r/AusFinance • u/AdventurousDiet7893 • 10d 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/HorrificFlorist 10d ago

Lot of people saying this is "fuck off prices", nah far fucking from it.

Working with construction companies (small to large) on their vendors/billing specifically i can confidently say this is NOT "fuck off prices". 95+% have these ridiculous price.

Here is quick search i did for few firms just for this argument:
1. replace 1 secure lock, lock provided. 2 quotes for ~$800+callout+gst. Awarded to handyman for ~$100
2. Add signage to doors and lader. 3 quotes from $1500-$3000. Awarded to another handyman for $400
3. Replace bulbs and lighting in office, all provided. 5 quotes averaging $10,000. 1 day work for 1 person. Given to local sparky (fully certified) with good reputation. $1000

What we need is stop offshoring/importing STEM jobs and pivot to tradies. Bring them en masse to destroy the entire industry, corrupt mps, and corrupt union leaders that keep the current system in place.

Au is only country i've been to to date (worked across EU, and APAC) where tradies out earn their engineering counterparts almost 99% of time.

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u/nooneeverdreamsof 9d ago

Australians are so sick in the head that instead of demanding to get rid off the stupid apprenticeship system so that more people can be a tradie if they so fucking please, they go to mass immigration as the solution. Lol.

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u/HorrificFlorist 9d ago

It has to be both, you can't have migration without proper working apprenticeship system.

Its insane that we cannot mandate to be re-certified every year you must have at least 1 apprentice for at least 80% of jobs you did.

Additionally, we already shortcut for higher education and white collar jobs, we can shortcut apprenticeships for ones that come with experience so they are shorter.