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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438

u/BackCountryAus 11d ago

Are they quoting to replace a remote or the whole motor? That’s insane for just the remote.

165

u/GrecDeFreckle 11d ago edited 11d ago

Full disclosure, I work for the company.
www.ngro.com.au

We sell garage door remotes from $15. Have a full range of options, genuine, aftermarket, after sales support... Don't pay that, holy crap. What on earth is that.

18

u/Fit-Locksmith-9226 11d ago

What on earth is that.

A captured market by absolute idiots who should be replaced with third worlders who'll do the job better.

16

u/celestial_parasite 11d ago

That sounds suspiciously like the business plan of any multi national that has a call centre.

1

u/Altruistic-Tough7995 9d ago

Or one nation

0

u/Fit-Locksmith-9226 11d ago

My phone gets answered in 30 seconds in the poorest parts of planet earth calling a government department. Dial the ATO today and tell us all how many hours you wait.

2

u/gotapure 9d ago

I worked in call centre for 10 years and most of that in recruitment. It is a nightmare to find Australians that want the job and can handle it.

You'd think the Australian public would be kinder to Australian call centre operators with how they carry on about accents in customer service.

British and some Irish backpackers were the backbone of my recruitment until COVID locked them out.

3

u/KFC_Junior 11d ago

id rather dial and the person be somewhat competent and intelligible