The Potential Pitfalls of a Lowball Price and 2 Steps to Help Ensure You’re Protected

13983164766_40fe41fa5a_z-2Most fire protection companies try to be competitive with their pricing. As consumers ourselves, we always aim to give you the best value for your dollar. That means providing the most effective system and services for your situation in order to keep you and your staff, assets and premises safe.

But there are companies out there who just want your business, at any cost. Their #1 goal is to boost their bottom line. Which means they don’t have your best interests in mind.

If a company gives you a price that seems significantly lower than the ones you’ve received from competitors, it’s best not to jump in hook, line and sinker. It may be a great deal and turn out well. But too often, it can turn out to cost you much, much more in the end—not just financially, but in your time, energy and business operations. Or worse.

It happens all the time. The fire protection company who lost the sale to the lowballing company gets a panicked call from the customer who needs their entire system re-done (meaning the customer is paying twice for the same work) because it wasn’t done right the first time. Either the problem is caught by an inspector, or the customer found out the hard way if a fire broke out and the system didn’t perform as it should.

We all love a discount. But too much of one may be a red flag when it comes to something so important as securing effective fire protection designed to protect your people and assets. Please do your due diligence when you get what appears to be a lowball offer. Here are 2 things you can do.

  1. Ask the salesman or technician to explain how and why the price is much lower than that of other companies. Also ask what licensing they have, and how long they’ve been doing the type of work they would be doing for you.
  2. Check to make sure that company has the licensing to do what they say they can. Look them up on the fire protection contractor list on the state’s website (see the key at the bottom). One caveat is that many companies get licensed for every type of fire protection but aren’t experienced in all of it. We are specialists in every area we are licensed in. Ask questions until you feel satisfied that the company you choose will do a good job for you with the type of system you need.

If you have any questions that will help you make a more informed decision (even if you don’t choose us), we will be happy to answer them for you. Feel free to call us at 888-963-9770.

The Eastern Fire Team

 

Eastern Fire Suppression, LLC serves New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania.

Photo credit: Copyright Recrea HQ/Flickr