Another 'I'm in the wrong business' moment.

[Yellow_Festiva]

We have all said it...

"I'm in the wrong business....." when you hear outrageous prices for stuff, be it products, labor, materials etc etc etc.

I'm half way through a building project and it has been a real eye opener the way some jobs are quoted. Variances of up to 50% were the norm.

So I need to add some decorative features above 3 windows. Spoke to a local mob that provides such decorations.

They gave me a sample and told me the price per m - lets say $65.

He proudly calls me to say that the quote is ready and is in my inbox.... and even though they generally take 6 weeks to supply and install (as per their fine print) due to my job being so small and using generic stuff that is in stock they can fit me in where ever needed - even on Saturday.

We are talking around hmmm lets say 8 metres of this stuff at the most (but probably less)...

So, what does this quote come to??

$3316....

Is this a bloody Gee up?? It says I need 12m of the product (not a chance in hell) and 4 in the Qty column (they are only covering 3 windows???).

So materials + $1760 to install. It is a 3-4 hr job at the most! (Hence the offer to work Sat)..

They then go on to price up the consumables as extra items (glues, nails, sandpaper etc)... another $450 roughly.

I was thinking this would be a $1k job at best...

Do people just blindly call 1 mob and go with whatever they say? Is this a 'lets just hope he is a dope and says yes' quote???

Wonder what it will be for CA$H???

Windows - $30- 64k
Roof carpentry - $23-47k
Scaffolding - $5-9k
Roofing - $27-38k
Air-con - $19-70k ('con' is the right word...
Concreting + forming - $95-175k
Plumbing $33-49k

And the list will get longer I'm sure!

If this is correct I'm DEFINITELY in the wrong business!