That’s a very smart and practical question 👍 — because designers often get trade discounts (5–20%) from vendors in Delhi NCR (plywood, laminates, tiles, lights, furniture). The key is whether they keep it as margin or pass it on to you.
✅ How It Usually Works
1. Designers Who Pass Discounts On
- Share their vendor invoices with you.
- You pay the discounted rate directly.
- Example: Greenlam laminate list price ₹1,200/sheet → designer rate ₹950 → you pay ₹950.
- Transparency builds trust.
2. Designers Who Keep the Discount
- Quote you at MRP, keep the difference as hidden income.
- Common with laminates, tiles, and lights.
- They justify it as their “sourcing effort.”
3. Hybrid Approach
- Some designers pass big discounts (like 15–20% on tiles, hardware).
- But keep small margins on certain items (lights, fabrics, furniture sourcing).
- If sourcing & warranty handling is included, a small service fee is fair.
💡 What You Should Ask
- Do you pass on your vendor discounts to clients?
- Will I get original bills from vendors?
- Can I pay vendors directly, or only through you?
- If you keep a sourcing fee/markup, what percentage is it?
- Will you give me a discount summary sheet (brand + discount rate)?
⚠️ Red Flags
- Designer refuses to show vendor invoices.
- Quotes “package prices” without item-wise breakdown.
- Pushes only one vendor (may be tied-up for commissions).
✅ Pro Tip
- For transparency, ask for a BOQ with brand + rate + discount clearly mentioned.
- A fair model is: designer keeps 5–10% sourcing fee, but you still get most of the vendor discount.
👉 Do you want me to create a Vendor Discount Tracking Sheet (Excel) where you can record each item’s MRP, designer’s rate, and actual discount passed — so you know exactly where you’re saving (or not)?
