You get what you pay for. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I don’t mean to sound cliché, but these statements are good sound advice to follow while building shopping.
While on the topic of shopping for the “cheapest” building, it is important to mention to compare apples to apples. For example, do not think that the price of a 40×60 I-beam building and the price of a 40×60 Quonset building should be the same. Even if the price is in the same ballpark, your overall total cost will differ. A Quonset building may be cheaper than an I-beam building for storage of equipment. However, if you need to insulate a Quonset building, it is nearly impossible to do so because of the rounded style. In this case, you may be better off with an I-beam building at a higher cost that can be easily insulated saving you time and money in the long run.
Remember - Calculate your total cost. You’re metal building price and your total cost will differ greatly depending on your needs. I realize you need a starting point when shopping for a metal building. The three things you should compare when shopping for building price alone are: building type (Quonset or I-Beam), size, and sales price. The price and size can be found in a magazine ad or on a company website. You may have to clarify what type of steel building it is if they don’t show pictures in the ad. Starting with these three criteria will get you going in the right direction.
Don’t tell salesmen how much their competition is quoting you on a steel building. Why? You may miss out on a really good deal. If you tell them the price on their competitor’s quotes, then they will come in slightly lower just to make the sale. Meanwhile, you may not be comparing apples to apples, since they may use cheaper products in their quote. Tell the sales people exactly what you are pricing out using brand names, gauge of steel, etc. Then ask them to give you their price. This is the only way you can get a fair deal. Once you have all the quotes from different companies on the exact same order, then you can choose the one you are most comfortable with. Hopefully, they also gave you the best price. If not, then tell them you have cheaper quotes and ask them to if they can match them.
It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Here’s how this typically happens. You call into a steel building company’s one eight- hundred number to inquire about purchasing a steel building. You mysteriously get someone on the line from “inventory” or “production” or “shipping” who acts like he doesn’t know how he got your call. Since your salesman is acting like a average Joe from a different department, he plays dumb so he can’t answer any of your questions. He’ll typically get your info and building size and says he’ll call you back after he calls down to the factory to see if they have a building to fit your needs. He calls you back and of course has a building close to what you want. Now he conveys a cavalier attitude when asked questions and pretty much tells you the price in a “take it or leave it” manner. You think you might be getting a deal since this guy is clueless and maybe he is giving you a really good price out of ignorance, but you are really getting the wool pulled over your eyes. Click here to read about a consumer protection lawsuit that highlights in great detail how this scam works.