I just got a quote from a general contractor to put in a concrete pad in the basement for our washer and dryer to stand on, as the floor is really uneven. They quoted $800.00 (plus gst). It will take two day to finish and they will put everything back in place when they're done. I'm going to get a couple of other quotes but as it Friday evening I thought I see what you lot think. Am I getting ripped off or not??

Yes. I would do it myself.

I think it may cost a lot more to fix the mess I would make, it would also be funny to see a small woman trying to move a washer and dryer by herself

I was charged $3,000 for 3 doors and frames to be put in on the main floor and 20ft of drywall in the basement. I also want our laundry room to be put down in the basement, I reckoned about $1200 to do that.
$800 is about right for a contractor, I guess.
You can always offer him cash and not put over the GST. Like what I do.

Taking into account what a ridiculously simple job it is, yes that does sound expensive, even by UK standards! How big is the area you want to cover? What is the floor of your basement made from?

EDITED.

Who are you talking to?

Took me two takes to figure out the confusion there . Was supposed to quote Elaine B. Have edited my reply, thanks steve666.

I did this myself in the last house we lived in. It's not a trivial job because that self levelling cement is a bastard to mix; really really hard work. One could, of course, rent a mixed but that's $300 or so. $800 is a fair sum but if it means not going down there for a couple of days and then seeing it all done I'd be tempted to pay it.

This is the first time I've hired a contract so I had no idea what to expect.

I don't actually know if that's the rate for the job, I'd get another couple of estimates, I only know that having done it, not having to do it is worth a lot.

Oh yeah the area is about 7x4 (and about 6 inches in height) and there is also a drain at floor level that they will have to build up to the same height.

Not exactly like for like, but our builder charged us about $1700 for a 140 ft2 exterior concrete pad for our hot tub. This took almost no time at all to prepare and pour, so given that you job will be much more labour intensive the quote that you got doesn't seem that unreasonable. Concrete work always seems to be more expensive than you would initially think.

The guy did say to me (twice) to get a couple of other quotes before I decide so maybe he's not taking the piss.

As long as everyone compares apples to apples, this is a decent price, considering the geographical location and the current price of concrete. There are many aspects to this job, if it is done correctly, and anyone who says this is a no-brainer type of job, is talking out of pure ignorance! As a contractor, here in Saskatchewan, I would probably be in the same ballpark.

Thanks for setting my mind at ease. I had a good feeling about the guys but that may just have been because they were Irish, one of them was from Omagh.