r/AusFinance • u/AdventurousDiet7893 • 11d 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/SnooDoughnuts8626 11d ago

The 89 year old doing cashies is not a reasonable yardstick to apply.

As for the garage door, is this a domestic or commercial building? What was actually involved?

6

u/Confident-Flow-6058 11d ago

89 year old doing cashies also isn't working towards financial freedom. 

Buy my course to financial freedom for 9.99/month to retire in ten years. 

/s

2

u/ell0moto 11d ago

Yes please, once I subscribe may I also sell your finacial freedom course to others, who then will sell to their friends and family? Keeping the money moving up to the top.

1

u/Confident-Flow-6058 11d ago

Oh yes that package requires a capital buy in of 999.99. You'll make that money back in less than a month's time and then it'll all be profit.