Comparing electrical quotes? Check what each price includes

Got two different prices for electrical fittings? First check that both suppliers are pricing the same products and quantities. The lower total alone won't tell you what's included.

Put your product list beside both quotes. Compare the items first, then check what else comes with each price.

Check the products and the numbers

Look for the brand, range, product code and colour. A description such as "light switch" does not identify the exact item.

Check how the quantity has been counted too. Is the price for each item or for a pack? If the two quotes count things differently, ask the suppliers to make that clear before comparing the totals.

Buying for several flats? Check that both quotes cover the same number of flats or the same part of the project.

If a supplier offers a different product, keep its code beside the item you originally asked for. Ask your electrician to check the proposed replacement before agreeing to it.

Ask about a vague description

Here is a made-up example, not a customer quotation:

• Supplier A lists "Click Mode CMA811, white".
• Supplier B lists "light switch".

Ask Supplier B: "Which switch is this? Please confirm the brand, range, product code and colour."

If the reply identifies Click Mode CMA811 in white, you can record that answer beside the line. You now know which product each supplier means. You still need to check the quantity, any extra parts and the other things included in the price. The example does not tell you whether that switch is right for your own installation.

Keep the answer with the quote and ask for an updated copy if the description needs correcting.

Find out what else the price covers

Open "Comparing quotations?" in our quotation-comparison fields, then ask each supplier:

• Are the extra parts needed for these products included or priced separately?
• Does the price include delivery, or do I need to collect? Which location does it cover?
• Are taxes and other charges included in the total or added separately?
• When and how do I pay, and how long is this price valid?
• When are the products expected, and is that date confirmed?
• Is there anything this quote does not cover?

If a detail is missing, write "not stated—ask" beside it and get an answer. A blank space does not mean delivery is free or an extra part is included.

These questions help you check each supplier's offer. They are not a list of things Builders Stop Center automatically includes.

Compare the prices once you know what you're getting

When the products, quantities and included items match, you can compare the totals on the same basis. If you still don't know what the price includes, ask before you decide.

Use the BOQ checklist if your original list needs more detail. A BOQ is a list of products and quantities. You can bring that list to BSC and discuss the options through our project-supply process. Ask us to confirm the price, whether products are available and when they can be supplied.

The website's Request a quote page creates a printable brief: a short summary of what you need. It does not send a request online. Choose "Print quote brief" when you've finished and bring it with your list to a Builders Stop Center office.