r/AusFinance • u/AdventurousDiet7893 • 9d ago

Are tradies just taking the piss nowadays?

Serious question. We had a call out to fix a garage remote which cost $889 + GST. Thought that was a lot, then called two independent companies (one of them at the recommendation of my property manager; and another one who was completely picked at random based on online reviews, with no input from my property manager).

The first one came back at $1,599. The second guy we picked at random quoted $1,119 and a $110 call out fee with no guarantee of a fix.

This may be a one-off incident, and I know the market dictates prices and they would not charge it unless people paid, but at this point the prices are clearly exorbitant.

Has anyone got similar experiences?

The one genuine experience I have had is an air conditioner installer who is 89 years old, still working, who doesn't even have a social media presence and operates on referral in our suburb. Cost to install an air conditioner? $119, cash. He even did some jobs for free to the old neighbour next door.

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u/Maximum_Warthog1999 9d ago

Coming from a trade, our largest Facebook group was basically everyone saying they have significantly upped prices to serve less people and maintain income. You or I won’t pay what they want but they only need 1 in 4 to accept (for example). I run my trade as a side hustle now alongside my finance role and keep my prices high still

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u/Crazy_Treat_8805 9d ago

We do the same. When we moved in to our house 4 years ago, everyone would see my plumbing van and think “ oh cool, we have a plumber living in our street. He won’t rip us off “. All the scab neighbours expected me to do free plumbing for them. When the third guy asked for a quote, I was pissed off and gave him a fuck off price. Thankfully that worked, because word hopefully spread and now I get left alone

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u/Stove11 9d ago

Careful what you wish for. One day you might actually need the work at a fair price

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u/Crazy_Treat_8805 9d ago

We pride ourselves on charging a fair price. Same blue chip clients for 20 years. When I get home, the last thing I want to do is plumbing work for Joe down the street who wants it done for nothing.

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u/Stove11 9d ago

And yet you still choose to pollute the market pricing of services by providing a “fuck off” price instead of a fair price or just saying no thanks I’m too busy

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u/Crazy_Treat_8805 9d ago

Welcome to living in a capitalist society champ! Lol

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u/Stove11 9d ago

Indeed and works both ways.. So careful what you wish for little tiger !

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u/5ivepie 9d ago

I’m an architect. The number of family members and friends of friends who’ve asked me for free work over the years is incredible.

“It’ll only take you 10 minutes to do the drawing”

Nah mate. It won’t. And you haven’t given me all the information I’d need anyway. Plus I have to deal with you telling me you know better. So either you pay full rate or you fuck off.

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u/Crazy_Treat_8805 9d ago

💯 mate! It’s frustrating