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OT Electricians - Was This Price A Tad High?

Posted on 10/3/21 at 3:10 pm
Posted by LAmagnolia
Nawlins
Member since Jul 2009
220 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 3:10 pm
My cousin recently had to replace one of those ceiling fan wall control dimmer things, which got screwed up in a power surge after Ida (lights in the fan started going on/off like The Exorcist, etc.)

They replaced the exact same brand/model. The part was supplied for them. Total time spent was about 40 minutes.

Of course, no one wants to call them parasitic leeches that take advantage of people in the aftermath of a hurricane, no one's saying that at all.

But does this 40-minute job seem just a wee bit overpriced?

LINK
Posted by LSU fan 246
Member since Oct 2005
90567 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 3:13 pm to
Just to get someone to your house like an electrician is 150-200. This doesnt seem that crazy of a price.

Posted by Strannix
District 11
Member since Dec 2012
49038 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 3:17 pm to
Should have been a 200 minimum at most, criminal IMO

But this is a handynan job or DIY
This post was edited on 10/3/21 at 3:18 pm
Posted by Booyow
Member since Mar 2010
4010 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 3:17 pm to
The price is high for the amount of work done, but I’d have a minimum fee of about $350 for any new job if I were an electrician. Not worth the effort for $150 or whatever would be a more reasonable price for that amount of work
Posted by LSUtigerME
Walker, LA
Member since Oct 2012
3809 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 3:18 pm to
Yes it’s high, but not really crazy/worthy of its own thread.

As mentioned, paying a premium for the guys time for a small job. It’s like a “lost opportunity” cost for the electrician to do this job vs a bigger one.
Posted by whiskey over ice
Member since Sep 2020
3289 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 3:19 pm to
I couldn’t imagine having to hire an electrician to change a light switch
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
20539 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 3:20 pm to
Were ALL parts supplied?

I got 2 quotes yesterday from plumbers to replace a 3 handle faucet with a single handle and renovation plate.

1st quote was $1175 all said and done. 1 price including parts

2nd quote was “probably 2-4 hours work at $135/ hour” plus parts which were around $150-200.

Point being, that quote looked like the standard “ceiling fan replacement quote” from an overpriced electrician. Didn’t matter how long it took. One price.
This post was edited on 10/3/21 at 3:21 pm
Posted by ELVIS U
Member since Feb 2007
9940 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 3:45 pm to
It is about double what it should be, but then again, I guess he figured that if somebody was not able to change a switch, they probably don't know the value of changing it.
Posted by QuietTiger
New Orleans
Member since Dec 2003
26256 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 3:50 pm to
Yes, it's high.
He did however change both the sender(switch) and receiver(in the fan canopy) for that price, still high.
Posted by Gee Grenouille
Bogalusa
Member since Jul 2018
4925 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 4:15 pm to
i think it's high, I'll only argue your "40 minute job" comment. If you're paying an electrician $40 an hour then his actual cost to you is probably $75 an hour when you factor in his govt mandated employee cost. Also they had to get to your cousins house.

Looks like the electrician is charging 2 hours for two people at $125 an hour, plus a $75 standard service call fee.
Posted by La Place Mike
West Florida Republic
Member since Jan 2004
28844 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 4:29 pm to
More proof Trade School is a better option than College.

On a side note have men today become so inept and Beta that they can't install a dimmer switch?
Posted by cheobode
Member since Dec 2017
1176 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 4:30 pm to
Everything is overpriced today. I had to get a new AC guy because my other one was out of town and my AC went out. This guy came and was looking for things to fix. Ended up being a capacitor which is usually a $100 fix. He stayed there for two hours and charged $385.
Posted by Yewkindewit
Near Birmingham, Alabama
Member since Apr 2012
20092 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 4:54 pm to
A wall fan control dimmer switch is so easy to replace, Cut power, hook up new on as the old one, power back on and save the labor cost.
Posted by Warfox
B.R. Native (now in MA)
Member since Apr 2017
3158 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 5:03 pm to
I hope your cousin is a female.
Posted by real turf fan
East Tennessee
Member since Dec 2016
8725 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 5:17 pm to
What you haven't told us is HOW FAR OFF THE GROUND is the ceiling fan?
If it's a standard ceiling, reachable by the kind of ladder everybody handy would have in their garage, it's one thing.
But, if it's the ceiling fan in a cathedral ceiling room three stories high, that requires a heck of a ladder, I could see the charge going up. (My handyman hates ladders that tall and I'd never have that tall a room because of the problems with heating and ac ).
Posted by Lester Earl
Member since Nov 2003
278778 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 5:19 pm to
quote:

no one wants to call them parasitic leeches that take advantage of people in the aftermath of a hurricane, no one's saying that at all.


How do they gouge you when you agree to the price?

If you don’t like it or think it’s high, keep shopping
Posted by MSTiger33
Member since Oct 2007
20404 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 5:32 pm to
Lol. Yes. That is high as hell.
Posted by AUbagman
LA
Member since Jun 2014
10574 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 5:35 pm to
No, it wasn't high. That's the helpless fee.
Posted by tiger2180
Member since Nov 2015
421 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 5:45 pm to
quote:


OT Electricians - Was This Price A Tad High?
My cousin recently had to replace one of those ceiling fan wall control dimmer things, which got screwed up in a power surge after Ida (lights in the fan started going on/off like The Exorcist, etc.)

They replaced the exact same brand/model. The part was supplied for them. Total time spent was about 40 minutes.

Of course, no one wants to call them parasitic leeches that take advantage of people in the aftermath of a hurricane, no one's saying that at all.

But does this 40-minute job seem just a wee bit overpriced?


Yes, it is overpriced. Did the electrician show up with an iPad and all the new gadgets plumbers and electricians use? A simple service call with the part supplied should have run no more than 150.00 in my area. Not all markets are the same.
Posted by parrothead
big salty ham
Member since Mar 2010
4458 posts
Posted on 10/3/21 at 5:58 pm to
I would argue you’re paying that amount because the electrician knows how to do it, safely, and having that skill set is in the pricing.
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