Anyone else getting quoted insane prices for work around your place?

[milkman636]

Yep, just got a quote of $12,500 for a 30x40 concrete slab. Just a bare slab for my kids to play basketball on. He wanted extra to pour a post base. There are no grade issues, no high strength special concrete request, no access issues for the truck etc. We got into a bit of a conversation afterwards and he said that he is paying more than ever for help now and still having trouble getting guys to come to work. The other company I called said they were booked until October already, so I didn't even have them provide a bid.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I just remembered another one.

Water well contractor came out and said I needed a pressure regulator replaced on my computer operated well pump.
Said the part would be $600.00 and then he needed to reprogram the computer.

I looked up that part on the internet and it was under $200.00, I purchased it replaced it ( It was like replacing a spark plug). I started the computer back up and everything ran perfectly.

This guy looked me right in the eye knowing full well that he didn't need to program the computer and told me he needed to charge me $1,000 for NOTHING.

How do these people live with themselves?

 

[Cat_Driver]

Might put an ad in the Craigslist for concrete guys to do a side job on a Saturday for some extra cash. You buy the concreate, 2'x6's they provide labor and tools.
4" you need 15 yards. or about $2,000 or less. pay the 5 guys $200.00 ea. for a day's work. 3K and you can get er done.

 

[Doofy]

Yep, just got a quote of $12,500 for a 30x40 concrete slab. Just a bare slab for my kids to play basketball on. He wanted extra to pour a post base. There are no grade issues, no high strength special concrete request, no access issues for the truck etc. We got into a bit of a conversation afterwards and he said that he is paying more than ever for help now and still having trouble getting guys to come to work. The other company I called said they were booked until October already, so I didn't even have them provide a bid.

What would an asphalt pad cost? Should be at least half that.

 

[Doofy]

I just remembered another one.

Water well contractor came out and said I needed a pressure regulator replaced on my computer operated well pump.
Said the part would be $600.00 and then he needed to reprogram the computer.

I looked up that part on the internet and it was under $200.00, I purchased it replaced it ( It was like replacing a spark plug). I started the computer back up and everything ran perfectly.

This guy looked me right in the eye knowing full well that he didn't need to program the computer and told me he needed to charge me $1,000 for NOTHING.

How do these people live with themselves?

There appears to be no conscience when money is involved.

 

[Gem99ultra]

We have a similar problem here in mid-Georgia. Lots and lots of people out of work. Don't know if they don't WANT to work or simply can't find the right 'management' job. They seldom even show up to give a price quote, and more rarely even after giving some absurd quote, do they ever actually show up to DO any work.

This problem isn't only since the Covid-19 pandemic - its been this way for as long as we've lived here. Only solution I've found is to either do it myself, or it doesn't get done. I'm thinking that, according to the above comments, there's a lot of people out there that are getting enough government assistance that they don't have to work. ???

 

[shooterdon]

Why work when you can get $900+ a week on unemployment?

My friend is a concrete worker. He is making more money by not working than he as ever earned in his life.

And CatDriver, I tried your idea on a driveway I wanted done. I offered the concrete guys I know $35/hr cash and they wanted $75/hr for a side job. Told them I could get a licensed and insured contractor for $75/hr and they would not budge. These are not well-to-do people. They drive beaters and live in run down homes. They normally earn $16/hr and pay taxes but would not work for $35/hr tax free. Some poor people are poor for a reason. Either lazy or stupid or both.

 

[Dadnatron]

People are becoming less and LESS capable of doing things for themselves. This results in high demand for those who have the ability. With all the underlying 'costs of business' added to demand, the prices are more and more reasonable. This is nothing different than a $6 Bud light at the bar or a $40 ribeye.

But don't discount the amount of time it takes you to perform the task. Even though you are working for yourself, it isn't 'free'. But, in essence, I agree. Prices for everything has reached a point that DIY is more and more reasonable.

 

[drssg]

On a less sinister angle, I think there are some people who are hopefully good at their trade, but they are not so good or motivated to provide good customer service.

If they put in a full day of work making money, they aren't going to take extra time returning phone calls that aren't going to make them money.

While they are being pragmatic, I also think it is short-sighted. They are damaging their reputation and might experience the impact when work isn't so plentiful.

 

[oosik]

shooterdon - - Unemployment for the average laborer is like CRP for the average farmer. BTW - a whole lot of CRP lands in this neck of the woods.