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

Table of Contents

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)?

Do you pass on vendor discounts to clients?