Why are contractor and window replacement quotes so absurdly high?

“Every kitchen thread on here has the same numbers. Eighty, ninety, a hundred and ten grand. And it's never some enormous kitchen either, it's a normal one where they moved the sink.”source ↗

“I was just quoted $146,000 for 2 12' sliders, 1 6' slider, 2 small windows and 8 large windows including installation.”source ↗

“As the title states I got quoted 33k for an AC unit and a heater.”source ↗

“I have no prior knowledge in this field but there seemed to be more red flags than a Chinese military parade.”source ↗

“half a dozen $25k quotes because "whole door gotta be replaced, bud". after dozens of calls, finding a GC, and carpenter, got a guy who did fantastic work for $1.2k.”source ↗

“didn't realize painting was such a "highly skilled job" that made us get a $26k quote.”source ↗

“It was the $47,000 quote to change out two heat pumps and the ductwork for one of them that pushed me over the edge.”source ↗

“Then I got an $11,000 quote for just the ductwork for one of them. So now I'm fully committed on that front, too.”source ↗

“I walked into an HVAC supply house and they wouldn't sell me anything because I don't have a contractor account. More friction. Big racket.”source ↗

“I had the same experience when I didn't know any better. Now I'll disparage them to anyone who will listen.”source ↗

“Pretty much clueless about cars, but this seems high.”source ↗

“Am I getting waxed or is this reasonable.”source ↗

“My in-laws got quoted $25k by Jacuzzi to pull out a tub and install a shower. Not the whole bathroom, just a tub to shower conversion.”source ↗

“My wife lined up a estimate with them so they came by, I listened to their pitch, I assumed it would be that the one door I want replaced would be 5,000$ instead of 1000$, whatever.”source ↗

“Our builder would put a deck on, but only one option and it’s like 6x10 for $20k, most people In my neighborhood opted to add one later.”source ↗

“My heater broke in the middle of winter in 2023. I live in the Chicago area, and it was cold! Called one place that was local but big, and they said it wouldn't be worth it to fix, and I should do the AC at the same time.”source ↗

“I got this garbage disposal on sale at Costco. I was told that it’s a commercial garbage disposal. Would it required special tools or installation to replace my existing disposal with this one?”source ↗

“We got quoted $16k for replacing our front door with hurricane resistant. Wouldn't stop flooding, just wind.”source ↗

“Got a quote for 11 new windows and 2 sliding doors. $123,000.”source ↗

“I had 3 companies all quotes me 3k to paint my damn shadowbox fence. And all 3 said it would take them one day. I looked up the materials cost $800. 2200 for 2 guys and a days work? Seriously wtf.”source ↗

“this explains why everything takes be 5-10 quotes to find someone worth paying to do work for me.”source ↗

“I've got another company coming to give a competitive bid, but I'm curious if this is a fuck off quote or what.”source ↗

“That said, I was expecting an expensive job but this blew my mind.”source ↗

“Got 3 quotes for a full roof in San Francisco,first quote 42k, second quote 35k, and last quote $200k!!”source ↗

“You say you are clueless about so how do you determine if this is high?”source ↗

“I just moved to a rural home and everyone who has come has been worthless. They see you as a mark”source ↗

“He's now saying he needs to know soon if we are going to do it because he can't pull and then put his engineers back on it later . Or ask for a requote”source ↗

“I called a company that I'd worked with a few years back, and told them that the unit was making a sort of humming or buzzing sound but wasn't actually running. The guy said he'd call his boss… no way to know if he did or not, but he said that his boss had said to give me an estimate on a new air conditioner! They had not examined the unit… am I crazy, or was this completely unacceptable?”source ↗

“I wouldn't pay this for what you described”source ↗

“It seems I put too much trust in what AI is quoting me 🤔”source ↗

“Was just quoted $3,500 to replace a damper motor and control board.”source ↗

“Am I crazy or is that crazy?”source ↗

“I recently used AI to gauge cost for building a deck. It was very different what my local quotes were. I had quotes that were 2-3x the cost AI suggested”source ↗

“Is that normal to charge that much just to walk in the door?”source ↗

“when did the world get to be like this... yes, it's insane.”source ↗

“The plumber told me it was a commercial disposal and would require extra setup that would cost more than using the one he supplied…”source ↗

“I was completely caught off guard by $3,500.”source ↗

“I'm thinking maybe it's just me new to the business and dragging my feet and I need to be on his level”source ↗

“I had a friend of a family member come by and give me a quote of $1,750 which I thought sounded reasonable, but upon asking AI, I'm being told this is 3x what it should actually cost.”source ↗

“Instead, we’re getting ridiculous numbers.”source ↗

“We’ve had a good sized local company come out to quote it and I think it’s coming out absolutely crazy. If they supply the toilet, they want $9800. If we buy the toilet ($4,500 including tax and shipping from Kohler online) then the install is being quoted for $2,600.”source ↗

“I was just quoted $9,000 per 6'x8' Harvey vinyl slider (so $36,000 for 4 sliders total.) Even if each one cost $4,000, $5,000 for installation sounds outrageous to me.”source ↗

“I'm having trouble getting a local contractor (Toronto, Ontario) to quote me either at all on the final zoning step of this work, or they quote an absurd amount.”source ↗

“I was just quoted $15k to supply and install 7 zone valves, one zone controller and one floor thermostat, do all required wiring and reconfiguring.”source ↗

“Am I wrong to think that $15k (Canadian) is overcharging for this work? Anyone know anyone in Toronto that might do this last bit of zoning?”source ↗