OrdinaryAvgGuy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2013
- Messages
- 1,003
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I'll have to admit, I am a bit wet behind the ears when it comes to hiring a contractor to complete home improvement or repair.
I purchased my first house 5 or so years ago and almost always performed all repairs and upgrades myself.
One day, I decided that I was tired of cleaning my gutters out and looked into gutter guards. I priced them out at Lowe's and then for the heck of it, let a couple guys come out and tell me how much they would charge to put on their super premium, never clog, top of the line gutter guards over my existing gutters.
I sat through the sales pitch once again when I had to replace the AC unit in another house. Recently, I had some estimates for a new roof.
There is one thing that they all had in common and that is they all have slimy salesmen that are masters at bending you over and attempting to cram a contract with a huge sticker price straight up your sphincter. I mean these guys make used car salesmen look like saints.
In almost every case, I was able to get the initial bid down 50% or more.
Having experienced this, I can't help but wonder how successful these salesmen are at sticking it to folks everyday. They must get quite a few if they continue the same tactics.
I mean, who really pays the full amount of an initial estimate?
I understand these guys have to make a living life everyone else but damn, give me a break here.
I purchased my first house 5 or so years ago and almost always performed all repairs and upgrades myself.
One day, I decided that I was tired of cleaning my gutters out and looked into gutter guards. I priced them out at Lowe's and then for the heck of it, let a couple guys come out and tell me how much they would charge to put on their super premium, never clog, top of the line gutter guards over my existing gutters.
I sat through the sales pitch once again when I had to replace the AC unit in another house. Recently, I had some estimates for a new roof.
There is one thing that they all had in common and that is they all have slimy salesmen that are masters at bending you over and attempting to cram a contract with a huge sticker price straight up your sphincter. I mean these guys make used car salesmen look like saints.
In almost every case, I was able to get the initial bid down 50% or more.
Having experienced this, I can't help but wonder how successful these salesmen are at sticking it to folks everyday. They must get quite a few if they continue the same tactics.
I mean, who really pays the full amount of an initial estimate?
I understand these guys have to make a living life everyone else but damn, give me a break here.