Our heat pump packed up recently. No great surprise as it was already old when we bought the house 6 years ago.

A 'fix' was possible but it would likely not be cost effective so we had a company give a quote for replacement units - outside and in.

Their quote was $8900 and included some new duct work in the basement - a different size needed for the newer units.

I've previously been happy with the service from this company but something just wasn't right. I pasted the equipment details only (no price) from the quote into an email which I sent to three other companies.

One replied saying they'd do it for $7500 (Identical equipment) plus the cost of the extra duct work, estimated to be about $400 so I got them in for a full quote.

They said there was actually no need for the duct work. But as the unit was a step up from the one we had, the wiring needed to be upgraded according to code - something the original company seemed to ignore.

Unlike the first one, this man involved me in what they'd do, without baffling me.

The quote came and remained the same $7500 even with the extra wiring - which, from what he'd said at the visit, I expected to be $200 plus the extra labour.

When they did the work they went off to buy gravel and paving slabs - the previous unit stood on the grass.

They did a few extra things, after checking with me if I wanted it done, not included in the original quote and all ran smoothly.

The bill came. The same $7500. No additional charges for the additional items not in the quote.

That's a $1400 difference - probably more when (if?) the original company discovered the wiring needed upgrading. Their man hadn't looked at it when he came. He just made notes and took measurements.

It's a big enough price difference to be very happy with but not so big as to be suspicious.

Anyone have similar experiences?

The new one is oh-so-quiet

Oh yes. As you may know we are renovating our home (nightmare). One contractor we got out (Handyman Connection!) quoted over $4k to install laminate (that we had already bought) and quoted for a few other things total quote came in at over $20k with some things to be priced later. To other quotes for the laminate came in at between $1.5K and $2k - by going with any of these the laminate would have all been done by now but we went with a guy who is doing the jobs evenings and weekends. The reason we went with him was because he explained what needed doing where in a way we understood and got and also LISTENED to what I wanted and not just what OH wanted. Downside is summer hit and weekends have been spent away and he has been ill. But we have also had 'a bit of a summer' and have been although frustrated that nothing is being done, relieved that we have had evenings and weekends to ourselves.

All pretty standard stuff wherever in the world you are.

Even not charging for those extras?

I've always been pretty cynical about these things. But my experience has been fairly limited, having had the good fortune to have brothers to do this sort of thing when in England.

But in my old job I used to see estimates that were so similar a certain amount of price fixing was likely.

its a bit like buying a car for example...you can get vastly different quotes from garages for the same model..dependent usually on stock and sales..same goes with heating and plumbing..some companies have different deals with suppliers may get better rates for equipment and also how busy they are...and how much they want your business.

Some friends of ours have just been quoted $9,000 for some curtains. For one room. Just two windows.

WTF. I can't even get my head around that. It's not like the fabric had spun gold running through it.

Now that's a quote I would frame, just for the fun of it.

I would definitely have ago at making them myself! You would REALLY have to love those curtains for a long time for the value to be there. I am going to buy some panels from JYSK for our bedroom, not quite sure what we are doing in there but need something, the rest of the house can wait until I find inspiration, atm we have the temporary stick up blinds you can buy from Walmart - a little classier than a blanket pinned up

That's more than the AC system!!

I had a blanket pinned up in the doorway of my new house for a couple of weeks back in 84. It cut out a draft until a new door came.

my husband is a tradesperson (cabinet maker / carpenter) , so he gets a lot of calls to have a look at a place and then make up a quote for a renovation / new staircase / new flooring / built-ins, kitchens...
If he doesn't know the person he is quoting for and he has a good feeling about that potential client at the first meeting, he will quote a certain rate per hour plus the materials. But if he gets the feeling that the client could be a pain in the butt, he quotes really high so that he won't get the job. He has never regretted that practice.

The Plumbers' Code:
Shit runs downhill
Payday's Friday
Every asshole is a potential customer
Don't lick your fingers

I am not 'totally' useless, and I know what I want, and the price I am prepared to pay...however there are lots of times when I 'demand' that my husband asks for the quote because I know he will get a better price (OH knows what he's talking about, but isn't often here). It's most frustrating.... A couple of times in the past I have 'sacked' a workman (who hasn't) and have been told by the slacker in question that I can't! I'm about to get quotes for a garage construction and all sorts of roof work...and you just know it will all end in tears! Hopefully not mine.

I was in Benjamin moore a few months ago and thought a hunter douglas roman shade that worked top and bottom might look quite good in son's room. He has a small window. I went back in with measurements and was quoted $1700. WTF. So he still has his fake wood whte standard blinds

What is it with these guys?

A friend has just become an interior designer and will pass on discounts to her customers. These can be significant, 25% on the stone tiles I want. I would suggest your friend considers a designer.............

Outrageous - and that now makes me scared to even think about new blinds!

Mmm, I'd love to say I'm getting my designer in - that even sounds expensive.

course I get the bonus of designer for free and split discount with her!