sometimes do not enjoy the best of circumstances during their installations. There are some accounts of delays in completion dates, and even a few of repeated delays lasting weeks.
In my case, I was replacing existing countertops, so this might have meant me iiving without any, and also without running water in the kitchen while the sink tap was temporarily removed, for days or weeks on end. All while having already paid the entire cost, running into thousands of pounds, upfront.
Each customer must make up their own mind about such risks. In my case, I decided not even to proceed to a full quotation, but instead went with one among several from competitors, all of who follow the customary trade practice of requiring half the payment on commission, half on completion.
I would strongly urge Marble 2 Marvel to revise its t&c in line with the industry norm.
5 May 2023
Unprompted review