Because of its size, I have specific height & clearance requirements.
After seeing a TV ad for Fair Dinkum Sheds, I requested a quote from their local agent in the Albury/Wodonga region, Tony McGlynn at ASDA Sheds & Garages cnr Hovell & Huon Sts, Wodonga. The price was more than twice what I envisaged: $6500 for a (requested) 9m x 4.8m structure. It also ended up 5.5m wide and half garage, rather than just a gabled roof on sturdy legs.
As any businessman should be aware, quoting on a job does not guarantee that it will be accepted. I declined the quote.
Here is the response from ASDA:
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Ray,
Thank you your reply. I wish you well in your future as an engineer ,conversant in AS 4600, 3600, 1170.1 & 2 & AS 2870. However you will need good wishes ,as if you were conversant in these Australian standards you would not think “I thought that would be sufficient bracing when combined with an enclosed gable on one end ”. Maybe you should just buy some steel & whack it up ( light & cheap is the go). One thing I will take from this waste of time, is that my gut feelings are right & I should listen to them more often. I would go through in detail & explain why all the dimensions are as you specified for the best design/cost result. But I think you summed it up to start with.
Handle every stressful situation like a dog:
If you can't eat it or play with it,
Pee on it and walk away.
Regards,
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From: Apple MacPro
Sent: Wednesday, 12 March 2014 2:55 PM
To: Sales
Subject: Re: Quote request
Tony,
Thanks for your quote, and I appreciate the time you have taken on it.
However, your proposal is far heavier than I envisaged.
For a start, the slab is only 5m wide (I think I mentioned that) so your design is too wide.(any narrower & there would be insufficient clearance as required)
Secondly, you have allowed four metres clearance across the full width, when I need only 3.5m overall, with 4m only for 1 metre at the centre. (any narrower & there would be insufficient clearance as required)
Thirdly, I do not want a fully-enclosed shed-type end as your drawing suggests. I want it as light and open as possible. (Make it out of titanium)
This is why I suggested the ‘curtain' of sheet metal around three sides: I thought that would be sufficient bracing when combined with an enclosed gable on one end. (Wrong)
Your quote is also about twice what I had notionally budgeted for the job. I presume this is because of the bracing engineered into the structure. No it’s not the bracing. It’s the extra time I have to pay for , so I can supply silly quotes.
Again, my thanks for your efforts, but I will pass on this one. (Me too)
Regards,
Ray Nolan
--
Some of my most trusted friends have more than two legs...
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You have been warned...
