"Steve Kraus" wrote in message
...
Here's Mom's new kitchen faucet:

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...un/faucet1.jpg

It's an American Standard. Existing sink, no change in configuration or
anything. She needs a new backsplash but I digress. I bought the faucet
online and Mom called a plumbing company to install it.

Here's underneath:

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...un/faucet2.jpg

Previously it was copper all the way up. No flexes and perviously there
were no shutoffs. So the new installation included those shutoffs and the
chrome plated lines you see. Quality of the installation workmanship
seems
fine.

Is $482.00 a fair price for this install (including the shutoffs and short
bits of tubing)?

Parts and labor are not broken out but the invoice says $336.00 for the
faucet installation and $146.00 for the shutoff valve installation. Was
this fair or did a senior get taken taken to the proverbial cleaners? I
am
aware that skilled labor and a truck and shop filled with parts don't come
cheap but it seems outrageous to me but then maybe I am just out of touch.

This is suburban Chicago if it matters.


I'm in Rochester NY, where I got quotes for ripping about about 10 feet of
iron drain pipes in the basement and replacing them with PVC. The numbers
ranged from almost $1000 down to $250. The cheapest guy came with great
recommendations from some very picky friends. When he finished the job (one
hour), I told him about the highest quote. He said it was absurd, but
"they're out there - you have to be careful".

The most expensive quote came from a guy who did pretty much the exact same
job in my previous home, for about $400. He explained the price difference
as "travel charges", because he was already at my house for something else
when I had him to the extra work. He lives 5 minutes from my current place.
That explains the $600 travel charges. And, I'm the next king of Denmark.

Anyway, sounds like your mom should've shopped around and asked some
acquaintances for recommendations.